As more and more romance titles are consummed, the retrospectives continue to come out. Welcome to the fourth one. For quicker navigation, here is the home of the first restrospective, then the home of the second retrospective and finally the home of the third retrospective.
A strange princess, Goshiki Shiori, from a remote island applies to work as an assistant for a young manga artists, Kuga Ichiro, as a way to chase a life she wants instead of the one being forced on her. Goshiki's people have a supernatural connection to a star and have their own unique society and customs. Ichiro, without knowing, does something that means he and Goshiki are destined to spend the rest of their lives together. At first unsure of how to deal with the situation, the more time they spend together to closer they grow, still unsure about how much they want tradition to dictate their lives. But can the strange princess really choose to abandon her ways and people for a life with the manga artist?
This is a calm and sweet romance that doesn't put its super natural aspects front and center. Instead its an easy going slice of life story about two adults who are trying to understand their feelings for each other while trying to resolve their own desires in life.
Isaku is adopted by her grandfather following the death of her parents in a car accident. The six year old only wants he parents back but instead finds herself living in the house of a yakuza boss. Her grandfather has no time to take care of her and assigns one of his underlings, 16 year old Keiya, to be her guardian and stand in parent. The arrangement works out for the better and the only problems Isaku experiences growing up is being associated with the mafia. She hopes to change that with a fresh start in a high school a long way from home, where people probably don't know her grandfathers group. Keiya, her protector, bribes the school to let him be a new student as well.
There are some red flags with this show, primarily the core relationship about a 26 year old man and his feelings for the 16 year old he's had to raise as his own per his duty as a yakuza. To make matters worse, Isaku exhibits a form of Stockholm Syndrome and falls in love with the man who acted like her father and mother these past ten years. Though...there is always Bunny Drop.
Yuki falls in love with a man one day on the train. The man rescues her from an uncomfortable encounter with a foreigner looking for help. Yuki has congenital deafness and has lead a mostly sheltered life before college. The man, coed Itsuomi, spends much of his free time traveling the world, always trying to learn as much as he can about other cultures and languages. Upon meeting Yuki, he realizes her world is one he has little understanding of and is drawn to understand it and her more. As they spend more time together feelings begin to flourish, but can Yuki truly get her feelings to come across to him?
This was rather wholesome romance. I was hesitant at first, due to the main character being hearing impaired and wondered how respectful the representation was going to be. I have questions regarding the unwillingness to learn sign by her mother, but over all the story handled it well. This is a straightforward romance based around adult characters who aren't bogged down by a lot of uncertainty and misunderstanding, a nice refreshing change to the standard teenage love story fair. Good story, believable characters, over all solid entry in the romance genre.
First year high school girls, Adachi and Shimamura develop a friendship based on skipping school. Eventually they realize that they should be more serious in their studies but the relationship doesn't waver. Adachi, not normally one for interacting with others, begins to fall madly in love with her new friend. Shimamura, who floats through life with out much of a goal, also begins to feel something for the other girl but is unsure or unwilling to explore it. As time passes Adachi becomes more obsessed with the other girl, wanting nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with her. Shimamura is unsure of what she wants out of anything and unintentionally sends a variety of mixed signals to the girl who loves her.
This is a quiet and warm story about blossoming romance and awakening into the world around you that unfortunately is tainted with an obsession of perverted camera angles and the breasts of underage girls. Adachi herself begins to feel less like a 15 year old Japanese girl, firmly accepting her romantic interest in other girls and starts to behave like a 15 year old boy in a generic romance aimed at boys. Its hard to justify the quality of the story when the animation potentially takes matters into its own hands, derailing anything the light novel may have established as solid narration and characterization.
Chise is a girl with no hope for her life. Abandoned by all she has offered herself up for auction as a slave. She hold supernatural abilities, powers that have caused everyone to abandon her. A powerful and inhuman mage interrupts the auction to buy her for an incredible sum of money. He decides to take her in as his apprentice and bride, drawn to her incredible power. Chise has now found a life worth living as she is taught the hidden world that surround humanity and how to negotiate its dangers.
This one is a bit of a weak inclusion to the ever growing list of romance titles. There is very little in the way of romance and the word bride in the title is a little misleading. There is no doubt a underlying bond between Chise and her supernatural ward Elias. While not exactly that standard physical love, they do have a strong emotional connection that grows and changes through out the story.
