This is a very difficult series to really approach. I tried watching the first episode of this a few times, but ended up forgetting about it each time. It's absolutely a slow burn sort of ride, but one that is absolutely worth sitting through. The dialogue and writing in this story are all done in such a way that feels uneasy. Not quite stiff, but not totally natural; all coming together to form what I would consider an extremely specific atmosphere for the series. An atmosphere that is only heightened by how beautiful the animation, art style, and artistic cuts shown within it art. As I continued through the episodes, that slow or otherwise dull experience continued to build. The sense of uneasiness and teasing of something deeper gave way to an experience that is generally unlike any other that I've seen before. Two parallel romance stories, each with their own unique woes and storytelling.
A girl who can not remember past 13 hours, and a girl painfully afraid of being stranded alone again. A boy with no aspirations or hope for himself, and a boy with grandiose aspirations but no motivation to see them out. An extended mystery and other relationships which develop as a result of these stories. There are many moving parts like this in the series, though none of which are quite perfectly connected. Each character fully immersed into their own lives, their own way of thinking, and their own motivations. An unexpected deep dive into themes of loneliness, depression, anxiety, unrequited love, insecurities, a sense of self, and many other deeper subjects.
Until the final episode, I was left uncertain of how things could be resolved and of what path this intricate story would take. The end result was an immensely fulfilling romance, and one that sets itself apart from any other in the genre. I feel as if this was unlike the vast majority of anime that I have seen, and am confident in saying that this series can be considered a masterpiece in my eyes. Based on a sequence of renowned visual novels, I also hadn't previously thought of the potential of visual novels as a medium for telling stories with this degree of depth.
This series has helped to define the medium of visual novels, and spark much more interest in me for reading more. As fan of manga and light novels, the source material for various anime takes many forms. Stories are told in many forms, and I feel as if the medium which an author uses to tell a story can be used to great effect for setting a very particular atmosphere and truly telling a story the way that they want it to be told.
Visual novels can be a lot more than I had given them credit for. Furthermore, anime continues to surprise me with how many gems are out there. A series so discreet and so hidden away that it's no longer licensed to watch through any legal streaming platforms. One that I own physically and had neglected to watch for so one. Yet one that I'm sure I'll remember as one of the most influential romance anime to me; not just for its romance, but for the experience it provided which was entirely its own.
I'll leave off with the opening, which I feel is in and of itself very unique due to its own storytelling and artistic choices. There is a lot of value in this opening for someone that has watched and/or read this story, and symbolism is carried through this series from start to finish.
