Mujihi na Anata
By the end of this, I wonder if it will be longer than my Mujihi na Otoko post...
UPDATED: 10/04/11
Fangirling rants: Mujihi na Otoko part 1 | Mujihi na Otoko part 2 | Mujihi na Anata part 1 | Mujihi na Anata part 2 | Mujihi na Anata part 3 | Mujihi na Anata part 4 | Mujihi na Karada part 1 | Mujihi na Karada part 2 | Warui series
(09/19/11): KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! *gasping for air* *screams some more* *collapses from lack of oxygen*
I LOVE NANAOxKUON SO MUCHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! *runs out of air again*
WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW ECSTATIC I AM!!! *flails wildly*
*breathes deeply* Okay, I think I’ve regained some sense of sanity. Well, not really, but I can try. I mentioned in a previous post that I had intended to wait until either the entire volume was out or until it was officially picked up by a scanlation group, and then changed my mind. I’m glad I did, because it’s only been one chapter, and I’ve fallen in love already.
I’ll do a page by page commentary later (just watch, this will be nearly as long as my Mujihi na Otoko rant), but for now, I’ll just stick to the things that are at the top of my head.
Actually, I don’t have a firm grasp on said things that are at the top of my head. The entire time, for every single darn page (and every single panel, even), I was mentally fangirling like crazy. It wasn’t even funny. See, I’m used to always having other people within hearing distance- my sister, my parents, my roommates- so I usually try to contain whatever noises come out (though when something’s hilarious, I end up snickering all the time, but at least I don’t burst out laughing like a maniac). So I try to keep my personal fangirling to a minimum.
The thing is, keeping my fangirling to a minimum means that I have to internalize all of my reactions- squealing, flailing, and so on. And that entails me holding my breath and, I dunno how to properly describe it, just…scream inside. Well, the screaming usually takes a while, and is normally accompanied by rapid hand fanning, so by the end of it, I’m completely out of breath. Truthfully, I think that if I were ever to externalize my fangirling, I would definitely blow out a few eardrums, and the people across town would probably call the police or something XD
So yeah, I was fangirling at every single page, and it wasn’t pretty. Pretty cathartic though- works just as well as crying and laughing.
Back to the manga. I’ll start with artwork since I’m shallow and judge manga based on it. I guess it was too much to hope that the art would stay the same. It’s not that noticeable, and it’s not glaringly obvious like Shinonome’s change in Koi ja Nai Kedo, but I feel that the drawings are slightly different than that of Mujihi na Otoko. Well, it’s probably impossible for it to stay the same, so this is pretty darn good already. So overall, I’m content with how the art turned out.
Characters then. Damn, the Shirahane family really does have very good genes. I had no doubts about it since Mikado and Kimiko are as gorgeous as Nanao, but wow, even the cousin is hot. And if Nanao’s insinuations are to be believed, then even the uncle’s not so bad either. The cousin’s not my type at all, but he definitely falls in the realm of good-looking. Random guy that shows up at the end of the chapter- I’m certain that he’s one of Nanao’s ‘friends from the other side.’ I mean, who else could he be? He’ll probably take over the sensei’s role as the cockblock. But ohhhhh, the sensei D: Does this mean he won’t show up? I guess there’s no reason to since his story’s pretty much over and we have the Shirahane cousin and this new guy, but I like him :( I do hope he’ll make an appearance (and for the heck of it, I’m gonna pair the sensei up with the cousin if the cousin doesn’t go with the new guy).
Continuing with the characters. Aikawa time. God, the guy looks good in a waiter’s outfit. I wouldn’t mind seeing Nanao in a waiter’s outfit either, but Aikawa will do just fine *leers* Huh, and I’m still calling him Aikawa…oh well. But my love for him has grown from just this one chapter. That possessiveness of his is as wonderful as before (love it), but the thing that stood out to me was his attentiveness to Nanao. It’s not so much “Nanao’s mine. Back off, bitches!” (though that’s always amusing) or “Nanao is overly loose and promiscuous. I hate people like him,” (and that’s fortunately in the past) but rather “I care for Nanao, and can correctly guess his true intentions.” And it really surprised me how much Aikawa has grown, especially in seeing past Nanao’s dismissive façade. Nanao darling, hold onto this man and don’t you ever let go >.< And speaking of the devil, Nanao. Ugh, Ilovehimsomuchlikeyouwouldnotbelieve <3 <3 <3 It’s wonderful to see his teasing nature back and in full throttle, especially since it’s also directed at Aikawa :D I like my ukes to be able to hold their own, and with that personality, Nanao definitely fits the bill. Of course, it’s funny that even though I’m sure he knows that he’s attractive, he’s completely oblivious to the unintentional complete jaw-dropping effect he has on an innocent passerby. That is the perfect combination (heck, Nanao is perfect) of awareness and ignorance. And the uncertainty in him is wonderfully played out- I was looking forward to it and I haven’t been disappointed yet. And the best part? He’s happy. Okay, not as happy as he could be, but a whole lot happier than before, and that makes me happy for him *hugs him to bits*
And finally, the relationship. This ties in with Aikawa’s character growth and Nanao’s dual happiness and uncertainty. One of the first things about this chapter that struck me (aside from the insane fangirling) was that they were good together. It’s a new level of comfortableness that we didn’t really get a chance to see in Mujihi na Otoko due to all the crazy sexual tension (and it was a lovely crazy sexual tension), so it’s nice to see them so content around each other. Obviously there are still some major kinks to work out (the ‘appropriate’ type of seduction/sex, Nanao’s past, Aikawa’s inability to leave a note before he goes off, mostly Nanao’s insecurity which I’m eagerly awaiting, and so much more), but their relationship has progressed somewhat, and it’s truly heartwarming.
Heh, just realized that it’s in the exact same order as the first Mujihi na Otoko entry. Must be hitsuzen. Off to read the first chapter again!
More (09/24/11): I didn’t finish this before luckycloverg69and I started our first round of fangirling, so some of the stuff here will be the same as in the comments. So here is the first chapter’s page by page commentary, also known as I HAVE NO LIFE.
Okay, let’s start. The colored cover is okay, I guess. Though I’m not quite sure what those fruits are- they kinda look like oranges, but they’re awfully yellow. But the black and white cover… *swoons* God, they look good together. Formal-ish wear is always wonderful on Nanao, and here Aikawa’s wearing something like that too :D Oh Nanao, he pulls off that outfit so well <3 I think it’s especially nice since he usually wears casual pants, and now he’s wearing all formal, complete with a (flowery) tie ^.^ Aikawa seems to have opened up his ve- ohmygawdhisshirtisopenandicanseehischest!!! *drools shamelessly* And I love their positions- intimately curling into one another with Nanao on top (like the dominant-ish uke that he is). But where are they? Perhaps a hotel bed, judging by the headboard and paintings?
