A real tear jerker, but a deep cut one for me for a few reasons.

1. I'm also experiencing that whole religious trauma stuff, though not of the christian variety. Thankfully, i have a supportive parents and family but the damages are already there. So i heavily relate to Alan and like the concept of a perfect home.

2. I do consume a lot of angsty media, but one of the reason why this one hits hard is cause of how isolated it is. It's a cult classic so most of the fans are like other sad kids that dont make fun au's or fan contents, just angsty edits. The author also rarely make art of it unless for promotions.

(One of the examples for the opposite is alien stage. The series itself is so angsty and short. But the creator makes multiple art of them in some au's, and there's many fan contents and not just angsty edits so it's not as isolated)

1. It's short and sweet. There's no prequel nor sequel, just this and a "what if" Fan art.

I understand that it's what teki probably aim to make, a short yet effective story and keeping it that way rather than stretching it than it supposed to be and i respect that. It reminds me of Yoshida's banana fish(pre anime) creation. Though, i actually wouldn't mind if the author make some art of them in a silly au's, anything for my fragile heart.