RL

By mid point the drama clearly shown Jeong U the smartest, clever and reliable one apart from Miss Hong. What matters most always the brain and the heart of course), not external looks?

Indeed anything can happen in the second half of the drama. Trust no viewer would believe Naoto actually killed his brother so who he tried to protect is the biggest mystery.
The real character of Makiko is yet to be disclosed. But because she is setup in the drama or novel as a single mom who put her young son as top priority right from beginning, might be her insecurity just caused by her worrying about her son not having the security of a proper family, which is understandable (and her next man has to be closed to her son. Money or power? None of those). Pure speculation here.

This drama is so amazing that the story can be made so complex with just a few characters. All characters are 'grey', mysterious which are the deciding factors of how the drama will develop, besides who is actually the killer of the shop owner.

Very very good analysis

And Naota's defence explanation is so full of holes. Once Nara takes a look at his phone and see the call history lots of questions will be raised (he likely already deleted the message from Makiko)

Junichi also a poster boy status at school, one got look up to, envy or love. So actually the 2 leads are a matching pair at school.

Meaning Junichi not likely can be a detective at the end.

Google silent truth romance you will see this is inevitable. Recipe for tragic ending. Only saving grace is she got a young child who needs a father in future.

It is so good but so bad that I have to wait for another week for another 45 minutes extremely short episode.

Everyone around her fell for this 6th grade junior school girl! The gun is the key for the current murder and at this stage I trust Naoto of course not Keisuki. From the expression of Makiko it is quite possible that she heard the conversation between Junichi and Keisuki that Keisuki has a wife. The romance is certainly in the forbidden love territory between the 2 leads.

So same happened in Pro Bono finished in early January (where many shipped for the supporting fl). The production team put a very attractive photo of the 2 main leads in Allure December issue, where the above 40 ml put his head on the shoulder of the above 30 fl, both dressed like a special agent.
I did learn my SLS lesson back in Start Up. Since then I tried paying attention to what the production team is telling us (telating to usual kdrama tropes), rather than using chemistry nor attractiveness of actor/actress

From the very old Reply 1988, even the 2020 medical drama Hospital playlist of the same writer, multiple ships always there in any drama with a romance line and prediting the EG always divisive. Thats part of the fun in forums. And even though romance is a tag in this drama there is actually no certainty that it will have an EG!
Just a joke the FL labelled herself an old virgin in the beginning of the drama. Would she at all interested in male's body shape?

I actually found the storyline not that interesting to me thats why I still haven't watched it.

Sorry the kid I referred to is the real life child of Park Sh.

With 2 great leads how do you like My Youth?

Pretty much yes. Whats the chance of the super star Park SH at 35 years old with a kid, to have an EG with a 23 years old new actor in casting? Her previous dramas all have older or very closed age famous actors. And Go KP never lost to 2nd ml in his previous dramas.

You got it right according to google which seldem wrong. Hope those disappointed wouldn't rate the drama poorly at the end.
https://share.google/aimode/1xj7AySVOGK59tcih

And Mao Inoue one of the top awards winning Japanese actress since her days in Boys Over Flowers. And when you see a drama matching her with Ryoma this is meant to be something special.

Almost every drama forum is flooded by SLS viewers. This one no exception.
https://share.google/aimode/1xj7AySVOGK59tcih
There are still 8 episodes to go no need to progress any romance too fast. And I am one who preferred romance to serve a function in the drama, not just for romance.
And chemistry is very individual, typically one sees what one wants to see , so totally not reliable. More should focus on what the PDwriter actually intended.

It is quite true. Now the characters of Junichi and Keisuki are quite clear. Makiko is an unknown factor. The drama will turn dark if her character turn dark suddenly.