I think I’ve expressed my fangirling somewhere about Aikawa in the waiter’s uniform. The second I saw him taking those girls’ orders, I knew he was going to look hot ^.^ But I actually didn’t coo over him for long because I could see my beloved Nanao in the background with that little smile \O/ Odd sweater-y vest, but it’s still him, so who cares?
Ah, in Mujihi na Otoko, there was this one bystander guy that kept showing up. From what I remember, there are quite a few girls that show up in this chapter. This is only my second time reading it, so I’ll have to see later whether any of the girls are recycled.
NANAO CALLS AIKAWA OVER. Cue the screaming. That was probably the first moment that invoked my major fangirling (not that I wasn’t already doing it from the start). But hey, now is the first instance of their interaction, so it’s interesting to see how far they’ve progressed since Mujihi na Otoko. Though there is one thing: Nanao-sempai? Not gonna lie. I found this to be very very odd since I’m completely used to Aikawa calling him Nanao-san (and that ‘completely used to’ is due to me rereading the manga so many times), so it’s just weird. It’s okay though. I’m not familiar with Japanese to be able to analyze the meaning of going from ‘san’ to ‘sempai’ (and it would probably be even weirder if Aikawa didn’t add any suffixes since I doubt they’re that close yet), but for me, it seems more casual and friendly :) HI, NANAO!!!
While we’re on names, another thing that was also in Mujihi na Otoko- Aikawa calls Nanao by his given name (a very intimate/disrespectful thing in the Japanese culture) but Nanao calls Aikawa by his family name. Now Nanao calling Aikawa ‘Aikawa’ is understandable, even though they’ve gotten closer here. Nanao is still uncertain enough about their relationship that he probably doesn’t think it’d be appropriate to do something as intimate as using given names (maybe he even thinks that he doesn’t deserve to refer to Aikawa as ‘Kuon’). But Aikawa is different. Considering how Aikawa hated Nanao’s guts, but is not a disrespectful person (just blunt), this is very odd. The best thing I can come up with is that it’s so he can differentiate between Nanao and Mikado. I guess ‘Shirahane-san’ and ‘Shirahane-kun’ could be a bit of a mouthful and easy to mix up? But Nanao calls him ‘Aikawa-with-no-suffix’ and refers to Towa as ‘Aikawa-kun.’ Very strange… Ah, though it’s because Nanao always calls him Aikawa that I also call him Aikawa instead of Kuon.
Though it’s a bit annoying that the sound effects/whispers/asides aren’t translated. They usually add a bit more humor into the dialogue. And it’s times like this that I think I should’ve paid more attention in my Mandarin classes (which were a lost cause, but whatever). Oh wait, I think those are still in Japanese. Never mind.
Oh, look at Nanao casually leaning back in his chair. Like a boss ^.^ PFFT!!! Aikawa as a waitress! *laughs head off* It wouldn’t be surprising if Towa really did say ‘waitress’ instead of ‘waiter’ XD Wait, looking it up… Hmm, according to the online dictionary, the term used (服務生) just means ‘server’; I don’t think it really indicates gender. However, considering Nanao’s first thought is a frilly apron with a matching cap, I guess ‘waitress’ would be a better term XD Though the brother-complex brother is calling Towa ‘daft’? Guess some things can’t be sugar-coated XD And aww, the chibi speech bubble faces are here~ But oh! What is this? Nanao is unleashing his teasing side onto Aikawa (whose face is rather priceless). Now this was what I was hoping for- Nanao being comfortable enough around Aikawa to display his true personality, something that definitely wasn’t advisable in Mujihi na Otoko :D Wonderful, wonderful… And look at all those sparkles XD Ahhhhh, he reminds me of one of those swaggering, self-centered princes. But a brilliant comeback, by the way, very witty and hilarious.
Hmm, another minor annoyance- there are these white rectangles behind the words that are the result of cleaning. See, the problem is that Japanese and Mandarin use characters that run up and down, and since they’re somewhat similar shaped and structured, it’s a bit easier to replace the text. Unfortunately, English runs left and right and take up a different space, so it’s probably easier to just cut out a rectangle to make room for the words. A bit annoying, but it’s something that can’t really be helped.
*GASP* Is that Nanao laughing?! Oh, be still, my heart. *sobs joyfully* Ohhhhh, I can’t express enough times how glad I am that Nanao is so happy (not as happy as he will be by the end of this volume, but still very very happy). Whenever he smiles or laughs in Aikawa’s presence- well, he truly is at his most beautiful then :’D
“I was thinking--” Ah, Nanao wants to spend the holiday with Aikawa. Now isn’t that romantic? ^.^ Gosh darn those cockblockers! D:< Ugh, they couldn’t have waited another minute? Though it wouldn’t be good for a waiter to spend too much time with one customer, but still, rawrs. Oh, but the first time through this, I did hope that Nanao would ask Aikawa sometime later- Nanao seems like the type that, when faced with a situation like this, will go ‘Oh, never mind’ and end up changing the subject or not asking :(
The Shirahane mansion. Seriously, what do the parents do to make so much money? O.o Oh, hello there Nanao. This is a bit new- his stomach is showing. The majority of the time, he just has an extremely low cut/buttoned shirt, but this time it’s also unbuttoned on the bottom. Maybe it’s just visible now because he’s lying down? Aww, Nanao took a picture of Aikawa. That’s so sweet ^.^ And his phone appears to be a type of touch-screen (only the best for the Shirahane family) whereas I think Aikawa had a flip phone. Oh, and we’re close enough that we can see Nanao’s fingernails. I’m not sure why I’m noticing some detail like fingernails now… Ah, though I hope Nanao’s not in the process of deciding not to ask after all- kinda seems like it. More evidence for Nanao being left-handed: he’s initially holding the phone with his left hand and then later plays with the buttons with the left hand.
Random. I wonder how bad Nanao’s eyesight is. He wears them in public though not at home, so I guess he’s not too nearsighted. And it must be very very mild seeing as he can drive without them (once when he drove Towa home, and when he went to pick up Mikado). Ah, though considering the importance that Nanao places on appearance, there’s a likely chance that the glasses are just mainly for show. Maybe they don't even have any prescription, but I like to think that they do.
Hmm, you can pick up Nanao’s insecurity in this mainly text-filled page. His feelings toward Aikawa is love (which has been established since pretty much the beginning), but his perception of Aikawa’s feelings towards him are ‘acceptance’ and ‘a miracle’. Now you could read that is Nanao being in awe at the turn of events, but considering the whole chapter, it’s more like Nanao sees it as something almost too good to believe, something that could change at any moment. Perhaps it’s because Aikawa isn’t a particularly demonstrative person in terms of affection, but it seems as though Nanao really underestimates how much Aikawa cares for him. Then again, Nanao is very new at the whole relationship thing, not to mention his tense past with Aikawa, so it’s not surprising that he feels this way.