Cherry Magic: 30 Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
Adachi gains the ability to hear peoples thoughts when he comes into physical contact with them after turning 30 without dating anyone. He learns one day that the hottest guy in his office has secret desires for him. Having never contemplated dating a man before, he struggles with how to respond. But as he spends more time with his coworker, secretly listening in to his thoughts, he begins to grow to like him in a similar way. Can he finally find someone to love him and will he have to reply on this intrusive power to do so?
This was a decent adult romance wrapped around an fun plot device. While some typical yaoi tropes persisted a lot of that was blunted by much of the plot revolving around the ability to read someones heart through physical touch. The story did kind of hand-wave away most aspects of Japans uncertain acceptance of homosexuality in general. While those around them seemed oblivious to their relationship or didn't care regardless, there are a few moments where strangers in public to react with minor revulsion at the two well groomed men being so close.
Even Though We're Adults
Ayano, an elementary school teacher in her mid thirties, stops at a local bar one day to unwind after work. Something about a women who worked there, named Akari, stirred deep feelings in her heart. Akari, who is also in her mid thirties, has struggled to find a lasting relationship. Unfortunately, the woman who suddenly took her breath away is married and has never exhibited feelings for another woman before. Both woman struggle with their chance encounter and attraction, with the matter becoming more complicated when Ayano admits her feelings for the other woman to her husband. Akari doesn't want to waste any more of her emotions on the wavering Ayano, and tries to break off contact with her, unfortunately she keeps showing up in her life. To make matter worse, Ayano is beginning to feel like Akari is the right person to be with but her marriage is not so easily dissolved.
This is an honest and straight forward adult romance by Shimura Takako, who previously wrote Wandering Son and Sweet Blue Flowers. The main characters struggle with what they really want in life and the obstacles they are unwilling or unable to overcome. Other themes of modern society are also represented with Ayano's in-laws. Her youngest sister-in-law is a hikikomori and she and her husband are pressured into moving back in with his parents following his father being admitted for a prolonged stay in the hospital. Communication ends up being more honest than is probably for the best and her mother-in-law is also aware of her indiscretions, but strives to undo any damage to her sons marriage and secure a grandchild. There is probably more back and forth indecision than is needed in the two woman's relationship, particularly in how much Ayano is willing to have her life controlled by others.
Extreme problems take extreme measures. In order to combat the rapidly declining birthrate in Japan the national government has enacted a plan to 'force' young couple into marriage with the sole purpose of procreation. Shizuka Masuda, through her families connections, sets herself up to be one of the test cases for the new policy. With the help of the government she forces her way into the quiet life of her fedarlly appointed husband, Ryo Mizuhara. The boy isn't eager to go along with the plan, already busy with school and raising his younger sister after their parent died. Shizuka isn't going to let his or anyone's objections get in the way of having him impregnate her.
This is a little known and weirdly hyper romantic comedy that takes its absurd premise by the horns and doesn't look back. Based on a visual novel, this short series is full of gags, odd situations and visual comedy, but in the end doesn't really amount to much beyond filling two hours with absurdity and weirdness. At this point its too old and too obscure to catch anyone's eye for licensing in North America
Jin lives by himself and is quite self sufficient. His father leaves him in the care of his childhood friend, Tsugumi, and her family to check in on hm. After carving a figurine out of a piece of wood from a neglected shrine, the carving turns into a strange girl named Nagi who claims to be the resident goddess of the soon to be demolished sacred space. Unsure of whats going on, Jin agrees to help her with her godly duties as well as trying to build a fanbase around her so she can maintain her powers. Afraid of causing issues between he and Tsugumi, he claims the weird new girl is a long lost half sister, but Tsugumi who harbors feelings for him, suspects otherwise.
Honestly the romance aspect of this series if pretty mild, there are moments where it could evolve into a full blown and problematic harem series, but it never crosses that boundary. Its really a super natural slice of life series about the stereotypical harem protag type character trying his best to appease this strange goddess while hiding the truth about her from everyone, causing many to believe there is something lewd going on between them.
Mame has been in love with Sou for 20 years, confessed to him multiple times and been rejected every time. Ten years after her last rejection, Sou loses his wife to a prolonged illness and finds himself a single parent struggling to run his newly opened cafe. The cafe is next door to Mame's childhood home, her parents bath house, which brings her into constant contact with her unrequited love again. She can't deny her long held feelings for him but struggles with how to approach him again, when the memory of his beloved wife clings to him. Is she in the wrong for wanting to get what she has been denied for so long? Can she even win against the memory of his wife, let alone the past instances of rejection?
