Kimi to Nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo (2023)

una storia d'amore così bella, fresca e pura. If it's with you è semplicemente perfetta

If it’s with you è come una dolce e fresca giornata, il vento che ti sfiora la pelle, il sole che splende in cielo, un sapore dolce che ti travolge, un sentimento di pace e felicità….una poesia.
Penso di aver cominciato il mio 2024 con una serie che rappresenta uno dei miei più grandi sogni, un amore adolescenziale fresco e puro. Sembra un sogno alquanto strano ma posso giurare che per una persona sfortunata quanto me è veramente un sogno. Sono circondata dalla sfortuna tanto che credo di esserlo io stessa in persona; il solo pensiero di poter avere qualcuno su cui contare e con cui posso essere felice mi avvolge di gelosia, di un sentimento difficile da spiegare ma allo stesso tempo fa così male al petto, un sentimento che ho iniziato ad odiare. Lo odio perché alla fine non sono io la fortunata e nella vita reale persone come Ryuji non esistono o capitano sempre agli altri.
Sarò sincera Ryuji mi ha stravolta, i miei poveri standard sono aumentati ancora di più.
La storia d’amore tra Ryuji e Amane è così carina e pura che mi uccide.
Amane è una persona solare che splende sempre, è triste pensare che questa sia una caratteristica che usa molto per non far vedere il suo lato triste e arreso a sé stesso.
Da questo punto di vista è molto simile a me, mi innamoro ma non ci provo proprio a dichiararmi perchè tanto so già come va a finire e che sicuro ci rimetterò piangendo, peccato che alla fine a causa di questa scelta e del mio poco coraggio piango lo stesso.
È triste pensare a come il cuore di Amane si sia polverizzato vedendo la sua crush ridere del suo coming out, è difficile farlo e sarebbe dovuto essere solo grato che Amane gli abbia confidato questa cosa.
Alla fine è vero che tendiamo ad evitare le cose che sappiamo ci faranno stare male, ma qualche volta forse è meglio provare, alla fine non si sa mai cosa può succedere. Il problema è che abbiamo così paura che ci sembra più facile buttarci da un ponte, dobbiamo trovare coraggio.
Per questo ho amato come, anche se ci è rimasto, Ryuji non ha riso di questa cosa e ha detto tante belle parole ad Amane, soprattutto quando gli ha detto che con lui può mostrare la sua parte triste, non deve sforzarsi. Penso sia una delle cose più belle che una persona ti possa mai dire, è come dire: “Vedo che stai male, non nasconderlo, condividi il tuo dolore con me o almeno sii sincero con me. Ti starò vicino quindi non preoccuparti. Alleggerisci il tuo cuore”.
Di sua parte Ryuji è veramente un gentiluomo. Ha un grande cuore ed è altruista, aiuta sempre gli altri quando sono in difficoltà e lo fa con piacere, non per ricevere qualcosa ma per pura gentilezza. È una persona così adorabile e carina, merita tanto.
Mi è dispiaciuto vedere come anche lui abbia sofferto così tanto per il padre e del fatto che si sentisse con un peso al cuore, una pressione eterna, come se il mondo lo giudicasse per il minimo.
Per questo è stato bello vedere come si sia sentito in pace con le parole che Amane ha rivolto al padre. È stata proprio bella quella scena, in tutto e per tutto, si vede che Amane ha una grande sensibilità e umanità, e questo comportamento ha riscaldato il cuore e l’anima di Ryuji.
Quindi entrambi sono stati fondamentali per l’altro, si sono dati la possibilità di sentirsi bene e di mettere in pace i loro cuori. Di scoprire la felicità.
Una delle cose che più ho amato in loro è la comunicazione, che si è vista in particolar modo quando Amane si è dichiarato. In quel momento Ryuji avrebbe pure potuto decidere di non dire nulla ed evitare un confronto, creando così una situazione pesante. Ma in realtà ha deciso di parlarne, sapeva che non riusciva a dare una risposta ma allo stesso tempo ha dato priorità a dire qualcosa, a non fare finta di nulla come uno scemo.
Alla fine è meglio dire “Sono un pò confuso, non so ancora darti una risposta ma aspettami un pò, io ci penso e poi ti dico”, che non dire nulla e lasciare un’aria triste e orrenda.
Si dovrebbe imparare da lui.
In generale, voglio essere sincera, If it’s with you è proprio una bella serie, emana un senso di calma e pace assurdo, è così bella che piango.
Le ost sono veramente belle, la cinematografia è semplicemente spettacolare, la trama è fatta così bene e i dialoghi altrettanto…è tutto così semplicemente perfetto.
Unica pecca è la sua minima durata ma da un lato penso sia pure giusta perchè forse è meglio così, se fosse durata di più significava complicare delle cose, invece così com’è è semplicemente perfetta.
Merita una visione ed è sicuramente uno dei migliori bl giapponesi che abbia mai visto.

