Drama Digest
The drama is initially adapted from a manga of the same name, which is a part of Kaori Tsurutani’s manga ‘Metamorphose no Engawa’.
It is the beginning of summer break, and Asakura Sakura has been thinking of conveying his long-held feelings for his childhood friend Nagase Yuma. He takes the chance without any expectations and opens his heart with a surprising kiss. A bewildered Yuma stands frozen, notwithstanding the meaning of this sudden turn of events. Yet as the drama progresses, he engages with his feelings for Sakura. Yoshimura Riko also takes a liking toward Asakura. But Norio has a crush on Yoshimura. Meanwhile, their teachers, Nakayama Yumi and Ishino Satoshi, get married. Watch the drama to find out how their love stories pave the way.
The Feel-Good Part
Set in the fading period of 17 years old teenage high schoolers, the drama arrests that subtle yet compelling time of confusion, exploration, and occasional heartbreaks driven by an urge for something new for a change. The drama’s ambiance beautifully places and captures those feelings as the story moves on. The lightness factor makes it happy while not overboard with unnecessary emotions.
The Disappointing Factor
While Asakura’s feelings are conveyed, Yuma’s emotions lack that essence even to reach that subtle factor. After he was taken aback by Asakura’s sudden confession, he tried to interpret it in other terms and was visibly confused. But after Asakura’s second confession, we see him just once blabbering about how Asakura looked cute while confessing. His emotions carry something of emptiness and are fractionally devoid of essence. The drama showed his carefree daily life when it spoke about ‘Yuma’s story in the beginning and ended with the same thoughts Asakura was facing. Yuma’s voice regarding his feelings carries this incompleteness. Maybe all this is part of a staggering beginning, which could have been understandable if the drama was a bit longer, but it doesn’t get much depth here.
In-Depth Analysis
Japanese dramas carry this marvelous way of portraying raw and honest emotions through tiny mundanities. This drama is not devoid of it as well. A childhood friendship blossoms into something more as their everyday routine gains another layer of intimacy. The beginning offers a straightforward and sweet introduction of the characters by giving a sneak peek into their stories. The cinematography, setting, and acting were exquisite and carried the perfect amount of balance. The side stories didn’t take up too much portion, nor did they disappoint with unnecessary inclusions. Apart from Yuma, the characters splendidly carried the amount of softness while evoking their affections.
Star Power
Kura Yuki and Mizusawa Rintaro were splendid as Asakura Sakura and Nagase Yuma. Through their actions, the warmth of their characters in collation with the setting beautifully showed the summer vibe. In this respect, the supporting cast amazingly kept the spirit of the drama.
Overall Opinion
The drama is apt for a light-hearted, sweet summer watch. If you’re looking for something with a tinge of a slice of life and excitement of first love, this might be a good one.