This is a fantastically mellow dramatic soap opera of a romance story. The characters are well developed and have no problem having candid conversations with each other, even if their convictions stall them from making drastic decisions. This is a well done and highly enjoyable story about complicated love and relationships between adults who all have to content with their own problems. Highly recommended for anyone looking for something crazy but grounded in reality with far more believable scenarios than your typical shonen romance fare.
Titular character Komi is the bombshell goddess of school who suffers from over the top social anxiety, preventing her from being able to express herself to her peers. A loner in class realizes the problem and does everything in his power to help her gain friends and confidence in school. No, the two misfits are on a mission to gain her as many friends as possible in a school filled with people stranger than them. Along the was unspoken feelings begin to blossom between the two as they navigate their extra ordinary high school lives.
The romance is quite subdued in this series, focusing more on a revolving cast of gag characters with one dimensional plot lines. The character designs are rather simplistic and negatively impact the beautiful animation and directing of the anime. Even with its deficiencies its two season run didn't seem like a worn out welcome. But the weakness of the source material leads this to just being a decent waste of time instead of something that moves into legendary status.
Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible
Kubo Nagisa is infatuated with the boy who sits next to her in class, gloomy loner Shiraishi Junta. Shiraishi has a latent ability to go unnoticed, a problem that has led to a mostly isolated existence. Kubo is immune to this ability and has fallen hard for the strange quiet boy. She does everything she can to toy with him, slowly testing the limits of how far she can poke him until he gets mad or realizes the truth.
I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed this cute series. Unlike a similar themed show, Teasing Master Takagi-san, Kubo shows nothing but deep affection for Shiraishi as she toys with him. Shiraishi himself is a rather throw away character with his one dimension plot point, but the overwhelming lovableness of Kubo is what really drives this show. She is close to the perfect female lead, or at least is perfect in this situation. Kubo does develop into a more interesting character as the show progresses and she forces him further from his isolation shell. Its been said this show can give you diabetes and that sums it up quite well. I enjoyed this way more than I expected to.
The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses
Komura Kaede is madly in love with the girl who sits next to him in class, scatterbrained and forgetful Mia Ai. Ai struggles with remembering things on a daily basis, most importantly her glasses. Her absentmindedness continues to lead her to rely on Komura for random things through out the day, causing them to become close. He relishes every moment he able to grow closer to the object of his affection even if most of them are the result of her being forgetful. Yet he is unable to really express his feelings for her, choosing to remain by her side as a faithful classmate.
There is only so long a one gag concept can go with out being overdone. Aharen-san wa Hakarani was able to take its original gag and morph it into something that became more entertaining. This series however fails to move beyond its original concept and instead presents us with a series of disjointed sketches that fail to generate any actual plot. This series by the more derided Go Hands studio actually has some strong character design...even if the rest of their artwork is a bit...jarring.
Hokkaido Gal's are Super Adorable
Tsubasa transfers from Tokyo to rural Hokkaido in the middle of winter. The firts local he meets is a gyaru named Minami who decides to show the new kid the ropes when it comes to being a true Hokkaido native. The proper rich boy goes along with the flamboyant girl, enjoying the new experiences she gives him, along the way building other friendships. While generally open and honest, she begins to harbor feelings for the new kid and isn't sure how to broach the subject.
At first this seemed like a terrible fan service harem series, with Tusbasa being surrounded by a small group of cute, 1-dimensional girls. But in reality it is part Hokkaido promo and part casual romance. If you couldn't' stomach the ridiculous plot lines and rampant idiocy but still liked the general that was Rent-a-Girlfriend, the sugary sweet honesty of Hokkaido Gal's will work nicely. Literally all of the characters have one mode of operation but the interactions between them and the story aren't bogged down by impossible and repetitive tropes. Instead you get a sweet, if banal mild romance between some terribly generic caricatures. It was honestly better than expected...but still not good, just not bad either.