Oh yeah! Brotherly incest! It’s awesome to see Mikado so…wait a minute, Mikado would never be that touchy-feely with Nanao, much less straddle him (because if there was brotherly incest, not that I ever considered it *cough*, then Mikado would totally be the seme, and I see straddling as an uke behavior) or talk about porn so casually. Huh, and ‘Mikado’ has a different haircut and…oh, it’s a cousin. And a very close cousin too, if the casual (and apparently very frequent) talk of incest is anything to go by :3 Nanao rolling over and smiling evilly is so cute~ Oh ho! A love triangle between relatives; now I’m very interested to see this uncle of Nanao’s :D “Don’t make me remind you again?” And what happened, pray tell, that would require Nanao to say something like that, especially ‘again’? I’m guessing it’s not just the Shirahane siblings that have personality issues XD Heh, uncle-killer (now I keep thinking noona-killer).
Ehhhhh?! So this Seijin cousin (his position is adorable) is aware of Nanao’s past activities? Come to think of it, we’re never told what his meetings with ‘people from the other side’ meant specifically. One night stands? Brief flings? What ‘other side’? Some red-light district? When and why did this start? When and why did this end? I think Nanao implies to Mikado that he fooled around and had fuck buddies during high school, and we saw a rather sketchy scene of Nanao with the sensei…somewhere, and we know that he’s never had a relationship before, and that’s about it. Yet this cousin of his knows everything, so they must be very very close (they look fairly similar in age though the cousin looks younger). The time that he wasn’t here…this seems to indicate that the cousin is a very regular guest at Nanao’s home, probably even lived there for a while. But ouch. Nanao’s already insecure, and the cousin is just making it even worse D: That look on Nanao’s face ;_; Nanao doesn’t want to tell his cousin about Aikawa? Actually, aside from the sensei, who does know about their relationship?
A symbolic view of Nanao’s back. I feel rather sad :( Not only is he insecure about his relationship, but he also has incredibly low self-esteem. I don’t know if the cousin meant to be intentionally mean, but to be told that you’re ‘not normal?’ Well, that’s pretty hurtful. And Nanao doesn’t even deny it *sniffles* God, I so want to hug him and tell him in explicit detail how wonderful he is >.< But oh look, Nanao’s wearing a necklace. Can’t recall him ever wearing jewelry- perhaps Aikawa’s rubbing off on him? Ah, though his jacket has that weird look when the artist uses some uniform-ish solid pattern for the clothes and doesn’t bother to account for all the creases.
Oh, and Nanao is still worried for Aikawa’s reputation :( But at least I was rather certain that Aikawa was going to continue yesterday’s conversation. That was very sweet of him. And again, I was hoping that Nanao wouldn’t chicken out and not ask.
Heh, and at this point I was laughing because I absolutely was not expecting Aikawa to be the one to ask (it just doesn’t happen like that in most yaoi). But the thing that really caught my attention was that Aikawa had correctly guessed Nanao’s intentions for coming to the café. That was the beginning of what made me really start loving Aikawa- he can now see right through Nanao \O/ There is absolutely no way he could’ve been able to do that unless he was really really close to Nanao (a mutual closeness, not just supposedly one-sided on Nanao’s part).
Hmm, and the brother-complex brother (my god, every single oddly worded phrase from Mujihi na Otoko really is now part of my vocab) is actually turning down a chance to hang out with his brothers? Someone call the newspapers! OH. Aikawa asking Nanao directly is one of the hottest things ever. And that’s not even mentioning the actual words :D He really is suited to be with Nanao because bluntness is the only thing that could dissuade Nanao’s doubts, and Nanao has a lot of doubts.
“Is that for real?” Again, a sign of his insecurity- he can’t believe that something good could possibly happen to him, and it’s like he had convinced himself that Aikawa wouldn’t want to go with him. Ooh, and my respect for Aikawa’s perception grew even more when he mentioned their location change. Of course, Nanao just brushing the matter aside was very sadly expected, but I had wondered if it was too much to hope that Aikawa wouldn’t be fooled.
And it wasn’t too much to hope! *fist pump* I am completely impressed with how Aikawa can now read Nanao like an open book. And the best thing? He’s got the audacity (is there a nicer way of saying this? Boldness?) to keep on addressing the situation and not buy any of Nanao’s dismissals. Ooh, tension tension tension…
Yes! He prevents Nanao from leaving! Oh, and not to mention that he managed to make Nanao admit the truth. Damn he’s good. Aikawa is like some kind of miracle worker for Nanao or something~ Though that necklace that Nanao’s wearing- it looks pretty similar to one that Aikawa was wearing in Mujihi na Otoko. Or that might just be my wishful thinking talking since I can’t remember what necklaces Aikawa wore. Should double check… Ah, just wishful thinking. The pendant on Nanao’s necklace is much thinner.
And here I laughed again. Oh man, that is one very smart move right there. Aikawa taking the initiative is once again very hot, but what’s even better is that now Nanao can’t refuse. It’s not that I think Aikawa is dumb, but I’m under the impression that Nanao is brainier (must be the glasses), and so outsmarting Nanao like this is just brilliant.
After spending so much time in the K-pop fandom, I realized that I forgot a lot of stuff that I’d picked up from manga. For example, the outfits that Aikawa and Nanao are wearing- the ‘bathrobes’- I want to call them yukatas but I don’t remember if that’s the correct term. Oh well, they look wonderful wearing them, and Aikawa even looks manlier than Nanao (as always) since he has that shawl/jacket thing (and I really don’t know what that’s called) :D I guess being from a rich family means that you get to stay at all the best onsens (can’t remember if this is the correct word either). But while his face looks the same, I’m getting the vibe that Aikawa is happy that Nanao is pleased~
Oh, Nanao. *sighs happily* There’s no need for that flower which pales in comparison to Nanao’s beauty- he’s already gorgeous without all the flowers and sparkles ^.^ Though I find it absolutely hilarious that the couple (they rather look like a couple) is staring. We’ve seen both guys and girls admire Nanao on different occasions, but never at the same time (not counting the sensei), and most certainly not when the guy and girl are together. Can we say ‘awkward’? XD But I don’t blame them. That neck. That collarbone. Lovely, lovely collarbone. Good thing Aikawa is rather reserved, otherwise Nanao would probably have to wear turtlenecks all the time XD Ah, and isn’t this nice? Aikawa has seemed to have directed his possessiveness in ‘hiding’ Nanao (all for himself, that greedy Aikawa~) rather than wishing death and extermination on those staring (or perhaps the sensei is just a special case).
Aww, Aikawa, don’t hurt Nanao *pouts* But I guess there’s no stopping a determinedly protective guy like him. And it's mildly hot that Aikawa is being a bit rough :3 Though oooooh, the seeds of yet another possible misunderstanding. Looks like Nanao still can’t turn away from the idea of Aikawa thinking that he’s promiscuous :( His face when looking up at Aikawa is quite gorgeous though- a bit sad, but still gorgeous.
Questioning whether it’s a dream, insecurity about the relationship, la di la. Not wanting to go the main bath…I take that as either Nanao wants to reaffirm their relationship by being somewhere more private or he wants to avoid being ‘overly loose’ in such a public place and therefore making Aikawa disgusted. Either way, it’s a bit of a blow to the heart.
