Heracin

This very bingeable Japanese series features the relationship of two highschoolers that decide to satisfy their physical needs with each others while being in unrequited love that are totally forbidden. I really liked this series, it is far from perfect but really captivating to follow as the toxicity is litteraly oozing from every pore of the show. It takes the viewer on a journey, without never being boring.

The two main leads Yoshimoto Miyu and Sakurada Dori had a really good chemistry. The kisses were very good and the tension was there. Yoshimoto Miyu brought quite a bit of nuance to her role and Sakurada Dori, while a bit more limited at times, still convinced me. Aizawa Rina nailed a quite unlikeable part. Among the quatuor of actors playing central roles, it is definitely Mizuta Kouki the weakest link, probably because his character is the less developped and remains quite at surface level.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for an angsty and steamy series, featuring torturous relationships and a few psychological elements. The show features age gap and really twisted love (or rather lust), so if it is not your thing, you might want to avoid it. Having said that, the ending wrap the series in a rather healthy way, not justifying or romantising red flags. I would have been onboard with an alternative ending, but I found the life lesson really adequate to conclude the story, making it more memorable.