The Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice

窮鼠はチーズの夢を見る/俎上の鯉は二度跳ねる [Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume o Miru/Sojou no Koi wa Nido Haneru] #2

by Setona Mizushiro

The sequel to The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese, the compelling LGBT+ drama!

Kyoichi’s always been a lady-killer, so no one is more surprised than him when he falls in love with another man. But even though Kyoichi cares deeply about Imagase, he can’t help but have a weakness for women. When a young lady at Kyoichi’s work gets a crush on him, it tests the bond between Imagase and Kyoichi. Can the two stay afloat in these troubled waters, or will the current tear them apart?

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, Romance, Boys Love, LGBT, M M Romance, Queer

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2009

About the author

Mizushiro Setona (水城せとな in Japanese, or 水城雪可奈 in Chinese language) is a popular mangaka who started out in the dōjinshi circles.

Her first real dabble in the world of creating manga was in 1985 when she participated in the publication of a dōjinshi. She remained active in the dōjinshi world until her debut in 1993 with the short single "Fuyu ga Owarou Toshiteita" (Winter Was Ending) that ran in Shōgakukan's Puchi Comic magazine.
Though her current drawing style is high on the aesthetic value, her earlier works had less finesse. Regardless of the lesser emphasis on the visual elements in her earlier works, her popularity grew largely due to her unparalleled grasp for storytelling. Her works are noted for their slightly askew plots and deep exploration of the human psyche. Even her lighthearted Shōjo works usually have darker underlying elements. With an incomparable ability to craft stories that puzzle, sadden, assure, pervert, and move the depths of one's heart, she has gained a cult-like following. Her works include shojo, josei, and yaoi, and have been translated into multiple languages, including English, Italian, French and German.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

They're both difficult people with a lot of emotional baggage and other issues. They're probably not great for each other. But damn if I don't want to see them live happily ever after anyway.

[yengyeng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not exactly sure why I like this series so much. Maybe because it is not just PWP. There is a plot. It is refreshing that there are no Mary-Sue characters. The main characters - a black-mailer with obsessive-compulsive, control-freak issues and stalker tendencies and a weak-willed serial adulterer - are unlikely heroes who grew on me. The manga discusses issues like what is love, especially love between two men, and the selfish and obsessive nature of love. Unsurprisingly, there is a happy ending (it is a love story afterall) that is unsoppy and unsappy.

Re-read this 11 years later after watching the live-action movie that was out in Japan last month. Still one of my favourite series.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this second volume more than the first one. The characters grow in depth and complexity and the story is interesting, tense and at times rather involving.

Having said that, though, I'm still rather puzzled by the gender dynamics at work in the story - Imagase is almost constantly presented as a crazy stalker, hysterical and unstable and I've found Kyoichi's scathing assessment of gay relationships and love rather problematic.

The artwork is really not my style and I kept on finding the page layout, framing and encapsulation rather uninspiring.

2.5 but rounded up to 3 for some passages I liked.

[Daesy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well....I wasn't a fan of this 2nd volume...so much drama and angst, and way too many heterosexul elements. Again I can't really call that cheating (at least not btw the MCs), but still didn't enjoy those scenes. The only good part of this book was the end, also if it was not really as optimistic as I'd have hoped for, and another thing that I liked was the fact that they switched positions. For the rest...I'll pretend only book 1 existed xD

[L Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: This review contains spoilers

☆Sequel to The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese

I am sitting here trying to process everything I've read in this manga. I could not stop reading and I feel utterly drained. I'm so happy right now. This was amazing. Not everyone is going to agree with me but I love reading about messy relationships involving complicated characters acting in insanely irrational or unexpected ways because of their love or obsession with someone. And this story was all that and then some. Toxic or not these two deserve to be with each other and I don't know what I would've done if this manga hadn't ended the way it did. Also, I can believe the number of years this story drug out! Thank God I'm just now reading this. I don't think my heart would have been able to take it! LOL!!

Okay, so, I have to begin with anguish these two were experiencing, especially Imagase. I think I'd actually be scared if someone loved me the way he loved Kyoichi; truly afraid that one day all those heavy emotions he carries around becomed too much and he either takes his own life or comes at me with some "if I can't have you no one else can" crap. The way he poured his heart out to Kyoichi made me weep, oh my God.

