This review is spoiler free

Before we begin it must be stated that "I have a Crush at Work" NEGS ALL FICTION! Dante's inferno? Low diff. The Lord of the Rings? High diff. One Piece? Atomic bomb vs coughing baby. This anime is proof that we've evolved as a species beyond the confines of biology to a higher plane of existence, and frankly I would bow down and kiss the feet of Akamaru Enomoto, as well as do anything she asks of me, no matter how humiliating, in reverence of her ability to create this magnificent work of art. As well as send all my life savings to Studio BLADE for their adaptation of her masterpiece. Thank you, for everyone who worked on this, for making the most absolute of absolute cinema...

Anyways, I've been checking out almost every seasonal anime for each new season for about a year and a half. It's nice to have something that keeps me from abandoning this medium amidst the humdrum of everyday life, for I find it to continually surprise me despite me having been watching anime for at least 5 years. Not as much as some other people I know, but I find it sad that some people I'm very good friends with don't watch anime at all anymore, despite it being a major part of what made us friends in the first place. It comes and goes for some people, and that's fine, but I don't ever want to stop watching anime. It's what got me through some of the darkest parts of my life, reminded me of what I value, helped me find joy outside it's confines, and overall made me a better human being. I wouldn't be the same without it, so I make sure to keep that flame alive, for it's so easy for it to go out if you don't tend to it properly.

However the anime I've seen from the last couple years have been a mixed bag. It's not like it bothers me that much anymore, I tend to just drop things that don't keep my attention and keep what I like, but even the best of what I've seen is not up to par with what I was introduced to this medium from. The standards have been lowered, because I'm not asking for these shows to blow my socks off. I like something cozy, something that I can talk to people over, something that makes life a little bit more novel. So it's with elation that I can say that I've found something that genuinely clicks with me and I can wholeheartedly recommend.

But let's add some partial context, you're a Japanese high schooler, a weeb at that, and you've just graduated. You have you're whole life ahead of you, job prospects, romance, independence, and you even get PAID for the work you do! But life is not how it seems, you got a job at some office with a bunch of other coworkers, they don't seem to talk to you like the people you knew in high school. After work you go drinking with everyone but you still don't seem to like them very much. You go back to your single apartment (because that's all you can afford) and crash. You are now a Japanese salary man, or at least, the gentrified version concocted by international news headlines and statistics.

I've never been to Japan, I don't speak Japanese, I don't even know anyone who lives there. But the data doesn't lie, and I'm feeling safe to assume that there are millions of people who live a life similar to what I've described above, both in Japan and in other countries. So it's no wonder that escapism is prevalent within this demographic, which is not too different from many of us watching in our own countries. Relevant to my piece here is the general affinity this group has towards high school anime. We've all seen these, the sports festival, after school clubs, a band performance and a teary eyed conclusion, as well as it's various genre specific permutations. Some of these anime are some of my favorite of all time, but it's interesting noting who is watching these shows and why. The details are not too relevant, but if you want to know more, there's a pretty good Yiman video that delves into this very topic. In short, we look back to times like high school for comfort and nostalgia, being reminded of simpler times to bring comfort to our currently chaotic lives.

The reason why I'm bringing this up is that HIGH SCHOOL FUCKING SUCKS ASS! It did for me at least, but anime like these always felt like some kind of fairy tale fever dream. Who wants to go back to acne, the college rat race, hormonal imbalance, weird social cliques, mandatory 6+ hour attendance (in addition to cram school and homework), as well as generally not knowing who you are and where you're going. I can see why shows like these were important, when I was the age of the characters on screen, for this time is very pivotal in discovering parts of yourself in a system that, for the most part, stamps out creativity and turns you into a good for your job simpleton. It's why most people I've mentioned above leave anime behind after they've gotten what they need from it.

I'm not going to shame anyone for the escapism they partake in, life is hard enough as is, and fiction does not have to correlate to reality at all, but I think it's kinda sad that, in the mind of the demographic in which works like these are aimed at, high school is supposed to be the height of one's life, a time of simplicity and relaxation, when for most people it's the exact opposite. It feels like the consistent production of anime like this is meant to keep people spinning their wheels, when one season is over, a swath of new works take their place, and the cycle repeats. Amidst my time in said cycle, I end up craving a work that looks past the haze of rosy retrospection, and speaks earnestly to the lives people like us actually lead.

"I have a Crush at Work" feels like everything I wanted out of a romcom, but also an important message based on the context provided above. It's a reminder to anyone old, tired, or going through their day to day life, that there is still room for growth, fun, exploration, and happiness. People call this "just you're average boring romcom" but unlike everything I've described before, it feels more real, more honest. As previously stated, I'm not asking for anime like these to blow my socks off, but what I got instead was something way better. This anime makes me look towards the future with optimism, it makes me think of all the things I can do on days off, the connections I can make with those in my everyday life, and simply, makes me really, really happy.

