Renai Koufukuron

I never imagined that masturbation scenes in a yaoi book would be what elevated the rating for me, yet here we are.

The Art of Loving "Part 1" (we'll see part two when Satan wears a parka) begins promisingly if you can overlook cliché yaoi school stories (which I can, as long as the bishies are cute, and Yutaka is one chiquita banana - I actually bought this just for the cover). It takes an intriguing turn once you discover that the hero is really the villain. But as I neared the end and realized it was going to conclude on a permanent cliffhanger, my annoyance grew. It's challenging to critique the story without seeing its true ending, as it might have resolved some inconsistencies (like how Maki transitioned from art student to successful businessman). However, it's frustrating that there wasn't anything satisfying at the end. There was barely enough content to justify the M+ rating, unless you count the masturbation scenes, which surprisingly were quite titillating. Or maybe it's just hands covered in semen; who knows? I need Jesus.

I do appreciate Eiki's art, and she excels at drawing cute guys. Yutaka is an interesting and complex character, and the story holds much potential if it ever gets finished. Yet, the fact that it remains incomplete is incredibly unsatisfying.

The Art of Loving presents a dark and captivating narrative. Its pacing is excellent, and the artwork is stunning. The characters are also quite believable. I rated the story a seven solely because Eiki Eiki took over seven years to release the second volume. Fans of dark and graphic yaoi will likely appreciate this work. However, be prepared for significant frustration when you reach the cliffhanger ending and realize there is no second volume available.