#maya and kohei

[pixelatedboombursts]

@owlxle @norathemediocre @paandamonium @edgy-cupcake-content

big big big fan of found family relationships with shithead sibling dynamics

sure, yeah, they had no one in the world until they found each other, and they will fight tooth and nail for each other's safety, but they will also eat the last of the other's cereal and put the box back in the cabinet or tell the other's significant other every embarrassing story about them or greet each other by means of full body tackle and chokehold

[ellsieee]

These two are giving me whiplash and I love it.

One minute they are absolutely adorable.

I love their friendship so much. Taichi notices that Kohei is a bit lost because he can't follow the conversation, so he purposely goes over to tell him what the conversation was about so that he can laugh too. Taichi is the best boy.

Taichi is adorable as always with his enthusiasm for food, but the way Kohei smiles when Taichi says his food is delicious is everything. He can't stop smiling for one second. Taichi's compliment means the world to him.

Just as I'm deep in the warm fuzzies, they hit me with the yearning and angst.

Kohei is extremely brave when it comes to Taichi. He has made his feelings clear several times, but it's always Taichi bringing the angst by not being brave enough to understand or face his feelings for Kohei. It's a bit frustrating because if Taichi would stop avoiding the issue, he and Kohei could be together already, but then we wouldn't have more of that sweet painful angst.

The warmth and fondness that Kohei looks at Taichi with is both touching and painful.

Guuuhhh. I love Kohei's expression. The longing is A++

The unspoken yearning, and Kohei swallowing hard because he's holding back the urge to cry thinking that friends is all he and Taichi will ever be broke my heart.

[desire-for-madness]

I've figured out viewer's mixed emotions towards Maya. Maya receives either hate or love for her character, and the support gets argued with "bad character, mean," etc / dislike usually gets accused of "misogyny" "ableism" etc, but, personally, I feel the reason for the mixed emotions is because her character is quite hypocritical (in the drama).

She wants to be left alone, except for those *she* chooses (whose space and time she basically occupies without consideration)

She wants people to stop making assumptions about her, yet she pushes her own assumptions onto Kohei (and others)

She thinks everyone treats her fake, but she puts no effort into genuine communication

She feels morally superior, but she fails to actually take others into consideration

She has a victim complex, where she feels the world is against her (natural coping mechanism for someone who experienced trauma)

She hates sympathy, yet when she doesn't garner it, she seeks it out

A hypocritical personality is a normal development during youth (and especially in Maya's case), as it develops through fear and low self-esteem. It is the easiest way to subconsciously protect ourselves from harm. It is especially common to develop for those that desire love and fear judgement. So Maya's past is a perfect explanation of her seemingly difficult character.

It is completely normal for viewers to have mixed feelings about her, because it is the same with hypocritical people in real life too. We feel empathy for them, yet their actions/words are not always understandable. She is quite a realistic and intricate character. Which is why the viewer's reactions differ so drastically, some falling to her absolute defense, other's trying to communicate the dislike. It's totally normal.

She's not evil, but she isn't a saint either. She's just human.

And so are the viewers who are free to like or dislike her character...

[sunspotmangafan]

I love Maya! I love her sm.

I see a lot of myself within her character. Like I do with Taichi and Kohei. That inner contempt for those you think have it easier in life because they don’t have the drawbacks you were given, such as a disability.

And given she’s disabled and has gone through so long in an ableist, hearing world, you can understand why she would be harsh towards Taichi since in her eyes he’s just using Kohei’s kindness to take advantage of a disabled person for free food.

She doesn’t want her or the people she cares about to het hurt by the ableist world around them so she puts up walls and drives people away before they have a chance to. Due to past and current ableist experiences she already assumes the worst of the hearing world, a place that doesn’t seem to take the effort to understand her or Kohei, and so she either doesn’t try or she actively pushes people away to avoid any more ableist harm.

I definitely feel like this helped set up themes that were very well explored in LIMIT which sadly I don’t think will get adapted.

