Blue
Morning, Vol 4
Author: Shoko Hidaka
Publisher: SuBLime Publishing
American
release date: February 11, 2014
Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Yaoi/218 pages
Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★
Akihito has moved into humble
lodgings, occupying part of a house once owned by Ishizaki’s old housekeeper.
As far as the servants at the manor know, he is staying at the Ishizaki villa.
This is a brand new world for Akihito, who has no practical knowledge of how
anything works, including such basics as using a sink or a stove. He has a lot
to learn! The reason for downgrading his lifestyle is that Akihito plans to
relinquish his title in favor of Katsuragi, which he confides to Ishizaki, even
as he strongly impresses upon him that Katsuragi must not find out.
Akihito confronts Amamiya at the
manor. Amamiya is surprised that Akihito bears him no animosity, considering
that he has been working to ensure Katsuragi inherits the Kuze house, unaware
that Akihito has the same goal. His surprise becomes even greater when Akihito
makes Amamiya the new butler of the Kuze household. However, Akihito is adamant
that Amamiya not use Katsuragi’s old room.
Katsuragi has taken on the task of
instructing Ishizaki, as once he did Akihito. While discussing the arranged
marriage for Ishizaki, Katsuragi reveals knowledge of ishizaki’s true love, a
geisha, and tries to tell him that he can have both. Ishizaki laughs, saying
that is what Kuze has said too, so why can’t the two of them manage to do that
themselves? Katsuragi has no answer to that, and Ishizaki silently wishes he
could do something to help the two of them.
Getting into an argument with
Katsuragi, Ishizaki inadvertently lets on that Akihito has done something
stupid because of his former butler. Learning
the truth, Katsuragi goes to see Akihito in his new home, and Akihito serves
him tea, while trying to gauge how much he knows. Akihito confesses to burning
some bridges and the reason for doing so. Not surprisingly, a heated discussion
between the two men ends with passion. The next day, Katsuragi is convinced he
knows what he must do in order to save the Kuze house, but he must act quickly.
When Akihito returns to the manor,
he is annoyed to learn Amamiya is in Katsuragi’s old room. But when he goes to
confront him, he is surprised to find Katsuragi there as well. Amamiya leaves
the two men alone, and they discuss the future of the Kuze house, which will
necessitate their working together. Katsuragi makes the first move this time,
and passion once more holds sway, which leads to a surprising admission on
Katsuragi’s part.
It’s interesting to watch Akihito
and Katsuragi go to such lengths, each for the other. It reminds me of The Gift of the Magi, in which a young
couple each sacrifice something of value to them in order to give something of
value to the other, but the sacrifices negate the gifts, leaving only the love.
I’m hoping that’s how this turns out for these two. From the bottom of my heart,
I want nothing more than for them to end up together, whether at the Kuze manor
or somewhere else. I’m not sure they’re at that point, and it won’t be an easy
road to happiness, but I believe they can do it. I love the passion between the
two men, and the way Akihito doesn’t care about status or lack of it, he loves
the man Katsuragi is and wants to be with him forever, even if he forfeits his
own status and wealth to do so. Akihito is the seme in this relationship, and I
wonder if Katsuragi’s accepting the role of uke is indicative of something in
his past which we aren’t privy to yet. Only time will tell.
Ishizaki is proving to be a very
good friend to Akihito. I have to believe his words spoken in anger to
Katsuragi were simply a Freudian slip and that he wanted Katsuragi to do just
what he did, in the hopes he would be able to talk some sense into Akihito. And
now, with another candidate for head of the Kuze household looming on the
horizon, what happens next remains to be seen. We’ll have
to meet this other person to get a sense of his worth, or even his willingness
to assume the Kuze title.
Wheels within wheels and a great
deal of machination going on. Where will it end? No one knows. Loved this
volume, can’t wait for the next one.
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