I dug up a bit on the discussion forum on the anime and found out that Shuugo actually confessed in the manga?? I was so mad because anime S2 was looking to be like Shuugo finally had the momentum as the endgame, but he suddenly buck after Kizuki started pursuing Mizuho AGAIN. I never really understood how it took Kizuki’s reappearance for the other LIs to get their head in the game. Mizuho was right there. Sure, she needed to time to mend her broken heart— but 3 whole years and no one thought to one-up the other? It doesn’t make sense that adulthood occupied them as much leaving Mizuho as the least of their priorities, seeing as the flashbacks situated both Shuugo and Shin as some angsty love interests who can’t get over their first love. Author, were they sleeping? The only scene where I get that one of the LIs was making a move on Mizuho was Shin when he ALMOST gave her a bouquet of flowers on the way home before he’s called for work. I find this setup hard to believe since he actively pursued Mizuho before she and Kizuki made it official. Didn’t his over-consideration to both Mizuho and Kizuki got resolved in his character arc? Even Shuugo’s ‘bystander’ shtick became senseless after the ending (I was rooting for a Kiss Him, Not Me ending. Maybe I was asking for too much?). I didn’t like how it looked like both Shin and Shuugo got ‘discarded’ for the sake of the two leads getting together— well at least make it believable. It’s obvious we can’t force love, but I don’t think Mizuho retained her pure love for Kizuki. 3 years reminiscing after a nasty break up, with no contact whatsoever, is just obsession isn’t it? I had hoped that coming of age mangas would tackle this subject a lot more seriously, rather than first loves or whatnot. Is the author insinuating that after our adolescence, we’ll lose our spark if we aren’t Mizuho or Kizuki in this case? I’m lost.
Well, the anime is okay. Tbh, I almost dropped it multiple times but I convinced myself through it, saying it’s the low-budget animation, that it might be good etc. Some scenes did make me look back on my adolescence though which felt nice for once. The LIs aren’t that cliché ig, especially Kizuki and Shuugo (although they’ve butchered his character later on wtf). I can’t say whether Airu is a queerbait character. I enjoyed his and Mizuho’s friendship the most since he didn’t cut corners when it came to her, even if Kizuki’s involved. Plus, although his relationship with Touya didn’t work out, I’m pleased that he ended up with Amon. I can see their story play out in my mind.
Still mourning of what could’ve been with endgame Shuugo. I’m glad Mizuho acknowledged the hurt he endured all those years though. 6.5/10
I dug up a bit on the discussion forum on the anime and found out that Shuugo actually confessed in the manga?? I was so mad because anime S2 was looking to be like Shuugo finally had the momentum as the endgame, but he suddenly buck after Kizuki started pursuing Mizuho AGAIN. I never really understood how it took Kizuki’s reappearance for the other LIs to get their head in the game. Mizuho was right there. Sure, she needed to time to mend her broken heart— but 3 whole years and no one thought to one-up the other? It doesn’t make sense that adulthood occupied them as much leaving Mizuho as the least of their priorities, seeing as the flashbacks situated both Shuugo and Shin as some angsty love interests who can’t get over their first love. Author, were they sleeping? The only scene where I get that one of the LIs was making a move on Mizuho was Shin when he ALMOST gave her a bouquet of flowers on the way home before he’s called for work. I find this setup hard to believe since he actively pursued Mizuho before she and Kizuki made it official. Didn’t his over-consideration to both Mizuho and Kizuki got resolved in his character arc? Even Shuugo’s ‘bystander’ shtick became senseless after the ending (I was rooting for a Kiss Him, Not Me ending. Maybe I was asking for too much?). I didn’t like how it looked like both Shin and Shuugo got ‘discarded’ for the sake of the two leads getting together— well at least make it believable. It’s obvious we can’t force love, but I don’t think Mizuho retained her pure love for Kizuki. 3 years reminiscing after a nasty break up, with no contact whatsoever, is just obsession isn’t it? I had hoped that coming of age mangas would tackle this subject a lot more seriously, rather than first loves or whatnot. Is the author insinuating that after our adolescence, we’ll lose our spark if we aren’t Mizuho or Kizuki in this case? I’m lost.
Well, the anime is okay. Tbh, I almost dropped it multiple times but I convinced myself through it, saying it’s the low-budget animation, that it might be good etc. Some scenes did make me look back on my adolescence though which felt nice for once. The LIs aren’t that cliché ig, especially Kizuki and Shuugo (although they’ve butchered his character later on wtf). I can’t say whether Airu is a queerbait character. I enjoyed his and Mizuho’s friendship the most since he didn’t cut corners when it came to her, even if Kizuki’s involved. Plus, although his relationship with Touya didn’t work out, I’m pleased that he ended up with Amon. I can see their story play out in my mind.
Still mourning of what could’ve been with endgame Shuugo. I’m glad Mizuho acknowledged the hurt he endured all those years though. 6.5/10