I’m sure I mentioned somewhere that I had to stop reading this the first time because I clicked on a random page and fangirled so hard that I couldn’t continue. Yup, Nanao in the bathtub was what did it. I could’ve started on the first page or clicked on an earlier one, but nooooooo, I just had to choose the page where Nanao is wet and sexy and naked and holding a conversation with Aikawa. *takes one look at Nanao and runs off to fangirl again* Yet he still manages to be cute with calling Aikawa his dearest. I swear, Aikawa must have nerves of steel to be able to resist Nanao *shakes head in wonder* Though the bathtub being small is hardly a problem as I’m sure Nanao is flexible *cough*andthentheycouldhavehotbathroomsex*cough*
And I thought Nanao was sexy from just sitting in the bathtube? His tongue. The things he could do with that tongue *runs off to fangirl again* My goodness, Nanao truly is determined to kill me with just how seductive he can be after all those bouts of gorgeousness >.< Ah, and a lovely shot of Nanao’s face by Aikawa’s hand while we hear Nanao admitting his insecurity.
Darn, Nanao’s fully clothed again :P But I was a bit confused at this point. See, with Nanao being devastatingly sexy like that, as well as their conversation, I was sort of under the impression that they did have hot bathroom sex. Problem: Aikawa is completely dry. Now you could say that after they did it, Aikawa took a quick shower first and dried off while Nanao washed up. However, I think that even if that was the case, Aikawa would still look slightly wet and at least have a few towels around him. So whether they did something, I’m not sure, because the conversation seems like they did but their appearance seems like they didn’t (and not to mention we didn’t get to see anything D:<). Heh, though Nanao is only just noticing Aikawa’s major clinginess? *snickers*
Oh Nanao, there’s nothing to apologize for :( And that’s Aikawa’s cue to bluntly reassure (heh, bit of an oxymoron) him so. Aikawa, don’t fail us now!
Ah, Aikawa, what a reliable guy ^.^ Misunderstandings and lack of communication are the cause of a lot of drama in relationships, so it’s really nice to see Aikawa advocating honesty. But since it’s Nanao we’re talking about, there’s still bound to be a ton of drama (of course there is- we’re only on the first chapter). And now isn’t that hot? :D Though Nanao’s hand looks like it’s coming down awfully close to Aikawa’s crotch. Missed it by that much.
Aww, Nanao leaning against Aikawa. How sweet. But hmm, Aikawa brings up a very good point. Nanao really should learn quickly that Aikawa isn’t going to ditch him. All in good time… Though I wonder if Aikawa has any other earrings. He seems to always wear two hoops in his right ear and two studs in his left ear. And that sad, resigned smile of Nanao’s is heartbreakingly gorgeous.
Nanao’s insecure blah blah blah oh god that is one of the hottest scenes ever *fangirling, and doesn’t return for several minutes* Look at those perfect alabaster thighs (I’m so jealous). Look at the hand. The hand! SO SEXY. I just…I can’t….slkdfoiejsdflsghsioasdfjk *flails everywhere* WORDS CANNOT PROPERLY DESCRIBE HOW HOT THAT IS.
Sleep, disoriented Nanao. YUM *licks lips obscenely* And here is where I thank the Japanese culture for robes that can conveniently slide off the shoulder and opens up dangerously high from the bottom. His thighs. His upper torso. HIS THIGHS. Seriously. I’ve been in love with Nanao since the first time I saw him, and now, I’m also officially in love with his thighs <3 Though I am wondering why Nanao slept on top of the sheets - surely it must’ve been somewhat cold, especially since he’s not wearing much. I would’ve thought that Aikawa would at least cover him up with a blanket or something.
Then again, that would actually require Aikawa to be there. Yet another classic cause of drama- leaving the lover to wake up alone. Aikawa’s not exactly the romantic type who would stay in bed until his lover wakes up, but couldn’t he at least leave a note or something? I’m sure that he could find a pen and paper somewhere. It did surprise me a bit that they have two beds instead of one. Yes, yes, I know that they’re not close enough to share a bed yet, but it’s awfully rare in yaoi for the couple to book a hotel room with two beds. But I like it this way- it’s realistic that they’re not moving too fast. But speaking of moving too fast, once more, I’m uncertain as to whether or not they had sex. The beds look much too neat for such a thing, and they would’ve slept in the same bed if they did, but Nanao looks to the other bed, indicating that Aikawa had slept over there. Perhaps they had kinky chair sex? Maybe, but Nanao is much too neat/clean/unblemished, and I don’t get the feeling that he took a second shower. And not to mention we did not see anything smutty happen :( So I come to the disappointing conclusion, for the second time in this chapter, that they didn’t get down and dirty *sulks*
Where the heck is Aikawa? A convenience store like Nanao believes? But what for? I would think that wherever they’re staying provides food, and it’s unlikely that they forgot to pack anything important. *gasps and clutches chest* Did you hear that, Aikawa?! Did you hear that?! Okay, he obviously didn’t, but he should. Nanao, you poor thing D: Want to give him a hug so bad *wibbles* Aikawa, get your butt back here now and comfort your beloved. But at least Nanao’s not undergoing what would be a stereotypical uke reaction something along the lines of ‘Oh no! He doesn’t love me! *does absolutely nothing but cries uselessly*’ Love you, Nanao~
Hmm, why is Nanao only considering what would happen if Aikawa graduates? What about his own life after graduation? Does Nanao already know what he’s going to do? For now, I’m thinking he’s going to take over his father’s company with his savvy economics skills (never mind that we don’t even know what the father does) since it had seemed like he was an econ or business major. Huh, dropped wallet. And at this point, it’s obvious that one of those two guys is going to cause trouble for Nanao and Aikawa for the rest of the volume, otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten so much screen time.
The guy who dropped his key pouch- I wonder if he also finds Nanao attractive XD Everyone seems to :) And the moment of recognition. Dun dun dunnnnnnn.
Ooh, and Nanao does not seem happy at all *winces* It’s been established that Nanao doesn’t have any friends at the university (aside from Aikawa and the sensei), so I had assumed that he must be an old fuck buddy of Nanao’s. Perhaps a one night stand, but based on their reactions upon seeing each other, it’s probably lasted for a fairly long time (and that would make sense since the guy needs to be important enough to cause the inevitable drama). That guy…looks familiar. Not similar to Aikawa, but to someone else from another yaoi (most likely). For now, the closest person that comes to mind is the Earl guy from Binan no Dendou, but I dunno. Though for some reason, I’m thinking that the guy has a dumb face XD And of course the chapter ends there *shakes fist at the existence of cliffhangers*
Can’t wait until the next chapter comes out >.< Though I think the page by page commentary for that will be a bit shorter since there’s only so many times I can talk about how often Nanao’s insecurity shows up without repeating/boring myself (and I’ve already done that a lot here). *sigh* Want more…
More (10/04/11): Since this post will be too big for LJ to handle, just head on over to PART 2 for more fangirling~
UPDATED: 10/04/11
Fangirling rants: Mujihi na Otoko part 1 | Mujihi na Otoko part 2 | Mujihi na Anata part 1 | Mujihi na Anata part 2 | Mujihi na Anata part 3 | Mujihi na Anata part 4 | Mujihi na Karada part 1 | Mujihi na Karada part 2 | Warui series
(09/19/11): KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! *gasping for air* *screams some more* *collapses from lack of oxygen*
I LOVE NANAOxKUON SO MUCHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! *runs out of air again*
WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW ECSTATIC I AM!!! *flails wildly*
*breathes deeply* Okay, I think I’ve regained some sense of sanity. Well, not really, but I can try. I mentioned in a previous post that I had intended to wait until either the entire volume was out or until it was officially picked up by a scanlation group, and then changed my mind. I’m glad I did, because it’s only been one chapter, and I’ve fallen in love already.
