(L) Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu (The Dangers in My Heart)

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

So apparently BokuYaba has broken a record for Western money for any TV Asahi series.

https://www.tv-asahihd.co.jp/ir_sete...3/20230516.pdf

Obviously this is good news for the series itself, but also a reminder that having HiDive as competition for Sony/CR is a good thing. What a shock, monopolies are bad for for everyone but the corporation that has them.

That's cool! Also means people are still tuning into HiDive which is probably good for this, Oshi No Ko, and other shows .

[Alchemist007]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

I was becoming more and more frustrated with Ichikawa's paranoia which just seemed so out of sync with any observable reality around him. I was pretty close to dropping this series, but this episode gave it a reprieve. I hope we've moved on from at least the most oppressive parts of his psychology.

Please don't try to explain how all this is so much like middle school, etc. Portrayals of reality are important to entertainment, but they're not necessarily entertaining themselves.

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

This is how I put it in my episode write-up. “Kyou is incapable of seeing the good in himself - what Anna (and his family, too) sees in him. He's incapable of not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I kind of feel like this is an "either you get it or you don't" kind of thing - some people will understand this, and to some it will seem silly. It just depends on how you're wired.”

Now, what we find entertaining and what we don’t is obviously a subjective matter. But I suspect how relatable a character or situation is has a lot to do with our views on that.

He did come to realize that his paranoia was creeping up again, but a person's character or genuineness isn't so easily disregarded, fortunately.

[Guardian Enzo]

I won’t go into detail but if we get a S2, there’s a chapter that addresses this head-on which many fans consider the best of the entire series so far.

[Frontier]

It's Christmas Eve and it's time for Ichikawa and Yamada to go on a totally-not-a-date date together! And Yamada definitely went all out for her date outfit. But you can always tell it's her from the munching .

I'm actually surprised Yamada brought the manga, but she can use the bag to facilitate some close-to-handholding with Ichikawa, which is very strategic on her part .

Man, Yamada practically gave the game away by admitting to Ichikawa that she was treating this as their first date when she realized she was enjoying waiting in line with him and avoiding that usual first date pitfall .

So Yamada's mom is more affectionate and sweet at home? I guess she has a "public persona" of sorts. Though the only person Yamada wants Ichikawa calling cute is her. And she wants him to enjoy personal videos of her eating pancakes. Just don't forget to look at the real her, just the same .

Ichikawa should realize quickly why a girl would bring a guy to shop clothes with...she wants to know what he thinks is cute so she can dress in something he likes! And we even get a little Yamada fashion show complete with Ichikawa trying hard not to get a boner over hearing her changing while we get a glimpse of Yamada undressing and revealing her bra. Nice .

That pink dress is very cute and classy and exposes some cleavage while that red dress is very mature and sexy and hugs Yamada's chest quite nicely. Of course the real kicker is when the two get stuck in the changing room together when Ichikawa's sister shows up and things get even more awkwardly intimate between the two of them. Ichikawa even sees Yamada's bra because she didn't zip up all the way! But the main takeaway is Ichikawa planning to properly introduce Yamada to his sister, and the implications for why he'd do so .

Nothing beats Ichikawa emotionally unpacking the kind of person he is to Yamada and her appreciating the fact that she was able to get him to be so honest. She even wraps him in a scarf she was planning to give him the whole time just as they reach all the Christmas lights. Could this mood get any more romantic ?

Who knew we would have a packed train to thank for making these two hold hands? And the best part is the pair don't even stop once they get off the train and keep holding hands all the way to Yamada's place. Priceless .

Santa Yamada with her hair for a beard is cute, though Yamada in a Santa outfit that she texts Ichikawa is quite the sight indeed .

So now Ichikawa's got the Kimi-Iro Octave male lead as his emotional sounding board to recognize how well things are going with Yamada. And said protagonist also sleeps in bed with him. Which is...something

[stray]

I can't even make 'uncensored hand holding' jokes that flowed so naturally.


I thought the Nigorikawa introduction was kinda funny considering Jun Fukuyama played Joker in Persona 5.

[grecefar]

This chapter put a smile on my face.

I never noticed the two moles in yamada's neck.

