all time faves

love story between a former prostitute and a distinguished young man running from his past.

set in edo japan - authentic clothing, hairstyles, culture, etc

so so tender and beautiful, momo and manji both bring their trauma to their table and lay it out for the other to see. in all its ugliness and volatility, and shame and disgust. and they carry it together, halving the load, shedding it chapter by chapter. beyond perfect!

no words/summary will ever do this masterpiece justice - if you read as it was being fan-translated, you're a real one, bc that hiatus between s2 and s3 wasn't a joke the pain??? second to none.

depicts love as this unstoppable force that just drags you along for the ride. the chemistry just leaps off the page, and you're so aware the entire time that there's no world in which these two aren't made for each other.

UGH absolutely beautiful - the art in this is just gorgeous! the countryside setting feels entirely accurate and tangible, so well done.

the love between these feels like love at first sight. in its truest form. the characters meet and it's like two old souls have finally found each other. their dynamic is like watching eternal soulmates rediscover what they like about each other in this lifetime. everything's different but the love is still familiar. and the baby's cute.

to love somebody is to wish to devour them. to have them stain the collar of your shirt as you dip your hands into the very essence of them, proving to all who see you that they are yours. and yet, when you are finished, what is left? for you have consumed them, have robbed the world of their light. can no longer show them off, the trophy at your side, the apple of your eye. what hand do you hold, who's cheek do you stroke? no proof of your love, but gristle in your teeth.

moral of the story, if he wanted to HE WOULD