What stood out most to me about Tonikawa is that it goes in a different direction than most romance anime and manga. There is no harem here and thus far no hints that one would develop. While the two are shy they aren't too embarrassed for physical contact. And of course a relationship does actually develop and not just at the end, as they get married at the start. This display of a healthy and so-far happy relationship despite its strange beginnings strikes me as something good for the world, that committing to one person can have its benefits. People these days rarely get to see a relationship that is not full of drama, and while there are certain to be problems along the way, being able to see this kind of relationship in action might just open some eyes to the possibility of marital commitment, which they may have viewed as too messy previously.
The innocence of the characters and the cute ways they interact with each other as they navigate daily life situations is the main draw of this show so far. It will be interesting to see how the plot develops over time, as right now there are only breadcrumbs of where it will be going. While I enjoyed the show, its lack of natural ending made it difficult to rate highly as a stand-alone product. The assumed second season will be what sets the tone for its quality long-term.
