"Falling in love with someone is something much more violent, like having your flesh ripped apart"

In just eleven episodes, the show captures some very real emotions and deals with serious topics in a mature manner. The themes it covers are mainly memories, guilt and most of all, love. There was not a single moment in the time that I binged this in which I felt bored. The pacing of the storytelling was perfect. It felt very real, because the relationships were believable, and some of themes it faced were heavy.

The romance follows two high-school boys: It begins with Sato gaining the passion to learn to play his new guitar, and so eventually Uenoyama adopts him into his band as their guitarist and vocalist. As the story progresses, their friendship blossoms into mutual concealed yearning. Their relationship develops so naturally with believable chemistry, and most gratefully of all.... no frustrating miscommunication plotlines.

The main plot of the show was how memories can haunt you psychologically. In Sato's case, this meant past love, and how it lives on. Sato is such a well-written character with impressive growth. In the first episode, the way he carries himself is compared to the equivalent of a lost puppy. Progressively, he gains the confidence to face his past head-on and overcome his mental blocks. The emotions and anxieties explored in his psyche were stirring and reflective; in all of the characters, their emotions were constructed with precision.

Uenoyama was introduced as a polar opposite of Sato: it is a classic parallel of golden retriever and black cat personalities. He appeared hot-headed, outspoken and even hostile. Sato on the other hand, was more reserved. Similarly, Uenoyama also learns to understand his own emotions. He learns to accept his love. The concept of love is largely explored as something dangerous and possibly destructive. As well as it being an emotion that writes romantic songs, it is also an emotion that hurts, confuses and tears people apart.

Another character I loved is Kaji, the drummer of the band, and the voice of the heading quote. That quote about love especially stood out to me, since it is quite unconventional. It is not often you hear love being compared to bodily torture. Kaji was the wise man and voice of reason in the story, and there was never a dull moment between him and the remaining member of the band, Nakayama the bassist. Their friendship often paralleled the romance with great banter and the tension of unrequited love.

I have absolutely no criticism. The pacing, soundtrack, and dialogue made an eloquent story about the complexity of relationships.