Let's talk about Kusatta! - SPOILERS GALORE!!!
I finally found something worth posting about! ;-D
So, since I've started posting Kusatta Kyoushi no Houteishiki on Yaoi Daily, a lot of questions have come up because it can be one rather confusing story the outset. I'll use my LJ as a place where those of us who know and love this manga can discuss it without fear of spoiling those who wish to remain unspoiled. And those spoiler-whore newbies can come here to have all of their burning Kusatta questions answered. :-)
So, I'll use this first post to give an overview of the story, the relationships and completely spoil all the major plot points. I'm sure I'll miss a few points here and there, so please feel free to correct me.
As we already know, Arisawa Atsushi is a freshman who has come to Jyogaoka High School, a school for those... less accomplished students. Even though Atsushi is incredibly smart and had been accepted to prestigious N high school, he chose Jyogaoka because his childhood first love, Shibata 'Maa-chan' Masami works in the infirmary there. It has been many years since Atsushi has seen Maa-chan (who's more than a decade Atsushi's senior), but they keep in touch regularly via letters.
However, Masami has recently left Jyogaoka to focus on his writing and his younger brother, Shibata Masayoshi, has taken his place at the school. Unlike his sweet, gentle, rather effeminate older brother, Masayoshi is a Ferrari-driving, chain-smoking, womanizing, spoiled brat. Of course, Atsushi is horrified when this brash, swaggering man introduces himself as Mr. Shibata because he thinks that this is his beloved Maa-chan.
Masayoshi soon realizes that Atsushi has him confused with is brother, but - being the 'rotten teacher' he is - he doesn't tell Atsushi right away.
This brings us to the question of Masami and Masayoshi's relationship, and I think it helps to know their family history. This now takes us into later posts, so we're going right into spoiler territory. :-)
The boys' mother, Leaf, was Norwegian (hence their blond hair - yes Masayoshi's a blond, more on that later) and their father, Yoshiyuki, Japanese. When they were still very young, they lived in Norway with their mother and maternal grandmother while their father was toiling away back in Japan to earn enough money to enable him to bring his family over and give them a good life. Unfortunately, their mother died when Masami was probably 6 or so and Masayoshi 4ish (this is my guess since their ages aren't specified).
As the older brother, Masami took it upon himself to fill the role of mother, father (since dad was still in Japan) and older brother to Masayoshi. Their grandmother was good to them, but apparently not the most touchy-feely kind of person, so Masami was Masayoshi's primary source of comfort and love. When the boys were high-school age, they moved to Japan to live with their father. Masayoshi, being the spoiled brat he is, was bitter and resistant, and Masami put all of his energy into trying to make his little brother's transition easier. Masayoshi still resents his father and Masami becomes the peacemaker between the two, as well as taking care of all the household chores while also going to school.
Once the boys become adults, their father moves to Norway to live with his mother-in-law and the brothers continue to live together in the house their father built. So, ever since he was a little boy, Masami has been everything to his little brother, fulfilling the roles of brother, mother, father and friend. As he's gotten older, Masayoshi's harbored a desire to have Masami fulfill the role of lover, too, but has never pressed the issue. As I've said, I see this as more of an emotional attachment than "oh, my brother's hot" sexual desire.
And besides, Masami's already got a boyfriend. :-) After they moved to Japan, Masami met Hagiwara Tooru - who fell in love with Masami at first sight, but thought he was a girl. Imagine Tooru's shock when he called Masami out at school to make his declaration of love. ;-) Tooru and Masayoshi were in the same grade and became close friends and Masami was encouraged to see his brother making friends in their new school. But Tooru's love for Masami never wavered, and after Masami graduated, Tooru requested that he become his tutor since Tooru's grades had never been the best and he was worried about passing his college entrance exams. During this time, Masami's feelings for Tooru become stronger and stronger, but he didn't act on them. After Tooru gets into college, they part; Masami focuses on his college studies and taking care of his brother, and Tooru gets a girlfriend. However, it's not long before Tooru confesses his feelings to Masami and the two begin the longest sex-free romance in yaoi history. ;-D
As the time our story begins, Tooru and Masami have been dating for years, but have yet to consummate their relationship. The reason? Masayoshi, of course. While he knows Tooru is a great guy and knows he and Masami love one another, he still can't accept that the "big bear" will take his beloved Maa-chan away from him. While he never clearly articulates that to Masami and Tooru, they both understand that, and, both being rather shy men anyway, their relationship remains romantic but not sexual for many years.