I’ll do a page by page commentary later (just watch, this will be nearly as long as my Mujihi na Otoko rant), but for now, I’ll just stick to the things that are at the top of my head.
Actually, I don’t have a firm grasp on said things that are at the top of my head. The entire time, for every single darn page (and every single panel, even), I was mentally fangirling like crazy. It wasn’t even funny. See, I’m used to always having other people within hearing distance- my sister, my parents, my roommates- so I usually try to contain whatever noises come out (though when something’s hilarious, I end up snickering all the time, but at least I don’t burst out laughing like a maniac). So I try to keep my personal fangirling to a minimum.
The thing is, keeping my fangirling to a minimum means that I have to internalize all of my reactions- squealing, flailing, and so on. And that entails me holding my breath and, I dunno how to properly describe it, just…scream inside. Well, the screaming usually takes a while, and is normally accompanied by rapid hand fanning, so by the end of it, I’m completely out of breath. Truthfully, I think that if I were ever to externalize my fangirling, I would definitely blow out a few eardrums, and the people across town would probably call the police or something XD
So yeah, I was fangirling at every single page, and it wasn’t pretty. Pretty cathartic though- works just as well as crying and laughing.
Back to the manga. I’ll start with artwork since I’m shallow and judge manga based on it. I guess it was too much to hope that the art would stay the same. It’s not that noticeable, and it’s not glaringly obvious like Shinonome’s change in Koi ja Nai Kedo, but I feel that the drawings are slightly different than that of Mujihi na Otoko. Well, it’s probably impossible for it to stay the same, so this is pretty darn good already. So overall, I’m content with how the art turned out.
Characters then. Damn, the Shirahane family really does have very good genes. I had no doubts about it since Mikado and Kimiko are as gorgeous as Nanao, but wow, even the cousin is hot. And if Nanao’s insinuations are to be believed, then even the uncle’s not so bad either. The cousin’s not my type at all, but he definitely falls in the realm of good-looking. Random guy that shows up at the end of the chapter- I’m certain that he’s one of Nanao’s ‘friends from the other side.’ I mean, who else could he be? He’ll probably take over the sensei’s role as the cockblock. But ohhhhh, the sensei D: Does this mean he won’t show up? I guess there’s no reason to since his story’s pretty much over and we have the Shirahane cousin and this new guy, but I like him :( I do hope he’ll make an appearance (and for the heck of it, I’m gonna pair the sensei up with the cousin if the cousin doesn’t go with the new guy).
Continuing with the characters. Aikawa time. God, the guy looks good in a waiter’s outfit. I wouldn’t mind seeing Nanao in a waiter’s outfit either, but Aikawa will do just fine *leers* Huh, and I’m still calling him Aikawa…oh well. But my love for him has grown from just this one chapter. That possessiveness of his is as wonderful as before (love it), but the thing that stood out to me was his attentiveness to Nanao. It’s not so much “Nanao’s mine. Back off, bitches!” (though that’s always amusing) or “Nanao is overly loose and promiscuous. I hate people like him,” (and that’s fortunately in the past) but rather “I care for Nanao, and can correctly guess his true intentions.” And it really surprised me how much Aikawa has grown, especially in seeing past Nanao’s dismissive façade. Nanao darling, hold onto this man and don’t you ever let go >.< And speaking of the devil, Nanao. Ugh, Ilovehimsomuchlikeyouwouldnotbelieve <3 <3 <3 It’s wonderful to see his teasing nature back and in full throttle, especially since it’s also directed at Aikawa :D I like my ukes to be able to hold their own, and with that personality, Nanao definitely fits the bill. Of course, it’s funny that even though I’m sure he knows that he’s attractive, he’s completely oblivious to the unintentional complete jaw-dropping effect he has on an innocent passerby. That is the perfect combination (heck, Nanao is perfect) of awareness and ignorance. And the uncertainty in him is wonderfully played out- I was looking forward to it and I haven’t been disappointed yet. And the best part? He’s happy. Okay, not as happy as he could be, but a whole lot happier than before, and that makes me happy for him *hugs him to bits*
And finally, the relationship. This ties in with Aikawa’s character growth and Nanao’s dual happiness and uncertainty. One of the first things about this chapter that struck me (aside from the insane fangirling) was that they were good together. It’s a new level of comfortableness that we didn’t really get a chance to see in Mujihi na Otoko due to all the crazy sexual tension (and it was a lovely crazy sexual tension), so it’s nice to see them so content around each other. Obviously there are still some major kinks to work out (the ‘appropriate’ type of seduction/sex, Nanao’s past, Aikawa’s inability to leave a note before he goes off, mostly Nanao’s insecurity which I’m eagerly awaiting, and so much more), but their relationship has progressed somewhat, and it’s truly heartwarming.
Heh, just realized that it’s in the exact same order as the first Mujihi na Otoko entry. Must be hitsuzen. Off to read the first chapter again!
More (09/24/11): I didn’t finish this before luckycloverg69and I started our first round of fangirling, so some of the stuff here will be the same as in the comments. So here is the first chapter’s page by page commentary, also known as I HAVE NO LIFE.
Okay, let’s start. The colored cover is okay, I guess. Though I’m not quite sure what those fruits are- they kinda look like oranges, but they’re awfully yellow. But the black and white cover… *swoons* God, they look good together. Formal-ish wear is always wonderful on Nanao, and here Aikawa’s wearing something like that too :D Oh Nanao, he pulls off that outfit so well <3 I think it’s especially nice since he usually wears casual pants, and now he’s wearing all formal, complete with a (flowery) tie ^.^ Aikawa seems to have opened up his ve- ohmygawdhisshirtisopenandicanseehischest!!! *drools shamelessly* And I love their positions- intimately curling into one another with Nanao on top (like the dominant-ish uke that he is). But where are they? Perhaps a hotel bed, judging by the headboard and paintings?
I think I’ve expressed my fangirling somewhere about Aikawa in the waiter’s uniform. The second I saw him taking those girls’ orders, I knew he was going to look hot ^.^ But I actually didn’t coo over him for long because I could see my beloved Nanao in the background with that little smile \O/ Odd sweater-y vest, but it’s still him, so who cares?
