I just finished marathoning it for two days, 24 volumes, and I can't tell you how empty, sad and just overwhelmed, mind blown and how I wish it would have never ended. This is one of the best shounen-ai series I've ever read, and that I've finally been able to finish it when others like Ze, Dark Descendants, Loveless, Love/Sex Pistols haven't, is... I don't even know how to express it.
I just have a lot of feelings right now, but it surprised me, endeared and reeled me in just as much as the first time I read it, and though it didn't make me cry like Silver Diamond (by the same author) it was equally great.
I cannot extol her as much as I wish I could. 90's manga is everything to me, most of my favorites come from the 90's, and even the aesthetic is so appealing to me.
I cannot tell you how many times I laughed with them, how much I grew and learned from Ishuca and Blood, both main characters with so much depth and hearts. Such big hearts, so much to learn from them. I cannot tell you the depth of my feelings, but I will try either way because I feel this deserves it.
I don't end up feeling empty, like I never want to leave or for it to the end, all that easily, I'm tough to please to that level. I'm pretty skimpy with my 9's and 10's too in MAL, because they have to impact me and this story so did.
I'm always surprised by the warmth and feelings this author infuses in her stories. Silver diamond was another heartwarming series that talked about subjects like the heart, mind, what is evil, what is good, and so did this one and just as flawlessly, and in different ways.
I will admit this: I am in love with the author, and with her works. You cannot believe how refreshing it is to see characters develop, grow, and become more and more human, and gain a heart, gain a soul, and with it also develop awareness and feelings of romance. There is no instant in-love between the two main characters (though there is humorous one-sided ones) but it is there slowly, and it isn't so light you could pass it as "friends", which I like. It leaves no ambiguity to their feelings, while not having to thread to the smut area (tho mind you, I wouldn't mind. Blood and Ishuca are truly works of art :Q____ )
I will also bow down to the author and say that her art is amazing, Blood is so gorgeous and sparkles, and is so goddamn striking, just take me away demons if you're that beautiful 😂
My sense of feeling too full yet empty at the same time hasn't passed, but let me tell you it is both the best and worst feeling. I don't think I will be able to reread this one anytime soon, it is so fresh and crippled me so hard, but I will no doubt reread it once I've forgotten just how beautiful, how much it impacted me.
If you haven't read it, let me assure you it's one of the prettiest BL mangas out there from the 90's (alongside X/1999), and the plot, story and characters are amazing. You will love them, you will fall in love with them, and you will get impacted each time things go wrong for them, but it is such an awesome journey to make with these two beautiful beings. I couldn't have wished for a better twist, or ending to this story, and I don't have enough words to describe why it impacted me without going into spoilers.
I also really like that the author challenges the black & white mentality of her characters, and of us as readers, about characters and where the story is going, and let me tell you: it is worth it. If you haven't read it, make yourself a favor, and do it. I promise this: you'll love them too, and there's no better feeling in the world.
