The Boy and I Who Will Break Up in 100 Days

This is not a BL which most of the fangirls will not get...

This is a slice of life, a failed relationship. Both characters have their "ideals", but both fail to recognize that they don't match with either their ideals nor views. Both characters are flawed, there is no idyll, no happy BL paradise where all problems are solved in 10 minutes of a 12 hours series. This is a depiction of the real world, when two people meet and get together of mostly selfish reasons, not knowing their partner, not knowing their partners desire. Something which should have been just a one night stand ended up in a relationship were it was only a question of time when it will fail.

The original was from a gay writer, who saldy already passed away. The filming set had an gay consulent and they really did put out a show, which is as realistic as it could be. And while many want only watch the happy BL fantasy and escape their boring lives, this is a realistc gay story without a happy end. But you can also say, both characters did have an happy end. Both characters grew and maybe both characters would hopefully not repeat the mistakes of the past.

This is one of the few shows which is about representation and after "Chosen Home" & "Life in Smokey Blue" japanese productions go where no other countries series ever go. Thailand is just mass-producing one crap BL after the next, Korea is a coin toss if the series is bad, decent or good. Taiwan has one of the most strictest protection laws in the world and same-sex marriage but sadly not enough output at least in the series space. And now Chinas production companies have recognized how much money can be made and they produce for foreign streaming services.
It's refreshing that japanese productions always brings diversity to the screen.

It's best said with a scene from the series, when "the boy" said:
"Those people who love watching guys making out, they only put us on a pedestal because we're two guys kissing. And they get all excited debating who's the top and who's the bottom." (not much guessing with thai ships)

Besides the MLs, the documentary crew are also important cast member and not just accessories. They also recognize that making a documentary is about the persons itself and not because they are gay. Production quality was very high, no complains from me. So of course, this is a recommendation to watch.

Edit: As it always is with MDL, nobody knows how many episodes the series has... So of the time of writing it stated 6... after searching online a source says 10. With that said, should we get more episodes I will edit the review and may change the rating as well.
2nd Edit: It seems MDL also decided it was the finale, so I'm very happy with the end. And yes, some relationship fail and that is just life...

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One line from Itsuki stayed with me until the very end.

He compared himself to "a tropical fish that feels too hot even in the water where it is supposed to live."

I interpreted it as someone who isn't weak or broken, but simply cannot survive comfortably in the environment they were born into.

Sometimes leaving isn't running away.
Sometimes it's simply a survival strategy.

This drama isn't about deciding who was right or wrong.

Yuma loved Itsuki's freedom at first, but later realized he couldn't live with it.
Itsuki wanted to be accepted exactly as he was, and eventually realized that Yuma could never truly understand that part of him.

Neither of them was a bad person.
They simply reached a point where neither could compromise on what mattered most.

That made me think about relationships in general.

I don't believe living together depends on understanding everything about another person.
I think it depends on whether you can accept the parts you'll never fully understand.

Empathy is wonderful, but it isn't always possible.
Acceptance may be even more important.

The director said she wanted to create a film that could change the world.

Can a story really do that?

If people could accept differences instead of trying to erase them, perhaps there would be fewer conflicts.
But at the same time, I don't think the world is ever that simple.

I only hope that, someday, both Yuma and Itsuki will find someone who can accept them for who they are.

Not every love story ends happily.
Some simply leave us with questions that stay long after the credits roll.

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Trauma exists, living in it shouldn't be an excuse

I liked this series for the time it took to deconstruct their relationship. Not rushed, evenly paced and realistic. The actors did well and their failings realistically told. It was engaging and introspective to encourage thought but also reactive. One couldn't watch without seeing all their flaws and form opinions.

The both ml, Itsuki and Yuma, were hiding. Yuma from facing the reality of their relationship until the end. He still holds on to a memento, unable to throw it away. Itsuki living in his past trauma and being overly critical of other peoples views of the gay community. He refuses to be the poster boy of a successful gay union but lives freely and comfortably under the one who is fighting the cause.

I treasure Itsuki's honesty but it pops up at his convenience. He is very critical of Yuma and refuses to communicate beyond derision and in so doing fails even in his last interview to see how Yuma has changed. Even at the end it is selfish. Yes, their projected views are incompatible, but who goes along just existing? He knows Yuma types are the one to make the changes in the world but is content to live while they fight. I'm not advocating for him to be always on guard, and fight every pos out there but he seems apathetic and wants to be remembered. For existing? He disrespected him to the point of bringing a lover to their home. A home he contributes nothing financially to as he is unemployed and was offered a space even after they broke up initially. Yuma doing this alone should have stopped him.