[Kanon]

This is complete wish fulfillment fantasy but it's so well written and the leads are so lovable I don't mind it one bit. Ichikawa is also one of the easiest anime MC to self-insert into for me. He is literally me fr fr.

As of this episode this might be the best romance anime I've ever watched. If it doesn't get another season when absolute trash like Rent a Girlfriend does, I'm going to be mad. Think I'm going to pick up the manga when the anime ends anyway, I could use some weekly Yamadorableness in my life. Last time I did it was Aharen-san, which I strongly recommend.

Anyway, as for the content of the episode, Yamada took the lead as usual. She planned their first date really well, it went pretty much perfectly. A lesser series would have used the sister entering the same store as an excuse to cut the date short before anything significant happened, instead it was used a springboard to get those two closer. And I don't mean closer physically, I mean Yamada expressed interest in meeting the sister and Ichikawa not saying no. Ichikawa being unsure it was Yamada's hand he was holding and confirming it was hers because it was clammy is just so fitting for this series.

[Guardian Enzo]

However great you think it is now, a theoretical S2 will be a level-up on a Takagi-san adaptation scale. The manga is just that good.

[stray]

Originally Posted by Kanon

As of this episode this might be the best romance anime I've ever watched. If it doesn't get another season when absolute trash like Rent a Girlfriend does, I'm going to be mad. Think I'm going to pick up the manga when the anime ends anyway, I could use some weekly Yamadorableness in my life. Last time I did it was Aharen-san, which I strongly recommend.

I'm almost certain we'll get S2 eventually but the demand for an adaptation was there (manga has won plenty of awards and Anime Japan polls) so I'm kinda hopeful we'll get one sooner rather than later. You should still pick the manga up though, there's a reason myself, Enzo, and others can't shut up about it. Also Norio draws a lot of extras -- both for the volumes and for Twitter -- some of which were animated and some weren't. For example:

Spoiler for Yamada blush:

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by stray

I thought the Nigorikawa introduction was kinda funny considering Jun Fukuyama played Joker in Persona 5.

I mean, if anyone knows how to walk a girl home gently .

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by stray

I'm almost certain we'll get S2 eventually but the demand for an adaptation was there (manga has won plenty of awards and Anime Japan polls) so I'm kinda hopeful we'll get one sooner rather than later. You should still pick the manga up though, there's a reason myself, Enzo, and others can't shut up about it. Also Norio draws a lot of extras -- both for the volumes and for Twitter -- some of which were animated and some weren't. For example:

Spoiler for Yamada blush:

Yes. the manga is a must. The anime is great but Norio's level of detail and subtlety is such that anime can't fully capture it.

I think the disc sales (which still matter) will tell us a lot about S2 chances. And they look like they could be decent. The series seems to be doing well by other metrics - manga has had two reprints since the anime premiered and the e-volumes have been consistently ranking well on Amazon, twitter and YT followers are spiking big-time, the aforementioned big hit of foreign licensing money. I'm hopeful but trying to keep my hopes in check until we know more.

[Wandering Soul]

Yamada did a good job planning the date and despite what Ichikawa feared, it's clear that he certainly didn't lose any points with her.

I may pick up the manga when the anime ends.

[FlareKnight]

This really has been a solid romance. Nice to jump right into this Christmas date. There's been good buildup. Some shows it could get frustrating waiting for a much bigger step to be taken. But it always feels like something is happening. And the characters also feel like they need the time to build themselves up too.

And neither character has such a good poker face that they can hide everything they are feeling. Simple things like Ichikawa being thrilled to have that video of Yamada was clear both to the audience and to her. Though hilarious that she was kind of jealous of the attention the video of herself was getting when she was still right there .

It was just a really solid date overall. Good Christmas date and they really grew closer through it. I appreciate her unwillingness to give up on the idea that they'll see each other again before New Years .

That was certainly a way to end the episode also .

[Guardian Enzo]

Those moments where Kyou’s face lights up before he has a chance to overthink just cut me to pieces. So been there…

[Frontier]

Poor Ichikawa stuck in like his least ideal scenario...in a family restaurant with Moe, Haruya, and that girl who likes Haruya but just follows him around while he tries to hook up with Yamada .