Horimiya/Horimiya: The Missing Pieces
Miyamura is a loner in class, not interacting with anyone, remaining quiet and dark. Hori is one of the popular girls in class, vibrant, joyful and social. One day Miyamura leads a young boy who was hurt back to his house, only to discover the boys older sister is Hori. Hori does not recognize her classmate, as he dresses and caries himself differently outside of school. Hori, who also behaves differently outside of school overcomes her shock and wants to be friends with him, while also keeping their secret selves between only them. They begin to spend much of their time together, their sudden friendship surprising everyone. Miyamura is eased into her friends group and begins to open up to those around him. As they spend more time together their feelings begin to grow but each of them struggles with believing those feelings from the other.
This is a really nice and realistic story that reminded me of Kare Kano. Its a more modern style of high school romance and the changes are greatly appreciated. While a large portion of the tension is between the two main characters being hesitant and unsure of the other persons motivations, it is handled in a way that isn't tedious. The friend group around them evolves with their emotions and interpersonal relationships become more complicated among the entire group. The artwork isn't bad but it's not the best out there. The production company did a really good job in the end though.
Ganta struggles with insomnia, leading to a difficult live among his peers. A chance encounter in a hidden corner of the school with a classmate, Isaki, who also struggles with regular sleep begins to transform his outlook on life. When their secret hideout is revealed to the schools staff they need to figure out a way to continue to access it. The solution, revive the long dormant astronomy club. Unfortunately it will take a lot of work to keep the club going during their time as high school students, both of them are willing to do whatever it takes to keep this special place for themselves as they become more connected with each other.
With out wasting time, this is an amazing story. It is pretty close to being perfect in everything one would want in a dramatic slice of life romance. The characters are engaging and believable. The story is grounded in reality and doesn't suffer from artificial conflict. On top of that, the artwork is fantastic with very natural and appealing character designs. I don't normally pay attention to voice acting, unless its horrendous, but the acting for the main characters is well done, across the emotional range. It's hard to think of a bad thing to say about this show, its just exactly what is needed.
The Melancholy/Disappearance of Haruhi Suzuimya
Kyon's attempt at a boring and stress free high school live abruptly ends on the first day of school when he catches the eye of the bizarre girl seated behind him...Suzumiya Haruhi. A legend in her middle school, Haruhi is disinterested in the banal, expending her energy in the pursuit of anything abnormal. When none of the schools clubs interest her, Kyon suggests she start her own club, which she promptly does. Dragging three other student unwillingly into its fold, the clubs stated purpose is to find and research anything paranormal. Yet, to her displeasure nothing abnormal occurs. At least, not that she is aware of. In reality the other three members of the club represent super natural factions that have come to observe and manipulate Suzumiya. For unknown reasons she has the ability to subconsciously manipulate realty around her, the factions goal is to maintain the current reality the exist in and the best way they see to do that is through the banal normalcy of Kyon. The only thing that has really been able to attract her attention...even if he is completely normal and boring.
All it took was reading all of the light novel volumes to come to the conclusion that the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise at its core is a romance story. When ignoring the super natural aspects of the story, from Haruhi's godlike abilities to the idea that time travelers, aliens and ESPers exist. The one fundamental truth to the story is why she chose to include the narrator and professed normal human Kyon into her inner circle is because she likes him. A girl who has a well known fascination with oddities and professes to only be interested in the paranormal and unusual has focused all of her attention on what amounts to be the most average person in her school. Whether she is conscious of her feelings is unclear, but Kyon fights against any amount of suggestion that she holds a special place in her world view. But alas, everything she does is done with him in mind and her desire to be noticed by him and have some sort of reciprocation. She literally bends the will of the universe to put him in places that she finds favorable and loathes to be kept apart from him.
Gojo has been fascinated with hina dolls since he was a young boy, but his passion for the ornate hand crafted dolls was not well received by his peers. Instead he has turned inward, honing his craft, desiring to take over his grandfathers business. His world is forced open when a class mate, popular and trendy Marin gets him to help her make a cosplay. Together they learn the basics for the world of cosplay and Marin begins to develop feelings for Gojo. Marin is very open and honest but licks the conviction to express her feelings to Gojo, who is more distracted with doing the work for her to notice.
This is a fantastic series that has a problem, that problem is the way Marin is portrayed. Thee are many moments in this heart warming series that borders on perversion as Marin is depicted in her carefree and honestly naive ways. Almost an entire episode is needlessly devoted to Gojo measuring her body while she wears a revealing bikini. It begins to feel like a pedo-fantasy at some points but is overcome by the characters and the strength of their story. Even with the uncomfortable moments this is a great story that needs another season added to it.
