I love your all explaining comments and they should be framed in gold. Seems like many people have a problem with understanding this manga so they attack it ;/
well said luv,,, i don't know how people reading this manga don't get it?? they're clearly improving dawg
THANK YOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!
Thank you. I really loved reading your comment about their relationship, their character and how they affect each other.And explaining it so well too! It made my day, honestly, because I love this manga so much. What I love reading about the most is that these two characters develop and progress in their relationship. I rarely come across a commenter who can explain a story/characters so well. It made me understand the manga a lot better too.
It's been a while since I read the entire thing, so I think I might just do that now! ヾ(☆▽☆)
I read this whole thing front to back again when the new chapter released to write this aha I would definitely recommend people to do so because it’s usually been ages since they’ve read it in its entirety and they tend to forget a lot, including the character’s moments of development
As someone who is almost done with my psych degree for relationship development and behavioral analysis, I agree with almost all of what you said and really couldn't have said it better myself.
The only portion that i disagree with is the fact that you say they are "perfect" for one another or imply that they're the only ones that can deal with one another. While it's true that both Morinaga and Senpai have changed quite a bit from knowing and loving one another, that change doesn't go away if they break up. In fact, I believe that if they did break up, the next relationship they get into (even if it's with each other as long as there is enough time in between) will be far more healthy than the one they're currently in.
I don't particularly feel this relationship is to a level to be considered toxic (yet), or that it can be labeled as healthy either. Senpai needs to stop hitting for starters and Morinaga needs to learn that no means no. It would be interesting if to see how Senpai reacted if Morinaga actually did stop when asked.
Personally, I've the slow development of the characters and they're relationship because people do not change over night, as often portrayed in movies and Manga. This is a nice reality check of how some relationships really take time to develop ground work first, and that compromise is essential (although you should never lose yourself during a compromise) as well as open communication and understanding with your partner. They really need to work on that last one.
Over all, a lot of people have a hard time viewing any relationship that has no drastic and dramatic changes to be considered "progress". People like this often seek conflict, so stories such as this one are unappealing, because the conflict only subtly changes. Hopefully when someone reads your comment, they'll have a better understanding of what the author was trying to get across--which I think is coming off remarkably well.
Forget to add: yes they still have more to go. Morinaga still isn’t satisfied with the physical contact in their relationship and obviously craves more affection. Senpai is still struggling with initiating sex and still hasn’t accepted things completely. They aren’t at the point of Senpai being clear with his consent and Morinaga dealing with insecurity and jealousy. So they definetely still have progress to go. But they have shown they are willing to work together to work on this, and they have only been together for less than a year and already have come so far as people and their relationship. If they still choose to be together, which they will since they love each other and have decided to put in the work for their relationship to work, then I’m sure in a years time there relationship will be very different from what it is now. If they are together for life, they consider themselves life partners, then their relationship is only at the beginning of its journey. But considering it’s been like what, 6-8 months? And they have already changed so much as people and their relationship, for the better, then I think their future together looks bright :)
HHGHGGHGGGGHHGGFFGGG OP I LOVE YOU SO MUCH TYSM FOR THIS, this manga has been one of my favorites for years and because i understand their dynamic i have been able to notice and enjoy their growth as a person/couple a lot. Seeing so many people dropping it or hating on it makes me sad :( i really hope a good and satisfying ending comes fast.
You lady or sir, you should be a psychologist. Morinaga and Tatsumi are relationship goals no matter how twisted they might seem at the beginning. They accept each other and they enrich each other's lives. People these days are too afraid of real, deep emotions, so they're ready to point their holy fingers and scream "abuse" at anything that isn't bright and shiny and doesn't follow their shallow and highly prejudiced morals.
But, that's not how life works. People come in all sorts of shades.
Those teenage puritans could learn a thing or two from fiction. *sips tea*
Same! I think a nice ending would be Morinaga speaking to his parents, and maybe they still don’t accept him but senpai is there to support him. This leads senpai to finally taking the big step and introduces Morinaga as his partner to his family (which they have assumed anyway I’m sure lmao) and they take in Morinaga as part of their family instead. It wraps up Morinaga’s family storyline since that still doesn’t really have closure and also shows that senpai has finally and fully accepted their relationship and future together. That’s the ending I’m hoping for, or something similar
Whoa, istg, your mind!!! That sounds so beautiful!! op pls become a writer because you're amazing
I wanna make one last comment on the positives parts of their relationship because people seem to think it’s all around just miserable and they are terrible for each other. Morinaga and Senpai have changed each other for the better.
Senpai helps Morinaga be more rational and brings him back down to earth.
