Even if there is no sex it's still coercive, there doesn't need to be sex in order for a relationship to be wrong. Plus, even if there is a minimal age gap there's a power dynamic between those who are an adult vs those who are still teenagers. Let's say Suguru is 16/17 and Masaki is 21-22, the age gap isn't huge but the power dynamics between them causes the relationship to be wrong. Imagine Suguru being 13 and Masaki being 18, that's a creepy age gap, there's no difference if Suguru is a little older. It'd be different if Suguru was 18/19, because then the dynamics are different.
From MY perspective as someone who is about to turn 27, if someone was 18 years old I would not be interested in them AT ALL. Even if they were 21, because not only are they freshly an adult but younger people always seem like children to me. Maybe that's why I am so passionate about it because they deserve to be protected from creeps.
Just because someone doesn't have sex doesn't mean anything, imagine someone my age dating a 16 year old and being like "we're in a relationship but we're not having sex until they're an adult! <3" It's disgusting
Like I said, I think it makes more sense to judge a story AFTER reading the whole thing (+ side stories). The translation is pretty off too, tbh.
I feel like a lot of people are judging even tough they don’t know the whole story yet? This series is finished in two volumes (no smut at all!). They are in this „trial thing“ until Suguru decides if he wants a relationship or now. Noriyuki is pushy but he’s not 100% an asshole. The age gap is minimal btw.