And poor Kyoichi was confused damn near the whole time. I'd get so mad at him for being so cold to Imagase but I had to keep reminding myself that he just didn't know how to react to everything being thrown at him. He wanted someone to love him the way Imagase did.. that devotion is exactly what he wanted! But that devotion came in the form of a man, not a woman, and he wasn't gay. He allowed himself to wallow in Imagase's love(making) knowing this; knowing full well that he was becoming more and more attached to him. Before long he didn't know what his true feelings were; it had gotten all mixed up. He admitted that he was selfish and prideful, that he wanted love and devotion, that he was somewhat of a sadist in that regard. He stayed confused until Imagase left him that second time. That's when he finally admitted to himself that he loved him. I was face palming myself throughout his entire conversation with Tamaki.

After more than six months of being separated from him he finally made the decision to be with Imagase regardless of how bleak their future seemed. He acknowledged all of Imagase's many flaws and still decided to give up everything he'd been working on in the the time they'd been apart to be with him. It would have been so much easier to stay with Tamaki but for the first time in his life he decided to make an actual decision concerning his love life. This sounds stupid but up until this point he'd always just go with the flow and hooked up with who ever was the easiest to be with at the moment.

"I always thought love was something that made you happy. What a childish dream. Is this really love? This pain thats practically crushing me? This suffering, like everything's being ripped out from under my feet... like I can't take even one more burden?"

"If this is love... then love is Karma."

I was so proud of him. He grew. He matured. HE FINALLY LOVED SOMEONE! And not only that, he gave into that love completely.. said fuck it, let's do this, and if it doesn't work out i'll be fine.

I want more stories like this. I want more stories that make you question what it means to love truly love someone. People will say this isn't a good story because it promotes unhealthy relationships. Can't a story just be a story? This manga isn't promoting anything. It isn't glamorizing anything. It's telling the story of two very flawed individuals and their struggle to give and receive the love they want and need. It's officially one of my favorites.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I liked this one more than the first volume, but the ending was so frustrating!!

I was vibing with Kyoichi for a little bit because I thought his whole issue with distinguishing between love and fondness and not understanding if he was in love with Imagase or if he was just comfortable and liked the attention. So, his reasoning for not wanting to tell him he was in love with him made sense. But then!!! When they had their little break up moment and he realized he was in love, he still wasn't direct when they talked again?? And Imagase is insane!! Like the whole ending was such a mess, and I know there's another volume, but idk if I can handle more of this.

Their crazy back and forth toxic romance is too much. I just think there's a better way to write something like this. And the fact that the author was writing this just because the magazine they were writing for said bdsm and gays would be a big hit is just... It's obvious she wasn't familiar with the subject. Any of this is being considered bdsm is a joke. I laughed when I read that in the author's note. I mean there was an attempt... I guess... Anyway.

The more I write about this book the more I dislike it. What a train wreck.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished the first volume, my first thought was "wow." I'd heard the relationship was messy and was ready for it, and to be honest, it was exactly what I was looking for. There's a lot of nuance to these characters' psychology which I found fascinating. It's a testament to the author that no matter how much pain the characters caused, I was still rooting for them together. I was expecting a tragic ending and honestly, kept waiting for someone to get hit by a car in the last few pages. I'm sooo glad that didn't happen. The ending was bittersweet anyway though, because the characters are very aware that they may not last. Overall, I was just very impressed, moved, and challenged by this story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the prequel.
The first time I read this, I read them out of order. Honestly, this one packs a harder punch, if you don't read them in order. Better yet don't read the first one at all, it's unnecessary.

[Pili · Rating 5 out of 5]

they truly deserve each other <3

[Shizunthirst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for the people who want a healthy relationship. Both the characters are extremely flawed in their own ways and their relationship is extremely dysfunctional and painful, but it works for them in the end.

[Leeni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yyyyyeah no

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese.

I don't like this as much as the preceding volume. Essentially, it's the final arc from The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese, but done in long form this time (arguably too long, since the pacing definitely starts to drag in the middle). Which I understand is exactly the point, since it's to illustrate that our main characters are stuck in a pattern that shows every sign of continuing to repeat. But it doesn't make for as gripping a read as the previous installment.

That said, The Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice is such a nuanced and thoughtful examination of abuse cycles and emotional enmeshment. And it's also just a completely draining and exhausting read. This is the story of two broken human beings who, instead of "growing and healing together," arrive at a weary place of battered acceptance.

