akuma_river's manga / #dark love(1)

Up to the halfway point of chapter 1 I thought this was a horror story with a ghost or demon... Instead it's something more insidious and complex and possibly deserving of forgiveness and empathy. Yui's niichan is messed up. He was a victim of a pedophile and then a victim of ongoing systemic physical and mental abuse by his parents due to his gay nature that they believe is caused by the molestation he had. He needed therapy. Instead he was victim again and needed an outlet and in that he found Yui. We don't know how long they knew each other prior to chapter 1 when things took a dark turn...but it was enough to cause Yui to change and for Niichan to become the abuser. At this point he commits a crime...but it also looks like it's the first time he ever did it and the only time until Yui finds him again. Another thing. We don't know how old Niichan was. Was he an adult? Or was he a teen? I'm guessing after Niichan got caught here that he underwent more abuse by his parents. Which is why when Yui pops up again in his life that Niichan loses it and their relationship goes dark. Yui is a third year in high school so he is probably about 17/18. I think that's old enough for consent but in Japan I think it's 20 for male/male relationships? So it was again, against the law. Yui is a victim of Niichan because of the abuse Niichan suffered by his Ojisan and his parents. But Niichan is also a victim of Yui as he was the one who pushed for the relationship and was a mental trigger for his breakdowns. Overall, everyone is a victim of everyone else. Except for Ojisan and Niichan's parents. Niichan's parents and the hooker they got was especially heinous acts. Ojisan was probably an abuse victim himself and it seems he turned his life around... Maiko is the hero of the story. Understanding to Yui and his issues and protecting him from Niichan while also helping him with pursuing Niichan. She's just badass and I love her. As for Yui and Niichan...well they end up with each other who knows the warts of the other and accepts them for who they are...it's a twisted love. Maybe, eventually, they will sit down with a shrink and talk shit out because they both need it. And then the extra comes... Seriously, they need a shrink.