I find this to be rated a 9.2 overall to be rather tragic.
This story is a beautiful telling of discovery and love through many different ways. There's humor thrown in the mix but it is beautifully done with well portrayed characters.
One thing especially that I love is how queerness is integrated in the story across not just the main couple, but Ichigo's friend and Ritsu's uncle (who is aro/ace). It talks about love and the variations of love in such a beautiful way. They don't mention how platonic or romantic or familial love takes precedence over another, or that one is larger than the other. Instead, they talk about how each is complex and beautiful in their own right.
If anything, the only complaint in this story is that Ichigo and Ritsu's affection for one another can come across as a bit fast. Though I attribute that to only having 5 chapters so it's difficult for a slow burn to ensue but I also believe that the love between Ichigo and ritsu is still genuine and is a far cry from the "love at first sight" and nothing else to back it up trope.
I love how themes of consent and understanding emotions is portrayed here. Ritsu's portrayal of it can come across as a bit literal as he's been designed to be a character who is essentially a blank slate who needs an explanation to his feelings. It's through him that the author is able to give the readers an explicit story of what it means to discover your feelings. But this is coupled with Ichigo who is less literal and is moreso implied. He has experience in love and how he discovers his shortcomings and how he grows is shown through his actions and self reflection rather than through being blatantly handed to him by other characters.
Those two make for a good mix in the story which helps tell it in a more compelling way while also ensuring that readers get the right message despite any possible miscommunication between the author's message and reader.
Overall this is shaping up to be one of my favorite reads of all time and I've been reading since 2016.
It has its flaws but it's more so in the short story and how the author seems to prefer having the message be delivered in an explicit matter (which I personally don't consider a flaw consider how we need more explicit clear rep and positive messages in this genre).
I find this to be rated a 9.2 overall to be rather tragic.
This story is a beautiful telling of discovery and love through many different ways. There's humor thrown in the mix but it is beautifully done with well portrayed characters.
One thing especially that I love is how queerness is integrated in the story across not just the main couple, but Ichigo's friend and Ritsu's uncle (who is aro/ace). It talks about love and the variations of love in such a beautiful way. They don't mention how platonic or romantic or familial love takes precedence over another, or that one is larger than the other. Instead, they talk about how each is complex and beautiful in their own right.
If anything, the only complaint in this story is that Ichigo and Ritsu's affection for one another can come across as a bit fast. Though I attribute that to only having 5 chapters so it's difficult for a slow burn to ensue but I also believe that the love between Ichigo and ritsu is still genuine and is a far cry from the "love at first sight" and nothing else to back it up trope.
I love how themes of consent and understanding emotions is portrayed here. Ritsu's portrayal of it can come across as a bit literal as he's been designed to be a character who is essentially a blank slate who needs an explanation to his feelings. It's through him that the author is able to give the readers an explicit story of what it means to discover your feelings. But this is coupled with Ichigo who is less literal and is moreso implied. He has experience in love and how he discovers his shortcomings and how he grows is shown through his actions and self reflection rather than through being blatantly handed to him by other characters.
Those two make for a good mix in the story which helps tell it in a more compelling way while also ensuring that readers get the right message despite any possible miscommunication between the author's message and reader.
Overall this is shaping up to be one of my favorite reads of all time and I've been reading since 2016.
It has its flaws but it's more so in the short story and how the author seems to prefer having the message be delivered in an explicit matter (which I personally don't consider a flaw consider how we need more explicit clear rep and positive messages in this genre).
10/10