goddesscarlie

It is true that Kusaka is acting normal within the confines of a first date. BUT in the context of the show, the camera lingers on his hesitating hands. We can contrast this to Ureshino grabbing her hand in the elevator earlier in the episode. We can make a direct comparison between the guy she likes but doesn't want to, and the guy she wants to like but doesn't.

In regards to my statement "being strong and end up with herself", that is my desire, not expectation for the show. That being said, there are many shows where the leads do not end up together. One aired last season, although I wont name in case it spoils it for others.

Kusaka is wonderful but it's just that she doesn't like him (like that) she just wishes she could like him. They don't have "chemistry" together, in that he is too hesitant to do things like take her hand in the cinema, and then when they were talking they were only surface level talking they weren't really connecting. So in my opinion even though he's a great person, but right now signs are she isn't going to fall for him.

And i feel like she is miserable with everything to do with Ureshino. They have so much baggage now, that if it is going to work with him I feel like he needs to do more than just ask her to go out with him officially. I feel like he really needs to do MORE to woo her. Put in some effort. This episode she had more of a spine to stay away from him, which was a positive. Maybe it's my own baggage but right now Ureshino gives me the ick.

Thus, I want her spine to stay strong and end up with herself. I don't think it is going to happen.

I really hope she ends up with no one 😭

Ep 6 thoughts:

Not exactly... It is a parody of BL. I haven't read the source manga, but I am not expecting any relationship as the outcome of this. Instead it uses BL tropes as humor.

I feel like that is the point though? Uchida's character is spiraling, she isn't dealing with things in a "hero" way. We as an audience are conflicted because we both empathize with her situation but also wouldn't deal with her problems in this way (hopefully?! haha). She is crude, she is rude. She is presented as an anti-hero.
Where as Nakamura's character is supposed to look like the "innocent and ideal" wife. Personally I find her easy enough to hate because so far she seems very fake, like she's using this "innocence" that she has to manipulate people. That is the angle that has been presented to us so far. I hope we get to see some more depth from her.

I keep thinking I'm annoyed with this because of how "anime" it is, but then I keep on smiling like a fool through the whole episode. This is a fun parody of BL tropes, and Tanaka Koki is fabulous snapping between his yanki mode and his kyun kyun mode. Also, I really love the opening credits.

In Japanese everything is much more ambiguous. I am forgetting the exact wording, but when Watarai says:

Eng subs: "I like you"
Japanese: "It's great (now that I know you better/getting to know you better has been great)"

Eng subs: "Will you go out with me"
Japanese: "Will you, with me...." (sentence left hanging)

I believe next week Watarai will ask to be Hioki's friend (if they stick to the book, I'm ok if they don't but with that cliff hanger I'm expecting it!)

Just a note on the English translation at the end of ep 4:

Story is over all very cliche with no real big conflicts in the novel. Think typical onsen, school festival, summer at beach type scenes.
Watarai, I forget the detail but he's liked Hioki since the start of the year when he said something nice about Watarai that wasn't about his looks, that old cliche.
The cutest/funniest scenes for me in the book was when Hioki accidently gets drunk after some alcohol barely touching his lips and Watarai looks after him; and the scene in the school stadium after the school trip where a clueless Hioki is delivered to Watarai by one of W's friends and is deposited between Watarai's legs haha.
No real annoying parts, it's all fairly cliche and doesn't break any new BL ground. No secondary couples. Sweet atmosphere, happy ending.

At the moment it's only available in Japanese.

Think all sweet and cliche green flags. Watarai is a bit possessive and protective, Hioki is the nervous, clueless type. In the book there are no real highs and lows, it's all just sweet with no real conflicts.

The movie is essential to watch I feel, for the context, but I agree that I am really loving the series more and how quirky it is.

I visited and just so happened to buy it without realising it was going to be made into a drama! I'm learning Japanese.

As far as I know it's only available in print in Japanese. I read the physical book.

I didn't really get those vibes from the book. The "popular boys" friend group are friendly, not "bullies because we're rich and popular". Unless they've really changed the story, I wouldn't go in expecting Boys Over Flowers / F4 vibes.
Book Watarai is a bit possessive and protective, but not to a negative degree. He is the doting type, and Hioki enjoys being looked after and fussed over by him. The friends are full of banter, even to the degree of teasing Watarai about how he treats Hioki. And Hioki is oblivious to it. They always treat him kindly and integrate him into their group.