RL

Yes the twists and turns made the last episode very interesting.
Many viewers here commented Makiko is manipulative. I watched this drama now twice, just couldn't find any trace of it other than just friendly to everyone? Hardest to understand being Makiko is the one who suffered the most in this story. Why can't her have a better ending?

There is romance in My Honest Realtor for sure unless turning a blind eye. In fact it is a very nice one all the way to season 2.

With its compact length it will be in my rewatch list for a long time.

It is with Minami the bank finance advisor, not Sakura the young assistant. That's probably why no one wanted to mention about it. Just a sweet fun session per episode.

Yes. A subplot if you haven’t watched it yet.Sorry to reply so late because just watched it.

It is an entertaining drama. Light and comfortable to watch, and heart warming too in each property deal.
Very surprised that rarely mentioned anywhere about the background developing romance story throughout the 2 seasons of the drama. But this is not between Nagase and his junior sales Tsukishita, but between Nagase and the lovely, matching age Enomoto the bank finance advisor. The love line only has a short, but sweet session between the 2 characters each episode but progressed in a most natural way till even the added on movie. This also ensured Nagase and Tsukishita remained to be in totally professional relationship. For those who wanted some romance sub plot.

Should read Google first before watching. Following from Google:
Key Aspects of the Drama: Plot: The story blends intense crime investigation with deep personal romance, revolving around a secret buried by childhood friends. Characters: Takeuchi Ryoma plays a detective investigating the case, while Inoue Mao plays his first love. Romance Angle: Described as having a deeply moving, sometimes forbidden or tragic love story that is directly tied to the unfolding mysteries of the murder cases. Atmosphere: It is a suspense-driven story focused on mature, rekindled romance mixed with past secrets. The drama premiered on January 13, 2026, and is recognized for having one of the most intense love stories in recent JDorama.

Fan's reaction to the final scene in Japan (obviously everyone shipped for the 2 big stars there, no SLS)
"When Makiko was released from the detention center after receiving her suspended sentence, she found Junichi there. Walking hand in hand with Makiko, Junichi asked her the same words he had used 23 years ago, "Hey, have you ever kissed anyone?" and suddenly hugged her and kissed her.
On social media, Junichi's lines and kiss to Makiko became a hot topic. Comments included: "He kissed her there!", "I knew he'd say it!", "He did! He finally did!", "The kiss was amazing!", "An unexpected kiss to end it!", "I cried during the final episode!", "The ending was great!", and "Junichi's kiss after the same lines as before. So mellow!"

Should we actually find the ending surprising? If watched the drama carefully, not just seeing what one wants to see (or not wanting to see it happening), here are 3 scenes carefully planned by the PDwriter which are the critical turning points to the planned ending. First in ep 7 Nara told Makiko the gun could prove Junichi didnt kill anyone 23 years ago. Second in the same episode when Junichi cried in the arm of Makiko confessing his long suffering self guilt, that he deserved no happiness, 3rd at end of ep 8 when Junichi (and Naoto and Keisuke) learnt from Nara that she expected Makiko to turn up to confess with the gun to prove Junichi migh be not guilty of killing anyone 23 years ago, when Junichi understood Makiko had sacrificed herself (and Masaki too) (also no murder weapon no charge) for his possible future happiness. Thats the huge moment when Junichi made his hard decision to stay by Makiko's side in the future, to follow his own heart. And finally when his self guilt is gone in ep 9, there is no turning back for him to seek future happiness with Makiko, which he abandoned 23 yeare ago (and no again now for sure), even though would be hurting his gf, very sadly (you can apply all those phrases like love is blind, love is selfish, love is strictly between 2 people can't be shared etc in the standard drama world).
It is only surprising in the sense of jdramas normally wouldn't give a definite happy ending to the 2 main leads.

Pretty much agreed with you on the murder mystery part. But this drama is very much similar to the Agatha Christie series, with overly smart detective, rest characters all dummies, and final scene detective gathered everyone together to review everything. The twists and turns always interesting but there is nothing new and the novel Reunion wouldn't receive any reward for this. I accepted Nara knew the truth about the current murder because Makiko put everything on her face, easy guess for Nara. But totally no idea how she knew everything about the case 23 years ago before the gun is retrieved. She just too smart for me.
But this is where our difference is. I got a group of friends watching Netflix, Disney+ series together. We seldem watch pure murder or thriller genre jdrama because they are way too dark. Even with romance subplot they are usually under developed, like Dearest which also has the 1st love plot. But reading the description on Google the romance side on the 2 main leads seems interesting so we gave this a go. With the 2 very attractive leads, the fast pace love story development, building up to an unlikely happy ending in the last minute, so emotional with no boring moment in the middle, we all felt this jdrama is exceptional. We only treated the murder mysteries and the other characters (other than Nara who is an aid) as the forbidden love story road blocks. Make no mistake the drama started withe 2 first loves and ended with the 2 first loves, everything in between is their journey their story. And we believed this is also the focus of the PDwriter of the novel/drama. Apology for my long post.
By the way our group now moved on to Reboot, a similar genres jdrama. See how it goes.

