Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu 2nd Season

The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 was an incredible run from start to finish, and I cannot believe how far we have come since the “cringe” start at the beginning of this series. This season has provided a ton of fun, quite a few laughs, quite a few pay-offs, and some emotional moments as well. Apart from the sheer sweetness of this series, Kyoutarou’s growth has been incredible to watch, and as someone who shares some of the same traits as him, like being an introvert, some of his character growth really resonated with me, and he continues to be easily my favourite character in this series. It is so early in the year, but it is already an anime of the year contender for me. I tend to like most romance anime that I have watched, but the one wall that they almost always hit is never really escaping the “Will they, won’t they?” phase of the show. Characters meander and the story progression goes at a snail’s pace, which in due time, makes the story lose its charm. A big reason for that is the caricatures and tropes of the characters that are in love. For example, whenever the main female character is a tsundere, all we see is her punching the dude or denying her feelings. In this show, there is no such annoying trope, and the dynamic between the two leads is a breath of fresh air. It’s just two somewhat socially awkward teens just getting to understand one another, without the progression being too dragged out. Of course, I also love seeing the female lead be taller than the male lead, as it is just a unique touch to the whole dynamic. Another aspect of the series I really enjoy are some of the subtleties to the character growth. The characters feel somewhat realistic, in that they physically grow, something normal for their age of course. Kyoutarou grows a little taller, his voice deepens a bit, and Anna might be a bit excited, but it was never a huge deal. The characters understand more about one another at a nice pace. What was unknown at one point gets learned later on, such as when Anna understands how Kyoutarou would retract back into his shell when he was in certain situations, or Kyoutarou would understand how Anna would feel at a particular time. When they talk to each other, they might stumble on their words sometimes, but when it matters, they know exactly what to say. Overall, I really enjoyed how the show never got “in your face” about the character growth. Kyoutarou has been a pretty relatable character to me to some extent, especially with his introversion. Kyoutarou's challenges with socializing and public speaking kind of resemble how parts of my life have went. I was a pretty chatty kid, but as I grew into my teenage years, for some reason I got more reserved, and I had stage fright and a fear of public speaking. Yeah, I took drama classes, and classes that required me to talk with others, but I was not, and still am not the most talkative person around in the slightest. Whenever I saw Kyoutarou talk to his inner self, while it might feel somewhat cliché, it always was executed perfectly because it acknowledges that a lot of the time, the biggest thing holding someone back is themselves. Deep down, they know they can do whatever they set their mind to, but they sell themselves short. Like people say, sometimes a person's worst enemy is themselves, so whenever Kyoutarou achieved something substantial, I was so proud of him. As for the other characters, there aren’t any real weaknesses to the cast. Anna of course is a very cute, somewhat awkward character that put a lot of proactive care into developing the relationship further. Most of the other characters were really fun to watch, and support the main duo very well. They all know about Kyoutarou and Anna’s blossoming relationship, but they always let the two grow by themselves (save for that flash mob group), even if they would sometimes create situations where that was possible. The parents, relatives, friends, everyone in their social circle were so supportive, and happy whenever both Kyoutarou or Anna were successful, to the point where it would always warm my heart. No unnecessary family drama, no unnecessary love triangles, just friends and family being wholesome and supportive. Moeko and Kana probably had the best moments as side characters, but there is not one bad character in this series. No, not even the perverted guys. Sure, it might be a bit exaggerated, but people at that age always have something dirty to talk about. The visuals and directing were for the most part, very solid. The blurriness does get a little much at times, but it never hindered my enjoyment. The staff did a fantastic job of really having the emotional moments hit hard. Kensuke Ushio, who worked on the music, continues to show that he is one of the best in the business right now, right there with Kevin Penkin and Evan Call, possibly Hiroyuki Sawano as well, at really elevating the show to new heights. It has been nothing but joy watching this show every week. I never thought a romcom could surpass *Kaguya-sama: Love is War* for me, but this has been something truly special. The sheer state of giddiness I would be in before starting each episode was a testament to how much of an impact this show has had on me. Whether or not we see this series return anytime soon, it’ll still hold a place near and dear to my heart, which was in danger almost every week of watching this. 'There's no guarantee we have a tomorrow together, and if there isn't, then maybe I should try for what I want a little."

This anime had so much potential to be decent. I don't seem to understand how it's so highly rated. It has similarities to the anime my dress up darling, the only difference is the male lead in this anime is absolutely terrible. He has no particular gimmick that helps him stand out since this story line has been used so many times. He's the average frail anti social kid portrayed as the lead protagonist that's on a self journey of personal growth and finding love eventually. They could of made half the storyline better by sprucing up the male lead, you can literally copy and paste any other male protagonist that's worth the watch and plug it in here and it would work just as good if not better. None of the characters blend and mesh together due to the inadequate male lead. I dont get how this anime is higher rated than as some other animes in the same exact feild with far less praise from critics, with a better blend of personality and intrigue than this one.

