Chii-san's past love, Shinoda** oops
I didn't take it like that. For me, Chii-san feelings for Hina are real, there's no doubt. Since the beginning he loved him. Yes, Hina does seem similar to his past crush, but I can't see where/when was he treated as a replacement. I mean, I do have a type of person that I like (physically speaking) but that doesn't mean I love them because of their appearance or because they remind me of the first person I dated (even if they look similar it's not like they are the same person).
Chii-san DID use the black haired guy as a replacement, tho, and he didn't look anything like the guy he actually loved. For me, taking someone as a replacement is using someone to satisfy your lust or to ease your emotional pain without feeling anything for them because you're in love with someone else (it's unfair because you're ignoring that person's feelings, prioritising your own).
That's not the case with Hina at all, I mean, look at Chii-san, he's basically fawning over Hina all the time and it so damn cute xD
What I mean with all of this is that even if he fell at first for his looks, Chii doesn't feel anything for anyone other than Hina and thus he's not using him. He's genuinely in love, and he deserves that happiness! Like, really
I see your point, and I agree partially, but I still have two major issues with how the relationship was portrayed.
First, I think it's important to point that, as far as preferences go, it would mean that Chii would like blond or tall man, but that's not exactly the case in the story. I have a hard time believing in the "love at first sight" trope generally tbh, but here it got all the more complicated because we are talking about a guy who looks a lot like Shinoda, who Chii used to love. Therefore, the "love at first sight" means that Hina's looks was the very firts thing that got Chii's feelings going (at least in the beginning, since he couldn't know by that time how cute and kind Hina is). So, Chii's feelings today COULD be directed solely at Hina, but I for one would feel bad and insecure if my relationship had started because I look like someone else they used to love in the past.
Second, to me at least, it's not very clear that Chii no longer harbours romantic feelings for Shinoda. He got a powerful blow, being rejected after what manager-san did, right when he had a chance of seeing his love returned. He, to this day, hasn't spoken to Shinoda and tried to make amends. This shows that he either still feels ashamed or can't bear to see Shinoda's look of contempt. Either way, there are still (strong) feelings involved. That, added with the fact that his new boyfriend so happens to look exactly like Shinoda, makes me very uncomfortable.
It's as if, unconsciously, Chii is trying to erase his past "mistakes" (protecting Hina from manager-san, trying to not suffocate Hina, etc) and live his lost relationship with Shinoda - only now thorough Hina.
Well, I hope they talk about these things in the upcoming volumes, and that Chii and Hina can be very happy together, as I think they are one of the cutest couples I've ever seen
I really like this story, I love Chii-san and Hina.... But i am so bothered with the fact that Hina does seem like a replacement for Hina's past love, Shinoda. Chii-san seems to have fallen in love at first sight, and it's obvious Hina and Shinoda are very similar, physically wise. And now even Shige said that they both had "the same air to them", as in their personalities are alike too. I want them to be happy, but I feel so conflicted! Hina is not Shinoda and shouldn't be treated as replacement... he is his own person, has his own merits. I am kinda disappointed in Chii-san actually ┗( T﹏T )┛