Miyo lives a live rejected by her family. Since her mother passed and her father learns she lacks super natural abilities, she has been treated worse than the servants who work the house. In order to rid themselves of her she is sent off to be the potential bride for a man with a dangerous reputation. Her potential husband, Kudou, leads soldiers in the eternal struggle against super natural threats to the county. He has a reputation as an angry and disagreeable personality. Instead of rejecting or killing her, he instead chooses her for his wife and does everything he can to make her relax and find peace for the first time since she was a small child. She fears that her happiness is going to end when he learns she does not carry any abilities of her bloodline.
This is a beautiful and enjoyable return to classic shojo romance story telling. A rejected Cinderella character who finds herself the one who wins fortune she feels she is not worthy of. Suddenly slender, beautiful men are trying to make her theirs. She must fight through her own trauma and self doubt to become strong enough to stand on her own feet. To be the woman she was destined to be.
Kazuya is a desperate college student who decides to try out a girl friend rental service to help him get over a bad breakup. The rental date becomes complicated when he drags the girl, Chizuru, along with him to the hospital following his grandmothers admission. Kazuya's grandmother runs his family and she desperately wants her only grandson and future heir of the family business to get married. He panics and makes it seem like he and Chizuru are really dating. Before they can figure out how to back out of the lie they learn that Chizuru's grandmother is friends with Kazuya's since she is in the same hospital. The last thing Chizuru wants to do is let her grandmother know how shes making money. What started as a one time thing for emotional support suddenly becomes an every growing lie to not disappoint either persons grandmothers. As time goes on its becomes more difficult to hide the truth of their relationship and they have to decide once and for all how they will come clean about them not actually dating.
I struggle with this series and am honestly not sure why I went back to it after dropping it 4 episodes in initially. The premise is shallow and many of the plot devices are ridiculous and juvenile. As the series progresses though, something changes and the focus shifts away from hiding the rental girlfriend aspect and starts to concentrate on the main characters lives. It takes over a season and a half to get there, but once it changes the plot focus to Chizuru's past and future ambitions the series starts to become enjoyable. There is no hiding what kind of audience the series is aimed at, but once Chizuru becomes more than the center of tension it begins to be enjoyable. If the series would have been written from her narrative perspective we could have a really solid realistic story, instead we have to slog through pedestrian shonen rom-com/harem garbage to get to that point.
Yamagami Lucy applies for a job at the local ward office in order to discover the identity of the person who allowed her parents to register her name containing....dozens of first names. Her entire existence has been plagued by her name, stemming from the torment of her peers in grade school and beyond. The abuse has led her to being a cloistered book worm, lacking in confidence and dismisal of her finer qualities. One of the other new hires, Hasebe Yutaka takes a liking for the mousy woman, teasing her relentlessly as his was of telling her he likes her. Through her own hang ups and deliberative misunderstandings of her coworkers, Hasebe struggles to get her to like him.
Initially I only ever though about this series as an adult slice of life comedy. The second time through, over a decade later, the weight of the romances in the series became more apparent. This is a really amusing and light hearted office work based comedy that contains, not one but three separate relationship stories. In the end of the day though, romance aside, this is a fantastic slightly absurd comedy about a group of weirdo's working in a local government office, helping the general public with all manner of civil things.
Izumi Yuuki is cursed with terrible luck. Accidents and misfortune follow him at every turn. Yet even with his dire fate he is dating the cutest girl in his grade, Shikimori Miyako. The poised and capable Shikimori does everything she can to defend her boyfriend from danger. They are absolutely head over heels for each other yet struggle with self doubt. Izumi is afraid she will grow tired of his constant struggles and she fears her competitive nature will make him not like her. Even with their individual struggles their future seems bright and happy as they move forward together.
Its hard to find a more pure and innocent high school romance out there. This anime is sickeningly sweet and I loved every second of it. The characters are fun with Shikimori being the dominant personality in the relationship. She possesses incredible natural talent, identifying most threats to Izumi and actively deflecting them with grace and ease. Even if the story hits many of the traditional tropes it does it in a way that does not drag the story into rote territory. 10 out of 10!!
