A beautiful, grounded rewatch that proved why honesty matters more than tired tropes
This is my second Japanese BL rewatch of the day, and returning to this story with fresh eyes has highlighted a few things I missed the first time around.
Story
What sets this apart is Amane. It is honestly exhausting how many BLs fall back on the tired “I don’t like men, I just like you” or “I love the soul” narratives. Most relationships begin with a baseline of physical attraction, and I love that the story doesn’t shy away from Amane being a believable, convincing gay character. Seeing this level of honesty in a Japanese BL high school setting is rare and welcome
Then there is Ryuji. It is revelatory to see a male character react to a gay confession with such natural acceptance, rather than the typical shock or discomfort. He recognizes the weight of the mask Amane has been wearing and, instead of forcing it off, he gently helps him dismantle it. It’s a beautiful study of emotional safety
Romance
If I’m being honest, the reason this sits in my Top 10 rather than my Top 5 is the momentum. The separation over summer break in Episode 4 felt like a stumble. With only five episodes to work with, that time felt wasted. I wanted to see more of the post-confession “bridge” like those small moments between the two of them where Ryuji could actually sort through his feelings
Because we missed that development, their bond occasionally feels more platonic than romantic. However, I have to give credit to the honesty of the finale where Ryuji admitted his feelings might not be at the same “level” as Amane’s yet is an honest touch you don’t often see in the genre
Acting
The chemistry works because of the contrast. Takato Okura brings a necessary bubbliness, while Hyuga captures a specific brand of “charming yet humble gentleman” He avoids the typical over the top eye candy tropes and instead delivers a performance that feels lived-in and sincere
Cinematography
Enoshima does a lot of the heavy lifting here. While the color grading remains fairly standard, the shooting locations are top-tier. The coastal backdrop elevates the production value, making the entire show feel like a breezy, nostalgic summer or high school memory
Story
What sets this apart is Amane. It is honestly exhausting how many BLs fall back on the tired “I don’t like men, I just like you” or “I love the soul” narratives. Most relationships begin with a baseline of physical attraction, and I love that the story doesn’t shy away from Amane being a believable, convincing gay character. Seeing this level of honesty in a Japanese BL high school setting is rare and welcome
Then there is Ryuji. It is revelatory to see a male character react to a gay confession with such natural acceptance, rather than the typical shock or discomfort. He recognizes the weight of the mask Amane has been wearing and, instead of forcing it off, he gently helps him dismantle it. It’s a beautiful study of emotional safety
Romance
If I’m being honest, the reason this sits in my Top 10 rather than my Top 5 is the momentum. The separation over summer break in Episode 4 felt like a stumble. With only five episodes to work with, that time felt wasted. I wanted to see more of the post-confession “bridge” like those small moments between the two of them where Ryuji could actually sort through his feelings
Because we missed that development, their bond occasionally feels more platonic than romantic. However, I have to give credit to the honesty of the finale where Ryuji admitted his feelings might not be at the same “level” as Amane’s yet is an honest touch you don’t often see in the genre
Acting
The chemistry works because of the contrast. Takato Okura brings a necessary bubbliness, while Hyuga captures a specific brand of “charming yet humble gentleman” He avoids the typical over the top eye candy tropes and instead delivers a performance that feels lived-in and sincere
Cinematography
Enoshima does a lot of the heavy lifting here. While the color grading remains fairly standard, the shooting locations are top-tier. The coastal backdrop elevates the production value, making the entire show feel like a breezy, nostalgic summer or high school memory
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