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sweet seaside romance

Overall: a refreshing seaside romance series. 5 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala.

Content Warnings: maybe something at the beginning with a side character but it didn't bother me at all

What I Liked
- the characters felt realistic instead of caricatures, how both of them were confident in some ways but guarded in other ways
- flashback that hinted about why Amane was jaded about love and then the reason was shown in episode 2
- caring/sweet moments
- how Ryuji sought communication
- that Amane took risks to stay true to himself/what he wanted
- production value

Room For Improvement
- don't think physics would agree with what happened around 10 minutes in episode 1 lol
- it was only 5 episodes we definitely could have used more

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MISSING THEM ALREADY!

I started this off with good intentions and I was right to do so! This series is just overall sweet and gives me what I've been needing after the toxic relationships in the past BLs I've watched. If you are unsure to watch it, hopefully my review makes you decide!

THE STORY:
Kaido Amane moves to Enoshima and decides he may want to actually find someone he loves, instead of just sleeping around. While there, he comes across Yamasuge Ryuji, a boy around his age, who works at a restaurant. After becoming friends, Amane quickly realized his feelings for Ryuji. But, does Ryuji feel the same way?

First off.. let's talk about the characters. Amane is bubbly, but a straightforward guy when it comes to his feelings. Ryuji? HE IS A GREEN FLAG! When I say a GREEN FLAG, I mean the GREENEST FLAG. He's probably one of the greenest flags I've seen in JBL. Ryuji is understanding, and nice. He didn't leave Amane even when he knew that he had feelings for him. He considered his feelings and didn't EVER act like he wasn't there. When Amane confesses to Ryuji, he doesn't really know what to do because he never thought of his feelings this way towards the same gender.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!
There was no misunderstandings between the two. Why? BECAUSE THEY TALKED IT OUT. When there was a problem, they talked it over. Why is that a good thing? Because some BLs, Japanese or not, always are miscommunicating and have all sorts of problems. And they never fix to probleme until EPISODESSS later.

THE 2 KISSES IN EPISODE 5??? I SCREAMED AT 6AM. They were so cute together, and even though it was so short, it was so enjoyable!

This series is so cute and I'll definitely be rewatching it! If you want a BL without any misunderstandings, with adorable leads and a adorable cat, watch THIS!!!

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The story was heartwarming and it unfolded beautifully without any unnecessary theatrics. While it may not be my usual cup of tea, I found myself enjoying it nonetheless. It was a good binge-watch, but I don't think I would revisit it. Overall, it was a sweet and simple romance that left me feeling content.

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This is what communication looks like...

It's been months I've seen a relationship this healthy in a BL.

They both have their back story but help each other through it and it is so heartwarming.

I was so worried that they would ruin it with a stupid plot twist or the usual misunderstanding plot but this had none of that thankfully.

Story: Communication on point! It was such a breath of fresh air.

Acting: I enjoyed both of the main leads, I kept thinking that Ryuji is so loveable it is unreal.

Music: I enjoyed the outro, and added it straight to my Spotify

Rewatch: Totally! This is perfect to binge after a traumatic series.

Overall: I am so happy I gave this a go! I want to watch seasons upon seasons with this couple and their story!

