Beautiful, beautiful art, impeccable framing and storytelling. Genuinely rather moving in how it approaches self-deprecation and fear of aging in a post-capitalist society. I have a very distinct fear that I'll end up with nothing at all to prove myself, even now, so watching Nozue work his way through such thoughts and come to let himself want more, and then work to achieve that 'more' is always motivating to me. I re-read this whenever it feels like I'm falling into complacency.

Of course, one could ask "but wouldn't it be more effective of a story if Nozue didn't need Togawa to guide him through the 'andropause' and detached himself from Togawa later in the story to do fun things by himself?" and it wouldn't be entirely wrong to think so. But the point is that sometimes it's alright to depend on someone else. This is also reflected in how at the beginning, we see their coworkers laughing about how none of them have to do overtime because Nozue does it for them. Fundamentally, the idea that we don't need to depend on other people is individualistic, and I think ultimately can prove rather harmful.

But then, saramdeuri, how is this at all motivating for you? Doesn't this just de-motivate you, a story where a man can't reach joy or understand his worth until he gets into a loving relationship? No, actually, it doesn't. Apart from the fact that it's BL and that's just how things go around here, I understand already that I can do this by myself, because I'm not held back by the gender constraints that originally keep Nozue from seeking small daily joys by himself, and that he had achieved quite a bit career-wise by then, and was keeping himself back from promotions out of a lack of self-worth. Also, I know that I feel infinitely more joy when I'm with my friends. Anyways, the point is that the nuances here fit together rather well, actually. It's a great series!