the characters are really well-written! i feel like you can really “get” taku’s personality from just the few words, gestures and glances we see from him: confident, straightforward and honest, yet still somewhat intriguing and delicate when needed.. but man that line about the lighter! “i just like the feeling of its weight in my pocket” that sounds so douchey i can’t lmao
but that also fits the character so well! cause he does indeed seem a bit pretentious
I feel like he's lying about the lighter.
“if it never starts, then it never ends” — such a realistic thought to have in this kind of unhealthy relationships. not only because no one wants to take responsibility, but also because no one wants to become vulnerable and both are afraid of being alone/unwanted/unloved.. it’s so upsettingly real lmao
when he turned into kermit the frog i fuckin lost it
Ikr?!
i like how hen destroyed their power imbalance with one swift gesture: “this is bullshit and you’re being a shitty person”. it’s great when the mc calls out such ambiguous behavior and teasing despite his supposed infatuation with alek.
also, i don’t think there’s even a slightest chance that they end up together, but i’m still really interested in alek and wanna see more of him. gonna entertain the idea of him ending up with that puppy (kitty?) guy.. cause he was the only one completely unfazed by alek’s presence, just giving out freakin gummy worms to this stone cold sex snake man in the sweetest childlike manner like no big deal.. there’s no way the author would leave it at that
the way they looked at her when she walked in on them is so chilling. considering they are teens, and stepbrothers at that, doing something inappropriate (even ghastly in the eyes of a mother who sees them as siblings and children) - yet their reaction, their expressions, such cold unapologetic gazes.. just chilling to the bone.
this calm unease creeping upon the reader is awfully good
yeah and i loved their faces at that moment omg!
the way this manhwa makes me feel while reading it is quite.. peculiar. the pacing builds up the tension slowly but surely, the inner monologues are so unapologetic, the interactions are so bitter, the characters are so flawed, it hard to wholeheartedly sympathize with anyone – and all of that creates this lingering and weirdly enjoyable feeling of discomfort.
now that i think about it, maybe the main reason for this unease is the premise of not-technically-incestuous-yet-still-weird-and-forbidden brotherly lust.. still, the way everything unfolds around and works with this premise is just.. ugh, a masochistic chef’s kiss from me lmao
as for the manhwa itself, i have no idea what to expect (which is good).. but it feels like there’s no way for this mess to be sorted out without a tragic outcome.
one character has lived through too much suffering and absolutely horrible trauma to have a happy end. the other one.. we still don’t really know what happened to him & their relationship in their adolescence. however what he’s done in his adulthood is unforgivable.
this story is truly torturous not only to its characters but to its readers as well
i’m SO glad ogata didn’t get the satisfaction of “staining” asirpa with his ugly philosophy. that was SO gratifying! i was so relieved.. not as relieved as shiraishi tho
the author did an amazing job at portraying abusive relationships and how contradictory or inconclusive their nature may seem not only to an outsider but to the victim themselves.. so much so that there are still readers who interpret yanek’s behavior as “love in his own way”. and yeah, it’s hugely important to be compassionate.. but man, we really have to outgrow and outlive this idea of sympathizing with the abuser the step from understanding to somewhat justifying is sooo small sometimes
Well said! its a disappointment that many don't see this and pls dont even mention the "fiction doesnt affect reality" talk cause then i dont interact with them.