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Two cuties Falling in Love and They just Might Kiss...

Another one of the JBLs that just does it for me. Nothing jaw-dropping, nothing fresh and new, just a quaint little love story that put me at ease and in a good mood. Even If I Try to Fall in Love With You exemplifies the true meaning of catching feelings and going for it even when it might scare you.

Let's Dive In.

Oh, such a wonder little love story. Amane, who used to hooking up with older men due to his past trauma of coming out finds himself falling for the walking green flag that is Ryuji, his school classmate who works at his late father's restaurant. And eventually, through trial and error, through some awkwardness and being truthful, they end up happily ever after. This JBL is everything that I love about Japanese series: The plot, the dialogue, the inner monologue, the way they go about confessing -- it's put into such a perfect order that it's really hard not to enjoy it, even if the series isn't long.

The chemistry was off the charts. It detailed perfectly the awkwardness of dating for the first time and going about having a crush and someone you like at such a young age. Ryuji saw through Amane's mechanism of smiling and laughing as a way to shield himself from getting hurt, along with Amane noticing the hurt and exhaustion that Ryuji was experiencing because of the loss of his dad, and keeping up with a restaurant he has no passion for. I think what makes or breaks a couple for me is when they can notice details, they're usually very subtle, yet when it's noticed/called out, I get all gooey on the inside cause -- omg you're paying attention. But most importantly, I just loved them as they were. Amane, although being afraid of his past experiences, is right off the bat open about his sexuality and not afraid to be blunt and honest about what he's feeling, only afraid of the aftermath of his truthfulness. And of course, Ryuji is just a sweetheart, letting it be known that it's okay to feel what he's feeling, there to listen and to tease, and to care. They were just such a delight to watch and such a joy seeing them start off their relationship all giddy and clumsy-like. I only wish that I could see their relationship develop even more (omg when Ryuji asked to kiss him again?? Hello that was so stinking adorable??).

With how short this series was, I'm glad we didn't have any secondary plots or otherwise, this would've been messy and felt rushed. But with saying that, I do wish this had maybe 3-4 more episodes so we could have a more fully fleshed-out series, go more in-depth into their past lives, and maybe see them build that connection even more.

Ratings:

Story: 8.5/10 - Just pure fluff filling my screen. I would've liked it to be more fleshed out, but what we did get was still really good.

Acting: 9/10 - Both leads did a job well done! I loved how expressional Takato (Amane) was with this character.

Music: 6/10 - It wasn't distracting.

Recommendation Value: 10/10 - It's just pure fluff so I don't know anyone who wouldn't want to not watch this. So good, so pure, so lovely, and I'm going to miss them.

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Short and Super Sweet ♥︎

Biggest Spoiler: it’s a happy ending.

I adore this BL for a few reasons— It’s only 5 episodes, ~23 minutes per episode, but it still feels complete. They did a terrific job in adapting a storyline to this run time without making anything feel unnatural or rushed. The 5 episode run also made it so that each episode was important and meant something to the story. With many shows (looking at you Thai BLs), they have 10+ or 20+ episodes and it feels like you could skip half of them and not miss anything important (if you get one to two important moments per episode and want to skip the rest). This show made every moment count.

The actors did a FANTASTIC job, especially the actor of “Asume”. His emotions felt real and raw, and I so enjoyed watching him throughout the 5 episodes. The actors had great chemistry, and it really felt like a sweet, innocent first love.

The setting of the show is also gorgeous with the sea, and the music choices were also great.

My only negative for the show is that I would love to see them more as a couple, as they don’t actually get together until the end of the last episode! I’ve seen some reviews that were disappointed by the kiss at the end, but I think it was fitting for the “first love” theme.

Overall, genuinely enjoyed this series and I would watch again the next time I want to watch something super sweet :)

9.5/10

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When in need of fluff...

This is a sweet and fluffy story about a slightly lost teen who hides behind an a bit to bright smile and fake laughter to shelter himself from the homophobic eyes of the world... And the mature, kind, pondering type of guy who calls the lost boy out and tries to get him to relax and just be...

