2008

S1.E1 ∙ Jijitsu wa shousetsu yori mo ki nari

Wed, Apr 09, 2008

"Truth is stranger than fiction"-- Meet Misaki, an average high school student, and Akihiko, a famous novelist. These two happen to meet when Misaki stumbles upon Akihiko hugging his brother, whom Akihiko has feelings for.

7.8 /10

S1.E2 ∙ Koukai saki ni tatazu

Wed, Apr 16, 2008

"No use crying over spilt milk" --- A month has passed and Misaki has been accepted by the department of Economics at Mitsuhashi University. Ever since the second day of school, everyone acts weird towards Misaki and avoids him. His new friend Sumi Keiichi tells him everyone wonders how he knows Akihiko Usami, the famous writer. Usami acts jealous of Misaki's new friend, and Misaki wonders if Usami only likes him as a substitute for his brother. They argue, Usami admits he was jealous, and then they make love. Usami realizes he is falling in love with Misaki and Misaki feels something is changing in him as well.

7.3 /10

S1.E3 ∙ Tatakeyo saraba hirakaren

Wed, Apr 23, 2008

"Knock and it shall be opened unto you" -- Hiroki Kamijou is sitting in a park remembering his fruitless relationship with his childhood friend and crush, Akihiko Usami. His thoughts are abruptly disturbed when Nowaki Kusama launches a toy rocket, almost hitting him. Nowaki sees him crying and drags him off to a group of men watching the rocket. Hiroki learns that Nowaki is a foundling. Nowaki later insists on Hiroki becoming his tutor, to help him with the high school proficiency exam. Akihiko makes a surprise visit, but Nowaki interrupts and confesses his love for Hiroki, saying he fell in love the moment he saw him. Hiroki tells him to leave and never return. However, Hiroki can't stop thinking about Nowaki and ends up spying on him. Nowaki returns to confront Hiroki, they admit their love for one another and make love.

7.3 /10

S1.E4 ∙ Fear Is Often Greater Than the Danger Itself

Wed, Apr 30, 2008

Akihiko might write his fair share of boy's love novels, but he also writes mainstream books that have won several awards and made him famous throughout Japan. As such, he has a very close relationship with his editor; she even has a key to his apartment. Misaki finds that very strange... could there be more between those two than meets the eye?

7.5 /10

S1.E5 ∙ Meeting Is the Beginning of Parting

Wed, May 07, 2008

Five years after Hiroki and Nowaki met, Nowaki disappeared without a trace. For a year he was gone, and Hiroki thought he might never see Nowaki again. But then a simple postcard arrived in the mail: "It's been a while. I will be returning to the country on May 30th." Hiroki is swept up again, fighting between love and hatred for the unpredictable, irresistible Nowaki.

6.9 /10

S1.E6 ∙ Good Can Come Out of Misfortune

Wed, May 14, 2008

Feeling insecure about their relationship and looking for some way to connect, Nowaki asks Hiroki if he can call him the same friendly nickname everyone else does. When Hiroki flat out refuses, Nowaki's feelings are hurt. Can he find some other way to bridge the gap between them or is their relationship going nowhere?

7.2 /10

S1.E7 ∙ Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child

Wed, May 21, 2008

Misaki keeps mulling over an important question... are he and Akihiko actually "going out"? They live together, eat together, and get pretty intimate with each other, but it doesn't seem like the kind of lovey-dovey relationship that couples usually have. So Akihiko settles the problem swiftly, by declaring that they're going out on a date!

7.4 /10

S1.E8 ∙ Away from Home, One Needs Feel No Shame

Wed, May 28, 2008

Usagi tells Misaki that he is going to go back to living with Takahiro. Misaki believes that he has become a burden to Usagi, so he doesn't object. He goes to visit his brother in Osaka. At his brother's home he realizes this is what a normal family should feel like, but ends up getting mad when Takahiro starts criticizing Usagi. Misaki begins to notice he feels lonely. Usagi is at home and constantly thinking about Misaki. It is revealed that he let Misaki go because Takahiro said that Misaki blames himself for their parents' deaths. Misaki phones Usagi from the train station and when he becomes upset, he tells Misaki to wait there for him. Once he arrives, he drags Misaki onto a different train and tells him he won't ever let him go. Usagi asks him to stay with him, Misaki says yes. They spend the night together in a private sleeper car. They arrive in Sapporo; a birthday present for Misaki from Usagi. Usagi reveals his obsession with Marimo.