It’s unhealthy. And it’s shown as unhealthy. And Taichi calls her out on it.

It makes it all the more rewarding when they she sees what Kohei sees. And sees Taichi isn’t who she thought he is.

Much like with Kohei. It makes it all the more rewarding when she realises she can be understood.

PARALLELS PEOPLE PARALLELS

Specifically a parallel to the “it’s not your fault you can’t hear” line.

STOP HATING MAYA! God forbid a woman in a BL not be whole heartedly likeable the first episode she’s introduced.

[fiddleyoumust]

I'm enjoying I Hear The Sunspot. Instead of a slow burn romance, it's more like a warm ember, a nice little glow of warmth slowly dying because it desperately needs tending.

Here's the thing that's struck me over the last two episodes. The thing that people seem to be upset at Maya over, but is actually the crux of Kohei and Taichi's problem. They like each other, but they do not trust each other. And you can not have a good relationship without trust. That's why their little ember is struggling to catch fire.

Maya is not a cruel person. She's a jaded person. She's a wounded person. And she does not trust anyone, not even Kohei, really. All her thoughts are cynical, but the interesting thing to me is that our reaction to Maya's cynicism should be Taichi and Kohei's reaction, too, but it's not. Because they do not trust each other.

When Maya tells Taichi he can't do anything for Kohei, he should be as defensive as we are. Yes, he can! He has! He is! Look at all the things he's done so well for Kohei! Instead, he believes her because he does not trust Kohei.

When Maya tells Kohei that people like Taichi who just rush forward without thinking will eventually rush off and leave people behind, Kohei should be as defensive as we are! Taichi isn't like that! He's loyal! He's kind! He's a great friend! Instead, Kohei turns inward because a part of him does think Taichi will leave him one day because he does not trust Taichi.

Maya is not meant to be a foil in the typical way female characters are often used in BL. I don't think she's romantically interested in Kohei, but she does want him to keep her company in her world. Unlike Kohei, she does not want to be dragged into the hearing world. She wants Kohei to stay with her in their world. She's jaded and bitter and can not trust, and it's these parts of her that insidiously seep into the relationship between Kohei and Taichi. She's the devil on their shoulder whispering all their insecurities and fears to them.

They can't be together until they overcome these fears. They both must put their faith and trust in each other and reject Maya's world view before they can be together.

This is something they would never confront without Maya constantly poking their wounds. Both of them are too used to suffering alone silently. They both would have let their fears drag them down. But because Maya pokes at their weakness for EACH OTHER, I think they will finally find a way to overcome their fears and learn to trust one another.

[iguessitsjustme]

*takes you by the hand as gently as I can*

You can dislike Maya without turning her into a one dimensional villain that serves no purpose to the story.

You can dislike Maya without disparaging the story and message the show is trying to convey.

You can hate Maya without moralizing your hatred. You can just hate her. It’s okay.

[kennyomegasweave]

In defense of Maya (without knowing the manga):

She definitely annoyed me because obviously I know Taichi isn't the person she was claiming he is and she clearly knows Kohei likes him as a friend, at least, so it's like ...girl, come on. But like.

She only went off on Taichi after she got the first set of notes he took? Which, let's be honest here, were dogshit. He really didn't take a service that Kohei needs seriously and he was initially doing it for Kohei's lunch. She didn't lie there. We also learned there's only 23 notetakers in the entire college. This is a service that is very much needed, yet doesn't have nearly enough volunteers for, and Taichi was treating it like a joke that didn't matter at first. That shit was hella disrespectful. He didn't mean it as such, and Kohei didn't take it as such either, but it was. So no shit Maya got that notebook and was like "...what the hell am I supposed to do with this? And this is who Kohei thinks is so nice and cool and everything?"

