Butterfly of the Distant Day (review)

Butterfly of the Distant Day by Tooko Miyagi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


****Midsummer's Distance: In the opening story we get a peek at how Riya and Atsushi are doing. The guys, while doing well, are having some trouble dealing with the distance and financial inbalance Riya's career creates. This all comes about because of a broken a/c. The weather is HOT, and Atsushi's a/c breaks down. Unfortunately he holds back on purchasing another, he's trying to save in order to maybe go with Riya but he feels that he'll never reach that goal no matter how much he works to save. He gets a surprise when he discovers Riya has come for a surprise visit and learning that it's not possible for Atsushi to get a new a/c, he volunteers to buy it. Atsushi is bothered by this and after trying to deal with it by having some sexy and meltingly hot (literally & figuratively) sex. They finally talk and come to an understanding about what's going on between them and they both split the cost for a new a/c.



****Butterfly of the Distant Day: This story focuses on Saki-Riya's cousin. They are going to spend the summer at a cottage, where both of them will take part in a concert. But this place holds painful memories for Saki, as it is the place where he was involved in his first affair with another student-Irving...who just happens to be in charge of the concert. As a teen, Irving warns Saki to be careful of the musical director (Mr. Foreman)-who even though he was married, had flings with his students.



Out of curiousity, Saki asks Irving to show him what it means to be with another guy since he's never even thought about it. Their affair comes to a bitter end because of a severe misunderstanding; Saki feels that Irving was just using him as a replacement because he's still in love with a lover from his past, and Irving thinks that Saki is with him because having sex with a man is still a novelty to him.



Now that Saki and Irving are reunited, Irving plans a trap to lure Saki back into his arms. But Saki once again misinterprets the situation. It is Riya who finds the key piece that will finally make Saki realize the truth of Irving's feelings; and it will be up to Saki to create the notes that will finally complete the composition that will bring them together.



****Both Night and Afternoon: Saki wants more from Irving, yet he discovers that being drunk might have loosened his tongue more than he intended and brought upon a tighter bond that he anticipated.



***On a Sunny Day: A little meeting between the musical director Foreman, who has a little fun teasing Irving; but Irving puts one over the director by calling Saki in front of him, asking him to wait in the lobby and inviting him to dinner.



This was a beautiful spin-off to Il Gatto Sul G; I managed to get reacquainted with Riya and Atsushi and finally learned a little more about Saki. I was happy to see Riya doing so well after everything he dealt with; it was pleasant to watch him play around and actually have fun. As for Saki and Irving, I like their story. It was kind of painful watching them hurt it each other and be so at odds, but it was so sweet how they finally got together. I always savor Miyagi-sensei's art. There's just something so delicate and ephemeral about it that just fills me with warmth.



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