"peak romcom, best romcom, masterpiece romcom bla bla bla" This show too generic and about trope "mob mc with heroine popular" Look this, mc role mob with emocringe haircut and heroine weird with random behavior make her cringe, but everyone liked her because have big boobs lmao This show for hallucinations people dreaming get popular girl with big boobs, and author girl have fetish shota. Her often make seggs bait scene in manga makes me feel disgusting because they are middle school. This show looks mid compared to other anime romance middle school like Tsuki ga Kirei and Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san. I can't see them as a couple because of the height difference. Their like big sister x little brother or mother x son lmao. I always respect about another wholesome romance without selling fanservice or seggs bait. But this cringe show has fanservice stuff or seggs bait in almost every episode. Even though there’s no genre ecchi or rating 13+ lmao. Plot: 4/10 This plot not special for romcom, always heroine first take for action, and mob mc just go with the flow. Visual: 6/10 Things good from this anime is have good visual and available scene make up animation. Character: 4/10 Mob mc from the beginning and now is boring, and character development mob mc just plain not special. Heroine have all manners random behavior make her look cringe and I don't know what's interesting about her except she's dirty eater and have big boobs is things favorite coomer. Romantic Moment: 3/10 Because random behavior heroine and mob mc just go with the flow, makes me think "this romantic moment???". Bruh their romantic moment looks terrible. The Dangers Cringe in My Heart or Midyaba is just a looks good among the pile of mid show but mid is still mid.

Undeniably, the success of this anime is due to the use of many beautiful effects in each motion animation. The images for each character are consistent and good even though there are no significant changes from the previous prequel. The opening music of this anime is the best in its season. Because of the animation standard of this anime opening music, it is already at a higher level stage and arguably this is THE BEST school romance opening music anime FOR NOW (March 2024). For the story Honestly, the story of BOKUYABA s2 is too simple, and I can say that THE FIRST SEASON WAS MUCH BETTER because the two of them often met in the library and that's where Kyou's story and character development took place. In season one we felt the development of our MC's character and in this series, he just continues it until the two of them develop a crush on each other. There are not many significant changes but what makes it memorable is that the studio that adapted this story is really crazy. The transition from one scene to another really makes people who are used to enjoying ordinary romance anime, instantly dumbfounded at the movement of effects shown only for the spectacle of the school romance genre. The rest is just fan service in the form of the viewer's POV. the score for anime was 6.6, but because the animation was great it was 7.8

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu, or "The Dangers in My Heart" (abbreviated as Bokuyaba), has been one of the greatest surprises I've had in my over 15 years in the anime/manga industry. It's the unequivocal proof that, even though the industry may seem saturated with works featuring similar elements, genuine and refreshing stories can still be crafted to surprise and excite us, breaking away from the established conventions they impose upon themselves. In this case, we're talking about a romantic comedy of opposites attract, something we've seen numerous times within the genre. However, it stands out for being a touching, nostalgic, and precious story with authentic and real characters. It subtly explores the internal conflicts of a young heart in the midst of self-discovery. Despite Bokuyaba being a RomCom at its essence, balancing equitably and fluidly between its romantic and comedic moments, that's just its surface layer. Once we delve into its deeper layers, we realize that besides being a beautiful and captivating story of youthful love, it's also a tale about the changes we undergo during one of the most complicated and turbulent times of our lives: adolescence. It's a change that manifests both physically—where we see our characters develop their bodies, grow taller, change their voices, as well as attempt to alter their physical appearance by losing weight or changing their look with a simple haircut—and mentally—where our characters mature, learn from their mistakes, face their insecurities, take on more responsibilities, become more aware of their surroundings, and always strive to better themselves. But above all, it's the emotional change where we discover our preferences and fall in love for the first time. Bokuyaba portrays impeccably and convincingly how the feeling of adolescent first love is; the nerves we feel when we're with the person we like, the anxiety to see them again, smiling unconsciously when they talk to us, and blushing relatively easily. We try to act differently than we would with others because we want that person to see how great we can be, to make a great impression. Staying up late talking on the phone, worrying when several days pass without seeing them, feeling jealous when they're with someone else—there's a plethora of mixed emotions that confuse us and make us doubt. It's a reflection of the inexperience we have at that age. But beyond that, Bokuyaba also focuses on something very important that most of these high school romance anime forget or omit, and that's the building of emotional bonds that go far beyond love. While love is the predominant feeling throughout the story and the main motivation for both characters, it's just the tip of the iceberg because Bokuyaba prioritizes building a relationship on foundations as important as trust, respect, and honesty between both parties, mutual understanding, being aware of each other's problems, being an emotional support in moments of fragility, having the patience to wait or listen carefully when the other wants to say something, and being able to empathize with their situation and try to help them in a selfless manner. It's a story that goes beyond simply showing sweet or cute interactions