All Maya has are the initial terrible notes that Kohei gave her like they were helpful (they weren't) and knowing Kohei only kept Taichi as his note taker because he liked being around him. With the unspoken fact, that maybe non disabled people didn’t pick up on, that he also only kept Taichi as his note taker because there just aren't enough note takers, so he couldn't have gotten better anyway. Which almost certainly factored in as to why Maya blew up at Taichi. Disabled people shouldn't have to accept shit notes just because the alternative is no notes at all. We already have to work uphill cause of the disability, it's adding insult to injury to basically know everyone’s like "well, yeah it sucks, but you could have nothing." Or even a “yeah, I didn’t care at first, but I do now!” Because it’s like “it’s great that you finally realized this is a real service needed for a real disability that affects real people. Glad you finally figured that out. Congrataritos.” Like it is exhausting being disabled and having to sit there and smile when people have their lightbulb growing moment since we don’t have the option to dick around until we decide to lock it in. So I completely got why those shitty notes set Maya off. Because she didn't go off at him after the dinner, it was after she got those notes.

And on a related note, we all clapped for Taichi when he went off on homegirl in the cafe because she wasn't treating Kohei like a real person with real issues, but he also wasn’t taking Kohei and his problems seriously with those initial notes. Like yes, he started trying and actually doing better, but that only happened once he became friends with Kohei and realized he needed to do better. Who knows, maybe the cafe girl could have grown as a person, like Taichi did, if she had been able to get to know Kohei as a real person. But Taichi didn't let her get that chance, just like Maya wouldn't have let him get that chance if she could. The only difference in those two situations, to me, is Taichi is already Kohei's friend so Maya can't stop them from interacting like Taichi did with that girl.

Like I’m sorry y’all, Maya's not being any more of a bitch than Taichi was because she can only work with the information she has, which obviously isn't what we as viewers have. She’s pushy and overbearing and, yeah, annoying because she also obviously has a crush on Kohei and we know he's sprung on Taichi, but it’s really not like she just looked at Taichi and went “fuck this guy” for no reason.

[fanatic-freakshow]

About Maya...

I truly loved Maya. While many viewers seem to have found her annoying, I saw her as refreshingly and as unique as any one of us.

That was the thing about this drama. Characters seem to be real, and Maya exemplified that more than anyone. Despite the series being short, they managed to give enough and not over-the-top complex backstories to each character.

Maya, as a character, is not too intricate. She embodies a different kind of complexity -- the human kind. And that's one of the most beautiful things about this show.

The human kind of grey.

[staykookedsuga]

Kohei says Taichi is obtuse but that man is just as obtuse because why is he letting Maya drag him away every time when it’s obvious Taichi wants to talk to him? He sees how rude Maya talks to and about Taichi but doesn’t find an issue with it, I guess. And the biggest crime of all: why is Kohei spending more time with Maya than Taichi? Bitching about that aside, I love this damn show.

[hoppipolla]

This ep was amazing :(( What a cast to be honest. They all act so well and I just love everyone. Motoki and Toranosuke's micro-expressions got me teary... I adore their detailed acting and I just love Kohei and Taichi's dynamic.

[waitingfourever4part2]

I am so glad I followed my gut and didn't watch last week's episode until today because I would not have survived a week of raging at Maya for how she treated Taichi. How dare you ma'am... HOW DARE YOU?

[notafanbut]

So we have Maya who has caused lots of questioning. Do I hate her? No. I get her attitude BUT she judges, she judges Taichi just as she is judged. She doesn't choose to understand him. Yes his first note taking was shite, and yes, he was arrogant thinking he could do it without training, but, you know what - he LEARNT, he grew. She comes in thinking she knows Kouhei better (may be on some levels she does) but also that she knows what he wants/needs - erm excuse me...he's his own person.

I hope what we see is her letting Taichi in and understanding what he brings to Kouhei. How much he and his friends have expanded Kouhei's life and they have done that by trying, by listening and enacting....they are trying...she's not and I get there are reasons for that, very very justified reasons, but maybe trust Kouhei's judgement?

[femslashedtires]

The conversations around disability, advocacy, allyship, and accessibility are so bad in BL. I personally blame Aof and want him burned at the stake, but that's neither here nor there. This post is about the backlash against Maya IHearTheSunspot.