The best part about this conclusion is the long, drawn out dialogue scenes towards the very end. There's also some absolutely breathtaking artwork in those pages; certainly Mizushiro's best work visually within this series. I also adore the ambiguity of the closing scene and the narrative's stark refusal to provide closure or true catharsis. It leaves you feeling raw and unsettled, which is entirely fitting for the story that has been told.

Although I prefer the first installment to this one, both of them comprise what is honestly one of my most favorite things, and they both function in tandem; informing and intrinsically linked to each other. As with the first installment, heavy TWs apply (Non/DubCon, cheating, stalking, and emotional abuse). This story is not "fun," but I love it dearly.

[Xing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well what do we have here? Are these even the same characters in the first volume?

Talk about drastic character changes, and in a GOOD way. I love how this second volume seems to focus more on the realistic endpoint of this relationship. A realistic take on a gay-for-you type plot with a happy-for-now ending that explores the possibility of breaking up in the future.

[bow down to our ace king victor vale · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own these two volumes for quite some years already, but since there is a real-live adaption movie coming out for this series, I wanted to re-read it. I say it upfront, this is not one of my favourite shounen ai mangas out there. The drawing style is, of course, a matter of taste. Personally, I find it decent, even if it doesn't appeal to me as much as others, but let's also take a closer look at the story.

The premise sounds interesting, but different from your usual shounen ai manga, I'd say, which might be what catches and keeps your attention until the very end, no matter if you like the plot and characters, or not. In my case, the unconventional story and the twisted characters kept me reading until the end, even buy volume 2 of the short series, however, I am a bit at a loss when it comes to deciding whether I "like" it, or not. It is out of the question, that the story is intriguing, and once you started reading it, you might not be able to stop. However, in my opinion, it is important to view this unique love story between the two main protagonists with a critical eye. Most people will agree, that the relationship between the characters, as well as most of their behaviour, is rather toxic. While this sometimes overshadows the whole reading experience and can make it feel kind of uncomfortable (at least, that's how I experienced it), it's also interesting to read a story of such flawed characters, for once. They were jealous, raw, brutal, stubborn, over-reacting or under-reacting quite a bit, their behaviour repetitive. To be honest, most of the time, I found it rather annoying than charming. Still, I couldn't let them be, and I was still hoping for a happy ending for both of them.

I think it was the intention of the author to portray a story of love looked at from a darker point of view and if so, the goal was definitely met. This atypical approach is, what makes this reading experience unique, however, my over-all enjoyment definitely influences my rating as well. While this is an interesting read, it's not a story I feel drawn to read it over and over again. I'd still recommend it to fans of the author, as well as those, who like their fair share of angst in their love stories.

[Anna C · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sooner or later, you'll go back to a woman. So let me be the only man inside you. This is the only thing I can rely on to protect my heart." - Imagase

"I'm like a moth that flew into your web of its own accord. I'm dreaming of the day you'll devour me... But you just give me sweet nectar so I won't die. Then, one day, an adorable butterfly gets caught in your web. And right in front of my eyes, you devour her with relish. When I've seen this for myself, I can finally be free..." - Imagase

"Don't you think the Gods put some thought into where they put the prostate gland?" - Imagase

Serius, aku ngakak abis2an wkt baca yg satu ini. Ya, kenapa pula ya Tuhan menambahkan prostate gland ke dlm tubuh pria? Mungkin Tuhan sudah tau kalau akan ada pria x pria. Masuk akal jg, eh? sebuah opsi tambahan gitu, hahaha. Liat aja knp kok ada pria yg udah minat ama pria sedari puber, haha.

"Loving words are difficult for me. I know my feelings won't get throught to you. You're blocking the way. And so am I. This ditch won't be filled forever. So I'll build a bridge. If it gets washed away in a muddy stream, I'll rebuild it. Are things in life so easily broken? It doesn't matter. It's okay." - Kyouichi
"You'll probably throw me out eventually. Next week..or twenty years from now... Sooner or later, you'll get worn out... And leave me for real... Maybe I'll gaze, dumbfounded, at a life with nothing left. That's okay, I'll watch you leave...knowing our love has died. I'll adorn the road of death with flowers. Since that's all I can do." - Imagase

Sbnrnya masi buanyak bgt quote yg bgs2 dari buku ini. Tapi yg di atas ini yg lmyn berkesan buatku. :D

OMG, dua org ini...kalo mrk itu real, pgn bgt kutampar mrk supaya sadar...XO grrr... Baca kisah putus sambung mrk ini bikin mood ikutan naik turun kaya roller coaster gitu... Dua2nya soooo indecisive & unlikeable... tapi memang karakter dan kisah cinta mrk bnr2 sangat realistic. Opera sabun 2 org yg karakternya menyebalkan.