Ichikawa and fam are visiting his grandparents! We even get to see Ichikawa's dad, who seems like a pretty amiable, non-plussed, guy of few words. Also seems like his sister plays guitar ?

Points for trying to get a good picture of the snow for Yamada Ichikawa...but maybe try to avoid injuring yourself next time. Mom seems to sense he might've been doing it for a girl already though .

What a reward for an injury! Yamada videocalls him immediately to check how he is after he texts a picture of his injury and gives him a gander of her in not only glasses but her Tifa top! Yamada was in such a hurry she didn't realize she was giving him a good eyeful of the goods until he had already wished his arm was in working order so he could fap to that later. Boys will be boys .

"Friend. For now." Dang it Ichikawa, you're really getting Yamada's hopes up! You better take responsibility for that .

Ichikawa really thought he wouldn't wake up his sister while they were talking? And she finally sees Yamada! And Yamada gets to make her first proper greeting to her future sister-in-law before Ichikawa hangs up. Big Sis is being a little subdued about it, but she was just giving Ichikawa some space before pouncing a bit more on the new girl in his life .

What could be better than talking with your (girl)friend and having her try to be as intimate as possible over the phone ?

Yamda in those workout clothes! Yamada with her dog! Yamada going out of her way to make sure she saw Ichikawa when he got back! Yamada playing dog for Ichikawa! Quite the welcome home for our boy, especially when he and Yamada get a genuinely sweet moments where Yamada officially gives him the scar and in exchange Ichikawa gives her a cute dog keychain .

Haruya still can't take a hint and still wants Yamada's LINE ID, especially when he realizes Ichikawa has it. But Ichikawa isn't going to budge, which earns Moe's respect and gives her a reason to bail him out of there. And she already knew he liked Yamada, and despite her teasing it seems like she more or less approves of him, which is nice .

Can't beat the pair talking one last time before the New Year and just enjoying the sound of each others' voice! And Ichikawa is practically making it his New Year's resolution to confess to Yamada !

[grecefar]

they are already acting like a couple without being a couple but that's ok, soon.

so maybe I misunderstanding so I'll ask, ichikawa sister doesn't have any friends or is that she doesn't hace any cute friends like yamada?, I doubt with her personality she doesn't have any friends.

[stray]

Originally Posted by grecefar

they are already acting like a couple without being a couple but that's ok, soon.

so maybe I misunderstanding so I'll ask, ichikawa sister doesn't have any friends or is that she doesn't hace any cute friends like yamada?, I doubt with her personality she doesn't have any friends.

She doesn't have any male friends like Yamada... or maybe at all. Kyou tries to play it off like a casual thing and she shuts it right down.

[Kanon]

Senpai is really starting to annoy me. Wish he'd a clue already. Asking another person for a girl's LINE ID, which said girl has refused to give several times, is crossing the line (no pun intended). I'm glad Ichikawa held strong, as expected of my boy.

The rest was great, especially the video call with the Tifa cosplay. Big sister actually thought Yamada was a streamer because of how gorgeous she is. I can't wait for her to find out her brother is pretty much dating a model.

[Guardian Enzo]

Well, his nickname is literally "Pickup-pai". It's just what he does.

[FlareKnight]

Definitely feels like we're going to get there before the show wraps up.

They are basically at the couple stage already. Just need to take that next step forward. Regardless though, it's cute to see their development to this point. Staying in regular contact and spending quite a bit of time together without too much stress over that point. The back and forth gifts are nice as is Yamada jumping on the chance to hold hands. Even if it meant cutting off her dog .

Their awkwardness makes it entertaining to see how things move along. And Ichikawa is giving up a lot right now. Throwing out lines like being friends "for now" without even thinking about the message that is sending.

Props to Moe . Of course helping Ichikawa meant helping Yamada since it's not as if she's up for her friend's contact info being shared. And says a lot that she chose to walk back with Ichikawa anyways. More respect to the guy that stubbornly refuses to give up that contact information than the one that tries to get it from a third party. If Yamada isn't giving it to him directly then he really needs to back off.