between the protagonists; it's a deep emotional connection that feels real and human. All of this can be seen reflected in its two protagonists. On one side, we have Kyoutarou Ichikawa, a shy, reserved, short, and friendless boy. At first glance, Kyoutarou seems to be the typical lonely protagonist without any outstanding qualities. However, as we delve deeper into his character, we realize that he is much more multifaceted than he initially seems. Kyoutarou is quite withdrawn and dislikes socializing with people, but he doesn't hold back when expressing his dislikes, he prefers to blend into the background and not get involved in others' affairs, although he often acts impulsively to help his classmates, despite being quite intelligent, Kyoutarou struggles greatly with self-esteem issues stemming from his past and a negative event that marked him, making him even more insecure and fearful, creating a complex of inferiority, as well as self-hatred and disdain. Throughout the story, we will see Kyoutarou constantly having to confront these internal problems stemming from his past, while simultaneously discovering these new feelings gradually blossoming within him, such as falling in love for the first time. We will be witnesses to how both aspects conflict internally within his own mind, causing him to wonder and question how he should act or what step he should take next to confront these new emotions. However, it is through this that Kyoutarou, unlike the vast majority of protagonists we see in romantic comedies, will progressively change. As he interacts with his classmates and makes new friends, he will open up to the world, revealing his most intimate and human side, his unknown facets, his phobias, and quirks. But no matter how much Kyoutarou tries to change, he will often stumble, doubt, or make mistakes, he will thinks doing it wrong and regress, he will feel afraid of this change and what it might mean for him and the relationship he is building because maturing is a long process and a path full of curves where we will constantly see Kyoutarou searching for answers to these new stimuli he has never before experienced. On the other hand, we have Anna Yamada, our co-protagonist and the romantic interest of our Kyoutarou. Anna is a box of surprises, a completely unpredictable and very expressive girl who is completely opposite to Kyoutarou; she is quite tall, cheerful, charismatic, and very sociable, although she may seem a bit clumsy at times. Additionally, she works as an actress and a magazine model. The first impression she may give off is that of the "ideal girl" that every man would like to have. However, as we get to know Anna from Kyoutarou's perspective, we realize quite the opposite, showing us an ordinary girl with her own problems and flaws. Anna is a girl who has been "forced" to act like an adult, to mature prematurely, and to have more responsibilities due to her work. But Anna is still a 14-year-old girl, emotionally very unstable, who cries relatively easily, feels useless for not being able to help, and thinks she's not a reliable person because of it. Since childhood, she has grown up with certain insecurities and frustrations, seeing that there was always someone better than her in everything she tried. She is afraid that the people closest to her will eventually hate her for who she is, presenting a wide range of internal issues that will be revealed through her dialogues and interactions. Bokuyaba shows us that both Anna and Kyoutarou, no matter how "different" they may seem from a superficial perspective, are much more alike than they imagine, and that idealizing someone based on their appearance or status without knowing that person is one of the greatest mistakes we can make. The development of their relationship is fantastic because there is a sense of progression and continuity, where it's gratifying for the viewer to see both characters grow personally as their romantic relationship evolves. Many RomComs seem to "live in the moment," giving us episodes that only aim to show something cute and disconnected. In these anime, you could watch the episodes in non-chronological order, and the impact would be minimal because the characters would act the same, and only the "setting" would change. In contrast, in Bokuyaba, it's the opposite; there's a continuous progression where you can see how the characters grow closer and fall in love as they meet at school and talk daily. At first, they are just classmates, having short and direct conversations, both maintaining a certain distance with minimal eye contact and no physical contact, displaying a much more formal and respectful attitude. Here, we won't see our protagonists walking home together…

If you've come far enough see this review you're probably wondering whether bokuyaba is actually a great romcom worth watching or just another overrated mess that won't have such a high rating in one or two years. Answering that question is surprisingly pretty easy. It comes down to one thing and one thing only : how much escapism do you want in your anime? Throughout both S1 and S2 there's a shit ton of moments when ichikawa just goes around the school or even OUTSIDE the school, following yamada's ass because he's "worried about her" in a manner that is nothing short of stalker behavior. And what happens when he's finally caught in the act? Ichikawa rambles on about how he's so disgusting for doing this(which is true duh) but yamada just thanks him for worrying about her and some other anime bullshit that I don't remember cuz anime bullshit always sounds the same. Obviously not the reaction you expect from a real person. In the real world your girlfriend would want you to just tell her that you wanted to come with her or she'll say that she has her own privacy and you don't have to follow her everywhere. And there are LOTS of illogical stuff like this happening in every episode of this show that are played off as sweet or comedic. Now I can hear you practically screaming my imaginary friend that " THIS IS ANIME IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE REAL WORLD" and you know what? You're absolutely correct. Anime as a whole is a medium about suspension of disbelief. There's a reason why we have words like anime logic because (excluding outliers like monster) only by accepting that the logic existing