I'm so torn with these four volumes...
On one hand, it is a beautiful depiction of queer people accepting themselves, living happily and finding a home in each other. Especially in manga, it's great to see. It was, despite everything else i'm going to say in this review, quite heartwarming.
But on the other hand, it's full of extremely triggering words and actions which aren't challenged enough, sometimes aren't challenged at all.
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Extremely homophobic or transphobic ideas are a huge part of the story, and if that's what japanese society is like, then I can understand. But in fictional stories like these, there is no reason not to show and explain WHY these ideas are hurtful and SHOULD NOT BE SAID.
Isn't the point of stories like these to show that queer people are just as "normal" as cis-straight people, and to show they should have happy lives too? Then maybe that could be stated more clearly when teh world seems to be proving them otherwise.
And maybe making the MC fall in love with a guy who was extremely homophobic to him (and making him love him even more AFTER he treated him that way) isn't the best idea ...
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It is also difficult to say that the story is a great representation of the queer community, because to me it isn't. Yes, there are gay men, lesbian women, trans characters. But there is still a very binary way of looking at things, with not a single mention of bisexuality or the idea of liking more than just one gender, no mention of any other gender identity other than trans.
And what hurt me the most was the character descrived as "asexual", a label which would explain why said character is independant, doesn't make friends easily, doesn't "care" about making friends ??? How ??? Also, they are clearly described as aromantic but I guess that term is way too advanced to be used here ...