This review may contain spoilers
A Breath of Fresh Air
**Brief Synopsis**
B (Student): Aoki
T (Student): Ida
- Beginning: B and T are students of the same class. During the first quiz of the year, B forgot his eraser and have to borrow one from a girl who has a crush on T. This eraser - with T’s name and a heart on it - was seen by T, making him think that B has a crush on him. B wants to explain but after the real owner begs him to keep it a secret, B pretends the eraser it’s his own. T promises that he will think it over seriously. To do so, he decides to start spending more time with B, who ironically actually falls for T.
- Middle: But before T gives him an answer, B tells his best friend about his situation and his best friend, without even waiting him to stop him, drags him over to T and explains the who misunderstanding. T is obviously taken aback but tells B he doesn’t mind. He stops spending time with B and B, heart broken, starts to stare at T a lot, something his best friends notices. B finally is confronted by said best friend and he admits his feelings for T. His best friend encourages him to confess. During a school trip, B finally confesses to T who suggests they should start dating. B, not wanting T to date him without liking him, does not agree and tells him to think about it.
- End: They start spending more time again together but before they could have their happy ending, T still has to confess his feelings. B is also unwilling to tell people they were dating which hurts T. But B was doing it for T’s sake, something he doesn’t understand and has a fight with B. The series ends with him finally understanding that B was doing it for his sake and that he actually loves B; he confesses to B and they start dating for real. The last scene is a reminder of the first scene where B asks for an eraser, but this time T gives him one and on the eraser, we see B’s name with a heart.
**My Opinion**
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:
- I absolutely loved the concept. It’s different, it’s new, it’s refreshing. It’s also very well executed. It’s not too long and not too rushed. We see the character’s emotional journey and how they got to where they are in the finale. Although there aren’t a lot of build up but whatever is there is good.
- I loved the ending, it’s a throwback to the first scene and shows the audience what has been changed without telling them.
- I really like how B and T looked together. B is hyper and T is very calm. Their personality matches together perfectly because T really likes B’s little reactions.
- The writing is pretty nice. Sure the plot is full of school drama cliche tropes but they aren’t dragged out and gets to the point. Each scene serves a purpose.
- I really like how serious B is about this relationship. Even if he was super happy that T asks him out, he wants to make sure T has the right reasons to date him, which is an extremely mature decision.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT IT:
- The acting is truly horrible at times. Reactions and expressions of anger or joy are exaggerated and unnatural. Sometimes the acting is too plain, emotionless and other times way too exaggerated, borderline cringey. Like many Japanese drama, some actions often seen in manga and anime are reproduced in real life, which makes them extremely cringey and make people wonder about B’s mental state. It is not normal for a high school student to hide inside a garbage bag because he was emo.
- The romance is really slow burn meaning things progress really slowly. This show focuses on the relationship so there is no intimate scene, not even a kiss. But even without those scenes, there is no doubt they care about each other.
- B can be very extra at some times. I really hate the exaggerated facial expressions he makes at times, which makes him look really ugly.
- I’m not really happy that the angst is because of misunderstanding. B and T do their best but they still lack communication which is why T doesn’t understand why B doesn’t want to let other people know about them. Just talking it out would avoid a lot of problems.
**Conclusion**
This is an okay watch with an interesting concept that you should give a chance.
B (Student): Aoki
T (Student): Ida
- Beginning: B and T are students of the same class. During the first quiz of the year, B forgot his eraser and have to borrow one from a girl who has a crush on T. This eraser - with T’s name and a heart on it - was seen by T, making him think that B has a crush on him. B wants to explain but after the real owner begs him to keep it a secret, B pretends the eraser it’s his own. T promises that he will think it over seriously. To do so, he decides to start spending more time with B, who ironically actually falls for T.
- Middle: But before T gives him an answer, B tells his best friend about his situation and his best friend, without even waiting him to stop him, drags him over to T and explains the who misunderstanding. T is obviously taken aback but tells B he doesn’t mind. He stops spending time with B and B, heart broken, starts to stare at T a lot, something his best friends notices. B finally is confronted by said best friend and he admits his feelings for T. His best friend encourages him to confess. During a school trip, B finally confesses to T who suggests they should start dating. B, not wanting T to date him without liking him, does not agree and tells him to think about it.
- End: They start spending more time again together but before they could have their happy ending, T still has to confess his feelings. B is also unwilling to tell people they were dating which hurts T. But B was doing it for T’s sake, something he doesn’t understand and has a fight with B. The series ends with him finally understanding that B was doing it for his sake and that he actually loves B; he confesses to B and they start dating for real. The last scene is a reminder of the first scene where B asks for an eraser, but this time T gives him one and on the eraser, we see B’s name with a heart.
**My Opinion**
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:
- I absolutely loved the concept. It’s different, it’s new, it’s refreshing. It’s also very well executed. It’s not too long and not too rushed. We see the character’s emotional journey and how they got to where they are in the finale. Although there aren’t a lot of build up but whatever is there is good.
- I loved the ending, it’s a throwback to the first scene and shows the audience what has been changed without telling them.
- I really like how B and T looked together. B is hyper and T is very calm. Their personality matches together perfectly because T really likes B’s little reactions.
- The writing is pretty nice. Sure the plot is full of school drama cliche tropes but they aren’t dragged out and gets to the point. Each scene serves a purpose.
- I really like how serious B is about this relationship. Even if he was super happy that T asks him out, he wants to make sure T has the right reasons to date him, which is an extremely mature decision.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT IT:
- The acting is truly horrible at times. Reactions and expressions of anger or joy are exaggerated and unnatural. Sometimes the acting is too plain, emotionless and other times way too exaggerated, borderline cringey. Like many Japanese drama, some actions often seen in manga and anime are reproduced in real life, which makes them extremely cringey and make people wonder about B’s mental state. It is not normal for a high school student to hide inside a garbage bag because he was emo.
- The romance is really slow burn meaning things progress really slowly. This show focuses on the relationship so there is no intimate scene, not even a kiss. But even without those scenes, there is no doubt they care about each other.
- B can be very extra at some times. I really hate the exaggerated facial expressions he makes at times, which makes him look really ugly.
- I’m not really happy that the angst is because of misunderstanding. B and T do their best but they still lack communication which is why T doesn’t understand why B doesn’t want to let other people know about them. Just talking it out would avoid a lot of problems.
**Conclusion**
This is an okay watch with an interesting concept that you should give a chance.
Was this review helpful to you?