Riya_Cool

Whoever gave them 12 episode slot seems believed in their writing like I did until 5 episodes.

Plushie is going to die for sure ! Tojo can't even get it back this time :p

Its a 12-episode season not 10. I have been watching from the beginning, based on that it's clear the series never needed filler content. The story had immense potential from the start, which could have been fully realized by focusing on two key elements: the growing comfort between the two leads by keeping doing the bucket list, and dedicated scenes showing Keishi's thoughtful preparation for their dates or the story from Keishi's perspective as well ( a detailed one).

Instead of unrelated subplots, each episode should have advanced their relationship through meaningful moments and a developing backstory. While I can't write a full script, here is a brief synopsis of how a more focused narrative could have unfolded:

Episode 8: after Tojo is being super tired and not willing to get up. Keishi takes Tojo home and, concerned, stays the night. He leaves early the next morning, leaving Tojo to fondly recall the unexpected care and attention. After a business trip where they miss each other , show via calls, when that lady had issued, Keishi and Tojo talk to each other and via text shows affection . Later, when he is back they go to buy a customized pillow. Keishi playfully insists Tojo buy him a matching custom pillow, symbolizing their growing connection.

Episode 9: While trying to complete their cake-eating list, they are confronted by Tanaka. This forced break becomes a moment of introspection, making them question what is more important: societal expectations or their feelings for each other.

Episode 10: Realizing their priority is each other, they find excuses to meet. Finally the person who made it awkward would invite to do a bucket list and share an ice cream parfait at Senbekiya, and Tojo invites Keishi to dinner to learn more about his food preferences, showcasing a deeper, more intimate bond.

Episode 11: Keishi plans a special birthday celebration for Tojo, culminating in a heartfelt kiss that acknowledges their romantic feelings.

Episode 12: The series concludes by showing them moving in together. In the final scene, Tojo asks how Keishi planned all their perfect dates, allowing Keishi to explain his backstory and reveal the depth of his effort and affection from the very beginning.

I can improvise further and add all possible nice cheesy moments but for adults and slow, soft showing affection and character growth with each episode we move forward

ENDURE!' is the perfect word for it. We've come this far, so we'll see it through, but it's a chore now, not a pleasure. And hearing that from a manga reader really confirms the adaptation's failures.

I felt so bad and cheated that I will not just watch it, in the last few episode it did say that I wanna cheer until the finish line. Guess what last episode made me feel, they both are not even in the race .
I wish that you don't regret and writers bring that magic.
You watching them happily is what I wish and ping me positive reviews:)

The issue is Keishi's entire character is built on being positive perceptive and emotionally mature, so them being 'annoyed' is based on manga but a mature, positive person would seek clarification, not jump to conclusions and run away. It feels like the writers are inventing drama because they're afraid to let the relationship actually progress ( this is based on preview of next epsiode)

Epsiode 9 yet to release. Episode 8 I saw it twice and there is no mention or shown a scene about illness. May be the synopsis was for us to imagine or build story in our head. Disappointing

I totally feel this. It’s especially frustrating when a show has a strong premise and good casting but doesn’t deliver on pacing or emotional depth. Tojo talking to the plushie was charming at first, but when the story doesn’t progress, it starts to feel like a substitute for actual character development or meaningful conversation. At this point, it’s hard to tell what the writers are building toward—if anything. Really feels like wasted potential.

I was holding out hope that they’re trying to do a slow burn and stick the landing in the last 5 episodes… but I agree, the direction feels muddy. If we don’t get meaningful movement of characters—like real confessions or relationship milestones—it’s going to be hard to look back on this fondly.

Thanks you.

You have perfectly broken down, why the episode failed so badly. That 'falling asleep' trope is an absolute narrative crime—it's the cheapest, most frustrating way to create so much frustration, misunderstanding and delay progress. It doesn't build tension, it just annoys the audience. You're so right that the actors are carrying this; the story itself is failing them and us. And YES about the rewatch value, forget about that I will not even see the next episode. one of the weakest writing crutches. It's a shame, because the core premise had so much potential for organic bonding and excitement that they've just consistently skipped over. We're in the final stretch and it feels like we're still waiting for the story to truly begin.