But I'm getting ahead of myself, so let's do a quick synopsis for the uninitiated (thank you for reading this far in). Masugu Tateishi is your standard office worker employed to a confectionery company, but he's having trouble with a bratty coworker, Yui Mitsuya. She puts a lot of effort into her job, and puts a hundred and ten percent into the project she works on. Tateishi leaves his work and arrives back home, and Yui is there with him? Turns out they're actually dating, in secret! Can they keep up appearances? Can they keep that oh so important work life balance? Yeah you get it.

This show isn't hiding anything about this relationship from the audience, which is the core appeal of the work in cutting past all the drama to show the real challenge of keeping a relationship alive. With this in mind, it also keeps the conflicts of each episode rather minor, these people are good for each other, and the connection they share has real impacts on one another's quality of life. Need to pull an all nighter for a certification exam? Encouraging texts and a relaxing vacation await the other side. Need help on creating a new product for the company? Genuine feedback and discussion ensue. It's been a while since I've seen an anime couple that are so well suited for each other.

Tateishi has a great understanding of other people. He does spend a lot of his time in his head, but it's always towards practical and efficient ways of making his partner happy. He's also one to speak his mind, if he thinks somethings wrong or if Yui is acting strange, he's quick to ask and make sure everything is alright. Yui is equally receptive, although she's more quick to delve into worrisome scenarios. She's more deliberate with her facade at work, which can make her sometimes hard to read for Tateishi, but is more emotionally upfront.

The notable difference in their relationship is communication, which some people criticize mostly due to the "anime dialogue" sounding less mature for people that age, or being more rushed and less dramatic. I don't understand that critique in the slightest, mainly due to the fact that the content of their words speaks further than what is usually found in anime like this. To me, most people are just children that got old, and we don't always know what we're doing to one another when we act dismissive or more mature to fit appearances. To me at least, I felt it refreshing to see characters that don't stumble through their words and are comfortable being straight forward about their desires, struggles, worries, ect. This is something that can only really come with age, once you feel comfortable enough with yourself, you can talk to people without looking for something in the other that you lack.

This becomes even more clear in the show's sex scenes. Yes, sex. It's not explicit or on screen, but it's a very clear part of this show, and I don't think I've seen an anime handle the subject matter as tactfully as this show did. It's not glorified, or used for cheap fanservice, it's just a part of their relationship. There's even a point in the show where Yui is clearly flirting with Tateishi, but noting the strange timing and her tendency to hide how she really feels about things, Tateishi denies her advances and asks if everything's alright. It's moments like this that show you that they really care for each other. Which makes the intimate moments all the more satisfying, in displaying people that want the other to feel loved, rather than being done out of self satisfaction or a hormonal impulse.

In addition, they just do more things that you would expect from people their age. Baseball games, forest retreats, cafe visits, movie nights, fancy restaurant dates, typical things you would expect from a typical romantic relationship, but becomes all the more important noting the context of the freedom afforded to adults. It's that much more sincere that these people choose to do these activities of their own time, rather than being some contrived trope of some forced standardized curriculum. Maybe it's just me, but there wasn't some magical school club that paid for an 800$ retreat to an isolated hot spring, or afforded the freedom to spend a relaxing day off at a cafe. It's simply more true to life.

It must also be addressed that this show nails it's episodic formula, without being unnatural or diverting away from it's core premise. These plots never felt boring, and gave me the feeling these characters have things going on in their lives, rather than a static mold of adult life. There's goals to work towards that's actually meaningful to the company and the people within it, and once the work is complete, the relaxation that comes afterwards is that much more satisfying. I could even tie this in with the mostly exaggerated honna and tatemae comparison present in this work space, as the presumed appearance that need be kept is only really present within the minds of the characters who worry about said appearances. Contrary to orientalist views on japan, every country has work etiquette and Japan is not special for having to act in accordance with HR or general social norms. In truth, most of the characters don't act that much different inside work than they do outside of it, and this can be seen with Morizono Maria, who after revealing her secret of going out to desert places on her days off, is able to converse more authentically with the others at her work space. This is also true of Mita Itsurou who is a fan of the great outdoors, and even invites his work mates to go on a fun camping trip. This also ties into a side plot with the character Somei Keisuke which I won't reveal for spoilers (but I'm sure it's pretty obvious).

Any potential faults I can have with the show's production or relatively short run time, pales in comparison with how mature, comforting, and true to life it is as a work place romcom. Maybe I'm being haste, after all I haven't seen Wotakoi, or My Senpai is Annoying, or Aharen-san, or... idfk My Tiny Senpai, but I'm feeling comfortable right now with my assessment. I've had such a good time with this anime while it was airing to give it the distinction of being one of my favorites of all time. With that, I don't think there's anything more to say.

Thanks for reading.