Aku hampir nyerah baca chapter awal prekuelnya, krn tdk suka dgn kelakuan Kyouichi, si indecisive guy yg suka 'main api' biarpun uda merit. Tapi rupanya ada alasan di balik hobinya berperan sbg korban tiap kali berselingkuh. Jadi cowok bajingan ini sedari kecil uda didoktrin papanya (yg pernikahannya hancur) kalo jgn jatuh cinta mati2an ama cewek, supaya tdk bernasib sama kaya papanya.

Dalam urusan asmara, Kyouichi ini lebih suka 'dikejar' org, tdk pernah 'mengejar' org. Baginya lebih terasa 'aman' kalo cinta si cewek lebih besar darinya. Krn itulah ia tak pernah merasakan cinta sejati. Ia mencari org yg bisa sangat sangat mencintainya, ia memimpikan cinta sejati.
Makanya judul prekuel-nya Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume o Miru/The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese, hahaha.

Lalu datanglah Imagase yg menawarkan cinta yg 'besar', cinta sejati yg telah dan terus bergelora selama bertahun-tahun utk Kyouichi. Sayangnya, Imagase itu pria. Kyouichi terus berpikir, andaikan saja Imagase itu wanita... Kyouichi ini termasuk tipe pria yg idealis. Dan dia SANGAT tidak bersedia berubah haluan dari straight jadi gay. Itulah premis cerita di prekuel, kugabungkan saja di resensi sekuelnya ini. :p

Lalu, di sekuelnya ini, ga cuma Kyouichi yg indecisive, tapi Imagase juga. Walaupun sbnrnya Imagase tdk bisa disalahkan jg krn dia sulit percaya 'penyakit gatalnya' Kyouichi susah sembuh, malah suka kumat pula 'gatal'-nya... (-_-")
Tapi waktu 'gatal'-nya Kyouichi uda mulai sembuh, Imagase tetap ga percaya. Sebanyak apapun kata2 manis dilontarkan atau perhatian dilimpahkan Kyouichi padanya, dia tdk percaya itu semua tulus dan atas nama cinta, dia yakin kalo itu atas dasar kewajiban, sebentuk imbalan atas cinta Imagase yg besar. Dia yakin kalo Kyouichi melakukannya krn Kyouichi merasa bersalah padanya, telah berselingkuh di belakangnya. Kyouichi sendiri MASIH bingung apa sbnrnya dia itu memang cinta Imagase atau cuma 'terbawa arus' seperti hubungan2nya yg sblmnya dgn wanita, bedanya kali ini pasangannya pria. (-_-")

Aku lmyn yakin kalo Imagase ini mgkn tmsk tipe org yg addicted ama sakitnya patah hati, saking terbiasanya hatinya dan harapannya dipatahkan ama Kyouichi berulang kali, sampe tdk berani berharap. Dia sendiri mengaku kalo dia itu masokis. (-_-") Saat baikan lagi ama Kyouichi, dia rela jadi nomor dua aja drpd tdk sama sekali. Lalu setelah dikasi harapan, dia mau jadi nomor satu. Setelah minta putus, trus minta balik lagi. Baru juga minta balik 1-2 jam, dia kembali takut, kabur dari Kyouichi, mau putus aja, alasannya krn dia tkt bisa gila gara2 Kyouichi. Tau kan, dia cape stres dan sedih terus2an kalo misalnya Kyouichi kembali 'gatal'. (-_-")

