Impressions: Ten Count

When the President got into an accident, Shirotani Tadaomi met Kurose. On their very first meeting, Kurose could tell right away that Shirotani is Mysophobic and said that it’s pretty bad while suggesting it would be better to consult a doctor about it. Shirotani was left perturbed by the encounter. Who is Kurose? And how was he able to tell Shirotani’s condition?
From Kitsu

Our MC and uke-kun, Shirotani, has misophobia and surprise surprise, this series treats it with respect and realism. That’s right, no magical dick here to heal diseases, cause it doesn’t work like that! 👏👏👏

In fact, there’s a rawness and darkness, no punches pulled as we see both the damages it has caused to him -his hands are completely fucked up, full of wounds and bleeding/cracks – but also how he sees the world. When the filth/darkness spreads, you can both see and feel how it impacts him.

There’s nothing quite as visual media to show how a character sees the world, themselves, especially when making full use of imagery. Something that doesn’t exist or can’t be seen on the naked eye, can be represented in a strong way like this.

From the moment they meet, as Kurose saves Shirotani’s boss from being flattened by a truck, he sees clearly through Shirotani. Kurose immediately says he has mysophobia, and pushes him to try to get treatment. What would be farfetched isn’t by the discovery that Kurose is a psychiatrist, and so he really just wants to help him lead a better life.

But is that true? Is that really it?

I mean, as we read more and more, this is ongoing, we quickly figure out that no. Kurose isn’t being altruistic, he isn’t doing this from the bottom of his heart to help Shirotani.

This is a rather slow manga, there’s no fucking in the first 20 chapters, or more maybe (I didn’t count and I didn’t try to keep track of it) that I’ve read. But at the same time they get attached to each other rather quickly, including those feelings that go above friendship or like.

I like that it’s slow, but I always get thrown for a loop because suddenly, out nowhere, there’ll be an intimate scene that I don’t expect. Then returns to being slower and no progress in their relationship, only to do it again.

Am I criticising it? Yes. I find its rhythm rather odd. I’d rather they stuck to either a slow burn, we’ll get there; or to progress and not devolve back to before the progress. But it’s also not a criticism. In lots of ways, that is reality, that is what happens in real life. Including for disease treatments.

This is also rather dark, gets darker as it goes, as more of their back stories get unraveled. Including why Shirotani is misophobic, or rather what triggered it, but also why Kurose is so adamant about Shirotani being his “ideal”. Plus Kurose does have a rather inner darkness, and does tend to push Shirotani’s boundaries, sometimes even in a cruel way.

Their relationship isn’t abusive, if I’m making it out to be I don’t intend it, but it isn’t sunshine, rainbows and happiness.

Tbh, Ten Count is a tiring manga to read if you try to read it all in one go. Not just because of the subject matter, and the inherent darkness it comes with, but also the pacing of the story with the growing drama makes it tough.

Or maybe it’s because I do prefer feel-good stuff to binge with, instead of this much realism. Who knows? I don’t! 😹😹😹😹😹

Still, I do think if you’re tired of those “I meet and I fuck a weeping uke” stories without any depth to them, you’ll rather enjoy this one.

Have you heard or read about this title? What did you think of it? Are you madly in love or does it leave you feeling half-half like it does to me? Tell me all, I’m curious!