This contain spoilers and a long read. You have been warned.
Whew! What a read! And tbh, the comment section didnt give justice to the whole story and it was a good thing that I didnt read the comments before reading, just the plot, so I wasnt expecting anything, and boy, that was for the better.
I can't blame people dissing Sachi because there was enough reason to do so. In a way, it was inappropriate. But honestly, I didn't mind it as much. Probably because I came here after reading Watashi no Shounen with a whooping 18-yr gap woman being the older plus it didnt help that they met as 12-old boy and 30-yr old woman, their relationship remained pure until the very end. And I cried buckets, no kidding I was crying 3am in the morning then went to work with swollen eyes. The struggle of falling in love for people with large age gap it never easy. And there are circumstances where things cannot be just black or white. Going back to Sachi and Tetsu's questionable relationship, sure it was rough and improper on some levels but at the very least I can't judge the decisions they made. Did it ruin Tetsu's future? Maybe. And for that reason alone, you may consider Sachi as the bad guy here and I couldn't probably argue with that. And Tetsu may be minor but he's not without fault either, of course if it happened between a girl same his age it wouldnt turn out this big which was the issue here but a 14-yr old boy having sex with a 22-yr old woman could happen, and the pregnancy was just a consequence. I'm not saying it's not wrong, I don't want to condone such act but learning about their story made me understand. It was not okay but I understand.
Now, I want to address some loose ends called "what if's" as well. What if Sachi lived, Tetsu wouldn't fall in love with Yukimi. Well, obviously yes, I doubt they would even meet. Would Sachi and Tetsu live happily? I would like to think so. But there's also a chance it wouldnt work because people change. On the other hand, Yukimi and Shunya might have worked it out in the end. Because remember Shunya went back to Yukimi and decided to forget his ex even if he still like her, there was chance for Yukimi because he loves her, too. I was honestly rooting for them because I know Yukimi really really loved him. But when Yukimi decides to break up, they felt it was for the better but maybe the break up wouldn't happen if she hadnt met Tetsu because she started to change because of him. If she hadnt met him, she might open up to Shunya in the long run, Shunya might accept her as she is or maybe not. They could still break up and Yukimi might met someone who will change her. Point is, the possibilities are endless that it's not even worth thinking over. Because things happened and people end up where they are due to their decisions and circumstances.
Lastly, people would think Yukimi is a rebound but I would like to think that she is his second chance at happiness. It may have looked like Tetsu doesn't love her as much as he did Sachi but as F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice." and I couldnt agree more. The Tetsu that loves Yukimi now is not the same Tetsu that loved Sachi. It's not comparable. Also, when Tetsu proposed to Yukimi in the front of Sachi's grave and looking up at the sky asking Sachi if it's okay, means he's really moved on and would pursue a happy life with Yukimi. And that he's finally would let go of the guilt of being happy. I believe there is always a guilt for those who survived because moving on and being happy feels like leaving those who passed away behind. It's unfair and harsh for both sides but life goes on for the living and loving again doesn't mean forgetting the past. The heart is big enough for that.
In conclusion, I'd say that this is one of the best shoujo manga I've read yet. It takes on issues seriously and didn't shy away from reality. First love doesn't always work out but it's something precious and would always stay with us. And life is a journey, as cliche as it may sound. You are the driver, the path is for you to choose but the destination may come as suprise.
Damn, that was quite a rambling. Thank you if you have read this far.
This contain spoilers and a long read. You have been warned.
Whew! What a read! And tbh, the comment section didnt give justice to the whole story and it was a good thing that I didnt read the comments before reading, just the plot, so I wasnt expecting anything, and boy, that was for the better.
I can't blame people dissing Sachi because there was enough reason to do so. In a way, it was inappropriate. But honestly, I didn't mind it as much. Probably because I came here after reading Watashi no Shounen with a whooping 18-yr gap woman being the older plus it didnt help that they met as 12-old boy and 30-yr old woman, their relationship remained pure until the very end. And I cried buckets, no kidding I was crying 3am in the morning then went to work with swollen eyes. The struggle of falling in love for people with large age gap it never easy. And there are circumstances where things cannot be just black or white. Going back to Sachi and Tetsu's questionable relationship, sure it was rough and improper on some levels but at the very least I can't judge the decisions they made. Did it ruin Tetsu's future? Maybe. And for that reason alone, you may consider Sachi as the bad guy here and I couldn't probably argue with that. And Tetsu may be minor but he's not without fault either, of course if it happened between a girl same his age it wouldnt turn out this big which was the issue here but a 14-yr old boy having sex with a 22-yr old woman could happen, and the pregnancy was just a consequence. I'm not saying it's not wrong, I don't want to condone such act but learning about their story made me understand. It was not okay but I understand.
Now, I want to address some loose ends called "what if's" as well. What if Sachi lived, Tetsu wouldn't fall in love with Yukimi. Well, obviously yes, I doubt they would even meet. Would Sachi and Tetsu live happily? I would like to think so. But there's also a chance it wouldnt work because people change. On the other hand, Yukimi and Shunya might have worked it out in the end. Because remember Shunya went back to Yukimi and decided to forget his ex even if he still like her, there was chance for Yukimi because he loves her, too. I was honestly rooting for them because I know Yukimi really really loved him. But when Yukimi decides to break up, they felt it was for the better but maybe the break up wouldn't happen if she hadnt met Tetsu because she started to change because of him. If she hadnt met him, she might open up to Shunya in the long run, Shunya might accept her as she is or maybe not. They could still break up and Yukimi might met someone who will change her. Point is, the possibilities are endless that it's not even worth thinking over. Because things happened and people end up where they are due to their decisions and circumstances.
Lastly, people would think Yukimi is a rebound but I would like to think that she is his second chance at happiness. It may have looked like Tetsu doesn't love her as much as he did Sachi but as F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice." and I couldnt agree more. The Tetsu that loves Yukimi now is not the same Tetsu that loved Sachi. It's not comparable. Also, when Tetsu proposed to Yukimi in the front of Sachi's grave and looking up at the sky asking Sachi if it's okay, means he's really moved on and would pursue a happy life with Yukimi. And that he's finally would let go of the guilt of being happy. I believe there is always a guilt for those who survived because moving on and being happy feels like leaving those who passed away behind. It's unfair and harsh for both sides but life goes on for the living and loving again doesn't mean forgetting the past. The heart is big enough for that.
In conclusion, I'd say that this is one of the best shoujo manga I've read yet. It takes on issues seriously and didn't shy away from reality. First love doesn't always work out but it's something precious and would always stay with us. And life is a journey, as cliche as it may sound. You are the driver, the path is for you to choose but the destination may come as suprise.
Damn, that was quite a rambling. Thank you if you have read this far.