My loathing of side couples in a story to give release from the angst of the main couple needs to have a medical term. They get all the easy, communicative, charming moments and readers are so often like ‘I wish they were the main couple. They’re so perfect…’ of course they come off that way, they aren’t carrying the chaotic BL story they get to skip about in. I’m fine with the hint of knowing there’s a connection…but wait until the main story is finished and THEN give them their own story. That way I won’t resent them for dragging the main story.