Yuma on the other hand still struggles to let go of the ideal. He fights for the positive views of the gay community and would go to lengths to protect it. In so doing, perpetuates a lie and fails himself. He loves Itsuki but their incompatibility works against him. He pushes him but because they communicate ineffectively, or not at all as Itsuki ignores or is apathetic, he doesn't know how to understand where they went wrong. In the end, acceptance and understanding comes too late. I hope he does completely move on from Itsuki, he doesn't deserve it.

Shiho faces adversity on either side and understands at the end her true worth and not the perception. Her boss should be removed. His condescending attitude should not be dealt with. I felt the pain of Naomi and was grateful she apoligized to Shiho. She felt lost and lashed out at the wrong person.

I applaud this series for showing the reality of relationships. Not all work. Not all are balanced. It's okay to move on. It's not okay to be used.

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The end is inevitable

Even though i knew it was a possibility, the way it all ended broke my heart. This is an incredible work with one of the greatest representations in BL history.

GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7592/the-boy-and-i-who-will-break-up-in-100-days-2026-e01

Things I liked:
1. Acting. So good it felt real.
2. Scenery.
3. LGBTQ+ representation. I can really appreciate how this series shows so much about the real struggles all LGBTQ+ folks have to endure and go through. In my opinion, they did an incredible job at doing so.
4. Sexism representation. While I love that this series shows so much about the struggles that LGBTQ+ people go through, I also truly respect that they show the struggles other parts of society go through.
Specifically, I can greatly appreciate how they show what a lot of women go through with Mori Naomi and Kayano Shiho.
They both are female characters that are here to show/represent so much more than just being a female side character. That's why I really love this series so far; it's portraying real-life problems.
5. Postpartum depression representation. Even though it wasn't that long of a moment, it really is a big deal, and I love that they included it here.
6. The ending. While of course I had my moments of hoping for them to have their happy end together, I still loved the way everything played out, and I think they did their best.

Things I disliked:
1. Terrible communication on Itsuki's part. Sleeping with someone in your ex's house where you live for free because you have no job is a ballsy move for sure. I definitely lost a lot of respect for Itsuki after that one. While I understand that they are broken up, there are a lot of other reasons for why he at least shouldn't have brought this guy into Yuma's house.
This moment actually shook me, I genuinely didn't expect something like that to happen.
I really think it wouldn't have killed Itsuki to have a one-on-one adult conversation instead of whatever this was.

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living for ourselves or others

Overall: I liked how it touched on several topics we rarely see in fictional media, but it felt overall incomplete. 6 episodes about 24 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7585/the-boy-and-i-who-will-break-up-in-100-days-2026 (not in Japan or Korea).

Content Warnings: sexism, sexual harassment, homophobia, discrimination, postpartum depression, micro aggressions, vomiting, punches, past severe child abuse mentioned

What I Liked
- the documentary/mockumentary style in episode 1
- touched on postpartum depression which is rarely shown in fictional media as well as other topics
- character growth of not putting up with bs from other people

Room For Improvement
- wish we had had their backgrounds earlier
- I was happy with the ending because Itsuki is too selfish to be in a romantic relationship, the gall to do what he did instead of having 1 mature conversation
- ending felt a bit too open ended

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Honest, Quiet, & Thought-Provoking

It is truly difficult to encapsulate this story into a review. This is a bold and daring series for no other reason than it lets truth sit in the room without editorializing, without donning rose-colored glasses, and without apology.

This is one of those rare stories that shouldn't be billed as a BL (although it is one). In such a short runtime, the series was able to dive into multiple characters' lived experiences and worked hard to make you care about those experiences. I kept having to check the runtime because I was flabbergasted by the depth and breadth of story and perspectives they were able to pack in.

Brevity truly is the soul of wit and this series proves it.

Highly recommend if you want to walk around in other adults' shoes for a brief period of time and emerge not just empathetic- but seen.

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This is not your usual BL. It's life!

This is so different and so real that it's heartbreaking. The documentary style keeps you on your toes and the extremely good-looking male leads keep you rooting for them.. But it all fails miserably at the end and you fail with them.

But you, just like the characters, accept it, get up and be the adult, just like them.

This is a story about love, but more about understanding and diversity in the sense of different people. This was so much about LGBTQ rights and also similarly about just 'people'.

I won't forget this. It touches something within you. Love is not enough. World is not utopia and world is not fantasy. This was real life. You want to cry after this because it will remind you of your failures but you will also understand it. Such is the paradox in life.

I am thankful I watched it. JBLs are always just built different. This was Art, Slice of Life, Question, Answer, Confusion, and Moving On ... All put together.

It is indescribable.
Thank you to the team for bringing this to life. Thank you for everyone.
And I truly do thank myself for watching this.
JBLs, we love you.
And this was DIFFERENT, THIS WAS ONE OF ITS KIND.

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58 Perhaps one of the Japanese BLs with the most unfair rating on MDL.