Ah, in Mujihi na Otoko, there was this one bystander guy that kept showing up. From what I remember, there are quite a few girls that show up in this chapter. This is only my second time reading it, so I’ll have to see later whether any of the girls are recycled.
NANAO CALLS AIKAWA OVER. Cue the screaming. That was probably the first moment that invoked my major fangirling (not that I wasn’t already doing it from the start). But hey, now is the first instance of their interaction, so it’s interesting to see how far they’ve progressed since Mujihi na Otoko. Though there is one thing: Nanao-sempai? Not gonna lie. I found this to be very very odd since I’m completely used to Aikawa calling him Nanao-san (and that ‘completely used to’ is due to me rereading the manga so many times), so it’s just weird. It’s okay though. I’m not familiar with Japanese to be able to analyze the meaning of going from ‘san’ to ‘sempai’ (and it would probably be even weirder if Aikawa didn’t add any suffixes since I doubt they’re that close yet), but for me, it seems more casual and friendly :) HI, NANAO!!!
While we’re on names, another thing that was also in Mujihi na Otoko- Aikawa calls Nanao by his given name (a very intimate/disrespectful thing in the Japanese culture) but Nanao calls Aikawa by his family name. Now Nanao calling Aikawa ‘Aikawa’ is understandable, even though they’ve gotten closer here. Nanao is still uncertain enough about their relationship that he probably doesn’t think it’d be appropriate to do something as intimate as using given names (maybe he even thinks that he doesn’t deserve to refer to Aikawa as ‘Kuon’). But Aikawa is different. Considering how Aikawa hated Nanao’s guts, but is not a disrespectful person (just blunt), this is very odd. The best thing I can come up with is that it’s so he can differentiate between Nanao and Mikado. I guess ‘Shirahane-san’ and ‘Shirahane-kun’ could be a bit of a mouthful and easy to mix up? But Nanao calls him ‘Aikawa-with-no-suffix’ and refers to Towa as ‘Aikawa-kun.’ Very strange… Ah, though it’s because Nanao always calls him Aikawa that I also call him Aikawa instead of Kuon.
Though it’s a bit annoying that the sound effects/whispers/asides aren’t translated. They usually add a bit more humor into the dialogue. And it’s times like this that I think I should’ve paid more attention in my Mandarin classes (which were a lost cause, but whatever). Oh wait, I think those are still in Japanese. Never mind.
Oh, look at Nanao casually leaning back in his chair. Like a boss ^.^ PFFT!!! Aikawa as a waitress! *laughs head off* It wouldn’t be surprising if Towa really did say ‘waitress’ instead of ‘waiter’ XD Wait, looking it up… Hmm, according to the online dictionary, the term used (服務生) just means ‘server’; I don’t think it really indicates gender. However, considering Nanao’s first thought is a frilly apron with a matching cap, I guess ‘waitress’ would be a better term XD Though the brother-complex brother is calling Towa ‘daft’? Guess some things can’t be sugar-coated XD And aww, the chibi speech bubble faces are here~ But oh! What is this? Nanao is unleashing his teasing side onto Aikawa (whose face is rather priceless). Now this was what I was hoping for- Nanao being comfortable enough around Aikawa to display his true personality, something that definitely wasn’t advisable in Mujihi na Otoko :D Wonderful, wonderful… And look at all those sparkles XD Ahhhhh, he reminds me of one of those swaggering, self-centered princes. But a brilliant comeback, by the way, very witty and hilarious.
Hmm, another minor annoyance- there are these white rectangles behind the words that are the result of cleaning. See, the problem is that Japanese and Mandarin use characters that run up and down, and since they’re somewhat similar shaped and structured, it’s a bit easier to replace the text. Unfortunately, English runs left and right and take up a different space, so it’s probably easier to just cut out a rectangle to make room for the words. A bit annoying, but it’s something that can’t really be helped.
*GASP* Is that Nanao laughing?! Oh, be still, my heart. *sobs joyfully* Ohhhhh, I can’t express enough times how glad I am that Nanao is so happy (not as happy as he will be by the end of this volume, but still very very happy). Whenever he smiles or laughs in Aikawa’s presence- well, he truly is at his most beautiful then :’D
“I was thinking--” Ah, Nanao wants to spend the holiday with Aikawa. Now isn’t that romantic? ^.^ Gosh darn those cockblockers! D:< Ugh, they couldn’t have waited another minute? Though it wouldn’t be good for a waiter to spend too much time with one customer, but still, rawrs. Oh, but the first time through this, I did hope that Nanao would ask Aikawa sometime later- Nanao seems like the type that, when faced with a situation like this, will go ‘Oh, never mind’ and end up changing the subject or not asking :(
The Shirahane mansion. Seriously, what do the parents do to make so much money? O.o Oh, hello there Nanao. This is a bit new- his stomach is showing. The majority of the time, he just has an extremely low cut/buttoned shirt, but this time it’s also unbuttoned on the bottom. Maybe it’s just visible now because he’s lying down? Aww, Nanao took a picture of Aikawa. That’s so sweet ^.^ And his phone appears to be a type of touch-screen (only the best for the Shirahane family) whereas I think Aikawa had a flip phone. Oh, and we’re close enough that we can see Nanao’s fingernails. I’m not sure why I’m noticing some detail like fingernails now… Ah, though I hope Nanao’s not in the process of deciding not to ask after all- kinda seems like it. More evidence for Nanao being left-handed: he’s initially holding the phone with his left hand and then later plays with the buttons with the left hand.
Random. I wonder how bad Nanao’s eyesight is. He wears them in public though not at home, so I guess he’s not too nearsighted. And it must be very very mild seeing as he can drive without them (once when he drove Towa home, and when he went to pick up Mikado). Ah, though considering the importance that Nanao places on appearance, there’s a likely chance that the glasses are just mainly for show. Maybe they don't even have any prescription, but I like to think that they do.
Hmm, you can pick up Nanao’s insecurity in this mainly text-filled page. His feelings toward Aikawa is love (which has been established since pretty much the beginning), but his perception of Aikawa’s feelings towards him are ‘acceptance’ and ‘a miracle’. Now you could read that is Nanao being in awe at the turn of events, but considering the whole chapter, it’s more like Nanao sees it as something almost too good to believe, something that could change at any moment. Perhaps it’s because Aikawa isn’t a particularly demonstrative person in terms of affection, but it seems as though Nanao really underestimates how much Aikawa cares for him. Then again, Nanao is very new at the whole relationship thing, not to mention his tense past with Aikawa, so it’s not surprising that he feels this way.