Now, let's get back to Atsushi (you though I'd forgotten about him, didn't you? ). To add to Atsushi's trauma at school, his elementary school best friend, Inagaki Kouji, is also at Jyogaoka. When they were kids, Inagaki and Atsushi shared a kiss and a promise to get married when they grew up. Atsushi's moved on, but Inagaki definitely has not and he pursues Atsushi doggedly for most of their high school life. Inagaki's close friend since junior high, Hayase Yuriko (Atsushi went to a different jr. high), is an unabashed yaoi fangirl. She's constantly encouraging Inagaki to fulfill his Atsushi desires - and then tell her all the details. ;-)
However, Atsushi has no romantic interest in Inagaki - or, eventually, in Maa-chan anymore. It doesn't take long for Masayoshi to explain to Atsushi that he is not Maa-chan. Atsushi finally has his long-awaited reunion with his childhood first love, but by then he has a new love. You guessed it - he's fallen for Masayoshi. And who can blame him, really? :-D
When Atsushi first realizes his feelings for his Sensei, Masayoshi is planning to leave Japan and move to Norway to live with his father and grandmother. His father wants to live with his sons again and is always encouraging them to come to Norway. Masami has his career and his boyfriend in Japan, but Masayoshi has no attachments except Masami, so he dyes his hair back to close to it's natural platinum blond and packs his bags. However, when he calls his father from the airport to tell him he's on his way, his father is furious. He wants to live with both of his sons and doesn't to separate them. So, abashed, Masayoshi makes his way back to Club Lush where his brother and friends have gathered, including Atsushi, who is mourning Sensei's departure.
For years, Masayoshi has managed Club Lush - a gay bar in the Nichome district in Tokyo (an area full of gay bars and clubs). The club was founded by the boys' father and the hostess is Kasarin-san (Catherine), a transvestite and Yoshiyuki's high-school classmate. In fact, they two were roommates for several years while Yoshiyuki was working to try and earn money while Leaf and the kids were living in Norway. The club actually belongs to Masami, but Masayoshi does the work since he's more the club-manager type than his brother.
So begins Atsushi's pursuit of his Sensei. :-) Atsushi pursues Masayoshi with the same determination and energy that Inagaki pursues Atsushi. Much to Yuri's enjoyment. ;-) Masayoshi has no interest in men (other than his brother) and no interest in kids of either gender, but that doesn't deter Atsushi. Over the next three years, Atsushi never waivers in his love for Masayoshi, and Masayoshi doesn't waiver in his assertion that he's not interested in kids. He tells Atsushi to work on himself and become the kind of man Masayoshi might be interested in. And Atsushi does.
While Atsushi grows up and tries to become the kind of man Sensei would be interested in, Masayoshi's doing a lot of growing up himself. Masayoshi finally comes to terms with Masami and Tooru's relationship and, after much angst, they finally become lovers in reality. Woo hoo! ;-) Inagaki also outgrows his first obsessive love of Atsushi, but the two remain great friends.
By the time graduation rolls around, Atsushi's off to college, Inagaki and Yuri are headed into the working world, Tooru and Masami are contemplating cohabitation, and Masayoshi's planning to live on his own for first time at 30 years old. Atsushi and Masayoshi don't see each other much over the next couple of years, but talk often, and Masayoshi can't deny that Atsushi has wormed his way into his heart.
Atsushi is studying to become a teacher and does his teaching internship as he gets closer to graduation. Masami and Tooru have a party and Atsushi brings Masayoshi, who hasn't been back since he moved out. Inagaki and Yuri - who's very pregnant with their first children (twins!) - also attend, making the family complete. And, *finally*, after so many years, so many conflicts, good times, bad times, adventures, misunderstandings, humor and angst that I haven't detailed here, Atsushi catches that sensei of his.
And there is great rejoicing. :-D
--------------
As I said way back at the beginning of my post, I'm sure I missed some points, so please feel free to correct me.
The principle couple here are Atsushi and Masayoshi, and at first blush, this appears to be the story of a high-school boy growing up and falling in love. But I see this as Masayoshi's story because, let's face it, Atsushi is the more mature of the two. While Atsushi certainly grows and changes - especially height-wise ;-) - the extent of that growth is nothing compared to Masayoshi's. Because he's been coddled and protected by his brother for his entire life, Masayoshi is still a kid despite being a teacher and club manager and, technically, an adult. As Masami exclaims when Masayoshi announces he's moving out: "You can't even wash your own pants!" Hee!
I think that's why I love Masayoshi, despite being such a seemingly unsympathetic character at the beginning. He's really just a big kid who doesn't know to live on his own - and is frankly afraid to be alone. But thanks to a determined kid 10 years younger than him, who won't take 'no' for an answer, his brother and his friends, he becomes more comfortable in his own skin, able to live on his own...and gets in touch with his inner uke. ;-D
Though I still say I want a follow-up DJ where he and Atsushi switch roles, dammit!
