A caveat: I have not read the manga. The anime may not be a great representation of the source material, but I would not know and I do not intend to find out. There are a lot of spoilers in this review, and I've tried to spoiler tag major storyline information, so if you have not watched the show, be warned.

The first season of this show had a lot going for it: beautiful art style, a storyline set primarily during COVID along with a parallel storyline set in 2030, and a mystery about the "harem". But instead of riding the high set up by the first season, the show's second season is one giant flatline. There's no peaks or valleys, just one flat narrative. If anything, Airu's storyline is the one bright spot in the season.

Spoiler, click to view

Airu's storyline in particular is very significant as it depicts a queer coming-of-age in a natural way, the way any coming-of-age story should be told. There's no fanfare, no rejection, he comes out, his friends accept him, and he is shown experiencing his first relationship. Airu's character is given the chance to be his authentic self without losing anything, which is beautiful. A few episodes into the season, we learn that Airu is gay, and he confesses to Kizuki. Kizuki rejects Airu, but maintains that despite not being able to date him, he'll always be by his side as his friend and support him. Great, we love an ally.

Midway through the season, in the 2020 storyline, Airu has begun dating Touya, a guy he meets during a rebellious phase. Airu's lingering attachment to Kizuki becomes a problem for their relationship and in the 2030 storyline, we see the now adult Airu and Touya meet up by coincidence at Kizuki's first swimming competition in several years. Airu is there to watch Kizuki and Touya is there to photograph the event. The two begin to catch up and Touya shows Airu some photos he's taken of Kizuki, saying, "I think I understand now why you liked him back then." Airu apologizes to him, saying, "When I met you, I didn't know myself. I'm sorry for hurting you." Airu then adds, "You saved me from loneliness and helped me find my true self. I'm can be happy now because I met you. So, thank you." It's such a beautiful scene because sometimes people are not our destination, they're just part of our journey. After the two say their goodbyes at the swimming venue, Airu's boyfriend walks up and asks, "Is that him?" and Airu says, "Yes. My savior. I finally got to thank him."

I loved this scene, but as it comes midway through the last episode, I found myself asking, "Why couldn't Mizuho and Kizuki's storyline be written this beautifully?" And this speaks to a larger problem with the show itself. I don't know if the adaptation is wonky, or there were different people writing different storylines, but the writing feels uneven.

Mizuho as a character feels empty. In the 1st season we see her pursue her dream of becoming a mangaka

Spoiler, click to view

and in the 2nd season, that ambition is waved away with a flashback scene of her crying after another rejection. We know she's the editor at a shoujo magazine, but why did she give up on her dream? Was it just the rejection she couldn't handle? Why are we repeatedly told that Mizuho has "stumbled" when aside from not winning a manga contest in high school, and the rejection flashback from season 2, we aren't given any insight into her journey as an artist.

We don't know what motivates her, but more importantly, as a viewer, I did not understand why she was so into Kizuki in high school. The show's first season opens with her confessing to a senpai at a bus stop and she's rejected. Then, Kizuki goes for it and she magically reciprocates, but I didn't understand why. We're told that he was "dazzling" and that his impulsive nature is what made him stand out, but that's it? Dude is impulsive and that's the appeal.

Spoiler, click to view

In the last episode, I realized that Shuugo and Shin are only there as foils for Kizuki. They were never really an option for Mizuho and instead were just there to tease the viewer, leaving them wondering if either of the other guys would get their shot with Mizuho. And they don't, not really. Shuugo doesn't confess until Kizuki is back in the picture and Shin, a hot doctor, is given short shrift.

It made me wonder what was so great about Kizuki. He's single-minded, that's his "appeal". He was singularly focused on swimming and on being Mizuho's first and last boyfriend. That's all we're really told about him.

Of the other two potential love interests, Shin had the most going for him. He became a doctor for Mizuho, essentially. Seeing her deep sorrow as children when she lost her mother, he wants to be able to cure everyone so that Mizuho never has to experience that kind of sadness again. We're told time and time again how handsome he is, and he is, all the guys are because of course they are. There's no way we'd buy into a reverse harem unless all the guys were hot, right?

Spoiler, click to view

Shin always shows up for Mizuho, waits patiently, comforts her after Kizuki ghosts her for three years but I guess as the viewer we're to assume he's too perfect, too orderly for Mizuho.

Meanwhile, Kizuki GHOSTS Mizuho for three whole fucking years, and then shows up at a fireworks show where she was supposed to meet up with the other guys, all of whom conveniently cannot make it on time. I'm sorry, why was it okay for him to ghost her for three years?

Spoiler, click to view

Shuugo, who pushes Kizuki down a flight of stairs, is the only person who has the most realistic reaction out of everyone else. When Kizuki reappears after three years, everyone else is basically like, "Heh, typical Kizuki!"

I also want to point out how unrealistic it is for Kizuki to become a competitive swimmer at 27 with a shoulder injury that has not been properly rehabbed. He's competing with men much younger than him and in much better shape than him, but we're supposed to believe that quitting his job and going back to competitive swimming with no income is somehow an inspiring choice. This is a grown man who is nearly 30, is he living at home now? What is inspiring about this?

Spoiler, click to view

Or at least, inspiring enough for Mizuho to turn Shin's proposal down and instead settle for a jobless dude chasing after his high school dream.

Spoiler, click to view

When it comes down to it, this show is basically about two losers--no wonder they're perfect for each other. The last shot of the show is of Mizuho's drawings being blown off a table, to reveal a scene from season one along with the title of the show. Oh, how meta, Mizuho wrote the story we're watching. If that's the case, girl why are you a piece of furniture in your own story? Why were you inspired to return to what you love to do only after your loser boyfriend showed back up?

It actually makes me mad writing this down because Mizuho isn't really given any real agency in the story, she's constantly reacting to the other guys. Why am I supposed to like her?

This show puzzled me and I hope it made its money back because we need more shoujo on the air, but not like this.