After We Gazed at the Starry Sky

I like the rep and the premise (paraplegic protagonist & BL), but the execution unfortunately didn’t entirely touch me.

I don’t really see the chemistry that the author’s trying to portray. Bisco (the author) makes it look like they’ve been dating of months, and I think the problem is obviously that they haven’t. Author’s forgetting that just because these characters have been living in their mind for years, doesn’t actually make TougoSuba „canon“ for years, and won’t have the same effect on the reader, if not portrayed well.
They are cute, yes, but feel way too close for that short amount of time. Their dynamic still feels like Tougo is just hanging out with a fan of his, but I don’t really see the “madly in love“ vibe that Subaru’s bff described. 
Although his fanboying is valid, but…
I can’t quite describe it. Their scenes feel slow, slice-of-life like, but at the same time incredibly fast-paced, in a rather unrealistic way. 
I’m aware that some people just click and become best friends after knowing each other for a few days; and while these connections are rare, they’re not impossible. But these 2 characters don’t give that vibe at all, and it’s almost like the author’s forcing it on them.

The first chapter, where Tougo simply picks Subaru up from the wheelchair, without asking. That was… uncomfortable. Don’t do that, people. Especially when someone’s paraplegic and can’t walk. Don’t just remove their legs without permission.
At least in the other chapters he gives a warning or asks for consent.
And also… Subaru is paraplegic from knees down? I’ve googled it, but google’s awful with search results lately, so I couldn’t really find something. I’ve found knee paralysis but nothing that comes near to what the author described about Subaru’s condition.
Not sure how that even makes a difference? Story-wise, I mean. Why couldn’t Subaru be paraplegic in his entire legs? 

At least the sex scene was consensual. Actually cool how it wasn’t a “hot“ scene. They talked about wanting to go further in their relationship and just did that, without any awkwardness at all.
That’s when their love finally blossomed for me. Still, they’re development to get there feels empty.

The art is overall good, but sometimes looks like the artist used 3d models to draw over. The characters often look weirdly stiff, and the hands „too realistic“, if that makes sense. (I.e., look at the hands on the cover.) I don’t blame them, hands are difficult and anatomy even more so, but maybe could’ve been made with a little more love, so it doesn’t look like it’s been made that way.
It lacks a bit of emotion in their movements. Some scenes look great and Subaru (and his bff) especially feel alive, but everyone else often just kind of… exists. Like, if you look at early CGI movies and compare them with hand-drawn traditional animation. 
The night skies are very pretty, though.

It’s also a bit weird how they talk. I’m guessing it’s a translation mistake, but they often use each other’s names, instead of “you“. That sounds just as weird when someone is talking about themselves in 3rd person. Even over chat, they often were like:
Subaru: “Tougo-san likes photography, doesn’t Tougo-san?“
Tougo: “Yes. And what does Subaru like?“

It’s just 3 volumes so I might as well continue, but… was a bit disappointing.

-19.07.2024