[heretherebedork]

This is the most smitten man in all the world. He is so lost on Taichi is hurts. Taichi brings Kohei so much joy and he's just so bright even just thinking about him and that what confuses Maya. She sees the Taichi most of the world sees, the brash and rude and too loud and too big young man who doesn't fit into the place in the world he's supposed to because he takes up too much space... while Kohei sees someone who pulled him into the rest of the world and brought him joy he thought he'd lost.

[lurkingshan]

Japanese QL Corner

Another week chock full of Japanese ql. I am officially dropping a currently airing show from QL Corner--let us never speak of it again. Of the other six shows still airing now, five are streaming weekly on Gaga and the other is available via fansub.

Takara's Treasure

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite things airing—it gets better every week, and it's been good from the start! This story is a great example of the way tension and depth of feeling in a great romance can build. I was delighted to have Takara confirm Taishin's confession and coax him into dating this early on because it means we are going to actually spend some time with them figuring out how to work as a couple. And I don't expect it will be smooth sailing, because these two have some incompatible issues that are going to exacerbate each other.

Cosmetic Playlover

This show is gorgeous, but it all feels pretty empty. Thank you to @usertoxicyaoi for confirming that the show is racing through the plot so it can cover the whole arc of the manga. I'm glad to understand why it's doing this, but it doesn't help with my total emotional disconnect from the story, because the show is rushing through and not letting us actually experience this relationship. They tell us they like each other, then that they're in love, then that they're established and struggling, but I can't feel it because they haven't brought us along for any of that. This week featured an interesting plot about their professional growth and how it challenges their relationship, but I was frustrated because I have no investment in said relationship to give the plot stakes. I may just have to accept that this one will stay a treat for the eyes but lacking in depth for me.

I Hear the Sunspot

We back! After a bit of a miscalibrated installment last week, this episode felt more characteristic and we finally got our boys back on track. Maya was less egregiously mean to people this week and her interference was treated as more comedic than sinister, which is a much better fit for the tone of this show. And once Kohei got around her, he finally talked properly with Taichi and asked him to stay on as his notetaker, reaffirming their friendship in the process. Despite Maya's efforts to convince him otherwise, Kohei has not wavered and his firm declaration that he doesn't want anyone but Taichi taking his notes or eating his food had me gasping. For his part, Taichi is getting better at keeping his cool and finding words when Kohei lets his feelings slip, and he's clearly thinking a lot about his own feelings and whether their connection is really about friendship.

Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko

Oh man, this show has really gotten itself into a muddle. We finally got a kiss, but it hardly felt like a triumph. This episode was a bit of a return to form, with Ayaka back to her relentless pursuit of Hiroko, but the way the story diverged to change the conflict midstream has mucked it all up. For the first half the conflict was about Hiroko believing Ayaka is straight, and then suddenly it was about a different work-related closet trauma that did not connect to that. Now it’s touching on both but in a way that makes Hiroko seem inconsistent, because now that she knows Ayaka is a lesbian it doesn't track that she would continue to patronize and dismiss her, and it also sucks that Ayaka is harassing Hiroko at work despite knowing she doesn't want to be out. It feels like the story is invalidating Hiroko’s fears about being out in a way we know is not consistent with reality. This would all work better if the backstory had been about Hiroko falling for a woman who succumbed to comphet and we kept up the misunderstanding and comedy about Ayaka being straight. As it is, I feel like our heroine no longer makes sense and our couple still hasn't formed a real connection, and with only one episode to go it’s unlikely they’ll land the plane.

Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding

I just love everything about this show and its mature perspective on relationships. In the aftermath of Ishida's hasty confession (and his attempt to walk it back, which I love that Mitsuya did not fall for), we take a beat for Mitsuya to consider the two men circling him and what he wants from his life. I loved that he took the time he needed to process and end his relationship with Noguchi on his own terms this time, and to consider whether he has the desire and the energy to try again with someone new. When he said he has his home and his work and his Frito and that's enough for him, I felt that. But Ishida has already gotten to him, and as Shige wisely pointed out, Mitsuya must care about him quite a bit to be considering this deeply before making a move. I'm not sure he's ready to dive in, but he doesn't have much will to fight it, either. You can go here for the files to watch this episode, with big thanks to @isaksbestpillow and @nicks-den.

