Episode Title: On the Night of the Full Moon, I Strayed into My ‘Perfect World’!?
A year after moving from engineering to sales, Akihito Kano still can’t fit in. He has the technical skills but struggles to speak up, leaving him lonely at work. His relationship with Seiji Ookami, the team’s star and his former close peer, soured after a past incident, leaving Akihito torn between admiration and insecurity.
One night, drained from a client issue, he wanders into a shrine and finds a mirror said to reflect your ideal self. He wishes he could stand beside Ookami as an equal, and in that instant, fog surrounds him, and he blacks out. When he wakes, a gentle, almost lover-like “Ookami” is by his side. Is this a dream or something else? And so begins his unexpected, tender dive into a “what-if” world.
(Source: Japanese = mbs.jp || Translation = kisskh)
- Aired: November 21, 2025
Love Begins in the World of If Recent Discussions
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| Spoilers from the novel by RandomUsagi | 2 | 0 | RandomUsagi Dec 5, 2025 |
Love Begins in the World of If Episode 1 Reactions
well that ending was a 180 from most of the ep... which was a plus as before the magic mirror i didn't like anyone around Kano, it felt like they were bullying the new kid & his fainting /PTSD/panic disorder popping up was confusing me, as to what it was & consuming the amount of chocolate on the daily for almost a yr he should've been twice his size. ********************************anyway am happy this took a turn for the better - cause the mean-boy's were very dislikable. ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************side note: both mains r really good looking.
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Still on going, but Good i think 😍 , hope the seme more brutal 🫠 the high difference is so cute 🤌
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Episode 1 immediately sets the tone: quiet, a little melancholic, and deeply character-driven. We meet Akihito Kano a year after shifting from engineering to sales, and honestly? He’s the definition of someone who’s good at his job but absolutely terrible at being visible. He has the skills, the brains, the work ethic — but zero confidence in speaking up. And the show doesn’t exaggerate it; it portrays that kind of workplace loneliness in a painfully realistic way. You can feel how isolating it is for him to exist in a room full of coworkers yet still feel like he’s on the outside looking in.
The tension with Seiji Ookami is introduced beautifully.
They’re not enemies, but they’re definitely not what they used to be. Once close peers, now separated by an unspoken incident and Kano’s lingering insecurity. The writing does a great job showing that admiration and resentment can coexist. Kano looks at Ookami like he’s the sun — warm, bright, unreachable — and that gap between them is the emotional hook of this episode.
The shrine scene is where everything shifts.
After a draining day dealing with client problems, Akihito stumbling into the shrine feels like a metaphor for how lost he is — physically, emotionally, mentally. The mirror that shows your “ideal self” is such a simple fantasy device, yet it works because Akihito’s wish is so human:
He doesn’t want fame, success, or power.
He just wants to stand beside Ookami — not beneath him, not behind him — but as an equal.
That’s what makes the magic hit harder.
The fog, the blackout, and then… “Kano!”Ookami is the one who wakes Kano up after he faints at the shrine, and he looks genuinely worried. From there, everything feels different — this Ookami isn’t the one he usually knows. His eyes, his gestures, his attitude, even the way he carries Kano…This ending twist is executed so delicately. It’s not loud or dramatic. It’s intimate. Confusing. Tender in a way that immediately makes you ask:Is this a dream? A parallel world? His subconscious? Or something supernatural?
The episode closes not with answers, but with emotional mystery — the best kind.
Overall, Episode 1 is a strong opener — soft fantasy layered with workplace loneliness and unresolved tension. It’s slow, but intentionally slow, building a fragile emotional atmosphere that sets up the central question of the story:
What happens when the version of someone you wished for finally appears — and they treat you like you’ve always wanted?
A beautiful, tender start to a story about longing, regret, and the ache of wanting to be someone better.
The tension with Seiji Ookami is introduced beautifully.
They’re not enemies, but they’re definitely not what they used to be. Once close peers, now separated by an unspoken incident and Kano’s lingering insecurity. The writing does a great job showing that admiration and resentment can coexist. Kano looks at Ookami like he’s the sun — warm, bright, unreachable — and that gap between them is the emotional hook of this episode.
The shrine scene is where everything shifts.
After a draining day dealing with client problems, Akihito stumbling into the shrine feels like a metaphor for how lost he is — physically, emotionally, mentally. The mirror that shows your “ideal self” is such a simple fantasy device, yet it works because Akihito’s wish is so human:
He doesn’t want fame, success, or power.
He just wants to stand beside Ookami — not beneath him, not behind him — but as an equal.
That’s what makes the magic hit harder.
The fog, the blackout, and then… “Kano!”Ookami is the one who wakes Kano up after he faints at the shrine, and he looks genuinely worried. From there, everything feels different — this Ookami isn’t the one he usually knows. His eyes, his gestures, his attitude, even the way he carries Kano…This ending twist is executed so delicately. It’s not loud or dramatic. It’s intimate. Confusing. Tender in a way that immediately makes you ask:Is this a dream? A parallel world? His subconscious? Or something supernatural?
The episode closes not with answers, but with emotional mystery — the best kind.
Overall, Episode 1 is a strong opener — soft fantasy layered with workplace loneliness and unresolved tension. It’s slow, but intentionally slow, building a fragile emotional atmosphere that sets up the central question of the story:
What happens when the version of someone you wished for finally appears — and they treat you like you’ve always wanted?
A beautiful, tender start to a story about longing, regret, and the ache of wanting to be someone better.
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Ever since I stumbled upon the trailer of this show on YouTube, I've been eagerly anticipating it. Luckily I don't have to wait for too long and the first episode dropped last week.How can I describe the first episode? Holy mackerel, the opening scene is just beautiful. BEAUTIFUL. The best opening scene among the so many BL series that I've watched. The somewhat gloomy blue tone used during the office scenes instantly pops up to me, perfectly illustrating what Kano feels in his new work. Also it's SOO OBVIOUS that Oogami already has some kind of feelings for Kano. The fact that he was willing to bow and apologized to the clients even when it was Kano's fault made me wanna cry. He's such a green flag already. The episode ends with a happy, and comedic tone. Thus indicating how the second episode gonna be. Anyway, parallel or not, I'm so excited to see Oogami being so romantic and affectionate towards Kano. I can imagine Kano's bewildered and confused expression haha.
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Another great officer romance from Japan, but this one hits on a completely different level. The darker cinematography instantly sets it apart from the usual light Japanese BLs, giving the story a moodier, more mature tone that I absolutely loved. I am obsessed with height-difference dynamics and Ogami and Kano being noticeably taller than average had me hooked from the very beginning.The story is intriguing, emotional, and layered in a way that pulls you in effortlessly. Both actors deliver incredible performances, capturing that mix of vulnerability, admiration, and unresolved tension perfectly. Their chemistry simmers quietly beneath every interaction, and I cannot wait to see how their feelings slowly transform into something deeper and undeniable. I am fully hooked already and what a fantastic start.
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