Ten
Count, Vol 3
Author: Rihito Takarai
Publisher: SuBLime Manga
American
release date: February 14, 2017
Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/manga/glbt/178 pages
Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★
When Kurose takes Shirotani
shopping for a new suit, he offers to take him by his apartment first so he can
change out of Kurose’s clothes, which he is borrowing. Shirotani surprisingly
refuses, citing the time that would be lost with the rituals he’d feel
compelled to perform. This is a definite step forward for him. He does very
well with the tailor, allowing him to take most of his measurements, which of
course involves touching. An interesting situation arises when they take a
break, and Shirotani finds himself unable to walk properly. Kurose takes him
back to his apartment and helps him find relief. In the process, we learn that
Shirotani is fearful that giving oral sex can lead to a bacterial infection.
Where did he get this idea?
Shirotani has had as much as he
can take and hurries home, unwittingly leaving a spare key with Kurose. The
next day, he sleeps late and doesn’t have time to style his hair, leaving it
more natural, which garners a compliment from Mikami. Feeling a little unwell,
Shirotani leaves work early, in order not to exacerbate his condition. He goes
to bed, feeling unable to do anything else, much less make dinner. A concerned
Kurose, who hasn’t heard from him in a few days, calls. But when Shirotani
suddenly stops speaking in the middle of their conversation, Kurose becomes
very worried and bicycles to Shirotani’s apartment, even knowing the other man
would be uncomfortable with someone else in his home. Using the spare key, he
gain entry to the apartment.
Shirotani and Kurose go to an
aquarium together, then arrange to watch a movie at Kurose’s apartment. Of
course, one thing leads to another, and Kurose can’t help but touch Shirotani.
And then he gives him an unexpected gift which holds a great deal of promise…
With each volume of Ten Count, I think we learn a little
more about Shirotani. This time we witness a flashback to his childhood, and we
see what he saw that was rather traumatizing and probably the beginning of his
germophobia. On the other hand, we haven’t really seen what makes Kurose tick.
I suspect there is more to him than meets the eye.
I think these two are really good
together, and that they would make a great couple. Shirotani is already making
great strides under Kurose’s tutelage. I think he has strong feelings for
Kurose that he isn’t ready to express. He wants his touch and he enjoys his
touch, but he has a hard time dealing with this knowledge because it also feels
dirty to him. I think this all stems back to his boyhood trauma. I’m glad that
Kurose established their relationship the way he did, as friends rather than
therapist and patient. If it were the latter, he’d have been crossing a line,
now they are equals.
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