And count me in for the plushie punching session.

Seriously, the disrespect to the audience is real. We wait seven days for crumbs and get a measly one-minute story which takes us no where for the characters we are invested in till the very end. And now they have the audacity to preview an entire episode of angst? I need a reward for my patience, not punishment.

RIGHT?! That's exactly the feeling! It's like they're surgically removing the actual human romance from our screens. If the list was the whole premise, and they skipped the best part—them actually doing it together and growing closer! At this point, ai strongly agree to win me back, they'd need a scene so iconic it would make the entire KinnPorsche window scene look like a polite tea party. This was an unforgivably bad call. I was so annoyed at writers they gave hope and went so immature !

And useless !

I completely agree. My feelings are exactly the same.

The main issue isn't that this side character had problems—it's the baffling narrative choice to focus on her drama in the ninth episode, deep into the season, when the main couple's relationship desperately needed screen time.

If this woman's situation had a direct and meaningful impact on Keishi, forcing him to confront his feelings and leading to a crucial moment where he finally confessed to or acknowledged his feelings for Tojo, it could have been justified. That would have served the central story.

Instead, the writers made an utterly frustrating decision. They dedicated precious minutes to a tangential subplot that ultimately went nowhere for our main characters. It felt like a complete waste of time that stole focus from the couple we're actually invested in, leaving their development feeling rushed and neglected at the most critical point

This week's episode was a significant letdown, primarily due to its failure to deliver on the promise of its own synopsis. The setup—Tojo falling ill and Keiji caring for him—is a classic trope for a reason: it forces intimacy and accelerates character bonding. Instead, the episode dedicated its crucial first act to an extended subplot with minimal payoff, severely reducing the time for the episode's central premise. The subordinate office issue wasn't resolved for like 14 min is when I realized that they managed to do it so bad.

We were given the aftermath of the illness (Tojo already awake) without any of the meaningful interactions that should have occurred. Where was the worry, the gentle care, the quiet moments of vulnerability? Skipping these details robs the relationship of its depth. Forget about the illness and care story. Did you even bother to tell us who dropped whom home ? How long Tojo slept ? Were they together entire night ? Did He go back to party etc.

This glacial pacing is especially frustrating when the series only has a few episodes left. With four items remaining on their list, key developments now risk feeling rushed in the finale. I will not be surprised if confession is episode 11!

It's a squandered opportunity. Many BLs struggle with being too compressed like 8 episodes and finish their story , but this adaptation has the opposite problem. It's adding filler instead of fleshing out the poignant moments the source material provides. After a strong start, this pacing issue makes the series feel like it's stalling, not building.

I am dropping it as I anyways read Manga. So don't wanna be part of immature drama anymore. Sorry this was unfair and bad for me as an audiance !

This is released in TV tokyo so the possibility of kiss is minimal. It's like TV vs OTT platform

I echo you !!

Also, when his second team member (lady) came for her review, I was like no no
... I hope she doesn't peep into his system or some odd office affair video/audio will not be auto played, due to AI speech stuff

I noticed this as well. His voice is very emotional and deep at times. When he said in Marine park, your hairs are wet " that pain in his voice, I wanna kiss and I am holding was expressed" ( I felt he may just happy cry now) .
Last episode " come sit here". His voice modulation is just amazing. When he speaks to his sister also, his voice articulation is LIT

Thanks. I want you to be my top 5 people to read it :)

If it just doesn't. I will wait for your improvised script:).

Now I started to feel manga also has a scope to show Keishi's back story ? And in most of the plots I feel they should show how both characters feel to understand the depth. I guess the focus is always on the giver in a relationship

I just want confession to happen first and than br caught or it will be super messy !

Agreed. they are actors at the end of the day. Little romance, little affection is expected. I am really hoping next week the confession happens!