Okay, I've rambled enough and I hope I haven't messed up the storyline too much. Feel free to debate, discuss, and ramble to your heart's content. :-)
Tav
So, since I've started posting Kusatta Kyoushi no Houteishiki on Yaoi Daily, a lot of questions have come up because it can be one rather confusing story the outset. I'll use my LJ as a place where those of us who know and love this manga can discuss it without fear of spoiling those who wish to remain unspoiled. And those spoiler-whore newbies can come here to have all of their burning Kusatta questions answered. :-)
So, I'll use this first post to give an overview of the story, the relationships and completely spoil all the major plot points. I'm sure I'll miss a few points here and there, so please feel free to correct me.
As we already know, Arisawa Atsushi is a freshman who has come to Jyogaoka High School, a school for those... less accomplished students. Even though Atsushi is incredibly smart and had been accepted to prestigious N high school, he chose Jyogaoka because his childhood first love, Shibata 'Maa-chan' Masami works in the infirmary there. It has been many years since Atsushi has seen Maa-chan (who's more than a decade Atsushi's senior), but they keep in touch regularly via letters.
However, Masami has recently left Jyogaoka to focus on his writing and his younger brother, Shibata Masayoshi, has taken his place at the school. Unlike his sweet, gentle, rather effeminate older brother, Masayoshi is a Ferrari-driving, chain-smoking, womanizing, spoiled brat. Of course, Atsushi is horrified when this brash, swaggering man introduces himself as Mr. Shibata because he thinks that this is his beloved Maa-chan.
Masayoshi soon realizes that Atsushi has him confused with is brother, but - being the 'rotten teacher' he is - he doesn't tell Atsushi right away.
This brings us to the question of Masami and Masayoshi's relationship, and I think it helps to know their family history. This now takes us into later posts, so we're going right into spoiler territory. :-)
The boys' mother, Leaf, was Norwegian (hence their blond hair - yes Masayoshi's a blond, more on that later) and their father, Yoshiyuki, Japanese. When they were still very young, they lived in Norway with their mother and maternal grandmother while their father was toiling away back in Japan to earn enough money to enable him to bring his family over and give them a good life. Unfortunately, their mother died when Masami was probably 6 or so and Masayoshi 4ish (this is my guess since their ages aren't specified).
As the older brother, Masami took it upon himself to fill the role of mother, father (since dad was still in Japan) and older brother to Masayoshi. Their grandmother was good to them, but apparently not the most touchy-feely kind of person, so Masami was Masayoshi's primary source of comfort and love. When the boys were high-school age, they moved to Japan to live with their father. Masayoshi, being the spoiled brat he is, was bitter and resistant, and Masami put all of his energy into trying to make his little brother's transition easier. Masayoshi still resents his father and Masami becomes the peacemaker between the two, as well as taking care of all the household chores while also going to school.
Once the boys become adults, their father moves to Norway to live with his mother-in-law and the brothers continue to live together in the house their father built. So, ever since he was a little boy, Masami has been everything to his little brother, fulfilling the roles of brother, mother, father and friend. As he's gotten older, Masayoshi's harbored a desire to have Masami fulfill the role of lover, too, but has never pressed the issue. As I've said, I see this as more of an emotional attachment than "oh, my brother's hot" sexual desire.
And besides, Masami's already got a boyfriend. :-) After they moved to Japan, Masami met Hagiwara Tooru - who fell in love with Masami at first sight, but thought he was a girl. Imagine Tooru's shock when he called Masami out at school to make his declaration of love. ;-) Tooru and Masayoshi were in the same grade and became close friends and Masami was encouraged to see his brother making friends in their new school. But Tooru's love for Masami never wavered, and after Masami graduated, Tooru requested that he become his tutor since Tooru's grades had never been the best and he was worried about passing his college entrance exams. During this time, Masami's feelings for Tooru become stronger and stronger, but he didn't act on them. After Tooru gets into college, they part; Masami focuses on his college studies and taking care of his brother, and Tooru gets a girlfriend. However, it's not long before Tooru confesses his feelings to Masami and the two begin the longest sex-free romance in yaoi history. ;-D
As the time our story begins, Tooru and Masami have been dating for years, but have yet to consummate their relationship. The reason? Masayoshi, of course. While he knows Tooru is a great guy and knows he and Masami love one another, he still can't accept that the "big bear" will take his beloved Maa-chan away from him. While he never clearly articulates that to Masami and Tooru, they both understand that, and, both being rather shy men anyway, their relationship remains romantic but not sexual for many years.