Tagging @bengiyo to add this week's anime update.

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

Currently Watching - August

aka The Masterlist

Because I love a good little list - in alphabetical order! 😊

Regularly updated during the month, latest update 29.08.2024

A little link to my favorite bl-tropes-collection 💙

gif-requests are currently closed🌼

Here you can find all of my gifs.

At the end you can have a look at what we can expect in August with a MDL link and a link for a trailer (if avaible).

This is guaranteed to contain spoilers!

1. 4 Minutes 🇹🇭 (4/8)

Okay. I catched up. I wasn't in the mood for this series, but now I am a little bit hooked. We have a really cute couple here with a really nice love-making-scene. We have a totally messed up relationship of three people, two love each other, two hurt the other one and two are horny for one with very graphic scenes. And yes, I saw it too. Oh, the story itself? Confusing, yet interesting.

2. Cityboy_Log 4.2 🇰🇷 (17/23)

This week was... okayish. They were mostly bonding at a group and doing stuff together. Nothing really happend. They played games, the trouple was cute and JJ tried to act, but really, those moments were more cringe than anything else...

3. First Note of Love 🇹🇼 (4/12)

The looks they gave each other! The constant bickering! The compliments! The necklace as a gift! I see you! I like them. They get more comfortable together and are now forming a band. Hopefully Sea can help Neil getting back on stage without fainting or having a panic attack. I am curious how this whole series will move on, but I am intrigued. But what is that age gap?

4. Hidamari ga Kikoeru 🇯🇵 (10/12)

🥲 I'm fine... the only thing that helped me in the end was the preview for next week. How could he listen to Maya? How? I know why, but still... why? And now Taichi thinks he was just a replacable someone who doesn't mean anything to Kohei 😭 I really don't like it here! And I hope Maya chokes on her words! I don't care that she's going to cry next episode. Right now I still don't like her. Boys! Get your shit together and talk to each other! Please!

5. I Saw You In My Dream 🇹🇭 (7/12)

THIS WHOLE SCENE WAS SO DAMN CUTE!!!!! I like them! And Yu finally collecting his courage to tell Ai, he likes him. I need Ai to tell him he likes him too! But the preview for next week! I can't wait! The best start in my vacation! Do I feel bad for Wann? No, not really. He saw the signs, he got the vibe between Yu and Ai, but he still tried. I guess he is a good guy, but he is not Yu.

6. Seoul Blues 🇰🇷 (3/8)

Well... Our bad boy got together with their mutual friend. Little Mr. Angsty likes our bad boy, but is to afraid what might change, so he didn't take his change when bad boy confessed to him. And of course he now is unsure about bad boy's feelings. And our lady in denial knows that her bad boy doesn't like he like that and I guess she can feel those two are very much into each other, but she still wanna try it and give it a shot. Well... good luck. And while she is thinking about her bad boy thinking about someone else while kissing her, her bad boy is now kissing little Mr. Angsty. I don't know how this friendship can be fixed. There is so much wrong with their entire realtion-/friendship... and I love it!

7. Takara no Vidro 🇯🇵 (9/11)

I started with mixed feelings about this series and I ended up totally loving it! I enjoy this series very much! They talk with each other and they understand each other. They have such a good relationship at this point and I love how Takara is opening up and questioning his plans for the future. Life is unpredictable, love is unpredictable and there can be people who change your plans for the better or worst, but that is something for other shows.

8. The On1y One 🇹🇼 (4/12)

Best chemistry! I love them! I love pounting Wang and this absolutely smitten boy Tian so much! Tian was everything this episode. He couldn't stop looking at Wang and couldn't stop smiling. He is already in love. And Wang uses Tian for learning, but he is slowly falling. And I hope it will be this: he fell first, but he fell harder! Good series!

