I can't believe they have been together all this time and Takaba knows as little as we do ...

IMO, all I can predict is that people around Asami since he were young were calculating and they would try to gain something. Manipulative people. I can't really comment on his family background much. A mystery to me. Asami, I think have trust issues. What made me think that he had trust issues that in the extra where his 'little monster arrives' Aki tells him to take a bath and Asami is thinking 'Is this a tactic to lower my guard so he can find an opening attack?!' I think like us, Aki is also very interested to know things about Asami. Sensei should give us at least something.

That's a reasonable thought. For some reason I imagine Asami as working his way up to power instead of being born with it. For all we know, the dark haired actress rumored to be dating a CEO could be his mom, or he could be a "bastard" child like Fei. More likely he was raised by strong people who had some advantages, but he made himself the boss. Maybe the old owner of his penthouse taught him to be suspicious and guarded, because, after all,he had all that stuff and he was killed before Asami took over. I somehow want to believe Kuroda is a step brother or good friend from school, and not an ex. I also want to believe Asami secretly helps the prosecutor just as the prosecutor helps him.

I've been thinking the same that Asami worked his way up. He seems to understand how it is to be the underdog.

I agree with you, all though I'm not sure about the old owner of the penthouse would have taught Asami to be guarded. I think Asami has been on guard and suspicious from before he even met the previous owner. And as for Kuroda there is a also high possibility he is just a good colleague and Kuroda gained Asami's trust, that's why they have a good bond between them. And I think on his school days, Asami was definitely good at studies. He may have been at the top of the class. I also think Asami has never met someone like Aki, a person with no ulterior motives. That may be one of the reasons why he is fascinated by Aki.

I think you are right about why Asami is so into Aki. The reason I like Kuroda as some kind of family is the way he talked to Aki seems protective of Asami, though rude, and the way he talks to Asami seems intimate, but not jealous. A good friend might be that way, but may also hold his tongue about a lover. A brother may be openly critical of someone who seems to have gotten his hooks into one of his family--and may also have been raised with the "If you can't use him, what good is he?" mentality.

Yes, I agree. I like Kuroda too. He is indeed close to Asami and calls him by his first name. He isn't a jealous person like Sudoh. He knows to be in limits.

He may not be jealous but he is judgmental. I hate how he talks to Aki. He's carrying a real double standard. It's fine for Asami to have Aki as his live-in lover but for Aki to be Asami's live in lover makes him a whore.

And I'm not convinced he isn't jealous. He seems to go out of his way to be ignorant to Aki, and a big point is made about him leaving finger marks in the rolled up paper he was holding in this scene to suggest strong emotions:

http://www.mangago.me/read-manga/you_re_my_loveprize_in_viewfinder/mh/v07/c037/10/

Also, he's a litterbug. Ha! Am I the only one who doesn't like Kuroda?

Yes, that is true. I too, don't like the way he treats Aki and he understimates him but still he can be trusted in dangerous situations only because he is loyal to Asami though. Well everybody have their own opinions so it is fine if you don't like him.

I guess I've read a lot of stories where the brother doesn't take to the lover right away--maybe it influenced me. I do think Kuroda was sort of testing Aki with the rudeness, and that it was personal. I don't think Kuroda is in love with Asami though. I think if they are not brothers, they go way back and have history (the kind where you save each other's lives).

It seems to go beyond testing though because he carries it into the conversation with Asami in chapter 43. He is openly running Aki down here, asking why Asami keeps him and saying he sees no value in him. That's pretty bitchy talk.

Gahh you guys got me all curious about Kuroda now (⊙…⊙ )

I didn't say Aki passed the test (in Kuroda's eyes). I don't think Kuroda sees the point of Aki until he gets shot and Aki won't leave him.

We don't know that he's changed his mind about Aki. This is something the reader sees but Kuroda hasn't acknowledged it yet--if he ever does. All he does is say "You're going to be questioned later." We'll have to wait and see if that incident has changed his idea of Aki's value.

It bugs me that he openly questions Asami on what Asami sees in Aki. That isn't his place to judge, given how little he knows Aki at that point. He makes a snap judgment about Aki based on his own prejudices. And to bring it up to Asami like that, he obviously thinks Asami should dump Aki.

The fact that Kuroda does think it's his place to judge Asami's lovers is what makes me think he is either a brother or close friends from long ago. He's not necessarily judgmental of everyone, so much as he is protective of Assami with a side of "No one is good enough for my brother/friend/whatever." Whatever their past, Kuroda clearly thinks it's his right to play gatekeeper where Asami is concerned and chase off the riffraff if he can.

Kuroda does take a bullet for Aki, and then he tells Aki to hide (though that is mostly for Asami's sake). I take the final back and forth between Kuroda and Aki in chapter 49 as a sort of friendly banter--but I could see how others could read it differently. It's the way you tease a little brother or maybe a rookie on your team. Then again, it's the same Way Missy on Doctor Who teases Clara, so it may not mean much.

BTW notice how Asami shoots the gun and not the shooter? That's what leads me tot hink he is a sort of undercover good guy--of a sort.

If Kuroda and Asami were that close--close enough that Kuroda thinks he has the right to stand guard at Asami's bed--Kuroda would know enough about Aki that he wouldn't have to ask him such insulting questions.