Now, let's get back to Atsushi (you though I'd forgotten about him, didn't you? ). To add to Atsushi's trauma at school, his elementary school best friend, Inagaki Kouji, is also at Jyogaoka. When they were kids, Inagaki and Atsushi shared a kiss and a promise to get married when they grew up. Atsushi's moved on, but Inagaki definitely has not and he pursues Atsushi doggedly for most of their high school life. Inagaki's close friend since junior high, Hayase Yuriko (Atsushi went to a different jr. high), is an unabashed yaoi fangirl. She's constantly encouraging Inagaki to fulfill his Atsushi desires - and then tell her all the details. ;-)
However, Atsushi has no romantic interest in Inagaki - or, eventually, in Maa-chan anymore. It doesn't take long for Masayoshi to explain to Atsushi that he is not Maa-chan. Atsushi finally has his long-awaited reunion with his childhood first love, but by then he has a new love. You guessed it - he's fallen for Masayoshi. And who can blame him, really? :-D
When Atsushi first realizes his feelings for his Sensei, Masayoshi is planning to leave Japan and move to Norway to live with his father and grandmother. His father wants to live with his sons again and is always encouraging them to come to Norway. Masami has his career and his boyfriend in Japan, but Masayoshi has no attachments except Masami, so he dyes his hair back to close to it's natural platinum blond and packs his bags. However, when he calls his father from the airport to tell him he's on his way, his father is furious. He wants to live with both of his sons and doesn't to separate them. So, abashed, Masayoshi makes his way back to Club Lush where his brother and friends have gathered, including Atsushi, who is mourning Sensei's departure.
For years, Masayoshi has managed Club Lush - a gay bar in the Nichome district in Tokyo (an area full of gay bars and clubs). The club was founded by the boys' father and the hostess is Kasarin-san (Catherine), a transvestite and Yoshiyuki's high-school classmate. In fact, they two were roommates for several years while Yoshiyuki was working to try and earn money while Leaf and the kids were living in Norway. The club actually belongs to Masami, but Masayoshi does the work since he's more the club-manager type than his brother.
So begins Atsushi's pursuit of his Sensei. :-) Atsushi pursues Masayoshi with the same determination and energy that Inagaki pursues Atsushi. Much to Yuri's enjoyment. ;-) Masayoshi has no interest in men (other than his brother) and no interest in kids of either gender, but that doesn't deter Atsushi. Over the next three years, Atsushi never waivers in his love for Masayoshi, and Masayoshi doesn't waiver in his assertion that he's not interested in kids. He tells Atsushi to work on himself and become the kind of man Masayoshi might be interested in. And Atsushi does.
While Atsushi grows up and tries to become the kind of man Sensei would be interested in, Masayoshi's doing a lot of growing up himself. Masayoshi finally comes to terms with Masami and Tooru's relationship and, after much angst, they finally become lovers in reality. Woo hoo! ;-) Inagaki also outgrows his first obsessive love of Atsushi, but the two remain great friends.
By the time graduation rolls around, Atsushi's off to college, Inagaki and Yuri are headed into the working world, Tooru and Masami are contemplating cohabitation, and Masayoshi's planning to live on his own for first time at 30 years old. Atsushi and Masayoshi don't see each other much over the next couple of years, but talk often, and Masayoshi can't deny that Atsushi has wormed his way into his heart.
Atsushi is studying to become a teacher and does his teaching internship as he gets closer to graduation. Masami and Tooru have a party and Atsushi brings Masayoshi, who hasn't been back since he moved out. Inagaki and Yuri - who's very pregnant with their first children (twins!) - also attend, making the family complete. And, *finally*, after so many years, so many conflicts, good times, bad times, adventures, misunderstandings, humor and angst that I haven't detailed here, Atsushi catches that sensei of his.
And there is great rejoicing. :-D
--------------
As I said way back at the beginning of my post, I'm sure I missed some points, so please feel free to correct me.
The principle couple here are Atsushi and Masayoshi, and at first blush, this appears to be the story of a high-school boy growing up and falling in love. But I see this as Masayoshi's story because, let's face it, Atsushi is the more mature of the two. While Atsushi certainly grows and changes - especially height-wise ;-) - the extent of that growth is nothing compared to Masayoshi's. Because he's been coddled and protected by his brother for his entire life, Masayoshi is still a kid despite being a teacher and club manager and, technically, an adult. As Masami exclaims when Masayoshi announces he's moving out: "You can't even wash your own pants!" Hee!
I think that's why I love Masayoshi, despite being such a seemingly unsympathetic character at the beginning. He's really just a big kid who doesn't know to live on his own - and is frankly afraid to be alone. But thanks to a determined kid 10 years younger than him, who won't take 'no' for an answer, his brother and his friends, he becomes more comfortable in his own skin, able to live on his own...and gets in touch with his inner uke. ;-D
Though I still say I want a follow-up DJ where he and Atsushi switch roles, dammit!
Okay, I've rambled enough and I hope I haven't messed up the storyline too much. Feel free to debate, discuss, and ramble to your heart's content. :-)
Tav