outwardly, this is a fairly simple story: after a chance encounter and a series of subsequent meetings with a sex worker, a man falls in love. at some point, however, life gets in the way — they part, time passes, until, one day, they meet again.
kanzaki never truly moved on from his feelings. he held onto his love, desperately hoping for something more. seeing futagami again makes him want to start over, to feel worthy of a second chance. futagami, on the other hand, is still grappling with his past. he's processing his trauma in his own way, and carries a fair amount of emotional baggage.
while the premise itself isn’t particularly original or groundbreaking, the execution is what makes this story so compelling. i honestly didn't expect to like it this much!
i adored the way their interactions were handled as the story unfolded. futagami’s hesitation and distance, and kanzaki’s attempts to let go and respect his boundaries, even as he continued to want for something more. the constant undercurrent of yearning, alongside the flashbacks to what once was AND futagami's own painful memories-- ugh! it was all told with such sincerity and care that every small detail here genuinely made my heart ache. to me, their feelings felt completely earned and organic, and i enjoyed their journey immensely!
and the art? it’s absolutely stunning! i adored how masterful it was, how intimate and human it felt. what a delight, honestly!
p.s. i MUST check out the author's other work now ✋😔
i accessed a digital copy through netgalley, courtesy of kodansha