Really happy I only discovered this after it is finished airing. This is the type of drama you binge-watch in one go. I didn't expect to love this as much as I do. The story was rich and entertaining and the overall vibe is perfect for Christmas/Winter time. The characters and the actors are all great in their roles too. I would argue some were a bit too good to be true towards the end. Though it's nice to see them all being kind, I don't think their actions and decisions were realistic.

Setting the huge age gap aside and the fact that the fl is really young, the main leads were perfect together. I absolutely loved the whole of the first 7 episodes (I watched those all in one go) and had to watch the rest the next day so I guess that broke the momentum for me. What I loved most was the mini heart to heart sessions the leads get when they are together on screen and that despite how different they are, they do match each other well when it comes to the most fundamental part - they get each other.

So the part where they keep saying to each other they don't match each other well, although true in most parts, is not entirely correct. I would have loved if we saw more of Asaba realising he loves Kiki without someone else (his ex-girlfriend) having to tell him.

It was such a slow-burn romance but I loveeeeeeeedd it. The actors are one of the massive reasons why - they all just were perfect for their roles. Although I wished Makoto didn't fall in love with Kiki because they matched better as friends and not only that, Kiki never saw him as more than friends despite her efforts to.

I really liked how they all had respective relationship and Asaba was direct with Kiki in telling her he's not able to respond to Kiki's feelings. Even their dates with the other leads were a nice addition to the depth of the story although I would have appreciated if there were less of them especially towards the end.

As much as I didn't mind them not spending so much time with each other (Asaba and Kiki), I wanted to see them more together towards the end. The distance between them on the first episodes were fine as they did interact when it mattered the most and also the drama had other full stories to offer.

However, the ending although happy, wasn't as satisfying for me. I kept feeling I wanted to see more of the leads together and I really wish they showed Kitagawa meeting someone else, she deserves it especially as she longs to be a bride and a mother. There was a part of me that thought what the point of all this was if there were no good ending for the other leads as they were actually kind. Again, by the end it felt like they prevented Kiki and Asaba from having more screen time together because they were trying to prolong the conclusion of their romance as much as possible.

Plus, there was no need for Kiki to be quite whiny towards the end, I felt like despite her young age, she is actually understanding of Asaba and what he is working towards so that bit at the convenience store was, I guess, for the sake of the scene and kiss lol.
The other characters and side couple were great to watch too.
And the OST!

So yes, overall, I am so glad I happened to stumble upon this. I feel like J-dramas have been on a roll recently. Its been years since Ive seen one and to have been watching one after another is surprising. I want to see more stories like this but with more screen time of the main leads together and if the other leads could please fall in love with other characters, for their own sake. We don't need to see them so heartbroken.

I have more to say but this drama was just really good although a tad bit stingy with showing us more of the main leads together. I wanted it to be longer! I personally really enjoyed this story so much.

P.S: Put a high-rewatch value because I feel like this is just perfect for the holidays. And probably because I'm still hung up on the story lol.