7.6 /10

S1.E9 ∙ One Good Turn Deserves Another

Sun, May 04, 2008

Desperate to get Akihiko's latest work completed, Aikawa begs Misaki to teach him what a "real date" is like for a college student. The date gets much more complicated when a present from Akihiko's father for Misaki arrives and it puts Akihiko in a bad mood.

7.3 /10

S1.E10 ∙ Shonen yo Taishi o Idake

Wed, Jun 11, 2008

"Boys, be ambitious" --- Teenage Takatsuki Shinobu makes a love confession to his ex-brother-in-law, Miyagi Yo. Three years prior, when two thugs tried to mug Shinobu, and Miyagi ran them off. They both ended up at the same marriage arrangement meeting for Miyagi and Shinobu's sister, Risako. Now, it is revealed Miyagi has divorced Risako, and Shinobu has returned from studying abroad, in Australia, when he heard the news. When Miyagi is asked to house Shinobu, the two form an uneasy relationship. Miyagi challenges Shinobu's earnest declaration of adoration by making a sexual advance, but the plan backfires when he realizes that the younger man is serious. He retreats to his office, but Shinobu finds him. Finally, Miyagi tells Shinobu to try hard in school, because people who are not serious do not interest him. However, Shinobu will not relent his belief that fate has brought them together since the very beginning.

6.9 /10

S1.E11 ∙ Suki koso mono no jouzu nare

Wed, Jun 18, 2008

"All Things Are Easy That Are Done Willingly" -- Miyagi and Shinobu's story continues. As Miyagi walks to his car Risako arrives to get one last item and comments that she felt Miyagi should have been more honest with her about his feelings. When she leaves he has a flashback of staying by someone's bedside and an empty wheelchair. His ruminations are interrupted by Shinobu's arrival home. Miyagi tries to make a hasty exit and in the process, drops a photo he'd been looking at. Shinobu presses him for details but Miyagi tells him to mind his own business. Shinobu once again declares his feelings, but Miyagi dismisses them. Shinobu then challenges Miyagi to sleep with him to show how serious he is. Miyagi makes an aggressive advance on Shinobu but stops when Shinobu starts to cry. Shinobu leaves soon after. Driving home from work he reminisces about a teacher that he had loved, the woman in the picture. At home he finds Shinobu leaving, they talk and Shinobu reveals that he'd loved Miyagi even before they'd met during the attack. The next day, Shinobu's father calls and during the discussion, it is revealed Shinobu is leaving to return to Australia. Miyagi rushes to stop him and gets there just in time.

7.1 /10

S1.E12 ∙ Sode suri au mo tashounoen

Wed, Jun 25, 2008

"There's No Such Thing As A Chance Encounter" -- To convince Takahiro to let Misaki stay with him, Usami has told outrageous lies, all of which Takahiro believes. The next day, Keiichi tells Misaki to congratulate Usami for winning the Kikukawa Prize, but Misaki worries suddenly it might be for one of the explicit BL books. When he gets home Usami, Isaka, and Aikawa talking about preparations for a celebration party. The manager mentions that Haruhiko, Usami's older brother will be present, which troubles Usami. The two adults rush Usami off to the press conference, leaving Misaki feeling a little hurt he hadn't known. He decides to do something for Usami when he is interrupted by a delivery of flowers from Usami's brother. Later that evening, Usami returns and Misaki expresses the sadness he feels from being excluded. Usami finds it charming and decides to take Misaki to bed. Things are changed slightly, when Misaki tries to take the initiative but is too embarrassed. He'd gotten the idea because Usami previously said that his BL books were a mix of hobby, profit, and fantasy. It gives Usami ideas and he gives Misaki the rest of the BL collection and tells him to study it, which embarrasses him further.

7.6 /10