I had to sign up just so I can review this series (I guess there's a first time for everything) .

Such a beautiful piece of Art. Beautiful storyline.

The frieship between Mikio and Mieko was just beautiful to watch... And so was it when Eiji was introduced (we will overlook his age... Because innapropriate much?)

Anyway, as much as I loved the series and rewatched it three times (focusing primarily on trying to understand Mikio...), Mikio is still an enigma to me. From episode 1 all I could think of is why I haven't been shown anything about him with regards to family, or even Inside his apartment. Nothing personal was shown apart from him crying in his sleep which tells us that this child has endured some form of trauma/ loss. Which brings me to his mannerisms... He is Overly familiar and innapropriate. Often touching and treating people he just met as if he has an intimate relationship with them (first time with Eiji in the kitchen, even the now friend with benefit/ new bae when he offered to lick his.... ). He has a need to connect/ to be accepted, and constantly puts on a jolly mask to keep people around him. He was consumed by his relationship with Eiji to the extent that he was nearly going to fail...

We are never let into his life or mind. His need to be accepted and to hold on to the people in his life resulted in him also reluctantly going forward with the surrogacy even though it was as clear as day that he was against it.

The only time he ever revealed his true feelings was in episode 7... Him feeling insecure in the relationship and feeling inferior as he is unable to give Eiji anything (a child), the same way that Mieko can. Dispite him showing his vulnerablity (finally), Eiji didn't comfort him as he should have. Then there was the last episode, when they finally met and him dismissing Eiji's apology... You can see the pain in his smile. Then after the meeting when new bae asked how he is feeling... I interpreted his "it's just" and his tears as him feeling left behind/abandoned as they moved on (being married and all) as though he didn't matter-which shaded some light into the dream he had in Eiji's car...

I loved it, but I would still like a continuation into Mikio's life. And ofcause, poor Eiji... Him mourning for Mikio and their relationship behind closed doors was just heart breaking. It's sad because he will continue to mourn for him as the one that got away. This series left us with 3 broken hearts that will never be whole again due to the stupid decisions they made. First love can humble a person shame.