I agree. I think my problem with this was that you can never really get a good reading on where Hokata stands because he’s so passive. He’s in denial about everything and his love feels almost fake.
Chika’s relationship with Hokata ended up seemin very forceful and unhealthy but since he had the most passion it makes him feel like a protagonist who gave up for reality. However on the other hand Masato’s divorce break up into another relationship made it seem like he’s only willing to be in a relationship when it’s convenient. Hokata and Masato’s relationship is only shown in context of his divorce and Chikas life so it feels like Hokata was in love with China and Masato’s a rebound.
That was a beautiful and compelling description you gave. Well said. This was a wonderfully complicated and interesting story. It shows that love and relationships are not cut and dry or easy to understand with just a simple "I love you" being enough to get a couple through everything. Love and relationships are complicated and they take work, personal growth and compromise. That doesn't make them any less wonderful or magical, they just don't fall into your lap and work out like a fairy tale. I thought this story would be hard for me to read, but I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a fabulous manga.
I think some of the contention/upset over this manga might be because Chika has the showiest personality, so he monopolises the story a lot. If you go back and read from the start, it's pretty clear that Hotaka and Masato have feelings for each other from the beginning. Masato's circumstances keep them apart - because neither of them is willing or able to ignore Masato's marriage. I remember that even the first time I read it, I was surprised to find out that Masato was married. I was confused because my instincts were telling me that he and Hotaka had feelings for each other. I was confused again when the whole Chika extravaganza started, because I was now expecting a bittersweet story between Masato and Hotaka. But as the story went on I understood that it was happening as I'd thought, just with Chika far more involved than I'd expected, cover pic notwithstanding.
Hotaka had feelings for Masato, which he wouldn't acknowledge because Masato was married. Chika came onto him forcefully, and since he had no way of knowing what was going on with Masato's marriage, he had no compelling reason to try to refuse Chika's pleading demands (because he IS a very passive guy). Masato didn't really know that his marriage was about to end, although I think he was starting to suspect, which along with Chika was pushing him towards acting on his feelings. Chika didn't know about Masato's marriage either, when he decided to take his shot at Hotaka -- unfortunate timing all around. There was no sudden switch in direction or anything. Chika was never going to win Hotaka's heart, because Masato already had it.
Chika, personality-wise, is an extroverted, forceful (coughselfishcough) man-child, which admittedly would be perfectly fine and probably likeable to me, if he just left Hotaka alone. I actually like the gap of a hardworking, reliable doctor being childish and flighty in his private life - though I didn't like him pushing this onto Hotaka. However, without Chika, the story would be far less dramatic. Chika really does bring a lot of the emotional drama. The situation with Chika also helps teach Hotaka that he might need to be a bit more proactive and direct. Unlike Chika, Masato and Hotaka are both quiet, reserved types. I think perhaps it's not so easy to portray that type of personality strongly, compared to Chika's.
Basically, Chika was designed to be the complication/obstacle on Hotaka's side, like Masato's marriage was the complication/obstacle on Masato's side. Look at the title page of chapter 1. Masato and Hotaka are both looking unhappy, while a happy smiling Chika is in between them:
http://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/mamanaranai_mon_de/uu/mamanaranai_mon_de-chapter-1/7/
But Chika's personality is much stronger than the other two characters', so he steals the spotlight a lot more than he potentially should. His feelings aren't any stronger than Masato's - they're the 'loudest'. And compared to the other 2, Hotaka's feelings are a fricking whisper that even he can't hear very well.
I think this is what tricks some readers into thinking Chika should be end-game. Along with the main cover pic up the top there - just don't look at that one, guys, it's a trap. Look at the actual whole cover: http://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/mamanaranai_mon_de/uu/mamanaranai_mon_de-chapter-1
Masato is always supposed to be there!!
(Of course, some people might simply prefer Chika, which is a different reason to dislike the ending - I can't agree, but I'm not trying to explain that away)