The way Asami and Kuroda talk in chapter 43 doesn't really suggest that level of intimacy to me. Kuroda backs off the subject of Aki after one cold look from Asami. So clearly, this isn't the kind of conversation they are in the habit of having. And Asami clearly isn't accustomed to Kuroda sticking his nose that far into his bedroom.

What back and forth? The stuff about Aki not having his camera? That's Asami and Aki bantering. Kuroda is speaking on the right side of the frame, instructing the ambulance crew to get him out of there. Asami and Aki are speaking on the left. Aki says he was tied up and forced to the warehouse. He wouldn't have had to tell Kuroda that because Kuroda already knew, so Aki is talking to Asami there.

Kuroda only addresses one line to Aki about being questioned later. And actually, that might even be directed at Asami, since Sudou is his employee. So Kuroda maybe doesn't speak to Aki at all. So I see no warm feelings for Aki from Kuroda at all in that scene, if he even speaks to him at all (and remember, he swept right by him without a word in the previous chapter, even though Aki was tied up and bloody and calling out to him.) He protected Aki in the warehouse because he is an officer of the law doing his duty as well as for Asami's sake.

Asami shoots the gun and not the shooter because there are already police on the scene and if he drops a body at that moment, it's going to get seriously complicated for him. He is smart, not undercover.

About chapter 49. Kuroda tells Asami that Asami's employee (Sudouh)is worse than he is, and that Asami is going to be questioned later. Then he asks to be taken away (presumably to the EMTs) so that he is not the subject of sightseeing. Aki jokes that it's a shame he doesn't have his camera (to take a picture of Kuroda while he is flat on his back and being fussed over). Kuroda counters by teasing Aki about being a poor photographer who didn't even bring a camera and asking why Aki came there anyway. Aki replies he was kidnapped and taken against his will, which Kuroda knew, which is why this whole exchange reads as banter to me.

To me, the conversation between Kurdoa and Asami in chapter 43 was one that seemed to be between equals, and Kuroda even joked that Asami looked scary when Kuroda suggested using Aki. Kuroda eventually apologized when he saw how serious Asami was in the next panel, but he was still more like brother or partner rather than someone who would not normally talk freely with Asami. It's probable that Asami has never been serious about anyone else before Aki, so it may not be something Kuruda has encountered from Asami before. Aki describes the tone as warm and rfriendly, and sees that there is more than a business relationship.

http://www.mangago.me/read-manga/you_re_my_loveprize_in_viewfinder/mh/v07/c043/10/

Kuroda acts like he has a huge brother complex. Asami could date himself and he would find something wrong with that . hahahah. He can't help himself. But when Takaba was about to be shot in the warehouse, he took the bullet for him. did he do it to save Takaba or Asami's heart? He is very protective of Asami.I liked the ideas every one said about Asami's possible past. So interesting.

That dialogue about Aki and his camera is between Aki and Asami. Kuroda is being carted off at that point. Kuroda already knows why Aki was in the warehouse so he wouldn't have asked and Aki wouldn't have had to explain to him. But Asami did not know so it's Asami asking and Aki explaining. Also, Asami has twitted Aki in the past about his failure as a photographer, so this is just more of the same. So there is no banter between Kuroda and Aki.

I don't get the sense that Asami and Kuroda are equals. Kuroda is subordinate to Asami and speaks to him that way, even if on a more casual level than say Kirishima. But still, Kuroda serves Asami and Asami rewards Kuroda. It may be more warm and friendly than a typical business relationship but it doesn't strike me as being on the level of intimacy that would mean Kuroda is accustomed to speaking freely about Asami's personal relationships. He knows he spoke out of turn there and he backed off.

The dialogue is between Kuroda and Aki. Kuruda asks to be carted off so he won't be gawked at, but he is not being moved yet. Aki teases Kuroda about wanting to take a picture of the "rare sight"-- Kuroda on his back. Why would Aki tease Asami about wanting to take a picture of Kuroda? That makes no sense. Since Aki teases Kuroda, Kaurda teases Aki. Why would Asami answer for Kuroda when Kuroda started the conversation? Why Would Asami answer when Kuroda is being teased? Asami has also teased Aki about not being a good photographer in the past, but in this context, it is Kurda. It is as if Kuroda and Asami share a similar sense of humor. This is all banter between Kuroda and Aki.

If you don't believe Aki's impression that it is "more than a business relationship" between Kuroda and Asami, then there is nothing I can say to convince you. Kurda does talk about not letting Asami's interest be harmed, but one may say that to a brother or a good friend too. Kuroda spoke of Aki twice, the second time after joking about Asami's scary expression. He backed off and decided he went to far only because Asami went silent on him. That could easily be a conversation between brothers or even good friends. Some people do not talk about their relationships and feelings, even with those they are closest too. Asami then switches the topic to Sudou, and they talk about Sudouh in the same way Kuroda had talked about Aki--in terms of Sudouh usefulness or lack thereof. This is part of their normal conversation. Do you think Asami discusses his strategies and uses for people with just anyone?

I want to add that whoever is speaking at the end of chapter 49, he is not seriously asking for information. Asami showed up because Kuroda (or someone) phoned in information. In any case, Asami saw bullets flying and knew things had gotten hairy. Neither Asami nor Kuroda would have to ask in earnest why Aki didn't have a camera. The only reason to ask is to tease--the way Aki teases Kuroda even though Aki knows Kuroda got the wounds by taking bullets aimed at Aki. Aki's defensive response is unnecessary--everyone there knows why he doesn't have a camera at that time. Aki is just responding to being teased.