Jun 30, 2016
One can no longer deny the literary merit of this title.
Out of the huge variety of stories that gets produced yearly for the anime/manga/VN/LN medium, there's one specific group that continue to grow both in popularity as in quality. Call it a subculture, a sub genre, new medium, 18+ pop art, deviant entertainment, whatever you wish but it all means the same thing: porn with plot.
I've convinced myself that "porn with plot" is just a dumb meme word, used by those who want to make fun of Fate/SN fans, and that never a material written mainly for masturbation would actually have a decent, well elaborated
...
story.
Well, I was wrong. This title proves the very opposite. It may be part of a new trend -and that would be quite something- or it may also be a single gem that pops up once in a while but whichever its fate may be, what it's doing now is memorable.
MAL calls it "ecchi" and "seinen". Don't fool yourself, it's still porn. Just a rare, refined, tailored kind of porn.
Netoraserare, self explanatory title, explores the lives and sexual misadventures of a newlywed couple. Shuujirou and Haruka seem like a perfectly normal and happy family to the outside observer however when taking a closer, more intimate look, one will realize things aren't that happy nor normal. They have trouble expressing their feelings, Shuujirou has a socially awkward fetish and just like every Japanese relationship, nobody knows how to be direct and clear in a verbal conversation.
Forget nakiges, Key, minori, Mari Okada, your favorite NTR doujinshi, this story pushes the DRAMA in human relationships (as in, sexual relationships) to the furthest.
We are complicated beings, it's no news, specially when interacting with others or knowing your restrains.
But where's the boundary? Who sets a line? How far can you push someone until something is broken?
This story starts with a premise, it makes crystal clear that at least someone will get hurt, there is no win-win situation when you play with people's emotions. It will get ugly, it will get violent and yet, it's arousing. There's a certain pleasure in doing and watching something that feels wrong. That's why you're reading it, isn't it?
The tension builds up to the point you forget about the primitive urge that made you start reading it in the first place and simply continue moving on, page by page, argument by argument, watching characters go through disgust-filled looks, ruined careers, bad nights of sleep, just waiting to see how it will end.
Yes, artwork is also gorgeous, honestly I started reading because of it -before finding out about the many layers of story. It definitely wouldn't be the same thing with, say, Key/Visual Arts tier of character design.
The amount of detail this mangaka puts into his scenes, yet keeping it straightly realistic is phenomenal. Not only that, Haruka's design is also an instant pick up.
It's probably good advice to check the rest of his stuff.
Perhaps it's because of the strong cultural identity Japan enforces or the huge clash between ultra-conservationism and experimental youth, either may it be, it's undeniable they provide the most "dude, that's fucked up" overly-dramatic romances.
Give this thing a try and see for yourself.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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