Shoebill

Yes, but you should keep in mind it's a manga that prioritises disability commentary and the leads' personal development over romance and physical intimacy.

To be honest neither had a drastic reaction. But Taichi does start being conscious/shy around Kohei, while Kohei is still nervously approaching Taichi. Still some way until Taichi realises his own feelings though; without spoiling much they'll probably get together second last or last episode of the season.

It seems slow but the story's main focus is on the disability commentary, coming-of-age and life struggles, so they are occupied with other things outside of their developing romance.

The series won't cover up to the current volume either, just up to volume 2, one more than the movie.

The series won't cover up to the current volume either, just up to volume 2, one more than the movie.

Old fashioned cupcake

I noticed it as a source reader too. I'm pretty sure it's because they're trying to pad out the story since only the first 2 volumes were greenlit for adaptation. I do think it is the best stopping point since after that is a long arc that spans 3 volumes - it's just that sometimes it is done a little clumsily. The flash forward at the start, for example, was pretty unnecessary from my standpoint, but they also added the basketball and water fight, which I thought were nice additions.

The manga isn't finished. From the drama announcement, I think this will only adapt up to the end of the 2nd volume Theory of Happiness. So far it seems to be doing well in terms of popularity so I really hope it'll get greenlit for a 2nd season, because the arc after that (Limit) is my favourite.

Sometimes it just happens suddenly. I have a relative with a similar experience where he woke up with quiet ringing in one ear and shrugged it off cause he thought it was nothing serious, then a few days later became hard of hearing in that ear. Doctors aren't infallible either; they could've thought that Kohei's illness as influenza one could recover from without long-term effects (in the checkup scene even they weren't sure if the fever was related). And Kohei indeed recovered before he had hearing loss.

The manga is still ongoing, but it's not a sad story.

Kind of. Hidamari came out first though, and Kohei does not go back to being non-disabled.

Yeah hopefully it successfully broadcasts, since they got Ray Jiang on board.

Ray Jiang (WBL, My Tooth Your Love, Unknown) is also directing this. It's scheduled to release in 2025.
https://pavilion.taicca.tw/portfolio-item/the-young-gangster/

The updates are actually old info from 2022! I don't think it's been cancelled though. The last info I saw was from November 2023 when the production company (Select Entertainment) was at a media content exhibition, and this series was on the walls of their booth. This series was announced immediately after the adaptation rights were signed, and the company is quite new and haven't made any series yet, so it makes sense that they're taking more time.