1999 Shanghai

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Don't be fooled by the horrendous art style, this manga is full of heart wrenching plot and romance. You'll get used to the style as you read on, and it won't bother you anymore once you get into the story (well, that's how it was for me). If you're looking for something sad and memorable, read it.

If you'll just look at first few pages, you might think twice on reading this manga but I can tell its a worth to read. This story really touched me so much I cried specially in the end. It's like Romeo and Juliet story in gangster style though I hated that the story is an open-ended one and you really gonna think in the end what a nice story should be afterwards. It has a unique love story not just like a plain yaoi story and that makes me think that this is one of the great yaoi mangas I've read.

I once read in a review that it is much more useful to write a negative review than a praising one. I agree with this one, however, I'm trying really hard to find words to describe this manga and I can not say anything else than it is absolutely beautiful. Is it the art? Not so much. The art made my eyes bleed sometimes and few times the characters' eyes made me think of those of a fish(empty, round, you get the point) but still, I can whole heartedly recommend this manga for everyone. At least if you like or have an open mind for ... this kind of genre.

It starts with a boy meeting a boy. Attraction follows. However, problems arise as they soon find out they are enemies. The story does focus on the two main characters but the side characters are shown as individuals as well. They are not merely there to get the main characters together and help them overcome their obstacles, quite the opposite. The plot is thick, it took me a few chapters to make the difference which character was which and what was actually happening but once I got through that it was easy sailing. No pain, no gain that's what my mum always says (actually no, she says that be beware of those with AIDS. She's wise.)

And I would like to disagree strongly that there is no character building. In my eyes there was. It was not massive and you had to read between the lines but I think the flow of the story was just right. I would give this manga the highest score but unfortunately the art takes it down a notch. Luckily the mangaka's art style has improved hugely from that and if you have not read any other stories by the lovely Mizushiro Setona, I advice you to do so. Right now.