Perfect summary! This drama kind of sticking to the usual drama law of love triangle (supporting lead usually the one suffered, adding 1st loves not broke up by cheating before usually back together at the end), and single mother with young kid seldem has very sad ending (that's too cruel). Also the link between Masaki and Junichi very early on another strong hint for the ending. Like what you summarised, watching a drama, a novel, have to base on what the setup planned, designed, hinted and shown by the writer, what one wanted doesn't count. Surely whether one like the drama, or its ending is separate story, but I am just surprised so many find the ending surprising here.

So for the sake of future potential viewers, don't watch this drama if only happy when there is a sad ending for the 2 main leads, otherwise it is a very satisfying jdrama with an ending climax well built up from the start to finish.

Recently I noticed numerous haters and very severe trolls on many new dramas, Korean and Japanese in MDL. They are so extreme and one sided, seems designed to stir future viewers away from watching. I kept saying that no drama will suit everyone's taste so just don't watch it and stay away, why bother to keep putting in so many negative comments?

And this is from Google AI early on near beginning of the drama:
Reunion: Silent Truth (2026) is a Japanese thriller romance drama on Netflix. Detective Tobina Junichi returns home to investigate a murder and discovers his first love, Iwamoto Makiko, is a suspect. They must confront a buried secret from their childhood involving a buried gun, blending romantic tension with a high-stakes crime mystery.
Key Details About Reunion: Silent Truth (2026)
Plot: The murder weapon in a current case is revealed to be a gun that four friends, including Junichi and his first love Makiko, swore to bury 23 years ago.
Romance Elements: The drama centers on the romantic tension and emotional reunion between Junichi and Makiko, who are now on opposite sides of a law investigation.

Synopsis of Silent Truth before it started always included:
'Years later, Junichi becomes a detective and is assigned to investigate a murder case. During the investigation, he reunites with Makiko, one of the friends who shared that childhood secret and also his first love, now standing before him as “detective and suspect.”'
There is almost no exception in any drama that once the word 'first love' is mentioned the 1st loves will be a key part of the story, and of course it will either has a sad, or happy ending. One should be prepared for such storyline before watching.
Before the final scene, there already been 2 'tempted kiss' occasions between the 2, one at the beginning, and one at episode 6. It is well setup.
Kind of you see what you want to see.

She is so smart, and actually so warm hearted. Lots of depth in her character. Every minutes she is on screen are enjoyable. Very much Hercule Poirot image. And she too, everything is about first love!

Thanks indeed for your positive comments on this totally enjoyable drama.

Almost right at the beginning of episode 1 when Junichi and Makiko run into the forest by themselves, Junichi asked if you have ever been kissed before, then a failed kiss and gun shots, and the 2 runaway hand in hand scared. It is a perfect mirror reflection of the ending scene except with different emotions and real kiss. It is a fulfilment of the drama design from beginningto end.
Watching a drama, if with any romance, always hoping for at least a hopeful future for the 2 main leads, with all obstacles removed. Agree it is an emotion escape from realism, purely for enjoyment. So not interested in being judgemental, unless on clearly villains, rapist or paedophile.

The acting highlight of Inoue Mao in ep9 no doubt is the moment when Nara told her the gun did prove Junichi didn't kill anyone 23 years ago, that her expression of relief and joy, almost to tear, that her self sacrifice is not in vain, just so moving and amazing.
I might add here there are many kdramas with going back to first love storyline. Two good examples The Spies Who Love Me (first and current husband), and Discovery of Love (Romance) which the current love also a nice guy and all friends are against the fl going back to her1st love. But the fl openly admitted she is a 2 timers, but love is love. Both separated from the 1st love not because of cheating, just misunderstanding etc. So common in dramas. And one more example the great Hospital Playlist with similar settings but different timing. 5 friends with 4 males and the fl who has an unfilled first love with the ml at university. Worked together again 21 years later and ml with a young son divorced his wife, fl broke up with her bf and she treated the young son of the ml like her own. So all set for fulfilment of their 1st love story at the end.

I really want to ask many unsatisfied fans here a question:
Is it better to be honest about where one's heart now belong to so both can move on, or hide it and drag on the relationship just on surface only, until it explodes in future? Remember the drama setup the gf of Junichi only 25 years old (still very young to find someone really love her) , and their relationship cold from the very beginning of the drama. And they are not married nor will marry in future. And starting ep 6 everytime Makiko called Junichi always gone to her. Writing is on the wall.