in anime is different from the real world you can start to enjoy the plot and characters presented to you for what they are. Problem is bokuyaba doesn't present you with anything too crazy in any area. I will admit the animation can be stellar at times and it's pretty cool overall. Music is passable. The plot...well romcoms are never about their plot so let's skip this one and then we have the characters...ugh. The characters here are either pretty generic or one dimensional stereotypes without any exception. I've seen a lot of praise for ichikawa's character development and I just don't agree. He gets some development sure. But There are so many other characters with the same premise that are done way better (like hachiman and gintoki imo) and compared to them ichikawa is just average. And that's the main character. Yamada is paper thin and her whole character is based on her feelings for ichikawa and her love for modeling. None of which are well explored. The remaining cast is also trash but I don't remember their names and don't care enough to look them up just to explain why they're trash so you'll have to forgive me for that. But if you've watched your fair share of anime there's nothing here you haven't seen before. There's the gyaru, the silent girl who actually cares about her friends, heroine's childhood friend , the womanizer senpai who is MC's rival and get this... THE PERVERT BOY WHO TALKS ABOUT BOOBS ALL THE TIME! IN A ROMCOM ANIME!! HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA So with all that out of the way. Why this show has become so beloved despite its flaws? It's the escapism. The male fantasy. And romantic moments so sweet they will give you diabetes. The most popular girl in the class who is also a model Falling for the edgy unattractive loner is a pretty sweet fantasy but everything else about this show is so half baked that I didn't really understand the hype surrounding it.(and yeah it won't have such a high rating in two years)

Don't let the haters fool you, this is peak rom com and not waifu bait at all. Sure some people consider her a Waifu, but those people are creepy af for drooling over a 14 year old. This and the first season are written incredibly well. The character development is on point, it's seriously the highlight of the show for me. This isn't just some reverse Shoujo attractive girl falls for less than attractive guy, their love is more based on personality and is more wholesome. It also depicts accurately falling for someone. I feel the first intro for the first season captures that feeling pretty well. I believe it's a very aptly named series. It reminds me of being younger, it reminds me of being in love for the first time, for real. Personally I feel most teens are in lust, not in love. However you can feel the genuine affection each character has for each other. Especially with Yamada's goals and ambitions, Kyotaro is her rock in supporting her. This genre can honestly feel dead at times, but this, and the first season are gems that should be watched whether your male or female. I feel it can fit into either genre. 10/10, must watch.

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu Season 2........... I am rendered speechless. I truly truly cannot express in words enough how special this series is. How perfectly it's written. How it had me more invested than any show I can remember in recent memory. I am baffled. Romance does not get better than this. And I don't think it could ever hope to. Nothing compares. Nothing even comes close. I will never be over this series. Anime does not get much better. I don't even know how you could conceive a better main two protagonists than BokuYaba has. It's not possible. The character writing the dialogue the scenarios the animation the voice acting the development it's all flawless I have no complaints with this anime I have none whatsoever. Perfection personified. Speaking more about the characters, I cannot fathom how they were even written. From the moment we met them through all the masterful development I have never rooted for two characters more in my life. I cannot explain how masterfully every single scene was written. Everything had impact. Everything mattered. Everything had purpose, everything led to more development to more perfect scenes to more captivating interactions I am utterly stunned at how real everything felt and how natural every aspect of their progression was. I would squirm like a little girl throughout basically every romantic scene, I would go to bed thinking about this show and wake up doing the same. Never has there been a better written romance. The animation was perfection. Everything was so vibrant, so full of life, so purposeful especially during the romantic scenes. Everything felt so alive and immersive and I have never felt so excited for every single scene before. The art was gorgeous, the way the characters were drawn in important moments and even just the backgrounds and environments filled me with awe. Everything felt so cute yet so serious, so incredibly vibrant I was just lost for words. The jokes and overall vibe throughout always hit no matter what, this anime absolutely delivers all you could possible hope for and then goes far far beyond that. Episodes would have me laughing out loud, nearly crying from emotional overload, squirming from pure overstimulation, shaking in my chair because I was so excited to see what would come from certain scenes. I truly cannot put into words the feelings this anime gave me. I loved every character, all the side characters served such a great purpose to the plot, everything was so perfectly crafted every interaction had meaning every scene brought something new and interesting and important to the plot there was no filler there was nothing wasted they just developed everything exactly how a viewer would have wanted. I have never rewatched so many clips on youtube before I have never rewatched so many episodes before so many highlights I am absolutely and totally in love with this show. Overall this was far and wide the best romance I have ever watched and one of the best pieces of fiction I have watched period. An absolute must watch. A life changing piece of media just the most adorable thing I have ever witnessed in my 22 years on this planet. The easiest 10 I've given in a long time. Perfection.

