Type: I got into it AGAIN
Synopsis: The main premise is that two amazing women have to tell this jerk off to get a life and stop following them around. In this maybe-cannon, maybe-not take, my girl Mitsuki moves away from the emotional leech that is Takayuki Narumi and starts living a happy life with a nice girl she met in Tokyo. Comatose Haruka meanwhile has to learn how to live in a world that left her behind three years ago, and yet she’s still more emotionally stable than the human trash fire that is Takayuki Narumi. If you haven’t guessed, I have some problems with the male protagonist.
Pros: This OVA is an alternate ending to the original anime. In the original story, Haruka and Takayuki are dating until Haruka is put in a coma. Their friend Mitsuki takes care of Takayuki and they start dating. After three years, Haruka wakes up, and a love triangle develops. I say “triangle,” but its really Takayuki ghosting the woman who kept him alive for three years. The OVA takes place after the second to last episode, and follows what would have happened if Takayuki didn’t chase after Mistuki. In this story, we see Takayuki becomes a sickeningly great boyfriend to Haruka. He’s so devoted that Haruka has to break up with him because he’s basically still putting his life on hold for her. The next episode show what happens to Mitsuki in this timeline (spoilers: she lives a much better life with a hot swimmer). The last two episodes revolve around Haruka’s sister Akane dealing with all this drama. Like the original, the OVA has good melodramatic moments. It’s a great soap opera, even with the smaller episode count. I liked that the main message seemed to encourage self fulfillment over romantic obsession. Moving forward with your life instead of sticking to the past. Or at least I would say that if the ending hadn’t botched it.
Cons: OK, I want to makes this clear. This is a serviceable anime drama. I would go so far to say that this proves that their should be more anime soap operas. The focus on young adults dealing with romantic issues was welcome in an industry filled with teenagers getting their first kiss all the time. That being said, the anime has some pacing problems. The second episode was basically a recap episode, and I don’t think Akane needed a two episode focus. You can also see the budget through to the low amount of character movement. The show also set up “moving on” as the moral of the story, but then ends with Haruka and Takayuki dating again. And on a personal level, I really don’t like Takayuki. If his type of love is suppose to be seen as admirable, then I think that portrayal failed. He comes off as more obsessive than devoted. Staying by Haruka’s bed everyday is one thing. Standing outside the hospital after being banned from Haruka’s room by her family is another. I also really dislike the fact that Mitsuki’s three year effort couldn’t get Takayuki to move on, but Haruka breaking up with him made him become more motivated. I know he’s a fictional character, but I really, really, really want to kick Takayuki in the balls. Like, right in the testicles.
Watch it?: If you like Rumbling Hearts, this is a good expansion pack (3/5)
MVP: Mitstuki
You drop that zero and get with that swimming hero!
Best Episode: It’s an OVA. (4 way tie)