Note before the start: This obviously has some spoilers. The review is from MY PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW, everyone will appreciate and see something else, by this review I wish to give you a new look on the anime :D, feel free to let me know your POV... everyone is unique and values something else more than others.
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Intro

I planned to watch Just Because! As something just to turn my mind off to after a day of part-time job... and I was able to do that. But not only that. This anime also kept my focus and interest the whole time. This anime is only a slice of life romcom, we could say. But for some including me, what made it more special and relatable was that it was around graduation and entrance exams. In my country we have a different school system than in some other places... so I have already taken one entrance exam for high school in the past and that means I "graduated". I hope that gives you a hint to you why I may praise this slice of life romcom more than maybe some others. Just because not only impressed me and became one of my favorite animes because of it being relatable. But also what I really want to point out is how simplistic and realistic this anime felt like. The plot, the characters, events and also the behavior of the characters. I believe that for someone who experienced entrance exams for any kind of school and also graduated. Let's say it may give you nostalgic vibes more or less. With that said, lets check out some of the characters and then go to the main takeaway because as I like to say. Any anime has some sort of
takeaway.

With that said, lets check out some of the characters and then go to the main takeaway because as I like to say. Any anime has some sort of takeaway.

Eita Izumi

Eita Izumi is the main male character of just because anime—at first i instantly got hachiman hikigaya vibes—to some extent that was true, but not completely. Eita is a guy who in his past few times transferred schools because of his parents work. In the plot he transfers schools in the second half of his third - graduating year. Because of him transferring multiple times and also being more introverted. He studied most of the time and got recommendation to university. That meaning he could just chill for the second half of the year and mind his own business without much worries, well since he transferred to a high school where he reunites with one of his old friends named Haruto from middle school and also a girl named Mio Natsume he was interested in middle school. I think this itself just told us that it probably wont be such a calm ride for him. The anime set the relationship between them in a sense where Mio has an interest in Haruto — this made Eita give up on pursuing her back in middle school and also in the present of the plot; but after some events and arguments between Eita and Mio. Their relationship develops into a place where Mio Natsume realizes she actually isn't interested in Haruto, but in Eita(going to say more on this in the Mio Natsume column). What I really appreciate to this day is how the anime showcased the struggle of Eita with his emotions, self-confidence and his nature. He really wanted to approach Mio Natsume, deep down he was wishing "just make the damn move!", but on the surface he wasn't willing to do that... his nature just didn't see that as an option... he saw it as a done and closed deal. At the end of the graduation, Eita symbolically hits a home run and tries to chase after Mio Natsume and confess to her — but he can't make it in time, this is where the anime stretches it to the very last possible moment. The confession from both comes 2 months later at the start of college — better late than never, I guess. With that said, I'd like to close out Eita Izumis character as someone — who is insecure and doesn't have much self-confidence — but when something is really precious and important to him - he forgets about this and goes for it, even if it means changing himself.
Mio Natsume

As we said before, Mio Natsume had in the past been interested in Haruto. This interest ends when Mio after a long time, returns an eraser to Haruto, which (in my opinion at least) served as the bridge between letting go of the past interest and also an excuse for not moving towards the present with an open heart, even if it means getting rejected. What also forced Mio to evolve as a person was the fact that Ena Komiya had an interest in Eita — Mio catches herself and slowly realizes that she wants Eita for herself more than anything else. I think Mio almost has the same problem as Eita Izumi. She just is too insecure, scared of things ending up badly and also not wanting to let go of the past, resulting in not taking action — and if she does, its in the last possible moment, if not completely missing out on the chance. The only difference would be that I feel like she actually pursued and tried to break the ice between her and Eita more at the end. Honestly, after her leaving at the end and not waiting for Eita at the hill... I thought we'd get a — I guess we could say sad ending, but no. Mio saved the day.

Ena Komiya

Ena Komiya is the support of the series, so im gonna try to make this fairly quick. Even though she is meant to be a support, I feel like the anime could end up in a way where she and Eita go out. From what I've seen, not many people would mind it. I also believe it was a possible way to go. She was very lively compared to Eita. So it wouldn't be a surprise if those two opposites would work, but I also think that the fact that despite Ena Komiyas efforts. Eita Izumi still was loyal to Mio Natsume, even tho it seemed pretty certain most of the time - that he doesn't have a chance, it only made the ending more pleasant to watch, I guess. So to close out Ena Komiya. She was a key part to the relationship between Eita and Mio... without her, our two main characters, emotions and feelings would remain basically unchallenged. I believe she was one of the best supporting characters I have seen in a slice of life romcom genre anime.

Haruto Souma

Haruto Souma, the old friend of Eita Izumi. His personality again, like Ena Komiya is more outgoing. With that said, I feel like he played the second main character row role alongside Hazuki behind Eita and Mio pair being the main focus. In the anime we basically followed Haruto trying to win over Hazuki Morikawa's heart, finding the courage to confess to her and to also get close to her more. I would say he was very successful in this regard. Not only because of his efforts, but also by Hazuki Morikawas efforts(im gonna say more about this shortly once we check her). But back to Haruto, what I really liked about him was the determination he had for the things he did. Once he had a chance to spend more time with Hazuki or to help her or some of her friends, he just didn't overthink any of that. Truly a nice guy to be friends with, the only downside was that he could get too passionate about stuff, which sometimes was good because it gave some other characters like Eita the push they needed. But it also could scare away, temporarily, someone like Hazuki.

Hazuki Morikawa

Now for Hazuki Morikawa, as I opened it up before. She played a big role in making the relationship between her and Haruto so open since she was more of a calm character, she was able to think through everything. She at first rejected Haruto, but as I said before, that was because for her it was too sudden, and she replied in the heat of the moment. After having some time to think... she worked her own feelings out and changed her response, the fact that she kept in touch with Haruto while waiting to settle into her life in college and also Haruto settling into work... I think this was really important to make their relationship work in a long run... if that actually happened... I guess we will never know.

Yoriko Inui

As for Yoriko, another supporting character, just a few words, she supported the Haruto and Hazuki pair very well; she always made an opening for Haruto to get closer to Hazuki... and she also tried to always support Hazuki when she was indecisive.

Takeaway/Conclusion

So with the characters being covered... what's left are the takeaways. Number one would be taken from Eita and Mio, don't overthink stuff. Have some self-confidence and be honest before its too late. Second, Ena Komiya showed really well how to be honest, and I believe she was the one who actually changed Eita in this thing. Number three, Haruto presented the spirit of going all in with the things that are important and precious to him. As for Hazuki, she showcased how extra time to think and not rushing into things can help and make lot of things work out in the long run. And the last one I would say overall is to enjoy the time you have with people in school, its not forever. So dont fake the relationships and be honest with yourself and others so you dont need to regret this later in life.

Thanks for reading. Sending lots of luvs <3