While I don’t think Bokuyaba is the best romance ever, it’s certainly deserving of a lot of the praise it gets and is one of best developed school romances out there. A must watch for any romance fan and the gold standard for romance manga adaptations. Perhaps no other series has captured the highs and lows of early adolescence quite like Bokuyaba. Middle school is such an interesting time because our bodies and emotions are developing at a very fast rate, often faster than we can comprehend. There’s a whirlwind of emotions hitting all at the same time and it’s easy to get swept up in those. This series does such a good job of showing the complex mood swings and feelings than can arise in teenagers as a result and it really feels like we’re proud parents watching our kids grow up in front of us, establishing a level of emotional connectivity not seen often. Kyo and Anna’s unlikely love story is the core of the story. Two people who on the surface couldn’t be more different, yet in reality are able to bond over shared insecurities and interests. The perfect model Yamada may seem like she’s got it all figured out. Popular, a model and drop dead gorgeous, anyone would be lucky to have her. But few really understand her, at least on the level that Kyo grows to. An introverted stereotypical chuuni who at the start of the show can’t do anything but write down how much he wants to kill people in class, Kyotaro arguably has some of the best character development in the medium. If you’re able to deal with his cringe antics through the first two episodes or so, you’ll really be rewarded, especially in this second season where he continues to come into his own and really takes a leadership role in his class. I couldn’t help grinning from ear to ear with each milestone he completed. Half the fun of this story is seeing two people who could seemingly not be more different defy expectations and find out they have more in common with each other than with anyone else. While we may not all find a Yamada or Kyo, I think that’s a powerful life lesson to be learnt. We can find the best of people in the most unlikely of places. There’s so many moments in this show that had me giddy like a high school girl. With each episode, both leads got bolder, coming closer to shattering the thin glass between them. It’s a very satisfying process unlike most romance stories that feature poor communication, over complication and characters who can’t stand next to each other for 10 seconds without running away. While there is definitely some awkwardness between Anna and Kyo, it’s more so normal “I have a crush and am in middle school” type of awkwardness rather than unrealistic shonen manga stuff. A testament to the author’s ability to create realistic characters. Further to that point, the seiyuus do a good job of conveying the sort of youthful naïveté you’d expect at this age without sounding too anime-y. There’s definitely some tropey moments, but they’re not overwhelming. That leads into the last and perhaps the biggest reason for Bokuyaba’s success. Its production values. I knew of studio Shin-Ei from Takagi san and Kakkou, but man I did not know they were capable of this type of direction and cinematography. This had SHAFT/Kyoani levels of quality and for such a ground level and character driven story, it manages to feel exciting and fluid thanks to the use of on screen text(think Monogatari), camera movement and scene cuts. Not to mention the gorgeous visuals, genius use of lighting, shadows and colours. And we haven’t even talked about my particular favourite, Ushio Kensuke’s OST. Ushio-sensei has worked on many of my favourite OST’s including Koe no Katachi, Tengoku and Liz to Aoi Tori. His pieces add such weight and impact to the big emotional set pieces and this show would not hit the same without it. He knows exactly what literal and figurative notes to hit at exactly the right time. So, what’s the verdict on Bokuyaba season 2? It’s a massive improvement over season 1 in every way. From story, to romance to character development, it all takes a massive step forward just like our two leads. Progress is gradual, but satisfying and if you at all liked season 1, you’ll love this season too. It’s not the best romance ever, but the hype is largely deserved. It’s a simple, but effective coming of age story that doesn’t rely on fan service or too many tropes to make its point. If there’s one thing we should all take away from this show it’s that we shouldn’t be afraid to open ourselves up and connect with people, even if they are seemingly polar opposites of ourselves. Bokuyaba season 2 gets a very easy 10, out of 10.

