Recap
Ryuji is distracted thanks to Amane’s back-hug-and-run-confession. On his way to school he sees Amane at the train station. Amane, predictably, acts like things are normal.
Ryuji can’t though, and tells Amane to follow him without offering any explanation. Amane obediently lets himself get led away from school and up a million stairs to a shrine.
They sit on the steps, Ryuji is confused and Amane is apologetic. Ryuji wants to know what Amane wants from confessing to him, because then he’ll know how to act.
Amane admits that he was sexually attracted to Ryuji and that’s what he wanted. But over time the better he got to know Ryuji the more his feelings grew. He tries to say they could just be friends but can’t. He wants to date Ryuji.
Ryuji admits he’s never thought about dating Amane and can’t imagine it, but that he also thinks he could fall for him. He promises not to act like nothing happened but asks if he can have some time. Amane’s expression itself is an answer to his question.
They only get in a little trouble at school and Ryuji sees a player for a fireworks festival and suggests that for their first date.
It’s three weeks away and while Ryuji is busy at the restaurant, Amane tries to enjoy his summer vacation. He eagerly waits to hear from Ryuji but only hears from seedy-hotel guy, and turns him down. He even spies on Ryuji at the restaurant.
Finally it’s the big day and Amane can’t contain his excitement. He gets dressed nice enough that grandma notices before he goes running to the festival. He waits there for Ryuji, nervously anticipating what Ryuji might say after not seeing each other for several weeks.
Then, Ryuji is there!
Thoughts
While the pair of them sitting on the shrine steps visually reminds me of My Beautiful Man, the post confession response reminds me of My Love Mix-Up. Usually characters answer with a definitive ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in this situation. Both My Love Mix-Up’s Ida and our Ryuji here unusually ask for more time.
The differences between these shows help me appreciate the differences between all the characters. It’s more complicated than just light-hearted/serious, opposites attract situation.
Innocent and self-conscious, Aoki didn’t know what he wanted. If Ida had asked I think he would have violently flailed around. Instead they fumble through figuring out their relationship and feelings by trying things. That worked for them and their personalities as well as the tone of the show.
This show is less silly, more introspective and wistful. Amane has sexual experience but is lonelier than Aoki. I think it’s important that Ryuji asked Amane what he wanted, something I doubt his previous partner(s?) ever did. I think seedy-hotel guy eating Amane’s favorite ice cream so he had to eat what was left can be read as a metaphor for the larger situation. Amane settled for affection via sex and didn’t ask for anything more.
I like that Amane doesn’t hide that at first he just wanted sex. I like that he works through his feelings and is able to ask for what he really wants, to date.
The second part of this episode we watch Amane wait to see Ryuji and that isn’t exactly thrilling. On the other hand, I think it’s significant that Amane gets that offer from his hotel-sex-buddy. It’s his opportunity to immediately alleviate his loneliness, and while I don’t think it’s good for him I understand the appeal.
It shows his maturity and growth that instead he opts to be lonely and wait to see if he can get the real thing. He values himself and what he wants enough to be patient, leaving me feeling proud of a fictional character.
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If It’s With You is currently available in the US on GaGaOOLala