The mature boy has had to grow up a bit to fast and seems to shoulder the responsibility of his very loving and sweet family, all things that made him to be this slightly cold yet very understanding guy. As opposed to mr lost and slightly spontanious this guy takes his time to really think things over....

These two complete opposites have lovely dynamics and great conversations. However though the lost boy has a beautiful smile he felt just a little bit to child like and over the top which kind of bothered me, he also has a lot more screen time than any one else in this show.

So basically the side characters and one of the leads are lovely but the main lead bothered me a bit to much to be able to give this a full score. That said the rest make up for it and so does this sweet fluffy story and setting making it an overall ok watch when in need of fluff

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A BL with a quiet and meditative charm...Not very memorable but harmless and sweet

This drama is a sweet and summery BL coming-of-age story with a really appeasing slice-of-life feeling. The romance is very platonic as well as heartwarming as the feelings evolve between the two protagonists. It is a subtle and quiet series which is likely to brighten your day with his luminous character and almost meditative charm. The counterpart of this is that the drama lack ambition and punch, and its short lenght makes it difficult to go deep into the turmoil and feelings that the protagonists could be facing. It remains relatively surface level on a lot of ways in an amicable and agreeable approach.

The casting was good overall. The chemistry was not really overwhelming but the script did not require a lot of demonstration of affection or overpowering passion...Therefore the acting was totally appropriate at depicting a very youthful first love kind of story. There was a bit of imbalance in terms of skills level, as Hyuga Wataru did in my opinion a better job than Okura Takato in conveying the story and adding additional layer to his character. Overall, both did okay but it could have been stronger in terms of nuances.

I love the soundtrack, it was totally fitting the drama. The production value as well was lovely: there was a lot of pretty picturesque sceneries in addition to mouthwatering food scenes.

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL with a really appeasing slice-of-life feeling. It depicts a sweet coming-of-age story with a platonic and heartwarming romance in a summery setting. If you are looking for an angsty show with passionate characters and a lot of turmoil, this is really not the series you should watch. But if you are looking for a charming and calming drama, this might be a good pick for you.

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Simple, Straightforward, Honest, Sincere. Can Watch It.

The predominant feeling in the series is of uncomplicated clarity and pure honesty. Both central characters- Amane and Ryuji- are honest towards their own feelings, and also towards each other.

Amane is clear about his sexuality and does not hesitate in letting Ryuji know. Ryuji, being mature and stable, is not affected by this revelation, and this paves the way for their friendship to grow.

But Amane is attracted sexually towards Ryuji. So he tries to maintain a safe distance from Ryuji after sensing that his feelings are unrequited.

The highlight for me is the way in which Ryuji responds to Amane's confession- he states clearly and precisely what he feels, without any worry or fear of what might happen next, and thankfully gets an appropriate response from Amane. There are no unnecessary tears nor any forced turmoil. A situation that is often turned into an exaggerated and complicated drama is handled just as it ought to be handled- with grace, calmness and composure.

Thus, at its end, the series left me with an unexpected feeling of satisfaction and goodness.

This good feeling would have been more complete if I could sense Amane's love for Ryuji. But unfortunately, this never happened. His eyes and body never conveyed any feelings beyond closeness, for Ryuji.

If this last issue does not bother you too much, then you might enjoy watching this series.

However, if it does bother you, then skipping this series is probably the better option.

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A serene of young love

I have my doubts about adding this one to my list solely because of how misleading the poster was. It was far different from what the actual vibes of the story were. The poster is somehow dramatic and I thought that it would be a devastating series with a lot of pain but thankfully, I came across with non-spoiler comments of how beautiful the setting was.

Characters are fluff and sincere. I love the innocence and kindness that Ryuji-kun has and how he manages to embrace Amane’s feelings in the end. A short BL that did a remarkable way of flourishing the main character’s growth the moment he finds the one with letting go of his past lustful intimate fling with others.

The story being produced in a seaside city was indeed an appealing sight to see and gives the highlight of being covered in warmth and affection that the story is trying to tell its viewers. I wanted to try the summer season living in that beautiful rural town.

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