TL;DR: I understand that this review is stupidly long and kind of personal. If you are even on the fence, give this show a chance, it’s great. And if you can allow yourself to enjoy something so eagerly sensitive, you won’t regret it. One night back in late 2019 shortly following one of the worst months of my life, I was called over to sit next to this mysterious girl while riding the bus. It turns out this person was in my creative writing class and recognized me, she liked some of the stuff I wrote. We hung out a few times before the semester ended. It turns out despite being in a life science her real dream was to write for a living, she also somehow comprehended a lot of my strange ideas, she was unintentionally pretty, and elegantly dweeby. Anyways. At this point, I think Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu can be pretty confidently considered one of the great raid bosses of romance anime, a modern classic of the genre if you will. You take a cleverly written, dense, yet still approachable romantic scenario and have it be brought to life by a seasoned industry experts, then you have the perfect recipe for a potentially exceptional experience. I feel like any praise I heap on Bokuyaba could be taken as some kind of overhyping, since at the end of the day it’s a fairly straight forward romance show, the kind where the main leads brush their hands up against each other and start blushing or some kind of other histrionic nonsense. But at least for this style, specifically in the heavily streamlined form Bokuyaba depicts, I can’t see a better form possibly existing. This is as good as this shit is ever going to get, and in that light, it deserves whatever praise its small but emboldened fanbase wishes to heap. Even though I’ve talked at length already as to why I enjoyed season one, I think it’s important to break down the general reasons why this season has specifically been propelled to the top of the charts. Since I’m sure for months now people have been incredibly confused as to why some seemingly frivolous high school bullshit is fighting alongside decade defining works like Vinland Saga. Which, if you hear me out, shouldn’t be that hard of a sell. Part 1: It looks perrrrrty Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu isn’t a show that escapes the aesthetic trappings of its setting, this isn’t some experimental extravaganza like Sonny boy. The source material is bound to a simple middle school (not high school) setting in a typical Japanese Tokyo metropolitan area taking place sometime in the late 2010’s. Yet, Bokuyaba gracefully, almost like it was born to, is able to elevate its largely blasé setting into an immersive environment where beautiful, enriching romance is blooming before your eyes. Season two specifically somehow outpaces season one in almost every aspect visually, and in particularly regards to its direction. In terms of storyboarding, character art, animation, music choices, editing, among other more micro directorial decisions, this season stands a step above the previous, and above most slice of life anime. This isn’t to unnecessarily deride or insult romance stories that didn’t have the privilege of an incredibly dedicated team of digital photographers that meticulously elevated every idiosyncratic moment, but bokuyaba does, and this sets it apart. Combined with Kensuke Ushio’s ethereal, heartstrings-pulling soundtrack, Bokuyaba is able to sell basically any scene under the pretenses of its own nostalgic adoration of adolescent love. Moments are often captured in this ephemeral liminality kind of like sports anime, moments feel substantially slower and more significant to the parties involved than what we would normally witness in real life. Most of my complaints about the original season’s production have mostly been cleaned up in the six month intermission the staff had to make season two. As such, the show largely looks beautiful, with quirky, endearing character designs and atmosphere that is able to convey both the silly, the dramatic, and the intimate. In January of 2020, I decided to get a buzzcut out of raw curiosity since I had had largely the same hairstyle since high school, it looked terrible. Like many with a buzzcut, my hairstyle didn’t demonstrate anything about my personality nor did it flatter my appearance by any stretch. Yet, when I saw that same girl I mentioned earlier in the following semester’s creative writing course, she complimented my cut. I was appreciative but confused, I’ve never had someone compliment me on such a run of the mill style before, I wasn’t sure what to think. But her compliment made me consider when we got lunch in early February, could this meal together, and our previous hang out sessions where we went to the Museum, or made pancakes together, be considered dates? “Absurd,” I thought, “there’s no fucking way.” Yet, there was a part of me that desperately wanted it to be true. Part 2: The characters actually deserve each other Despite having the series being so romance focused, Bokuyaba fundamentally cares about its characterization more, preserving its development, while still providing its audience the small moments of wholesome satisfaction and progress that comes with these cute or sensitive love stories. Often times in romance subplots in media oriented toward men, the main couple getting together is taken as such a given that I find it hardly something worth getting invested. Firstly, the girl is basically designed to be as likable to the audience and the protagonist as possible, where the only reason they’re not fucking from episode two is because either the main character has to prove to the universe he’s worth anything (not to the girl), or basic narrative contrivance. Secondly, sometimes I find “main girls” in anime so eager to be liked as to be boring. The characters in anime I tend to remember and appreciate the most are ones that contain compelling flaws that add to the greater themes of the work and blah blah blah, I’m sure you’ve heard this a million fucking times at this point. Thankfully, the