IMO, Chika was the main component that caused their relationship to fail. Also the way he went about things pisses me off, so it irks me that so many are taking his side and blaming Hotaka for being wishy washy and uncaring. The relationship ended from their lack on communication but the way Chika initiated the relationship and later ended it were all still in the manner of defending himself. His insecurities of believing Hotaka didn't care about him led to him choosing another life but he never gave Hotaka proper time or space to choose him (Chika). Chika acts very carefree and flippant and starts their relationship this way from joking about wanting to do BL stuff together to handjobs to telling their friends they hooked up, even though that's a delicate subject to bring up to all your close friends and complicates matters. Chika forced himself on Hotaka from the start, trying to manipulate him to do romantic/ sexual things before even revealing that he liked him. and then "letting it slip" by muttering love you while getting handsy. Then going on a trip and trying to hold hands and do PDA with mutual friends that have known them both for a long time. then TYING HIM UP WITH ALL THEIR FRIENDS SLEEPING IN THE OTHER ROOM AND COERCING HIM INTO SEXUAL ACTIVITIES WHEN HE'S CLEARLY NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT. and as Hotaka states while he's tied up he doesn't give him permission, Chika just DOES these things. he always comes over unannounced to "hang out" and ends up getting sexual - there is little to no mutual agreement in this relationship. It starts off with these huge imbalance and Team Chika is mad at Hotaka for how everything turned out for "being a robot"? Chika does end up confessing but they still discuss the relationship even after as "til we both find someone better". Chika could have said, hey I'm serious about you and didn't know how to confess so I offered this "til we find someone better" relationship and want us to be serious now. Instead he just sends the mixed signals of "I love you" but also keeps them in the same relationship they agreed upon in the beginning. This IMO is a cowardly move as it has the guise of giving Hotaka a way out but also gives Chika a way out. He never manned up and got serious, just made the assumption Hotaka would reject him. Even though Hotaka had his assumptions about Chika he seriously thought about Chika and Chika's feelings for him. I don't understand why some people give Hotaka no credit and act like Chika is this poor guy who all this horrible stuff is happening to. He brought a lot of it if not ALL on himself. If he could have just spoken honestly to Hotaka maybe things would be different. Instead he had to mix his confessions with strange bravado of FWB and sexual harassment. even the author describes Chika's visits to Hotaka as molesting him, and that's what it was. he would come over and sexually harass him and coerce him into activities, and sometimes give him puppy eyes and talk about how he loved him. that was all, no attempt to resolve their relationship and set things straight. Then he comes over one night and tries to get Hotaka to tell him he loves him and announces the next day he's dating someone else when Hotaka rejects him. He pressured Hotaka into the relationship, pressured him to say I love you IN AN AMBIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH AN END GOAL DISCUSSED AS STILL BEING "FOR THE TIME BEING WE ARE TOGETHER" and in the end it was a quiet ultimatum? like GTFO Chika and Chika supporters. He brought this on himself.
OH ALSO HOW HE ENDS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HOTAKA IS TO ANNOUNCE IT IN FRONT OF ALL THEIR FRIENDS THAT HE'S MEETING A GIRL AND BREAKING THINGS OFF WITH HOTAKA. HOW IS THAT NOT THE DICKEST MOVE OF MOVES? Hotaka was thinking sincerely about their relationship, even though he hadn't made any of this know to Chika as of yet and Chika makes all the decisions on the relationship beginning to end.
last point i want to make while i re-read this series is that when Hotaka leaves them room Chika explains himself and essentially puts the blame on Hotaka, and once again when he comes to visit Hotaka saying oh maybe if you said don't go this relationship wouldn't be over. how cowardly is that?
OMG FAM AFTER 50 MILLION CHAPTERS THEY OPENED THE VAULT OF PAST MEMORIES!!!! WE'RE FINALLY NEARING 10% OF ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE IT'S ONLY BEEN YEARS BUT I'M OKAY
I think it doesn't make the best romance story but it does snap me back to reailty. What happened with Chika could very easily happen in real life, unlike the majority of BL. the chance of choosing love over societal obligations is really a 50-50 call. Mostly in BL they always choose love, which is great. But irl things the chances are there but lower. Chika chose to run away and take an easier life option because he wasn't sure of Hotaka's feelings for him. He did love him but his insecurity had him choose another option. If Hotaka did go after him, we still don't know the outcome. I am disappointed that Masato pounced right after and didn't give Hotaka room to breathe or reflect on his feelings for Chika but in the end these are all his own choices. Everyone made choices and this is the turn out, such is life
when your sassy mouthy uke is your fated pair and also your muse
NOOOO HOW COULD THIS BE THE END
and Sandu you cute ass little tiger you, you're too young for sexy time shenanigans!
this gave me shivers, especially with the #metoo movement. the james situation is realistic, if anything it was sugar coated to not be too dark. irl a bastard as suspect as james would do something to make sure yunjuan is disposed of and then pull that stunt on aoyue. and then he would have been raped and who knows what else. sorry to get dark..
How awesome and supportive are YuYang's friends though I love it
barren relationship... that's so cold... seme is too nice to even say anything back
is he seriously trying to date rape aoyue while yunjuan is in the car? NO. BAD.
a comparison:
Chika on sexual behavior: just keeps going regardless of what Hotaka says
Chika: tells all their friends about them hooking up early on without asking Hotaka
Chika: doesn't ask Hotaka out but starts with sexually harassing him and then suggesting to go out until they both find someone better
Masato on sexual behavior: doesn't go all the way and asks Hotaka how he feels when they get sexual
Masato: Hotaka asks Masato if he will tell all their friends and Masato asks him how he feels about it
Masato: Asks Hotaka out and says he loves him from the start