Another excellent masterpiece from Japan . I was reluctant to start it at first because it seemed …heavy. I knew it would be fabulous but I also had a feeling it wasn’t a light story. Yet despite its heaviness it was an absolute delight (unlike Let free the curse of Taekwondo where despite its awesomeness it wasn’t such an enjoyable experience, it felt more…oppressive somehow) . Loved everything about this series, the acting the most. Loved the story and the feelings and the realism of it all. I don’t know what to say about the extra episode to be honest because it left me with a niggle that I HAVE TO get off my chest. And that is the fact that Minase had too little character development. He always acted a bit cowardly when in school, always looking over his shoulder and afraid of what will ppl/ his friends think, never acknowledging Haruki in public/at school . It was disappointing to see him doing the same thing as adult especially when he made us and Haruki a promise. He acknowledged he was acting scared and selfishly because he was a powerless child but that he will grow up and he will properly defend and take care of Haruki. Which he didn’t as he was still afraid of what will ppl say and keeping Haruki in the shadows. I understand his fear of his parents knowing but I don’t understand how could he still consider that awful guy (the one with glasses who said he would hate him if he made friends with Haruki-what a jerk!) , a friend when he couldn’t be himself around him, still having to deny having anything to do with Haruki. I felt bad for Haruki. When he said that in school he had an unrequited crush on Minase I expected Minase to come out and say it wasn’t unrequited. But he acted the same as in high school. When we first see him as adult Minase was smoking and felt…free and rebellious and I thought he would be stronger and more self assured but he wasn’t.
It’s not a big issue and I saw the subtle and beautiful ways he loves Haruki now but I just felt a bit let down by how he cut off Haruki’s words at the bar in front of his friends.
This would be my only complaint about this otherwise beautiful and touching story .