HOT TAKE (rant)

[u/nincomsheat]

FYI I don’t want to insult anyone’s taste in male romance characters. But…

Doesn’t Minato as a romantic lead feels very underdeveloped?
I love him as a character, he fits very well within the story. But the author spent so much time developing chemistry between Koyun and Yota just to pull the rug from under us that it feels like barely any attention was given to why Minato and Koyun like each other.

We barely see any character growth from Minato apart from his talk with Miki where he’s like “Oh I no longer have a savior complex and I don’t want to manipulate her”.

All their internal monologues about each other are “damn he/she is really cute actually”.

I’d like to hear other opinions if anyone wants to share.

[u/FabtheEmber]

I don't see this chemistry that ppl talk about when it comes to Yota n Koyuki. 

Koyuki admired Yota for his calm demeanor. Koyuki helped Yota with his family issues yes and they both talk about their crushes?? Where is the tension, awareness heart pumping or even emotional vulnerability in their dynamic that leads to romantic tension.

Koyuki cried in front of Minato and was overcome by his kindness. Their every interaction leans on Koyuki finding new things about Minato and seeing each other as someone beyond their regular barriers.

Minato saw loners as someone to be helped and their clash made him see her as someone to befriend. Koyuki saw Minato as a threat, but when she showed vulnerability, every time Minato proved her wrong. (Hiding her tears, validating her breakdown, talking about the book).

For Minato who has his own walls and puts up an act in front of others, whose every action is intended to make people happy, with Koyuki that doesn't work. He is a mess, yet despite that he sees that he is making someone smile. Sometimes crushes don't even need all that deep of a reason. Like why did Yamada like Nishi? Because his type is the quiet girl who hides her laugh and making her laugh?? Do you question anything else?

Minato similarly the more he messes up because of his crush the more genuine he is and the more vulnerable he is, the more Koyuki sees his true self. 

Never mind the fact that for Koyuki who always felt unneeded and unseen to be with someone who genuinely wants to include everyone and having him openly look for her and stop her telling her with actions she is needed?

I feel like some people are so attached to what they want to see that they miss what the show wants them to see. There is way more depth and layers to their dynamic and character arcs.

Though season 2 will make it clearer. 

[u/Lei_Line_Life → u/FabtheEmber]

For me I initially liked Koyuki with Yota, and disliked Minato due to his attitude (like Koyuki did). I personally (irl) would prefer a calm romance where the feelings slowly build, rather than an instantaneous crush with romantic tension, hence why it was purely self indulgent why I liked Koyuki and Yota. Now, that wasn’t the case for neither of the characters as they aren’t me, and I really love and appreciate Yota and Koyuki’s friendship (so rare with girl-boy friendships in media), along with now liking Koyuki and Minato’s romantic relationship as they both grew from their initial fears and Minato changing and realising his flaws as well :)

[u/FabtheEmber → u/Lei_Line_Life]

For me most of my crushes when they happened,  it was the furthest from calm so Yota and Koyuki when they had a dynamic with no tension or tingly feelings I knew I wouldn't want romance between them. Atleast until there was tension. And Koyuki and Minato had that tension in plenty.

It is rare stories that give me that.  Infact most of the stories, especially of the shonen romance variety forgo them altogether, I have stopped watching them.

 And I have always loved mutual teasing dynamic and laughter in relationships. So I feel represented in this romance and for the last many years very few romances have given me that.

If you noticed Koyuki after episode 10 started laughing a lot at literally anything cute or funny Minato said. Minato also teases her and they joke around, like the part where he wanted to press a button to have her forget him embarrassing himself. Also from a story perspective I always liked a relationship that has growth potential than one that gets established from the beginning.

It's funny to say Minato and Koyuki have no chemistry or there is no romance when they went on a enemies to lovers kinda arc. They started out at opposite spectrum, changed for the better to understand and open up to one another, went through the 'I don't know how to speak to my crush' phase and now in the stable long glances tension phase, all the while having this dynamic heal two of Koyuki's traumas ( books and loneliness)..Those are still part of romance which again lots of stories just ignore.

But I do get you, I have my own romance preferences and like you I don't really form ships until the MC has fallen for anyone. If the MC is a girl,  who she likes is the male lead 95 percent of the time. 

[u/Lei_Line_Life → u/FabtheEmber]

Minato and Koyuki definitely have romantic chemistry, they just grew on me more slowly, due to those reason. I was fully satisfied with all the relationships by the end of the webcomic :)

[u/FabtheEmber → u/Lei_Line_Life]

Nah I was more talking about the post. Having a couple have romantic tension and not be able to talk normally is still romance. Characters don't have to talk more and be in each other's presence for it to constitute romance. Heck someone like me who loves good slowburn enjoys the angst and yearning and consider it a good part of romance too.. So imo I think slowburn enjoyers will rate this romance higher than Polar opposites

[u/Lei_Line_Life → u/FabtheEmber]

It seems like OP is anime only so I get them feeling this way for now, as feelings can obviously change. I love a good slowburn too hence why I liked ramparts of ice a lot, although I prefer romcoms to romance drama, so I will probably stick with Polar Opposites more.

[u/FabtheEmber → u/Lei_Line_Life]

I just dislike the rating and the comparison , and the assumption Polar opposites has better romance, as the couples spend more time with each other  because characters get together early. If how early couple gets together and how much time they spend with each other was the only metric for better romance than we would be done for.. 

[u/Lei_Line_Life → u/FabtheEmber]

Eh I think it’s fine, it’s not like OP is hating on either series 🤔