I went ahead and read the second volume, and I liked it quite a bit more? We get more of a sense for Mei's character. My armchair psychologist says she reacts like someone who has had an abusive past? When she's trying to connect with someone and feels vulnerable, she pushes for sex and says things like "Please I'll do anything, I'm very good at following commands." And she has no regard for others' consent, but it's not out of a sense of power over them? It's more like a desperate move to get the relationship into a context she can understand (a really unhealthy one, ps). Idk, it has so many red flags that someone at some point when she was younger, that was maybe the only way she got any affection. But that's probably *way more nuanced* than this book is able to go. And I could also be wildly wrong. Or maybe I'm just trying to make excuses for the blatant consent violations throughout the book. ugh. idk.
Like when her little friend with the curls suddenly makes things sexual. She freezes up and looks terrified and passive, doesn't tell anyone what happened, and goes home in a daze. Idk that to me says ptsd and abuse, but again - armchair psychologist here.
That last scene, though. They were finally connecting on a level that was emotionally honest and real, and naturally the kissing that happened was also honest and real. I was SO HERE FOR THIS. I hope the series continues in that direction.