Another well drawn manga by Asou Mitsuaki sensei about mutual salvation, this story is longer and more complete than the other book 夜の落下 released at the same time. Both main characters have good heart despite the complicated world that they live in and all the messy things they see around them.
The seme 梶原佑真 is a 17 year old high school student, he secretly ran away from home to Tokyo for 6 days/5 nights. He’s confused about his sexuality and came to find the uke for some advice because there’s no one he can talk to back in the small town. The uke allowed the seme to stay with him during the trip. Although they are very distant relatives, the two never spoke before. The seme saw the uke once when they were kids, who was alone and removed from the surroundings, he wanted to speak to the uke but was refused by his parents because there are many negative rumors surrounding the uke…
The uke 佐倉すみれ is 25 year old gay bar tender working in Shinjuku, who has broken off all relationship with relatives back home. He’s had a very tough childhood, his mom was unsuccessful with abortion and he’s the unwanted child, his dad neglected him because he wasn’t a smart kid in school, he was left alone at home and the dad rarely came back and just gave him pocket money. A very unfortunate incident happened when the uke was in 4th grade, he got tricked by a intern teacher from the school and sexually assaulted in a car. The uke became more lonely because of the rumors and he has no friends or family around…
Having had such an unhappy life, the uke left home the day before high school graduation, he used the money to take the train to Tokyo and stayed ever since. He suffers from self-pity and slight tendency of self-harm because he thinks all the good luck has been used up when he was born. He’s only ever dated jerks and been in abusive relationships because he thinks they are on the same level as him. He’s not too bothered by being treated casually, all the the cheating and violence, because he’s not attached to them.
One of the ex-boyfriend (freckle face) broke into the uke’s home and attempted to assault the seme, luckily the uke came back in time and beat up the ex-boyfriend. The uke told the seme to save his first time for someone he love and it will be a happy memory to be remembered forever…
Two years later, the seme enters a reputable university in Tokyo and he’d often help out at the uke’s bar. The seme has good manner and kind heart so he gets along with the staff at the bar, especially the cross-dressing mama-san who loves watching Korean romantic drama. The seme is attracted to the uke and wants to give him happiness, he doesn’t want to see the uke surrounded by jerks anymore (cheater, liar)…
The seme heard from his family that uke’s dad has passed away. The seme forcefully dragged the uke back to hometown on the day of the funeral. This trip gave uke closure from his sad past and the dad that he hated, when he found a photo album with his baby pictures and the bank booklet that he returned to the dad after he moved to Tokyo…
The seme finally confessed to the uke but got rejected. The uke gave him tons of reasons why they shouldn’t be together… The uke said the seme is so young and bright maybe he can find a girlfriend and live a normal life, the seme still has family that care about him whereas the uke has no one, the seme is surround by people and the uke has no friends… The seme got very hurt and left, saying that uke is too cold hearted.
The uke thinks the seme is too good for him, he’s afraid to change their relationship because he wish for the seme to stay by his side forever as good friend. One of the customer is a food distributor for seme’s university and threatened to expose an underaged minor entering the gay bar, the uke panicked and got forced to drink a bottle of wine, the seme saw it and saved him. The seme is the first person to tell the uke to cherish himself because those around him really do care about him.
On the way home, the uke got attacked by his ex-boyfriend (freckle face) using a taser from behind, he fainted and woke up in a car in the middle of nowhere. Being tied up and having a knife next to his face, the uke refused to be raped so he fought back and yelled for help… The seme arrived with some bar staff and saved the uke then brought him home… The mama san told the uke to take some time off and recover, so the pair stayed home together, having sex day and night for a whole week.
It’s been a week since the uke returned to work but he’s not been in contact with the seme… It’s August so the seme should have finish exams and started summer break. The mama san told the uke to stop waiting around and fight for his happiness because he deserves it. The uke ran to the seme’s home only to find the landlord who told him the seme is going back to hometown for sometime. The uke rushed to the train station but missed the 3pm train, so he called the seme to apologize and confess, only to see him standing on another platform.
This author gives the illusion of a happy ending, but their works are always bittersweet. Tbh after such an intense buildup I am highkey annoyed at the final chapter. Why did they stop contacting each other after finally being together? It felt like the drama was shoved in their to make the stakes seem higher and make our mc really choose his love. A less dramatic ending would have suited the story in my opinion. But whatever. I still liked this despite that....kinda 😠
Cw child neglect, sa, kidnapping, violence, homophobia
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Trigger warning: rape, child neglect, self-harm and abuse This is heavy drama with a happy ending. It is also difficult to review, because some dialogue didn't make much sense to me and I wonder if some things got lost in translation. I thought about not rating it at all, but I only do that when really conflicted or confused. So I kinda liked it, but couldn't really enjoy it.