The MC was in an orphanage until he was 8 when he was bought by an illegal guiding facility. He was heavily ab*sed from his abandonment at birth until he's rescued from the facility. Because he was kept like that, he didn't go to school or live a normal life. He has no idea how to use a phone, how to cook even an egg, or how to order food at a cafe. He has 0 lifeskills, and the ML is determined to help him learn some! His initial babying of him is due to the MC's extremely fragile mental/physical state; if he was treated poorly then how is he to recover? The MC *needs* help and the ML provides it. And while ML notices he's initially attracted to MC, he takes 0 action on that.

There's a 14 year (technically 11 due to time travel) age gap between them when they meet at the start of the novel. The ML is like 'ew gross he's a child' when considering his own attraction to the MC, and refuses to allow himself to do more than holding hands for guiding. This frustrates the MC who feels like he *is* grown/an adult. Having been personally on both sides of this IRL (thinking I'm sooo mature and adult in my early 20's and trying to date a person in their mid 30's to being in my mid 30's and being like 'that's a child' when a 20 yr old hits on me), I think the author handled it well. MC is mad because he's not a child (then proceeds to burn breakfast and use sugar instead of salt on a fried egg, okay baby) and ML is frustrated because he feels like there's a power imbalance and wants MC to be able to make his own informed, consensually decision.

They only become intimate initially because of MC pursuing ML, and ML realizing that part of MC maturing means he has to be allowed to make his own choices—good or bad. The whole book focuses on what our choices mean and how they can impact us and others, so I think that was a very important plot detail and not just uwu he's a sexy baby nonsense. In some of the extras the ML mourns the fact that MC has grown up so much but not like aw he's not my wittle guy anymore but in a 'my choices meant he *had* to mature even more than necessary and I regret that I put him in that situation' way. (ML enters a long coma and MC is on his own and has to take care of not only himself but feels like he has to also take care of ML at the hospital too.)

But ML also is SO proud of his partner in how he's grown and matured and become such a wonderful person. He loves MC so much (and that love is returned) and after everything they went through to be together, he's so happy to see MC go from scared, unable to speak due to trauma tiny malnourished victim to articulate, kind, reliable, clever, and healthy young man. It's really very touching!

Oh and his muteness does go away, and rather quickly! It's due to trauma, not a physical disability and he goes to therapy to address it! Lots of people are going to therapy for lots of mental health woes in this novel and it's very positive towards getting mental health help if you need it! Which I thought was a nice touch!

HE; there's mentions of it in the past with the MC in his past life but nothing graphic or ever between the CP; nope! It's a 1v1 no cheating!

Also, we just sort of never talked about the first life MC who offed hinself

The first life reveal was so good! I wish we saw more of that dynamic. He's a bit rough on the edges, but he remained a kind, steady, and grounding presence for the MC.

time-loop, there were more past lives

Every single regression has happened because Dojin couldn't control his emotions/be less stubborn.

...

Things keep going wrong when they are separated! I don't know why he's not getting that :/