Nii-chan

[daniel_luke836]

I loved it! It will be kept forever in my heart.

 

[Sosekes]

this shit sucks ass man, even as a "tragedy" story

 

[omegajuices]

What the fuck did i just read it’s like I understand but it’s so messed up at the same time, mama doesnt know how to feel at this moment

 

[shotal0ver]

Did kei die at the end because of drug overdose? I feel like it's implied or am I reading too much into this 🫠
Tbh the most unrealistic part about this story is Maiko cause why does she hate the victim of her father even before she found out that he rapes her boyfriend?? Pretty wieeerd and also the MC's personality is inconsistent. Other than that the story is a pretty good psychological

 

[xxMoe_Angelxx]

that was certainly... something, the dull, soulless sex scenes, the fear & guilt that Yui feels that seems to weigh on you through the screen/page.... it hurts, yet, "satisfies" for lack of a better word... like picking a scab, if that makes any sense. as a victim of abuse i can see myself in Yui... seeing him fight so hard to be in a relationship with his abuser, and seeing him justify it to himself and others that way shivers it was awful.. especially since Mai agreed with him, feeding into his desires, instead of telling him why the love he wanted so badly was wrong... i can't say that i liked this. it was tragic and it was horrific, from beginning to end. the best part is when Kei gets tased. honestly.

 

[contessaxchaos]

Can’t believe I’m writing a review for this but I need to get down my thoughts about this. it’s an uncomfortable read. i kept reading because that was the point of works like this: it’s meant to confront what you know and what you believe. the reason I managed to finish reading this and feel satisfied* by the ending is because I believe the author‘s intention isn’t to convince us to think one way or another; she didn’t show us the perp’s backstory so we can sympathize with him and accept his actions. Even when the mc underwent a character arc, it didn’t read like an endorsement that what he’s doing is morally right. This may be obvious to many but I’m new to reading this kind of dark romance so it wasn‘t obvious to me. From the outside, I think dark stories like this verges close to exploitative, that’s why I tend to stay away. It’s been decades since homosexuality was removed from the DSM, so I find it disappointing when modern stories overlap sexual preferences and gender identity with psychological trauma. It’s true that people who experienced trauma of any kind tend to develop psychological scars that hurt one’s self-worth and self-image; it’s true that it’s important to depict this, to enlighten those who can’t understand and to make those who understand feel seen and acknowledged; BUT it can be harmful if we start associating gender identity and homosexuality with things like rape, child sexual abuse, and pedophilia. Thats why it’s tricky interacting with the dark romance genre, because you don’t know what you’re getting. Is it gonna be art that will make you think or is it gonna be tropey and exploitative? We’re sick of reading/watching women getting raped for the sake of plot, so isn’t it hypocritical when it’s done to men, and isn’t it just as harmful when those men are implied to have become homosexual as a result? I don’t mean to moralize here because I can see how some women may find it comforting to see “the Other” (ie men and gay men) be violated and victimized, instead of them; some women may find comfort in watching how these fictional Other pick themselves up and rebuild themselves and find their version of a happy ending. They can’t find that kind of catharsis in real life so it matters a lot to find that catharsis in fiction and art. That’s why as much as there’s potential for harm, I still think stories like this should continue to exist. And because they’re niche, the ones who tend to find them are the ones who need to find them and the ones who are exploring. My fervent wish is for everyone who finds this theme and genre to engage with it not just as shallow entertainment.
This author, Harada, is creating Art. I’ve read the Nega anthology first before coming here; in it she explored the dark unhappy crevices of BL as a genre. She didn’t moralize in any of those stories. She explored them with nuance and efficiency. Thats why I was able to finish reading this despite its darker elements. i don’t have a coherent message to say here, I’m just rambling, ig im just happy because in a sea of possible trash, I found Harada’s art!
Having said that, if anyone cares for a recommendation of dark romance and mature themes explored well, see Yoneda Kou-sensei’s “Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai”. For an example of dark themes used for entertainment purposes only (ie no deeper meaning, no moral question, no confrontation) but still done tastefully (both in its art and skillful storytelling), see Nakamura Asumiko-sensei’s “Kaori no Keishou.” They’re doing different things and should be approached with different mindsets. The latter is NOT mindless entertainment. I think we all suffer if the kind of entertainment that survives is the mindless kind. Anyway, I’m done rambling. thanks for reading ig.

 

[arieyaki]

this series genuinely was so thought provoking to me, I was recommended this in a Pinterest comment section and as a victim of csa I felt so seen. I wish the ending was far more open ended though, while the message that they could learn to move past it and stay with each other. i would greatly prefer if they accepted that the longing Yui experiences was merely a figment of grooming. i adored everything besides that. kei's longing and route down a darker path compared to yuis really goes to show that no two survivors are the same and I hope that the others who relate to anything in this story have healed or are on the road to healing <3 remember that your love is valuable and don't hang onto those who used it.