Anyway, fiuhh...setelah emosinya dikocok2 kaya telur di-mixer sepanjang buku ini, aku lega bgt uda kelarin buku ini...Baca buku ini seperti gatal yg kalo ga digaruk, ga bakal lega. Hahaha. Pokoknya DONE. DONEEE. Ga bakalan dibaca 2 kali deh. Bikin frustasi. @_@
Aku suka tapi benci dan benci tapi suka ama buku ini, sama seperti dua cowok dlm kisah ini... Bersama, tdk bahagia. Tapi, tdk bersama jg tdk bahagia.
Kdg ada dua org yg saling cinta tapi krn suatu hal tdk bisa bersama, dan kasus mrk itu seperti itu, tapi jika tdk bisa bersama, nelangsa bkn main, hidup terasa hampa, rasanya sebagian dirinya ikut mati jika tdk bersama, tapi kalo bersama selalu saja merasa tdk aman, curigaan, tdk akur, terus bertengkar, stress. Bknnya jatuh cinta itu begitu? merasa tdk aman adalah bagian dari itu, tapi jika bnr2 saling cinta dan ingin bersama, hrs ada upaya dari kedua belah pihak utk itu kan. Berusaha percaya dan setia pada pasanganmu.

Hari ini entah knp bisa dpt bacaan yg isinya bikin bete seharian. Bacaan siang sampe sore, 3 volume dari Pink karya Takaguchi Satosumi yg awalnya bgs tapi makin ke blkg makin parah dan ending-nya ancur, so jadi kesal, merasa wkt terbuang sia-sia. Bacaan waktu malam, kedua buku ini, ending acceptable, bacaan yg bgs dan waktu ga terbuang sia-sia, tp kesal wkt di tengah2 cerita menuju akhir.

Skrg aku perlu baca yg light n fun deh, yg ada humornya. :)

Anyway, sbnrnya sekitar tahun 2002-2006 *lupa-lupa ingat* itu aku uda pernah baca 1 karya Mizushiro Sensei yg lain, yg judulnya After School Nightmare, tapi cuma seperempat vol pertama trus langsung drop bukunya krn wkt itu blm suka ama tema2 yg agak unik. Skrg abis baca yaoi-nya jadi pgn mulai baca After School Nightmare.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first volume?

I almost enjoyed this volume as much as the first. However, I really have to agree with what other reviews have said. This yaoi goes a bit over board with the drama and is a bit all over the place. It also kinda just fell into that cliche kind of story and ending which is typical of Shojo type manga. Which is kind of disappointing. I thought the relationship would get better but it never really did and the characters almost regressed in development. Imagase almost became over bearingly dramatic and obsessive while the other main character just kinda stayed the same.

*Potential Spoilers*
I think the ending fustrated me the most. It was kinda bittersweet but it also just kind of felt disappointing. Even in the end they make it seem like they're relationship could still fail or not work out. Which is super annoying after reading all that drama just to have them still be that way. Like what even was the point? The sad part, even after all that, they still never really admitted they loved each other. I mean Imagase did, the other didn't. I thought it would end with them finally admitting their feelings for each other but nope.

I don't know guys, read this if you liked the first one, other wise I would recommend you pass on this one.

[sohelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cycle they were in— it was really heartbreaking at first but then when it comes going back again, that's how you realized that they're both twisted... and that sole reason means they're meant for each other. Imagase is bipolar, but due to the insecurities he was keeping for so long. Kyouichi on the other hand, can't make up his mind whether if it was really love they had. Until Imagase left, that's where he only realized how much Imagase means to him. But in the ending, they both ended up with each other. In the movie, it had an open ending which is really befitting to their situation and personalities— unlike in the manga where I think they'll end up hurting each other. Their setup is really depressing and doubtful. But if they could really make it work, then I'm happy for them, although I think it'll take a looooot of time.

[Roxi Sch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything hurts. It was just… so good.

I’ve seriously always been so skeptical. I thought people were exaggerating at how good this manga is. I was wrong. WAY OFF.

So well written. An unrealistic setting with a realistic realisation of sexuality, unrequited love which leads to true love and learning that humans are full of flaws. But if you find that someone special, you don’t give up. No matter what. Even if time passes and you fall into other relationships and experience other things. You will find happiness… Even if it was with the one you originally loved.

The amount of tears I shed in book 2 was just… indescribable. I haven’t cried this much to a yaoi/josei in such a long time.

That was truly something great. I’m so happy I picked it up eventually.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Japanese Yaoi Manga sequel to 'The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese". I think this story expanded on the first and went for it.

