Charbonnel

I HAD THIS EXACT THOUGHT!
The jealousy moment Watarai had this episode combined with the camera angle very much struck me as a Kiyoi moment. It was the most Kiyoi thing Watarai has done character wise and Kan Hideyoshi looks the most similar to Yusei Yagi in that particular angle.

Confidence issues. Hioki sees himself as a regular guy, and while he has always seen Watarai for *who he is* and not just *what he looks like*, but he is not unaware of how good-looking Watarai is. There’s likely also slight guilt and worry because he’ll be ‘taking Watarai away from the girls’, even if Watarai confessed first and would never accept any confessions.

I think he knew his own feelings but was struggling with the courage to say them. That’s why he surprised himself with the confession I think, not because he was entirely unaware of his feelings, but because he was so worried about expressing them.

For a kid who has never confessed, liked someone, or been confessed to, it shouldn’t be surprising that they’re a little slow out the gate the first time they do deal with this romance stuff. Hioki himself said this.

This is such a refreshing and sweet story and honestly I’m entirely with you. This is a sweet youth romance and the leads are still second year high school students. Personally I find shows with this tone are perfect without any kisses, although I’d be lying if I said I’m not a sucker for a sweet hug or two.

It honestly irks me to see voyeuristic expectations applied to shows like this (from not only fujoshis), which I have definitely seen in a few comments from weeks prior. This show is in a similar place to Cherry Magic and Kieta Hatsukoi for me, in that it is pure, soft, sweet, and fun. The execution is also solid so I’d agree that it deserves a high rating for sure.

I can absolutely enjoy more adult queer dramas, but I am not about to expect or want that when watching softer, more youth-focused romances. Let us have our wholesome queer fairytales too!

Maybe it really is the friends we make along the way…
…also liked the perspective switch for episode 7 since I was behind.

It makes sense but I have mixed feelings on where this is going. Still absolutely here for this though and very much hooked.

Why do we keep changing the titles of Japanese dramas?? I swear every time I check my list I have a new title to work out which show it belongs to. This is also the most nonsensical of the international titles because it does not connect to the title of the show in Japanese at all. If I recall correctly, it can only feasibly be linked to the outro theme, 雨宿り (sheltering from the rain).

Seven! But then back to six, 25ji Akasaka De, Season 2 is still airing and Punks Triangle just ended~

Well worth a watch, I’d recommend to anyone who gets a chance to watch in cinemas.

Chiaki having a brain actually made me so happy. THANK YOU for making it clear he has enough awareness to see that Enaga was almost certainly not doing what he was doing maliciously. It’s then fair to want to be a bit mad, but it felt like a nice little mature/rational character detail.

I also don’t think it made his character inconsistent because with Enaga he put on his confident social face, while originally his idolisation of AE would have made him so useless and flustered, meanwhile, after taking the time to think upon finding out, it feels pleasant to see him actually make a judgement consistent with the character of the person he knows, rather than assuming the worst.

I can see what you’re getting at here, although I think I chalked it up to character, since Chiaki felt like he was meant to be…abrasive and awkward? At least, that’s the impression I had. There were definitely signs of chemistry so I think it was a delivery issue?

The only other character like this who comes to mind is Kiyoi in Utsukushii Kare, but he very much was able to let the chemistry shine through the abrasiveness and aggression? The two characters aren’t exactly the same, but it’s the closest comparison I can think to draw.

I enjoyed this ride from start to finish~ Also was nice to get a BL so thematically different from the rest, so refreshing if at times, weird.

A Man Who Defies The World Of BL! (I usually refer to it by the shortened Japanese which is Zettai BL, perhaps not the most helpful habit, because that show has a lot of alternative titles)

Both seen and I am speechless. Dumbstruck. I have nothing to say, but I’ll be here next week, and the week after.

Two episodes!?

Planning to watch in cinemas tomorrow on release day.

No-kiss romances when done well surpass a lot of romances that have kisses. This works especially well for actors who are young or otherwise not the best at onscreen kisses, as well as youth plots where you don’t want to go too far since the characters are minors. I’d rather have youth romances be no-kiss or with pecks personally. Leave the snogging for adult characters, and PLEASE no dead fish kisses.

Also, in my opinion, NOTHING beats a warm, cozy, comfortable hug.

While I can’t say I agree with everything you’re saying here, you do have quite an entertaining way with words 🤣

While they all spoke about their previous (straight) messy breakups, I guess the show tried to make that the plausible ‘straightness’. But honestly, with the amount of classic BL tropes, might as well take the Zettai BL approach of gay until proven otherwise…but always gay in the end anyways. Would love to assume the weirdos were all after them too just for the heck of it

Episode 6 was pure dopamine the whole episode. Plenty of giggles from me and very fun overall. Not really sure why there’s so many mixed reviews in the comments. It’s very much a classic high school youth JBL, and there hasn’t been one of these in a while. Personally find it refreshing since everything else I’m watching presently has some kind of angst going on.

Also I appreciated the highlighting that they’re all young (under the drinking age) when approached by the group of adults who wanted to join them. If I want adult or mature aspects to the plot, I sure won’t be looking to high school dramas for that.

No problemo, that definitely sounds insane! I’m juggling about 11 shows total and that’s still too much for me hahah

6. Your Divorce is Served!
A gay divorce lawyer and his partner are the main leads. They’ve been together long term but cannot legally get married, while being a divorce lawyer naturally means he sees people misusing the privilege of the legal right to marriage.

7. 25ji, Akasaka de - Season 2
Continues on from Season 1, but personally I am finding this season more interesting.

Honestly fair to have not noticed these two though. I’ve never seen Japan air so many BL at once.