Akira and Kanata seem unlikely to become close. They move through school in completely different ways, yet a staircase leading to the terrace gradually becomes the one place where they can drop the roles everyone else expects them to play. Over eight episodes of roughly 25 to 30 minutes each, their relationship develops with very little melodrama or added fluff. There are occasional moments of tension, but the series remains remarkably direct.
They had recognized each other long before they ever exchanged names. Kanata was the well-liked student who was rarely alone, although something about him kept people from getting truly close. A football injury ended his playing days, and his withdrawal deepened after his younger brother joined a professional soccer team. Akira, meanwhile, is reserved and prefers to stay out of the spotlight. Their meetings on the terrace staircase give both of them room to speak honestly, and the friendship formed there slowly begins to carry feelings neither is ready to acknowledge.
Akira has good reason to fear saying too much. He once confessed to his best friend, only to be met with silence and rejection, leaving him devastated. His connection with his brother's best friend offers a different kind of support. That person is also gay, and their physical and emotional relationship grows from a shared loneliness rather than feeling arbitrary. When Akira talks about Kanata, he is encouraged to stop hiding and be honest, especially since the relationship he currently has is unlikely to continue.
While Akira struggles with the possibility of being hurt again, Kanata is trying to return to football with encouragement from his friends. He does not realize what Akira is feeling, or how much the past is shaping Akira's hesitation. Eventually, Akira tells him everything. Kanata does not treat that history as something that disqualifies their future; instead, he reminds Akira that everyone carries a past and focuses on what the two of them might still have together.
Their insecurities create most of the conflict. Kanata's unexpected presence begins to repair some of the damage Akira has been carrying, even as it awakens his fear of repeating an old heartbreak. Kanata, for his part, has to confront emotions he never expected to develop. After spending so long avoiding the issue, they finally decide to face what exists between them rather than keep circling it.
Akira's sexuality is never treated as a mystery to be revealed; he is gay from the beginning. That clarity also helps the earlier relationship make sense, since both he and his brother's friend are seeking comfort while dealing with isolation. The central romance takes its time, and the leads' friendship can feel somewhat stiff at first. Once they begin sharing more of themselves, however, the pairing becomes convincing. Their differences are the appeal: on paper they should not fit, which makes their gradual attraction satisfying.
The problem is that the series ultimately relies on a familiar framework. Two apparently incompatible people slowly fall in love, supported by new names and personal histories but following a structure that has already been used many times. The cast suits the roles and performs adequately, yet the writing and plot keep the show from leaving a lasting impression. It works as a straightforward high school BL, but it does not do enough to distinguish itself from similar stories.
Rating: 5.5/10
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