I don’t want to sound arrogant, but this series—and its rating—explain why people have developed skewed expectations regarding BL and how that harms genuine *queer* series.
Itsuki’s comments about BL have stayed with me for a long time because I share that opinion. BL series often turn into heterosexual relationships disguised as gay stories—aimed at girls tired of conventional romances between men and women. But as a gay man, I want to say that we are so much more than that; we deserve stories like this one—which I wouldn't classify as BL, but rather as one of Japan's few truly *queer* series. If you judge this series solely as BL made to please a female audience, the rating comes as no surprise. However, when you stop and evaluate it as a queer series, it takes on a impact that I believe most BL fans will never grasp.
BL is made for you—the girls—whereas this series is made for us, queer men; I respectfully ask that you not reduce this work to the level of BL, a genre so often created exclusively to cater to your tastes.

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This is not BL but you should watch it

If you are expecting BL (I was) and are incapable of pivoting (I am) you won't like this. I made the adjustment and binged this relatively short series in one go. I found the first episode really annoying and almost stopped watching. Stick it out. It gets more interesting. I didnt necessarily love the main characters, but I dont think I was supposed to. This isnt a feel good series. Its a realistic slice of life series that doesnt end with a bouquet of roses. I was surprised to find myself very invested and quite emotional by the end of the last episode. I would not have predicted that at the conclusion of episode 1.

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They Didn't Fail. They Just Didn't Succeed.

Disclaimer: I cried SO MUCH watching this that I don’t even know why myself. Please keep in mind that I just finished the series, so I’m feeling a little emotional. With that in mind, let’s get started.

Kasuga Yuma (Ito Kentaro) and Hasegawa Itsuki (Sato Kanichiro) are a gay couple who recently went viral in an interview about co-parenting. With the popularity the couple achieved, a proposal came up to make a documentary about their dynamic as a couple. The problem? They had actually broken up a while ago.

My goodness, what an important series! At its core, it’s a slice-of-life show, filmed to some extent like a sitcom (like *The Office*), because it mimics a documentary, I personally thought that was a brilliant idea. Setting aside technical aspects and performances, which, by the way, were flawless, I have no negative criticism, not only for the protagonists Kentaro and Kanichiro, who made me rethink the nature of all the relationships around me, but also for Narumi Yui and Nomura Masumi, who played Shiho and Naomi, respectively. They didn’t just act; they did so with excellence, highlighting how patriarchy affects women in the workplace in a unique way.

IN SHORT

The protagonists’ relationship which, by the way, initially seemed to suggest they would indeed end up together proved to be something so complex and delicate in and of itself, culminating in a line Itsuki said in the final episode:
“The people who will shape the world are those who yearn to live in the light.”
And that alone defines the series; their dialogues when they’re alone lead us to understand that there’s no right or wrong in this story, they just didn’t work out. In the end, when they both talk about the relationship they had, and as shown in the scenes that unfolded there was indeed affection between them. Itsuki was built to live one day at a time, while Yuma lived several days ahead; he wanted his place in the sun as a “””””””””normal””””””””” person, so to speak; he wanted to get married and start a family. In the end, it becomes clear that Itsuki isn’t the kind of person who worries about what he’ll have for dinner the next day, but even so, he sacrificed a lot in terms of his lifestyle. Over the course of six episodes, we got to see what their relationship was like before all this happened; we could see the difference in their approaches to life. Everything became very clear, and I think that really impacted me, because it wasn’t the kind of thing I expected to see.

From what I’ve said, you can tell that I really liked Itsuki’s character, because as he himself said, Yuma is an ordinary person even if he doesn’t want to believe it. But Itsuki isn’t like that, he’s afraid of being forgotten, even if he hasn’t admitted it in those exact words; he lives one day at a time. And he doesn’t feel the need to fight for a collective; he just wants to live his little life, he’s minding his own business. Personally speaking, I appreciate people like that in real life and, eventually, the characters who represent them.

I think the line “We’d never work out. Because the things I want to throw away are the things he wants to carry” suggests that they tried, and in the end, it’s okay that it didn’t work out. The series almost seemed to convey the message that, just because we share the same letter in the LGBT acronym doesn’t mean we’ll work out. Shared suffering is also part of who we are.
10/10

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Some stories feel real enough to stay with you — this was one of them.

I rarely leave reviews, but this series genuinely compelled me to write one. It’s breathtaking in its realism — portraying situations that ordinary people face every day, regardless of sexual orientation. Instead of the idealized, glossy narratives often found in BL media, this story shows the truth: failed relationships, mismatched expectations, emotional incompatibility — these are universal experiences, and the series treats them with honesty and compassion.

One character’s remark that gay people are “just ordinary people” resonated deeply with me. It’s a simple truth, and the show embraces it fully — we’re all just human, all different, all ordinary in our own ways.

An absolutely fantastic and deeply educational series. I’d recommend it to everyone.

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