featured couple Bokuyaba has enough down to earth insecurities to make the characters feel dynamic enough to be genuinely engaging. I’ve already talked about Kyotaro at length in my review on season one, but what makes his arc so satisfying this time around is that the sheer degree of his neuroticism becomes the core piece holding the relationship back. Things are made as obvious for this kid as possible, but because of his vast insecurities and feelings of inferiority, he can’t take the steps necessary to cement his relationship with Anna. In fact, even when it becomes undeniable this chick likes him, he can only contextualize it within specific constructs that seek to justify his anxieties and low self-esteem, “I have to be extra careful because if I make any serious mistakes, she’ll immediately hate me!” Bokuyaba forces Kyotaro to go through the initial hazing necessary to build the prerequisite self-worth to finally move his relationships forward. He needs to overcome himself to love someone else, this means going outside your comfort zone, getting involved in activities you normally wouldn’t, a making friends that aren’t JUST your romantic interest, these efforts build essential trust in your own competencies. It helps that there’s this bishounen imaginary friend guy, which could be thought of as the confident part of Kyotaro’s brain, that helps ground the story in something that isn’t unadulterated anxious speculation. Kyotaro’s own conception of who he wants to be through this shoujo manga pretty boy also reinforces the narrative’s general themes about needing self-love to love others. Because, dating Yamada wouldn’t possible if he always felt like she’s heads above him in terms of social status and character—which of course, if you pay attention, is a dead fucking lie. When I watched season one, despite enjoying her character, I still sort of wrote Anna off as this coomer-bait…

If you like well-crafted scenes with beautiful graphics and crazily suitable background music, this anime is for you. Simply put, everything the first season did really well already, the second season took and made it so much better tenfold. The animation was greatly smoothed out, the blurriness sometimes seen in the first season of The Dangers in My Heart changed to sharp focus, accentuating the true natures of both main characters. The background music somehow manages to do its job even better, combining with the smooth animation to create truly breathtaking scenes that would really put viewers in the moment. Already done really well in the first season, the second season produces scenes that made me pause the anime, in a good way because I just had to stop and appreciate the sheer beauty of the moment. The plot, unfortunately, is one of two things that sticks out to me as the one aspect of the anime that could probably have been done better. Yes, there's some character development throughout the two seasons, but one feels like most of the development was done during the first season. As for the romance aspect, the ending had already been established in the first season, and the second season, in my opinion, could have done a little more to continue making viewers glued to the screen. There are hints of a couple between two characters (which I'm not going to name), but isn't built upon enough for viewers to truly care about them. Sure, there's some episodes that really make you laugh and smile like an idiot, but the momentum, unlike the first season, was a bit more blunted. I would also argue that there isn't as much of a conflict this season as there was the first season, which means even less of a pull factor to viewers. However, they do still excel in making scenes that make viewers go "how the heck did they get here?" which is a plus in this criterion at least. Some of the characters were very disappointing misses. The two characters introduced at the later half of the anime, Andou Kanna and Yurine Hanzawa, were created to add a bit of tension to the season, but not nearly enough to truly make a difference in the minds of the viewers. If they had a bit more character development other than being there just to act as a bit of comic relief and force to push the main characters together, that would have, in my opinion, been a little better for the anime as a whole. The female main character's friends also suffer from a lack of development, not having been built upon enough to make the viewers relate with them. Why can I say this? Because when a character is truly memorable, viewers will remember their names. I couldn't for this anime- for nearly all the characters except for a few. However, now we talk about the great parts of this anime. For every disappointing miss, there was a character that really felt as if the producers really nurtured with all their hearts. Sho Adachi, one of the male main character's friends, is one of them. Sure, he's still the typical pervert friend whose only dream is to look at melons all day long, but he gains an extra dimension in this season, which makes him a lot more bearable. Kenta Kanzaki, another one of the male main character's friends, is a great side character, combining with Honoka Hara to make quite the interesting side couple whose names I could actually remember. There's actual conflict, there's some chemistry between them that really grows on the viewers after a while, and they truly were great hits. With all that said, we go to the main characters. Wow. I know I've probably written a lot already, but this shows how much I became invested in the show. A big part of that is with the main characters. Kyotaro Ichikawa still shows a little bit of his chuunibyou tendencies, but he's largely shed all that to show a more socially awkward side of him, which I really like. Another thing that I really like is his smile, which while goes with the "moody guy shows smile for the first time", somehow manages to touch hearts really well. He's also become a lot more relatable, because which boy doesn't go "Does she like me? Does she hate me? Maybe I shouldn't be with