Oh yeah! Brotherly incest! It’s awesome to see Mikado so…wait a minute, Mikado would never be that touchy-feely with Nanao, much less straddle him (because if there was brotherly incest, not that I ever considered it *cough*, then Mikado would totally be the seme, and I see straddling as an uke behavior) or talk about porn so casually. Huh, and ‘Mikado’ has a different haircut and…oh, it’s a cousin. And a very close cousin too, if the casual (and apparently very frequent) talk of incest is anything to go by :3 Nanao rolling over and smiling evilly is so cute~ Oh ho! A love triangle between relatives; now I’m very interested to see this uncle of Nanao’s :D “Don’t make me remind you again?” And what happened, pray tell, that would require Nanao to say something like that, especially ‘again’? I’m guessing it’s not just the Shirahane siblings that have personality issues XD Heh, uncle-killer (now I keep thinking noona-killer).
Ehhhhh?! So this Seijin cousin (his position is adorable) is aware of Nanao’s past activities? Come to think of it, we’re never told what his meetings with ‘people from the other side’ meant specifically. One night stands? Brief flings? What ‘other side’? Some red-light district? When and why did this start? When and why did this end? I think Nanao implies to Mikado that he fooled around and had fuck buddies during high school, and we saw a rather sketchy scene of Nanao with the sensei…somewhere, and we know that he’s never had a relationship before, and that’s about it. Yet this cousin of his knows everything, so they must be very very close (they look fairly similar in age though the cousin looks younger). The time that he wasn’t here…this seems to indicate that the cousin is a very regular guest at Nanao’s home, probably even lived there for a while. But ouch. Nanao’s already insecure, and the cousin is just making it even worse D: That look on Nanao’s face ;_; Nanao doesn’t want to tell his cousin about Aikawa? Actually, aside from the sensei, who does know about their relationship?
A symbolic view of Nanao’s back. I feel rather sad :( Not only is he insecure about his relationship, but he also has incredibly low self-esteem. I don’t know if the cousin meant to be intentionally mean, but to be told that you’re ‘not normal?’ Well, that’s pretty hurtful. And Nanao doesn’t even deny it *sniffles* God, I so want to hug him and tell him in explicit detail how wonderful he is >.< But oh look, Nanao’s wearing a necklace. Can’t recall him ever wearing jewelry- perhaps Aikawa’s rubbing off on him? Ah, though his jacket has that weird look when the artist uses some uniform-ish solid pattern for the clothes and doesn’t bother to account for all the creases.
Oh, and Nanao is still worried for Aikawa’s reputation :( But at least I was rather certain that Aikawa was going to continue yesterday’s conversation. That was very sweet of him. And again, I was hoping that Nanao wouldn’t chicken out and not ask.
Heh, and at this point I was laughing because I absolutely was not expecting Aikawa to be the one to ask (it just doesn’t happen like that in most yaoi). But the thing that really caught my attention was that Aikawa had correctly guessed Nanao’s intentions for coming to the café. That was the beginning of what made me really start loving Aikawa- he can now see right through Nanao \O/ There is absolutely no way he could’ve been able to do that unless he was really really close to Nanao (a mutual closeness, not just supposedly one-sided on Nanao’s part).
Hmm, and the brother-complex brother (my god, every single oddly worded phrase from Mujihi na Otoko really is now part of my vocab) is actually turning down a chance to hang out with his brothers? Someone call the newspapers! OH. Aikawa asking Nanao directly is one of the hottest things ever. And that’s not even mentioning the actual words :D He really is suited to be with Nanao because bluntness is the only thing that could dissuade Nanao’s doubts, and Nanao has a lot of doubts.
“Is that for real?” Again, a sign of his insecurity- he can’t believe that something good could possibly happen to him, and it’s like he had convinced himself that Aikawa wouldn’t want to go with him. Ooh, and my respect for Aikawa’s perception grew even more when he mentioned their location change. Of course, Nanao just brushing the matter aside was very sadly expected, but I had wondered if it was too much to hope that Aikawa wouldn’t be fooled.
And it wasn’t too much to hope! *fist pump* I am completely impressed with how Aikawa can now read Nanao like an open book. And the best thing? He’s got the audacity (is there a nicer way of saying this? Boldness?) to keep on addressing the situation and not buy any of Nanao’s dismissals. Ooh, tension tension tension…
Yes! He prevents Nanao from leaving! Oh, and not to mention that he managed to make Nanao admit the truth. Damn he’s good. Aikawa is like some kind of miracle worker for Nanao or something~ Though that necklace that Nanao’s wearing- it looks pretty similar to one that Aikawa was wearing in Mujihi na Otoko. Or that might just be my wishful thinking talking since I can’t remember what necklaces Aikawa wore. Should double check… Ah, just wishful thinking. The pendant on Nanao’s necklace is much thinner.
And here I laughed again. Oh man, that is one very smart move right there. Aikawa taking the initiative is once again very hot, but what’s even better is that now Nanao can’t refuse. It’s not that I think Aikawa is dumb, but I’m under the impression that Nanao is brainier (must be the glasses), and so outsmarting Nanao like this is just brilliant.
After spending so much time in the K-pop fandom, I realized that I forgot a lot of stuff that I’d picked up from manga. For example, the outfits that Aikawa and Nanao are wearing- the ‘bathrobes’- I want to call them yukatas but I don’t remember if that’s the correct term. Oh well, they look wonderful wearing them, and Aikawa even looks manlier than Nanao (as always) since he has that shawl/jacket thing (and I really don’t know what that’s called) :D I guess being from a rich family means that you get to stay at all the best onsens (can’t remember if this is the correct word either). But while his face looks the same, I’m getting the vibe that Aikawa is happy that Nanao is pleased~
Oh, Nanao. *sighs happily* There’s no need for that flower which pales in comparison to Nanao’s beauty- he’s already gorgeous without all the flowers and sparkles ^.^ Though I find it absolutely hilarious that the couple (they rather look like a couple) is staring. We’ve seen both guys and girls admire Nanao on different occasions, but never at the same time (not counting the sensei), and most certainly not when the guy and girl are together. Can we say ‘awkward’? XD But I don’t blame them. That neck. That collarbone. Lovely, lovely collarbone. Good thing Aikawa is rather reserved, otherwise Nanao would probably have to wear turtlenecks all the time XD Ah, and isn’t this nice? Aikawa has seemed to have directed his possessiveness in ‘hiding’ Nanao (all for himself, that greedy Aikawa~) rather than wishing death and extermination on those staring (or perhaps the sensei is just a special case).
Aww, Aikawa, don’t hurt Nanao *pouts* But I guess there’s no stopping a determinedly protective guy like him. And it's mildly hot that Aikawa is being a bit rough :3 Though oooooh, the seeds of yet another possible misunderstanding. Looks like Nanao still can’t turn away from the idea of Aikawa thinking that he’s promiscuous :( His face when looking up at Aikawa is quite gorgeous though- a bit sad, but still gorgeous.
Questioning whether it’s a dream, insecurity about the relationship, la di la. Not wanting to go the main bath…I take that as either Nanao wants to reaffirm their relationship by being somewhere more private or he wants to avoid being ‘overly loose’ in such a public place and therefore making Aikawa disgusted. Either way, it’s a bit of a blow to the heart.