The story centers on two toxic people in a very toxic relationship. I know everyone has their issues, but both of these lovers need therapy, like now.

There is also a work romance going on in the story. Even with all the stuff going on and the self doubt of our two lovers, its easy to see that they are in love with each other as outsiders. One of them doesn't know it's love while the other is obsessed over the love they feel.

Still, this told a good story and it had a pleasing ending. It's just the beginning for this couple. If you are looking to see two extremely messy people fall in love, this is the story for you.

[khai · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.75/5☆ what the fuck was this? this was a rollercoaster of a emotions and it was not a fun ride. these two are the worst people to be in a relationship. every second they had me questioning, does Ootomo have genuine feelings for Imagase and will he ever love him? does Ootomo actually want to end up with a man? does Imagase have an undiagnosed mental illness? because the way he switching emotions every second had me so confused and concerned. chapter 1 was good, 2 was decent but after that I got fed up with them. Ootomo is just a whore and Imagase is desperate and pathetic.

I don’t understand why volume 2 was even created. It should’ve just ended with volume 1 and I really enjoyed that volume. I don’t recommend reading this volume, it will give you nothing.

[Megan | The Mood Read Queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had higher hopes for this one because of the ending of the first volume and because thought the main characters were making progress.

WELP. I was wrong. Kyoichi is so indecisive, like figure out your life and want you want, man! And Imagase becomes a complete disaster in this volume, desperate and ridiculous. I hated it.

I want the characters to actually continue to develop and become better people and work on their communication and instead everything devolved and became crap.

It was entertaining and there were a few moments where I could glimpse what this could have been, but it just didn't get there.

[Aquafina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagase and Kyoichi’s break up was heart wrenching. I’m so glad that this had a good ending, with both men choosing to be together and choosing to work on their relationship. This is definitely more realistic than a “perfect” or true happy ending. I don’t think I’ve been so sad while reading a manga before.

I found both characters to be relatable for different reasons, leaving me empathising with them each of them at different times during the story, and usually getting angry at the other for causing hurt.

I liked the layout of the art and found the story easy to follow as a result.

[Avaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read both back to back so it's hard to separate my exact feelings on each one, but volume two was more of trying to figure out the emotional aspects and it's rare I've felt so in tune with a character. In the first book, when we looked inside Imagase's head, I felt very related to him, but in the second I felt more in line with Kyoichi, especially how he turns cold when he gets depressed. I highly recommend giving these books a read.

[Usagi Shin · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning, I didn’t really enjoy the relationship between the two characters. Especially in the first volume. Then, in the second, the complexity of it all hit me and I understood where all that mess came from. I think I will need to re-read this story to get all the small nuances it has. I think it will get better also if I read at another moment, less busy and with a whisky. I think it still has more to tell me mr than this first read!

[Myffanwy Geronazzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is beautiful and honestly the story in the beginning had this at a 4 stars but the moment the convoluted breakup, and then unnecessary third wheel, like if you're gonna have a plot where there's a big relationship back and forth...just make it a polycule! A true of happy beans. I really hate this demonization of the woman character :/
Unfortunately the garbage plot and "i love you I hate you" back and forth for FORTY PAGES was just so boring.

[Katja · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhhh, this two-parter would've been much better if this second volume never happened. Well, there was one thing I liked: reversible partners (that second star is mostly for this tbh). But maaaan that back-and-forthing and Otomo never being honest with himself about Imagase was frustrating. Argh. I don't mind if the characters are a bit fucked up or not very good people but then at least either give them some redeeming qualities or make them do interesting things or have a gripping story...

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I THINK I like this little series; there's a lot to chew on here and flawed characters make more compelling stories. Volume 1 grew on me by the end, and ultimately I like where the characters got to, but there was so much emotional whiplash in this volume that I legitimately worried for the ending (and my future emotional state).

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This BL/yaoi manga series was beautifully, lyrically handled. Despite both men having enough red flags to stop a convoy, witnessing their pain as they wrestled with their toxic half-relationship had me in tears.

Even someone with red flags wants to be loved, and deserves love...it's just that getting caught in their wake can destroy the people near them.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

These two are objectively not good people, but more than that, they are incredibly realistic. Their relationship is rocky and filled with turmoil. But you can't help but wish for them to work because it means maybe someone out there will be willing to fight for what they have and make things work for you too.