Hananoi-kun to Koi no Yamai

Hotaru Hinase has lived nearly sixteen years without romance. She is satisfied alone as long as she can enjoy the little things in life with her beloved friends and family. In her mind, she is not meant to fall in love, nor does she understand the concept.

While out with a friend, Hotaru witnesses the severe breakup of her schoolmate Hananoi, to whom she has never spoken. Afterward, she sees him sitting in the snow and holds her umbrella over him. To her surprise, this gesture results in him confessing his feelings for her at school the next day. Though Hotaru rejects him, Hananoi insists on letting her get to know him. He does whatever he can to woo her, from changing his hairstyle to finding her lost hairpin in the snow.

Although she has no romantic feelings towards him, Hotaru believes that by spending more time with him, she will learn how to love. She agrees to date him and slowly begins to navigate what being a girlfriend entails, including how to reciprocate the kind gestures that Hananoi continues to perform for her.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Hananoi, Saki Main

Kobayashi, Chiaki Japanese

Hinase, Hotaru Main

Hanazawa, Kana Japanese

Shibamura, Tsukiha Supporting

Sakamoto, Maaya Japanese

Hinase, Kagari Supporting

Komatsu, Mikako Japanese

Yao, Souhei Supporting

Kimura, Ryouhei Japanese

Kurata, Keigo Supporting

Oosaka, Ryouta Japanese

Yui Supporting

Yamane, Aya Japanese

Mother Supporting

Takahashi, Mikako Japanese

Father Supporting

Nojima, Hirofumi Japanese

Kuroe, Yukihiro Supporting

Okitsu, Kazuyuki Japanese

Matsumoto, Takuya Producer

Kurosu, Nobuhiko Producer

Makino, Tomoe Director

Ootera, Fumihiko Sound Director

Reviews

Apr 18, 2024

Ellenwitch

Recommended

Preliminary (3/12 eps)

A Condition of love. More like a play on the meaning behind it.

I say this, as it's what the show basically presents itself as. Which can add to this show as a concept. While it will have a story, and plot. But it's noticeable undertones, really showcase what the anime is all about.

Story and characters: 7
These two mix together in a show such as this. The characters make the story, and the story is built around them, and the concept of it all. Because we all fall in love. We've all had our crushes, or how our perception of love is judged and added up ... throughout our lives. We've seen the red flags, and we can see how one can feel in regards to the concept of love. Which is where I feel like the writing of this show really comes full circle. We all approach love differently, and you see it through how the characters act. Hananoi might be the hot guy girls crave, but under that could be too much to handle. Meanwhile Hinase compared to 'other' girls could be seen as plain, or boring. Which brings insecurities about oneself, even if you've got a good head on your shoulders.

Point being. How they've written the concept of love, and how addicted people get behind it, is a really detailed and great way to put it. and the show has done a great job of understanding that in more ways than one. Quite an interesting take, and a way to write a romance kind of show, and how it'll develop beyond that.

Art and sound: 8
This gets a higher grade because the style is a really great looking style. Which is rather fitting for these kinds of shows. The kind that you wish certain shows of different genres that have some odd choices of art style, and animation wish they had. While it's not breathtaking, but the style not only matches the theme, but is fit for purpose, and good to look at. What more could you want? To top it off with good voice acting, and a well presented direction in terms of reactions, and how to capture the theme of the moment. Both have done a great job here.

A Condition called Love certainly is something. Really showcasing love in every department, which if you've got the taste for it, will be enjoyable for you to watch for sure.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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May 9, 2024

ReXiRa

Mixed Feelings

Preliminary (5/12 eps)

The Yearner meets AroAce girl

A quick summary in 5 words or less

Initially a very accurate depiction of an AroAce person in the protagonist, who ends up on the receiving end of romantic love from a guy who feels it deeper than most.

An interesting idea on paper but very prone to poor execution.

Most of the problems stem from Hananoi's warped view of human relationships, possibly due to his upbringing. He idolizes romantic relationship and neglects "normal" friendships.
When asked by our protagonist if he wanted to be friends with her even if she turned him down, he answered with "If we can't be lovers, I don't want ... to be friends" which is already very selfish.
Most of his displays of affections can also be read as very selfish or atleast very self-serving in nature whilst also being self-destructive at times. He gives his 200% in everything he does for a lover which was also the reason for his previous breakups.

What Hananoi needs isn't a girlfriend, it's a few regular everyday friends and only when he learns about personal boundaries and whether or not if what he's doing bothers someone who doesn't know you that well, should he start dating someone.

The overall message of the story is also very confusing. It makes it out as if being AroAce is inherently an unnatural/bad thing that can be remedied by meeting "Mr. Right". The Protagonist, Hotaru just needs to be able to pick up on more romantic nuances to avoid misunderstanding but, with the current overall direction of the story, it might just turn into another "girl falls in love for the first time" type story.

Another potential message of the story is, "if you're obsessive enough with your displays of affection, you'll one day get someone who loves you back" which is a terrifying messaage in the current age with parasocial relationships between fans and idols, celebs and the like.

In short, Hananoi needs "regular" friends and learning about boundaries.
Hotaru needs to build up her romantic awareness to avoid misunderstandings.
Overall, this story could've been an interesting exploration of the nature of romantic relationships whilst being a good representation of an AroAce person, but falls short and insists on it having to be a romance.

It's not a bad story by any means, but suffers from what ifs and a less interesting story development.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Apr 26, 2024

GyatChatillon

Not Recommended

Preliminary (4/12 eps)

Imma keep this one short. I wanted to like it, I really did. It's truly wasted potential.
This anime tries to hit the same as Skip to Loafer/A Sign of Affection, (both being animes I fucking love), but fails spectacularly.
The animation is uncanny and soul-less, scenes that are supposed to be wholesome just come across as weird. The chemistry is non existent, the characters are boring, their interactions are generic. My boy Hananoi-kun is fucking tap dancing on the fine line between cute/possessive and plain creepy. Bro is pretty much just Usui Takumi without the rizz. So far, the only vibes he givin is serial ... killer vibes. Shits just bland man. This anime had the potential to be the diabetes of the season, but it just ended up being another half-assed, low budget adaptation that will be forgotten.

I just felt kinda sad watching this, its clear the anime adaptation didnt get the care and attention (and budget ofc) that it desperately needed. I can see some people enjoying it, I'm extremely biased towards romance animes, and ep 4 was a step in the right direction, but I can't, in good conscience, give this one a recommended.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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