When I first picked this up I was expecting to drop it after one episode. The premise of basically having an incel somehow get into a relationship with a really pretty girl seemed kind of shallow. But I was entirely wrong and this is easily one of my favorite high school romance series. The plot is simple but engaging, and the artwork is admittedly mediocre. But the thing that makes this anime shine out above other romance anime is the characters. Every single character is relatable, human, deep, and nuanced. The authors did an incredible job of keeping true to the characters in every situation, and in not subverting their personalities for convenience or plot motion. Even the characters I wasn't supposed to like ended up being really dear to me, because I can just feel the authenticity behind their dialogue. I sort of expected a series that felt like it had been written by an otaku incel, but it feels more like the author is really familiar with the motivations and inhibitions of human beings in general.
That said, this anime didn't get a 10. It might get a 9 on a rewatch, but overall this was pretty precisely what it wanted to be and no more. It's hard to put into words what I mean, but the writers had a lot of room to work within with the characters and they didn't keep their plot at the same level of awesomeness as their characters. Of course, it's meant to be that way, so it's hard to fault the authors for that.
I'd recommend this anime for anyone who likes character-driven Slice of Life anime. It really is a diamond in the rough and I wish more people would give it a chance. Super excited for the second season.
