yamato, for whom hozumi harbors a hero complex-cum-crush, is plagued and beset by hozumi's pigtail-pulling - unfortunately inflicted on yamato's poor long-suffering childhood friend for enjoying the privilege of his attention and protection. hozumi is simultaneously vexed by the futility of his kindergarten behavior and validated by the scraps of attention, however negative, he is able to eke out of yamato and direct onto himself. will yamato's frosty annoyance thaw into love? will hozumi ever pull his foot out of his mouth and shed his willful tsundere exterior?
begins as though it’s headed in an S&M direction, then gets dramarrific, then evens out on an even keel, finally achieving the right balance of conflict and growth.
i have to confess i almost couldn't slog through this, but just like nekota yonezou's hidoku shinaide, there's a turning point past which the characters mature and the manga starts delving deeper into the affairs of an established relationship
Hinekure Chaser