.__Spoilers ahead;
.Feel free to agree or disagree;
.Have a good read__
Watashi no Shounen, or My Boy in English, is a seinen drama manga written and illustrated by Hitomi Takano. It is the author's second work, being completed in October 2020. The manga has earned Takano a prominent place within the genre.
The art of Watsahi no Shounen is clear and clean. Takano makes a point of not adding too many elements in her paintings, so that the reader doesn't feel lost. In addition, the author pays attention to her characters' expressions and manages to transmit their feelings in a natural way.
The plot follows Satoko Tawada, a 30-year-old single woman who begins to grow close to Mashuu Hayami, a 12-year-old boy who receives little attention from his widowed father. Satoko and Mashuu, both afflicted by loneliness find comfort in each other, and as time passes, a strong affection begins to blossom between them.
At first glance, I thought it would be a forbidden romance story, moreover, I don't have good memories with the theme (adult woman/man & young boy/girl), since much of it always has a predictable conclusion. However, I was dead wrong, which was a relief.
Despite its premise, Watashi no Shounen does not fall into soap opera standards or cheap melodrama, and manages to bring reflections and common themes such as maturity, family relationships and feelings, besides the dramas and afflictions of the characters being convincing and interesting to follow. However, some problems are easily solved, but this aspect does not devalue Hitomi Takano's work.
Portrait of the independent woman who does not wish to have a love relationship. She meets Mashuu in a park playing soccer alone, and out of a whim decides to help him in his training, but she wants to spend more time with the boy, playing the role of a mother figure. Satoko is emotional and acts according to her feelings for Mashuu, which sometimes causes problems. She doesn't have a very friendly relationship with her mother, since she is always pressuring Satoko to get married. It is noticeable that Satoko is always demanding a more mature behavior from herself and aims to become a person that Mashuu Hayami admires.
Tawada has an " emptiness " in her heart. It is understood that she has always tried to fill this void. Hayami would be the one to fill it, but he will not be able to do so completely. However, this emptiness no longer afflicts Satoko, because there are more important things in her life. This is proof that she has let go of her past and can move on.
Mashuu Hayami:
He is the typical bishounen. Lonely and of few friends, Hayami is quiet and little noticed by those around him, yet he has caught Satoko's attention. He suffers from the absence of family affection, since his father prefers to drown himself in work. He is the character most marked by the time gap.
At the age of 12. Mashuu sees Tawada as a mother figure, since she is the person closest to him. They carry out various activities in the best mother and son style. Hayami's only wish was to stay with Satoko, however, due to some turbulence, their relationship comes to an end, at least for a while.
At 14 years old. Hayami turns all his thoughts to Tawada, that is, he is always thinking about her to the point of ignoring others around him, not seeming a very healthy attitude. He declares to Satoko that he is in love with her, putting her in a difficult situation. However, it is clear that Mashuu is lost and confused in his feelings, something very common at this age, since he dives into a sea of emotions that he has never felt before. The description of Tawada in Hayami's vision is closer to devotion, rather than love. It is at this stage that he and Satoko begin to get to know each other better.
At 15 years of age or older. Mashuu Hayami is mature and more focused in his choices. The relationship between him and Satoko is something closer to companionship, and his relationship with his father seems to move forward.
Although these two characters are the focus of the story, Takano makes room for other characters, even if these other characters do not have a very deep background, since this is not the author's intention, they are well-used characters in the plot.
Nao Ogata:
A schoolmate of Mashuu's, since childhood she has always had an interest in the character. Later on, she falls in love with Hayami, but is not returned.
Fumitaka Shiikawa:
Tawada's boss and ex-boyfriend. Holds a grudge against Satoko, as he never understood why their relationship ended. In reality, Satoko was only projecting her father's image onto Fumitaka.
Ogata and Shiikawa seem to play the role of the common thought, trying to understand and clarify the bond between Mashuu and Satoko, but they get stuck in a paradoxical situation.
In general, Mashuu and Satoko share several similarities. Both have family problems. Mashuu is neglected by his father and Satoko does not have a good relationship with her mother. Mashuu lost his mother at an early age, while Satoko had an absent father. Both are the older brother figure, the one with more responsibilities, and generally the one who is the most helpless by their parents. Mashuu and Satoko live lonely lives without a circle of friends and they are extremely needy. These similarities between the characters are probably the trigger for the beginning of their relationship.
Throughout the story, both Mashuu and Satoko are supports for each other. They mature together and expand their horizons, and there is a mutual inspiration between them. Besides that, there is rarely any contact between them, at most a hug, but the look between them is intense, as emphasized by Da Vince, "the eyes are the windows of the soul".
At certain points, Mashuu Hayami makes it clear that he is not in love with Satoko Tawada. When questioned by Fumitaka, Hayami states that he sees Satoko as a human being and does not see her as a woman (in the romantic sense). Later, he says that he cannot hide his feelings for Tawada however, he affirms that it may be something different from love. Philosophically, the concept of love has several definitions. Eros, linked to desire and passion. Philia, denoting friendship, joy, mutual admiration. And lastly Agape, defining divine love, love for God. In my conception, the "love" between Mashuu and Satoko would come close to Philia, but within the term, there are several other definitions.
Despite Hayami's assertions, some aspects are left ambiguous and open up questions for many "what if". Manshuu could be a son, a friend or a lover to Satoko, everything would depend on the scenario and the circumstances. Also, Satoko seems to omit certain feelings, but sometimes the truth does not need to be revealed or found, because the pure truth can cause unexpected effects.
The fact is that the relationship between the characters cannot be defined by mere words, nor can it be put in black or white, being in a totally different hue. Such is the complexity of the bond between the characters, that not even they can explain it. The only certainty is that they both found in each other the happiness they were missing. The only thing that matters is that they are happy.
I can define Watashi no Shounen as a storm of feelings. Even though it works with a romantic theme, to summarize the manga merely to this theme is practically unfair, since Watashi no Shounen is a work rich in various other themes. It is likely that Hitome Takano's manga will not please all readers, since the author never planned to embark on a romance story. The maturing journey of Mashuu and Satoko, and the relationship between them, which transcends the common sense of love, are the main points that give charm to the manga. In addition, the author throws an open ending, leaving the question, what does the future hold for Hayami and Tawada? It is left to the readers to imagine.
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