[...]
However, that brings up another issue (though it probably doesn't have much to do with this manga): everyone has their circumstances and their struggles. The worst, most awful person you know certainly feels pain sometimes. Maybe something really bad happened to them. But that doesn't change the fact that they're awful to you. There's this mindset in a lot of manga (and really, in all kinds of romance stories) that as long as someone's behavior is rooted in personal suffering, it's somehow excusable. They should be pitied, or treated with empathy, and given leeway, or, on the extreme end, they should be "cured" with the power of love. You owe it to them to stay by their side.
But in the real world, that's the attitude that leads to people getting stuck in really unpleasant or even abusive relationships. In real life, you should know when to cut and run. I still really enjoy lots of manga with these kinds of relationships, like the works of Momono Moto, or Kodama Naoko. But if I knew someone in the situation of some of those characters, I would suggest that they get the fuck out while they can.
Well said. Everybody hurts and it no excuse to treat people like shit.
Personally, I really love the premise of manga like this. The only thing that bothers me is that usually the cheating (or whatever) character is getting away with it, because they are so intoxicating (or whatever shit). And the main character is doesn't have any self-respect. Still at the beginning I'm always hoping that this one will be different. So, let's start the ride. I'll take anything except the trope "I cheated on you, but it's okay, because I'm sexy".