At the start, Morinaga is selfish, emotionally driven and impulsive. He TRIES to be considerate but ultimately fails, prioritising his own needs of love and lust. SENPAI helps Morinaga improve with these flaws. Senpai makes Morinaga more considerate - an example of this being in volume 8 when senpai collapses and Morinaga realises he needs to treasure senpai more and take better care of him, which he really regrets he hasn’t done well enough until that point, and has shown much more consideration of when to initiate sex with senpai since then. He is also less impulsive. Before he would drop out of university in the heat of the moment or over an altercation. But now he thinks more rationally in situations. He isn’t as controlled by his emotions anymore, thanks for Senpai. Morinaga struggles with insecurity due to his desperate desire to be accepted and loved which comes from his past of being shunned and outcast. He can get very jealous at times. recognises this and confronts Morinaga directly about it. During their spa retreat, and in volume 9 when Morinaga gets jealous during the drinking party. Senpai TELLS Morinaga he accepts him unlike his parents, and even when he sees Morinaga upset when he slaps his hand away, he is sure to assure him it’s only because of boundaries, not because of how senpai values Morinaga as a person. He understands the root of a lot of Morinaga’s issues, has reassured him and helped him with them.
Senpai has also been there as emotional support for Morinaga through a lot. His brother’s original visit, Masaki, his family. Morinaga has never spoken about his pst with anyone else but trusts senpai enough to open up to him and leans on him for emotional support. Senpai helps Morinaga think about his problems in a more straightforward and “Honest” way which Morinaga loves about him. Morinaga tends to over complicate things due to being very emotionally driven. But senpai tackles his problems in a very rational, and almost pure way. Morinaga says a couple times about how Senpai’s feelings and way of thinking are so bright and earnest, it makes him fall in love with him all over again. Senpai also has gotten very protective over Morinaga against those that have hurt him. He punched his brother, went off at Masaki. He also offered to be there, assumingly, to stick up for him if he ever visits his parents. He knows Morinaga never sticks up for himself and tries to teach him to do so.
Morinaga helps senpai be more open to his emotions and his heart.
Morinaga has changed Senpai for the better a lot too. Senpai’s sexuality has never really be explored too much but it’s kind of implied he is gay or at least not straight and struggles with his sexuality (understatement). Senpai realises in volume 8 that he actually “*ALWAYS* wanted to do this (be with Mori)” and it’s hinted at in challengers their relationship (in a joking way) seems more than usual friends. There has always been thing between them but Senpai was never brave enough to admit it to himself. He would never chase after what he wanted on his own volition. As controversial as this is going to be: senpai needed someone to push him. He NEEDS someone forceful like Morinaga. He knows this, Morinaga knows this. Senpai would die alone, struggling with his sexuality his entire life if it wasn’t for Morinaga. People shit on Morinaga for his persistence, and forcefulness but it’s exactly the type of thing senpai needs. NO ONE ELSE would ever get senpai to open up to himself. No one else would ever get senpai to admit he loves them. Senpai would never initiate anything in a relationship and anyone besides someone like Morinaga would leave. Their personalities go well together like that.
Not only has Morinaga has helped senpai become more comfortable and open in his sexuality, and has helped senpai become more comfortable and open about loving another person, but Morinaga has also helped senpai overall just be more accepting with his own emotions and desires. At the same time he has helped senpai be less aggressive and angry. You think senpai is scary now? He was a full on tyrant in challengers and the beginning of the manga. Compare it to how he is now. He is much more calm and relaxed thanks to Morinaga’s influence.
Morinaga has also been there through a lot of Senpai’s hard times as his emotional support. He is always understanding without being too prying when senpai speaks of his late mother. He was there when senpai got sexually assaulted by a professor and over time has helped senpai overcome that trauma and the internalised homophobia that got worse because of that. (Mori has helped senpai become more accepting of homosexuality in general and senpai as a result isn’t as hard on his lil bro’s husband). Morinaga was there for senpai when he was being harrassed by the stalker and his house got burned down. Senpai trusts Morinaga more than anyone else and lets his guard down with him, is the only person he ever allows himself to be emotionally vulnerable around and someone he can cry around.
People complain about senpai being too violent and stubborn. People complain about Morinaga being too forceful and emotional. But that’s exactly the type of person each other needs or else they’d never grow to be better. However, because they are so different, they have had to work a lot to meet each in the middle. Both have sacrificed and compromised a lot for the other person and their relationship. But it’s something they are willing to do, work towards a relationship where they are both satisfied, because they care about one another and want to be together. They see each other as life partners. Just like a marriage, it has its hardships and obstacles. But any married couple can overcome any obstacle if they put in the hardwork. If you’ve ever been in a really serious relationship, you know that’s exactly what it means to love someone for life. To be willing to put in the work and commitment. Even still, there’s no one else out there that’s a better fit for senpai. Or Morinaga. They both know it. They love each other so dearly because of their differences, and flaws.