9. The Trainee 🇹🇭 (8/12)

This was one of the cutest episodes ever and at the same time one of the saddest with the most wholesome break-up ever. Ba-Mhee did something wrong, she apologised and Tae realised that he is part of the problem. I am cusious how they work around this whole story. But Jane and Ryan. Oh the cuteness! I loved every scene with them. And I loved that Jane was jealous and Ryan reassured him. I am a little bit anxious about next week. Guess this was my favorite episode so far!

10. Word of Honor 🇨🇳 (20/36)

Those two flirt a lot and are a married couple. Everyone knows that. And I love and enjoy that! Overall this is such a fun watch and the different sects and intrigues are sometimes a little bit confusing, but interesting. I love this world of martial arts and I love how protective Wen Kexing is over Zhou Zishu. I haven't felt like watching this lately. I wasn't in the right mood.

Finished in August

Series

His Man Season 3 🇰🇷

What was that? I enjoyed the first two seasons so much! And this one felt very manipulated by the production. The secret missions were just there to cause drama and misunderstandings. And othe rparts really felt just boring. I was not really invested in the couples this time. I wish we would have seen more of their friendships. Perhaps that was because the fight between JY and MK was so centred. In the end I am happy MS and MK made it and became a couple. And it is nice that SM and JS got together too. But who thought it was a good idea to keep that "break-up" between YJ and HM in the show? That was just awful to watch! I never saw them vibing together, but a short notice that they decided to stay friends would have been enough. I don't have to see that Hanmin gave the ring back, they made together. I get where he is coming from, but I wish they could have talked about this in private! There were some bad coices of the production which was not favourable for the show! If there is a season 4 I hope it stays away from artificial drama! Just a 7 out of 10 for me.

Century of Love 🇹🇭

We got a happy ending. Hm. Great. I don't know. I guess I wouldn't have mind if San had died. It was a little bit too constructed with the little piece of that stone in the end and the change of heart from the fake Vad... So I am a little bit dissappointed with the ending. Yes, I cried, because I have feelings, but at some points I had to skip parts because there were just too many emotions that clashed in my face. But I am happy for San and Vee. Overall a good 8 out of 10.

Bad Guy 🇰🇷

Honestly? I like cheating stories when my couple wins. In conclusion, I liked this short series. I am curious if we get a second part like with Blue Boys. I would be happy if we could just end it here. The two sad boys finally got their happy ending and can now be enough for each other. I like that. Wish we could see a little bit of their everyday life or how this decision impacts their lifes. I liked it. I give it a 8 out of 10.

Cosmic Playlover 🇯🇵

I enjoyed the show. It felt a little bit rushed, but over all, I enjoyed the plot and the love story. Two men working in the beauty industry and both go their own way and just loving what they do. That was also really good to see! I especially enjoyed the dynamic between these two. And they talked! Sure there was drama, but in the end they talkes to each other and listened to each other and could solve their problems. Such a nice little show. I give it good 8,5 out of 10.

Movie

Short Film

Dropped in August

My Love Mix-Up! 🇹🇭

I guess I've dropped this one. I don't know why exactly. I think it was a cute story and I liked watching it, but right now I don't have the energy to keep going. I will come back to this one when it is finished and when I am in the mood for some fluff.

Looking forward to in August

The Last Time - Trailer (Aug 16th)

The Loyal Pin - Trailer (Aug 4th)

Sugar Dog Life - Trailer (Aug 4th)

Summer Night - Trailer (Aug 5th)

Cosmetic Playlover (Aug 6th)

Monster Next Door - Trailer (Aug 8th)

First Note Of Love - Trailer (Aug 12th)

Addicted Heroin - Trailer (Aug 13th)

Love Beneathe The Stars - Trailer (Aug 16th)

The Paradise Of Thornes - Trailer (Aug 22nd - Thai Cinemas)

The On1y One (Aug 22nd)

Affair - Trailer (Aug 30th)