Wow...I wasn't expecting a high quality story, but here we are. It is indeed possible. Rina and Kyou are so sweet and wholesome (sexy role-playing times aside, lol) to each other. I thought he was possessive at first, and it was a brilliant move on the author's part to trick us that way! (The sex was...well, beautiful. The artist put in a lot of effort not just to make it look sexy, but lovingly sexy, and that can't be easy, because I haven't really seen it done elsewhere.)
Turns out no, he's just super protective because of their shared backgrounds. He's a diamond in the rough. Huge, intimidating, but wise, if not book smart.
She, on the other hand, is smart but unwise. If I had read this 20 years ago, I'd have probably hated her for being seemingly naive to the point of being an idiot, but I have learned much since then, about how and why some people say nothing, and don't always fight back, etc.
People don't always know what the right thing to do is, so they pick what seems best. Some people fight, some run, some freeze in place, and some even fawn, placate. Whatever makes the hitting stop, or the pain, etc. Their brains are rewired at that point, and sometimes irrevocably warped.
That's the destructive power of abuse, and it is power that her father craved. Power and control. Bipolar disorder, i.e. Manic Depression, while serious, is no excuse. I'm glad he didn't die, but suffered alone as a consequence until he passed. He got what he deserved (except jail.) As for the mother...her arc wasn't explored fully, but she had her own interesting journey.
I certainly wasn't expecting the ending, but it was very satisfying and fulfilling. I really wish for more stories this deep and heartfelt.
Wow...I wasn't expecting a high quality story, but here we are. It is indeed possible. Rina and Kyou are so sweet and wholesome (sexy role-playing times aside, lol) to each other. I thought he was possessive at first, and it was a brilliant move on the author's part to trick us that way! (The sex was...well, beautiful. The artist put in a lot of effort not just to make it look sexy, but lovingly sexy, and that can't be easy, because I haven't really seen it done elsewhere.)
Turns out no, he's just super protective because of their shared backgrounds. He's a diamond in the rough. Huge, intimidating, but wise, if not book smart.
She, on the other hand, is smart but unwise. If I had read this 20 years ago, I'd have probably hated her for being seemingly naive to the point of being an idiot, but I have learned much since then, about how and why some people say nothing, and don't always fight back, etc.
People don't always know what the right thing to do is, so they pick what seems best. Some people fight, some run, some freeze in place, and some even fawn, placate. Whatever makes the hitting stop, or the pain, etc. Their brains are rewired at that point, and sometimes irrevocably warped.
That's the destructive power of abuse, and it is power that her father craved. Power and control. Bipolar disorder, i.e. Manic Depression, while serious, is no excuse. I'm glad he didn't die, but suffered alone as a consequence until he passed. He got what he deserved (except jail.) As for the mother...her arc wasn't explored fully, but she had her own interesting journey.
I certainly wasn't expecting the ending, but it was very satisfying and fulfilling. I really wish for more stories this deep and heartfelt.