College graduate and slacker Rikuo's life becomes stressful when his friend from college and the girl he couldn't confess to returns to Tokyo for work. He see's this as his chance to be with her but she rejects him while still wanting to remain friends. His situation becomes more hectic due to a strange high school dropout named Haru continues to stalk him at his work and challenges the older woman for his attention. Can any of them figure out what they really want in life or will they all float through it aimlessly clinging onto the past.
The serious melodrama strikes a somber tone as its live triangle burns slowly once everyone expresses their feelings early on. A prolonged game of will they won't they plays out over the course of months and may not end in a way that satisfies some viewers. Enjoyable and mature in the end, but might have been better as a live action drama series instead.
To Every You I've Loved Before
In a world where scientists have proven the existence of parallel realities and can track when people move between them, Koyomi struggles with the impact such shifts have on those close to him. A lie begins a years long courtship with a girl in his class, that leads to a happy life and careers for both of them researching and developing technology around parallel worlds. As he nears his death a mysterious appointment leads him to meet a girl that could change everything about what he understands as his life.
This is a melancholy and speculative story about love transcending time and space and implications of how much people change based upon the different choices they make through out their life and how those changes can compound into very different versions of ones self. Unfortunately, the primary plot remains hidden until the end and seems unfinished in its execution and resolution. In the end, we have a very touching story about love, loss and growth between two people and the things that bring them together.
Chizuru and Yudai have both had terrible relationships in the past. Apprehension and uncertainty keeps them from being honest with each other, jeopardizing their relationship and potential future together. Plans to meet for dinner go horribly wrong as they independently struggle with how to move forward. Chizuru is convinced that the relationship will not work and is prepared to break up with Yudai. Yudai on the other hand is prepared to express his love her Chizuru. As they prepare to give each other gifts to express their desires, one for separation the other for strengthening their bond, chaos ensues. Each finds themselves traversing the city, leading them alone toward their destiny.
This is a short and endearing story about opposing view points that should be in sync. The story is split into two parts, each following one of the characters over the same time period, detailing their madcap romp through Tokyo. Chizuru is being lead on a wild pig chase to things unknown, while Yudai is searching for Chizuru and a potential threat to his continued relationship with her. A fun hour of time with a unique and refreshing story, devoid of the trappings of standard romance anime.
The Tunnel of Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes
Touno Kaoru's town has a legend about a tunnel that will allow anyone who enters it to have their deepest desire, at the cost of 100 years of their life. When he discovers the place of mystery he is willing to throw everything away to bring his younger sister back to life. His reckless ambition is slowed down by the intrusion of Anzu, a girl who just transferred to his town who does not get along with anyone. She too has something lost that she wants to reclaim and makes a pact with Kaoru to work as a team, regardless of the cost in the end.
This is a serious and story about loss and regret with a mild amount of romance added in for the culmination of the story. The influence of earlier Shinkai Mokoto stories is too obvious to dismiss. In the end the delivery is well done, even if there is little in the way of depth or substance to the characters. We are given just enough set up and conflict for both characters to understand their drive but the world around them is only a framework. Perhaps that was because of their internally focuses personalities, but it is more likely due to limited time to tell the story and deciding to shed 'excess' dialogue and exposition.
You Were Experienced, I Was Not: Our Dating Story
Second year high school social reject, Ryuto, has to confess to the girl he likes after losing a bet. The girl he likes happens to be the most sought after girl in his grade, buxom gyaru Runa. She isn't put off from the confession of a nerd and agrees to date him, given shes currently single. She takes him to her house after school, intent on having sex with him. Even though he wants to, badly, he suggest they wait until they get to know each other better. The new perspective on what a boy wants as her boyfriend makes her rethink her history of short lived relationships, in which most of the boys only had sex with her as a trophy and got rid of her afterwards. Now a reject from social circles has to figure out how to actually be one of the most popular and beautiful girl in schools partner and make sure it lasts long enough for them to really fall in love.
At first skeptical, this shonen leaning romance showed pretty quickly it had a bit more depth of character than its title and premise suggests. The female lead, while very stereotypical for her type, has a depth of emotions and ideals that guide her. The male lead is more than just a lucky socially awkward otaku, he tries to better himself and correct any misunderstandings that arise in their relationship, always aware of how lucky he is to be dating who he is. It still suffers from common tropes and a somewhat forced female challenger but in the end was thought out and enjoyable, especially for a shonen aimed romance.
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