normally when you like someone, you tell it upfront to them sooner or late. our MC does do that, but only after sexually harassing the old man he likes. welcome, girls and gays, to "ten years' worth of love! eat up!" they tell you, "it's time for a bellyful of love—eat up!" but save yourself any sort of expectations of love, and don't even bother to eat anything—lest you throw it over the course of reading this. terrible visual imagery aside, i don't understand how this author looked at this story and went, "oh yeah, that's a banger right here." it's not even about the agegap; it's the lack of consent in this manga from the first chapter onwards that will make you reconsider all your life choices that have led you to even reading this godforsaken manga. i blinked once, and suddenly the old man is unwillingly against a wall by some kid turned adult who's loved him for a decade. someone please check on takayuki, i fear he may have a cardiac arrest due to the undue stress put on him by the youngster shun and meet his untimely demise. but no, that does not happen—in fact, something worse happens.

he develops feelings for him.

cue the sounds of booing and outrageous gasping, because that is exactly what i did as i continued to read this manga.

the mangaka probably got some form of PRC (post-release clarity) and decided to shift the narrative entirely—gone is the shun that forced himself on takayuki to make him love him; instead, for better (or worse), they now maintain the bare minimum distance and consent and explore love together. oh, joy! humanity has returned, but at what cost? the braincells i fried just a chapter or so prior?this manga obviously ends "happily," but i immediately disassociated myself from the first chapter itself.

don't get me wrong, i love reading about queer representation in manga, but the thin line between "yaoi," "boy's love," and "absolute garbage" is something i am not very eager to explore. anyways, if you don't want to find yourself drafting a personally penned apology letter to the gay community, spare yourself a couple of minutes (and your entire sanity) and don't bother with this manga.