Fifth in the Kuroneko series. Werecat Shingo and his actor and wereleopard boyfriend Keiichi are a lovey dovey couple living together now with the trouble of Keiichi's brother behind them, but when Keiichi gets busy with work, Shingo tries to control his jealousy, only for him to feel they're drifting further apart. Finally, Shingo puts an end to things, and this time, Keiichi doesn't chase him. But is Shingo really ready to let things end? Trigger warning: dubcon.
SO, I have things to say. I have two main problems with this one. 1) Less important, but the whole, "the problem lies with the one who can smell it." That's not how scent works?? It's just such an asinine line that makes zero sense in context or with biology when they could have explained it so many other ways, and I hate it. But 2) the bigger problem is that they frame it as though Shingo is the one in the wrong, and while he does let his anxiety get the better of him and ask for the breakup, it fails to acknowledge all the ways in which Keiichi fucked up to get them there. Shingo asked if he was having an affair, and he knows Shingo has anxiety about being abandoned in a relationship, yet his only response was to find his jealousy "cute." Then, we have him staying out late, not texting, not coming home at night, all of which is pretty bad behavior in a partner, even if Shingo did know it was for work, and all the while he was with an openly bi director who was flirting with him, which Keiichi seemed to do nothing to stop. But the worst of all is that he took a job oversees for multiple months without even talking to Shingo about it! Like, it's your choice, but when you're in a relationship, it's totally irresponsible to make such a major life decision without at least consulting your partner. No wonder Shingo thought he was losing interest! And instead of exploring any of these things at all, when Shingo asked for the breakup, Keiichi just demanded the "real" reason instead of taking any time to think about any of this, then left. He's always been a pretty abusive partner, but the way in which this volume frames him as the victim just drives me crazy. Still, I obviously feel some investment in this couple if I'm bothering to write all this. I would really love to see a version of this volume from Keiichi's point of view that actually addresses the ways in which he was failing Shingo and sees him realize he needs to do better as a partner if he wants Shingo to feel secure in their relationship.
Kuroneko Kareshi no Afurekata