sorry!! Didn't mean to give the thumbs down! clicked it by accident!!
i understand your point.but he clearly didnt encourage heitas feelings.he purposely kept heita at arms length so as not to influence him and have him live a 'normal' life before accepting heitas feelings,i dont think he was attracted to heita when he was little.i think it was like hed always felt empty in dealing with people,but heita was someone who he was drawn to.but i think in an emotional,kindred spirits way.then obviously as heita grew up.he had attraction for the person hed loved for so long.if he was grooming heita,heita gave him several chances,and he still wouldnt go after him.i also like to think this story is about pure love.heita was was young but very pure his whole life.and miharu had to give up sex,women,the idea of having a 'proper'family,in order to be with heita.and then wait til heita is ready.i think thats pure too.
IMHO, it may appear to border on grooming, but it doesn't quite get there at all. Miharu was first drawn to Heita's sweet nature and kind-heartedness, a lonely bachelor befriending a vibrant child. However, as he had also explained to Sae-chan, he didn't want to besmirch the purity that Heita represented at that stage.
Contrary to "grooming practices" which usually involves isolating the child so that he's the dominant or only figure in the child's life, Miharu actually encourages Heita to develop other relationships (even if he gets wildly jealous). As his feelings grow stronger and become "less pure" and Heita matures and discovers his own feelings, Miharu even distances himself from Heita, discouraging any physical contact that Heita may get used to or misinterpret.
One critical aspect in this entire equation is the intervention by the other adults, especially Heita's parents. A father looking after his child's emotional well-being is quite rare in yaoi (or any manga, for that matter). By setting clear boundaries for the would-be lover, the father diffuses/prevents the predatory element of the weird relationship, and allows real love to blossom. Sae-chan also provides a voice of reason for both MCs.
I usually love the slow pace of the Sensei's mangas, as the reader is also drawn into the growth of the relationship. I just felt that the ending for this one was rather rushed.
--^^: Beautifully stated, Hazelnutcookies.
I agree.
AMEN!!
This manga just barely cicumvents the pedophilia label, and even then, not really. That 13 years of devotion, while romantic, also seems like grooming.. I felt iffy about the whole thing.