Are you not going to listen to my side? You just said what you wanted to say. I also want to have a proper talk with you. I can’t get that day out of my head. I can’t sleep properly at night either. I’ve been worrying over and over… But… Yamato, you must have been struggling even more. I also want to face you seriously. I’ve never thought of you as anything more than a friend. So honestly, I don’t know if I’m ready to date. But… I’ll think about it. About what I want between us from now on. Is that… okay with you for now? — KIMI NI WA TODOKANAI | EPISODE 6
Disaster bisexual Aoki and stoic (aro?) Ida of My Love Mix-Up/Kieta Hatsukoi are color-coded boys in love, but unlike most series where the colors are quickly given, seeing the colors emerge throughout the series was a key part of the narrative.
So we must start with the plot:
Aoki likes Hashimoto who is a Green Gal (lively and hopeful).
When Aoki thinks about her or speaks to her, he is engulfed in his color, like in this moment, he is looking at her.
But normally, this Orange Oddity’s color is muted (optimistic and communicative).
Because he thinks Hashimoto likes Ida who is a Blue Boy (stable and loyal).
Yet an eraser causes Ida to believe Aoki likes him.
Instead of freaking out, Ida says “bet” and so begins the delicious color extravaganza!
As mentioned, Aoki’s color is muted.
But the second Ida starts paying him some attention, Aoki’s color starts evolving.
First, he morphs from tan to yellow
After Ida works with Aoki in the play and immerses him in blue
But Aoki is worried about Hashimoto’s feelings since he believes she likes Ida. He discusses this with her while both are highlighted by their color with hints of the other person lingering in the shots.
Yet Hashimoto informs Aoki that she actually likes Aida, Ida’s Red Rascal friend (more like a Red Flag if you ask me, but he is spontaneous and energetic).
The entire class has to go on a trip, and Aoki feels more confident in his color after Ida confesses to wanting to try being with Aoki.
Once they get back home, Aoki freaks out
But he does a great job of covering it up.
Not really. Not at all. The boy is losing it! His love for Ida is evolving quickly and his emotions are written all over him in his brightening color. Some issues emerge with Hashimoto and Aida (telling you that he is a giant Red Flag!), so Aoki mutes his color a bit to not rub salt in his friend’s wound, yet his tutor even notices Aoki in love, but is bothered that Aoki likes a boy. Aoki cannot hide his feelings, so his Blue Boy becomes a vegan for a day to squash that beef.
Aoki’s color comes back and Hashimoto reminds him that in order to date Ida, who is doing everything right, he has to like actually go on dates with Ida.
And just like before, Ida says “bet” and asks Aoki out on a date.
The date is great despite Aoki picking a movie where the dog dies in the end and both boys are solid in their colors.
Well, until Aoki freaks out again believing that Ida doesn’t feel as deeply as he does (which it would be kind of hard to tell since Ida’s sweater turns from the softest blue into white). However, with Hashimoto’s encouragement, Aoki decides to properly confess to Ida about just how deep his feelings are (as if it isn’t obvious).
But Ida tells Aoki that Ida already admitted to his teammates that they were dating after they questioned seeing the two out together on their date. Aoki, worried that Ida will be bullied for dating him, breaks up with Ida and falls deep into the blue.
Ida’s teammates explain to Ida how Aoki came to them claiming that they were never dating and begging for the team to be kind to Ida. Ida realizing what Aoki was doing runs after him (Japan and that damn running!), and we get one of the most fucking satisfying color exchanges from any show ever.
DO YOU SEE THAT?! DO YOU SEE IT?! Aoki, void of color, walking aimlessly, immediately is surrounded by Ida’s color the second Ida hugs him, then the camera pans out to show how BOTH of their colors are present.
*I’M SCREAMING!*
Ida talks to Aoki in Aoki’s color letting Aoki know that he feels just as deeply for him as Aoki feels for him.
When Aoki finally turns around, both boys are equal in their colors and feelings.
Aoki believes Ida, and they sit down to watch the lights, covered in their love and colors.
And the show ends where it began, with an eraser.
This colorspost was brought to you by this random piece of text
The way I feel now is not quite enough to say I like you in the same way you feel for me. But… I think… if I could meet someone because I want to it would be good if it was you. If that’s the privilege of being a lover… then I want to date you. — IF IT’S WITH YOU | EPISODE 5
I’ve never had a friend who I could show my true feelings to. I didn’t think anyone was worth it. […] Don’t look. I had it hidden… The exhaustion. I didn’t want anyone to know.
The absolute peace of his expression when he said it, the way he answered honestly and is suddenly freed and the way none of the old anxieties we saw before came back. Just… acceptance and peace and a gentle, gentle coming out to someone he never expected.
A Japanese BL drama actually talking about gay marriage? And not just talking about it in the abstract sense but discussing the new legalities in their country and how it’s not enough but that it’s something? Y'all, I might explode.
I just wanna cheer for this show. Literally, this is the first time I can think of where a Japanese BL has discussed the legalities of gay marriage in real terms.
I love this show even more for this. @absolutebl Another country added to the ‘we need gay marriage’ message in their BLs discussing how what they’ve done is good but not far enough.
I love them so much.
And the change is in Shiro and we love that even more, let’s be honest.
