The characters are likable, and feel like real people, which is important in a character driven show. Pacing and storytelling is where the show falls off a bit for me.
Don't get me wrong, when done well, I love a slow-burn story where everyday life is shown. During the viewing of this anime, I was often a little bored or wishing for more being done in a scene. And then BOOM, the ending. The ending felt rushed while the whole rest of the series dragged on.
I'm not saying this is a bad, or even sub-par anime, I enjoyed this series very much and I'm glad I experienced it. I think it's pacing and episode structure could have been better and I honestly would have liked to see more of the side characters (I loved Nishida!).
The anime pleasantly surprised me with its maturity and grace covering the subject matter. It doesn't get inappropriate or cringe-inducing like other shows or series that cover age-gap relationships. Without spoilers, the show isn't a romance in my opinion. It's about the growth of a person (both Tachibana and Kondou) and a bond between two individuals.
Overall I would say a 7.5 score for me. Worth a watch if you want to watch a relaxing show with decent characters amazing animation and sound design and nothing too heavy.
