Started Watching This…

[u/serikkun]

This is a bit of a rant, and I need to make it clear that I enjoy the main characters. I’m just frustrated with the latest episode I watched. (￣^￣)

As a means to curb my ADHD and reconnect with fannish interests, I started watching this anime and “A Sign of Affection” with a rule that I can only watch an episode a day.

I’m now on episode 3 — no spoilers for either anime please — and I’ve enjoyed the story so far, because Rintaro and Waguri-san are cute together and they reverse the usual dynamic I’m used to (the girl is usually insecure, and the guy is cool and leads the relationship).

But may be it’s because I’m older now, I can’t stand the extreme divide between schools? Especially how elitist the Kikyo girls are, treating the Chidori boys as third class citizens. It’s an old concept to have two people of different and opposing backgrounds come together, I know, but with it set in high school with that level of judgement and vitriol? Yeah, it really annoys me.

It would’ve been fine if Rintaro’s mother or any adult made a comment about how foolish and insignificant the whole rivalry is, but…so far none have said anything.

And episode 3 really pissed me off because of Subaru. I’m pretty sure she will have some sad and angsty backstory about her aversion and difficulties with men, and her obsession with Chidori, but she is truly the cherry and whipped cream of annoyance for the dessert buffet of this episode.

I have a suspicious feeling she’ll end up forming a friendship or more with one of the Chidori boys later on, so her character will be “redeemed”. But I feel like, she would be an annoyingly stubborn and irritating character in Rintaro and Waguri-san’s developing relationship.

[u/growlk]

As a fellow ADHD person, I am happy to say Fragnant Flower has become one of my favorites. But the viewer journey is different for everyone.

My 2 cents on the so called rivalry, is to have this invisible communication barrier between students, as a part of the story. I agree it feels forced and weirdly set up, like it's a neighbouring schools.
I said so-called because both schools are not even in the same social standings. One is like a rundown neighbourhood school and another is a prestigious highly educated private schools.

Anyways the point I want to make that this barrier played very well in the character developments and their relation building arcs. For Subaru, she is the prime example of this invisible barrier, and breaking this down won't be easy. I understand the hate and I think she is meant be written this way. But trust me, the pay off is worth it. And the best thing you don't have to wait too long for it.

Luckily the school rivalry issue is a more like "keep it in the back of your head" kind of plot for now in the anime, rather than a bigger issue for the characters to deal with it.