A review by rmkhen
Perfect World, Volume 3 by Rie Aruga

3.25

There were moments in this one that were amazing: raw, unsettling, heartbreaking. I loved those moments that felt real and not at all like they came from a romantic storybook: each character’s reflection on their own flaws, having to make the choice between love and family, dealing with embarrassing medical issues and not handling it well. BUT. Maybe I’m wrong, I certainly don’t have the lived experience to back this up, but I found it very annoying how openly ableist and against their relationship everyone is. Even his nurse, who (personal feelings aside) should absolutely not be implying that most interabled relationships are impossible. Perhaps it’s different in Japan, but in American I don’t think you could say these things. I don’t think it would be accepted to so flagrantly oppose a relationship simply because one person is in a wheelchair (people saying they shouldn’t be together is literally like 90% of the book). It feels lazy and just like an easy source of conflict. It was said on almost every page. I was so over it. It would be completely different if it were only the couple themselves saying it, as of course there are extra challenges for interabled couples and yes, it might not be the right choice for everyone to be in an interabled relationship. (Which was represented fantastically). But I was so annoyed at all of the outside people shoving their opinions and I didn’t think people would say it in real life even if they thought it.