Iyagatteru Kimi ga Suki

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Dysfunctional relationships that are unabashedly terrible for one (or both) sides are nothing new to manga. Hurt and damaged people may pivot to other hurt people. A lot of manga - especially psychological seinens - unpack this dynamic. But that's not what Iyagetteru Kimi ga Suki is. It's primarily a manga about ryona and grotesque fetishes first, and a story about Mikoto and Makoto's relationship second. This goes without saying, but I don't condone any of this, nor do I condone Makoto's actions and his lack of regard for Mikoto's comfort and consent.

Mikoto puts up with Makoto's eccentricities and extremely crude treatment towards ... her to refine her public image and something to show to her friends. But Mikoto's desire to fit in and conform to such an extreme degree isn't ever elaborated on. Mikoto goes from enjoying harsh treatment, to abruptly fetishizing about the extremely gruesome, gorey, and violent out of nowhere. And so does Makoto and another character. Random events feel abrupt and just thrown in for value. Character values take abruptly VERY steep turns that exceed what's believable for me personally. I started reading this out of morbid curiosity about how Mikoto and Makoto's psyches are written, and then it clicked for me. IKgS is very unabashed on what fetishes it explores and tries to cater to, especially with the main couple. Makoto likes seeing Mikoto uncomfortable, puts her in a grotesque situation, and enjoys it until she does too, which he then no longer enjoys. The context for why these characters are like this or how it escalates feels deeply unsatisfying.

Makoto and Mikoto just feel like vessels for the mangaka to write about these scenarios, rather than actual people with motivations and history behind them. I didn't feel any stakes for them. I've read NSFW heavy manhwa and manga, but there was still some emotional investment for the characters and the plot. You'd be remiss to find that here and care about the characters on a deeper level beyond their cookie cutter dynamic.

I will say, visually Iyagatteru Kimi ga Suki is STUNNING. Some of the imagery of Mikoto's imagination is extremely clinical, cut and dry. I love the "dated" style and how Oniyama draws expressions. Everytime a two-page spread comes up, I know I'm going to recieve a visual treatment. But style does not compensate for the utter lack of substance.