I’m sure I mentioned somewhere that I had to stop reading this the first time because I clicked on a random page and fangirled so hard that I couldn’t continue. Yup, Nanao in the bathtub was what did it. I could’ve started on the first page or clicked on an earlier one, but nooooooo, I just had to choose the page where Nanao is wet and sexy and naked and holding a conversation with Aikawa. *takes one look at Nanao and runs off to fangirl again* Yet he still manages to be cute with calling Aikawa his dearest. I swear, Aikawa must have nerves of steel to be able to resist Nanao *shakes head in wonder* Though the bathtub being small is hardly a problem as I’m sure Nanao is flexible *cough*andthentheycouldhavehotbathroomsex*cough*
And I thought Nanao was sexy from just sitting in the bathtube? His tongue. The things he could do with that tongue *runs off to fangirl again* My goodness, Nanao truly is determined to kill me with just how seductive he can be after all those bouts of gorgeousness >.< Ah, and a lovely shot of Nanao’s face by Aikawa’s hand while we hear Nanao admitting his insecurity.
Darn, Nanao’s fully clothed again :P But I was a bit confused at this point. See, with Nanao being devastatingly sexy like that, as well as their conversation, I was sort of under the impression that they did have hot bathroom sex. Problem: Aikawa is completely dry. Now you could say that after they did it, Aikawa took a quick shower first and dried off while Nanao washed up. However, I think that even if that was the case, Aikawa would still look slightly wet and at least have a few towels around him. So whether they did something, I’m not sure, because the conversation seems like they did but their appearance seems like they didn’t (and not to mention we didn’t get to see anything D:<). Heh, though Nanao is only just noticing Aikawa’s major clinginess? *snickers*
Oh Nanao, there’s nothing to apologize for :( And that’s Aikawa’s cue to bluntly reassure (heh, bit of an oxymoron) him so. Aikawa, don’t fail us now!
Ah, Aikawa, what a reliable guy ^.^ Misunderstandings and lack of communication are the cause of a lot of drama in relationships, so it’s really nice to see Aikawa advocating honesty. But since it’s Nanao we’re talking about, there’s still bound to be a ton of drama (of course there is- we’re only on the first chapter). And now isn’t that hot? :D Though Nanao’s hand looks like it’s coming down awfully close to Aikawa’s crotch. Missed it by that much.
Aww, Nanao leaning against Aikawa. How sweet. But hmm, Aikawa brings up a very good point. Nanao really should learn quickly that Aikawa isn’t going to ditch him. All in good time… Though I wonder if Aikawa has any other earrings. He seems to always wear two hoops in his right ear and two studs in his left ear. And that sad, resigned smile of Nanao’s is heartbreakingly gorgeous.
Nanao’s insecure blah blah blah oh god that is one of the hottest scenes ever *fangirling, and doesn’t return for several minutes* Look at those perfect alabaster thighs (I’m so jealous). Look at the hand. The hand! SO SEXY. I just…I can’t….slkdfoiejsdflsghsioasdfjk *flails everywhere* WORDS CANNOT PROPERLY DESCRIBE HOW HOT THAT IS.
Sleep, disoriented Nanao. YUM *licks lips obscenely* And here is where I thank the Japanese culture for robes that can conveniently slide off the shoulder and opens up dangerously high from the bottom. His thighs. His upper torso. HIS THIGHS. Seriously. I’ve been in love with Nanao since the first time I saw him, and now, I’m also officially in love with his thighs <3 Though I am wondering why Nanao slept on top of the sheets - surely it must’ve been somewhat cold, especially since he’s not wearing much. I would’ve thought that Aikawa would at least cover him up with a blanket or something.
Then again, that would actually require Aikawa to be there. Yet another classic cause of drama- leaving the lover to wake up alone. Aikawa’s not exactly the romantic type who would stay in bed until his lover wakes up, but couldn’t he at least leave a note or something? I’m sure that he could find a pen and paper somewhere. It did surprise me a bit that they have two beds instead of one. Yes, yes, I know that they’re not close enough to share a bed yet, but it’s awfully rare in yaoi for the couple to book a hotel room with two beds. But I like it this way- it’s realistic that they’re not moving too fast. But speaking of moving too fast, once more, I’m uncertain as to whether or not they had sex. The beds look much too neat for such a thing, and they would’ve slept in the same bed if they did, but Nanao looks to the other bed, indicating that Aikawa had slept over there. Perhaps they had kinky chair sex? Maybe, but Nanao is much too neat/clean/unblemished, and I don’t get the feeling that he took a second shower. And not to mention we did not see anything smutty happen :( So I come to the disappointing conclusion, for the second time in this chapter, that they didn’t get down and dirty *sulks*
Where the heck is Aikawa? A convenience store like Nanao believes? But what for? I would think that wherever they’re staying provides food, and it’s unlikely that they forgot to pack anything important. *gasps and clutches chest* Did you hear that, Aikawa?! Did you hear that?! Okay, he obviously didn’t, but he should. Nanao, you poor thing D: Want to give him a hug so bad *wibbles* Aikawa, get your butt back here now and comfort your beloved. But at least Nanao’s not undergoing what would be a stereotypical uke reaction something along the lines of ‘Oh no! He doesn’t love me! *does absolutely nothing but cries uselessly*’ Love you, Nanao~
Hmm, why is Nanao only considering what would happen if Aikawa graduates? What about his own life after graduation? Does Nanao already know what he’s going to do? For now, I’m thinking he’s going to take over his father’s company with his savvy economics skills (never mind that we don’t even know what the father does) since it had seemed like he was an econ or business major. Huh, dropped wallet. And at this point, it’s obvious that one of those two guys is going to cause trouble for Nanao and Aikawa for the rest of the volume, otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten so much screen time.
The guy who dropped his key pouch- I wonder if he also finds Nanao attractive XD Everyone seems to :) And the moment of recognition. Dun dun dunnnnnnn.
Ooh, and Nanao does not seem happy at all *winces* It’s been established that Nanao doesn’t have any friends at the university (aside from Aikawa and the sensei), so I had assumed that he must be an old fuck buddy of Nanao’s. Perhaps a one night stand, but based on their reactions upon seeing each other, it’s probably lasted for a fairly long time (and that would make sense since the guy needs to be important enough to cause the inevitable drama). That guy…looks familiar. Not similar to Aikawa, but to someone else from another yaoi (most likely). For now, the closest person that comes to mind is the Earl guy from Binan no Dendou, but I dunno. Though for some reason, I’m thinking that the guy has a dumb face XD And of course the chapter ends there *shakes fist at the existence of cliffhangers*
Can’t wait until the next chapter comes out >.< Though I think the page by page commentary for that will be a bit shorter since there’s only so many times I can talk about how often Nanao’s insecurity shows up without repeating/boring myself (and I’ve already done that a lot here). *sigh* Want more…
More (10/04/11): Since this post will be too big for LJ to handle, just head on over to PART 2 for more fangirling~