People who read Kemutai Hanashi page 1

Hui

2026-08-03 14:35

Tags:

Chapter 3

elsa

2026-07-12 05:03

Tags:

I want moreeee 43

soulfulbongos

2026-07-18 04:01

Tags: #5/5

an exploration of a relationship without labels in a world defined by them. ace representation.

"i don't consider our relationship something shameful, or something in need of hiding. just... I am yet to find the right words to describe it."

i love how it magnifies and meditates on the mundane details of the everyday and offers observations without making judgments. these observations aren't vastly profound or philosophical, but their simplicity belies their worth, and having them written and drawn makes you reflect on your own life in ways you might otherwise overlook. also validating!

"dealing with the unknown is scary. being perceived as unknown is scary. and above all, not knowing who you are yourself is scary."
"kindness and goodwill can't save everyone"
"what makes someone an adult, anyway?"

love the way it depicts how we grow to understand and accommodate one another slowly, making mistakes along the way. and love takeda and arita's contrasting characters. takeda who never gets mad because he's given up on expecting anything from anyone and arita who quietly seethes at life's inequality, who can't accept the way takeda's good intentions are crumpled and betrayed under an indifferent world, but swallows it down instead of speaking in consideration for takeda. they confuse one another, and intrigue one another, and comfort and inspire and its all laid out in careful detail.

the mundane moments are given proper weight and consequence. a single phone call with arita's mother becomes a suspenseful thrill as she finally asks the question underlying their situation-- do you like men? the hazy comforting fog dissipates and it's like looking at the empty exam sheet and the clock is tick tick ticking...
why are you living with him? you're not planning to stay like this forever, are you?"
HIS MOTHER LOADS THE GUN AND PULLS THE TRIGGER.

i don't know if it's a cultural difference but saying 'i'm living with my friend of the same sex' when you're early 30s and single seems to imply something different in japan than the west. is there a harder push for marriage there? i would have assumed it would just be bc they're friends, or to save costs, but i guess when you're at that age, there are certain inescapable milestones that will always make people Wonder.

chapter 32...
"even if you can't find the right words for it... what we have won't disappear"
TAKEDA HOW DID YOU FIND THE PERFECT THING TO SAY?! HOW TENDER!
the stifling restriction of labels. i appreciate how this manga doesn't jump into anything physical and stays lingering in this undefined limbo of whatever they are to each other--that doesn't need to be named to be real and VALUABLE! that doesn't need to follow convention. that doesn't need to be easily explainable. sex is such a small part of our existence. the daily moments that get glossed over in manga because they're 'boring' are what make up most of our lives and this mangaka makes me care about them!

ugh the earringsssssss ughhhhhh a symbol of takeda finally opening his heart to the world around him, expecting things from someone. looking so closely at arita as to notice the tiny holes in his lobes. if a meteor was throttling towards us, it would be okay if you were with me. OUGH!

also delighted by the use of symbols and imagery here (the oarfish and takeda's meteor: harbingers of doom, the language of flowers)

Breadenjoyer

2026-05-31 12:06

Tags: #roommates #Beautiful Art

Thats the best manga Ive recently read. It gives off comfortable and relaxing vibes. All the characters feel like real people and I really love that author focuses on each and every character without leaving anyone out