The series gives off an impression of being your typical, feel-good harem: an average MC with a harem composed of pre-loved character tropes. For the most part, the anime embraces its genres. For better or for worse, the anime is not entirely unique, nor are its progressions.
The second season is an upgrade of the first in every aspect: story, art, voice acting, and most notably, character development. Because the anime did give the impression of being simple, the conflicts between the leads were pleasant little surprises; meaningful and emotional, surprising but not forced.
Having impure motivations for art. Having respect and admiration for another creative's work. Choosing between comfort and growth. The incorporation of these concepts (and more) presented believable insights on the life of a creative through emotive instances, that being the core of the story. This is not to say the relationships in the story are strictly creative and professional. The mutual love and resentment Tomoya has with Eriri, and the unclear, but heartwarming companionship he has with Megumi, too, are strong points. The development of the characters are so natural and so subtle that when the anime itself makes mention of very gradual change, the realization is sudden. They changed. They grew. It isn't farfetched, but it is easy to miss if you don't pay attention.
The open ending, for better or for worse, stayed true to the series' first impressions: light and easy. While of the same nature as the first season's ending, the second season was concluded not as cleanly, and not as satisfyingly. The series very rarely strays from what it promises. But after the unforeseen, tasteful drama came a characteristically non-committal resolution, leaving a bitter taste. The story had potential and a good set of lead characters. It could've been more than your typical harem anime; it simply decided against it.