her..." all those insecure thoughts that typical males with even the slightest bit of hesitation would have. However, it isn't a romance comedy without the comedy, and he really shines in that aspect with his continued snarky remarks that manages to force surprised snorts out of me. Anna Yamada is also very relatable, with all her anxieties and fears presenting a stark contrast to her outspoken and bubbly exterior. While being quite aloof at the beginning, she does evolve into a character that can be sympathized with, a character whose journey can be cheered on by viewers who see her as someone that should be cared about. From her underlying insecurities to her touching emotional sensitivities, Anna Yamada is a three dimensional character that epitomizes the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover". And of course, we must talk about the music. As an idea of how good it is, I normally only watch the opening and ending themes of an anime during the final episode of the season. To be fair, I did that with the ending song, which is ok; not too bad, not too good either. However, with the consideration that I've been listening to the opening theme of The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 since I've started writing this ridiculously long review should amount for something. The animation, once again, is top-notch; the producers really poured their time and effort into an opening theme worthy of a great anime. While starting off quite simple, the opening theme goes on to capture my heart with lyrics that truly feel like the main characters would have sung if they had sung a duet together. TL:DR - Plot's a bit flat, Characters are either 100% hits or 0% misses, but I can just listen to the opening theme all day long. Review: 9.5/10 (Not as much of an emotional impact as others, but the scenes and music are truly beautiful)

[MINOR, non-specific spoilers] The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 is amazing, heartfelt and surely reignited my love for romance anime. I daresay that this is one of the best romantic comedies since Kayuga-sama love is war, and the most realistic romance since Tsuki Ga Kirei, and seems like an easy choice for Romance of the year. In this day and age of romantic comedies, they tend to be highly repetitive, often coupled with a couple of many annoying, one-dimensional character tropes and random plot points slotted in to prevent romantic progression. However, Dangers in my heart stands out through elevating its characters into relatable, and most importantly realistic human beings, which ultimately makes its narrative all the more compelling and personal. The most impressive part of Dangers in my Heart, in my opinion, is how it uses the *overused* school setting in romance anime to its fullest potential, using "stereotypical" romantic situations such as school trips, festivals etc. to develop its characters further, allowing them to grow from a child to someone more than that. When individual romantic events show no sense of linearity in typical romance anime, each romantic situation Kyoutarou and Yamada get into helps them grow as people, understand each other better and slowly realize how important the other is to their lives. Secondly, as mentioned before, the characters are written in such a compelling and relatable fashion, not as idealized people who could do everything to please others, or as perfect characters who know their way through every situation, but as imperfect people who discover their flaws and work to make themselves better. Kyoutarou in particular, started off in the first season as a teenage edgelord who seemingly has a screw loose, locking himself away from other people as he believed everyone was out to get him. Many of us have been there, being insecure about what other people think of us, being insecure about the person we are, constantly worrying about how imperfect and "lame" we are. However, as the series progresses through the second season, Kyoutarou has clearly moved on to become someone not scared of others, but most importantly, not scared of himself. From taking one step forward, two steps back with his relationship with Yamada, he slowly justifies his own feelings of love and understands just how important they are, regardless of what others may say, regardless of what society may say. Kyoutarou realizes that he loves Yamada. Every single episode subtly shows another phase in his development, it never feels rushed or forced as he progresses naturally from an introverted teenage edgelord to a man we could all respect and look up to. While her development is not as detailed as Kyoutarou's, Yamada is a great compliment to Kyoutarou, not only in the fact that she has amazing chemistry with him, but also that she has her own insecurities and worries, like a typical teenager would have. This include being fearful that she is not her perfect self. She is scared of her jealous self, scared of her clumsy and air-headed self, as well as jumping through hoops to express who she really is, but Kyoutarou in large part, as well as the other characters, make her realise that she is likable and loved regardless of her imperfections. The realism extends to the rest of the cast, with many other characters having their own quirks and insecurities. While you wouldn't expect the side cast of romance anime (which typically focuses on the main duo) to be interesting, the side cast of characters actually help compliment the main duo well, either by being supportive and recognizing the need for the main duo to come to terms with their feelings, or by affirming how much the main duo, more specifically Kyoutarou, has grown as a person. Additionally, the side cast's variety in personalities creates unique (mostly), comedic situations that have a few really funny punchlines I would not spoil for you here. I am most impressed by Yamada's mother, specifically, as parents in romance anime usually don't play a huge role, more often that not appearing as a roadblock for the main duo's relationship to be recognized. However, Yamada's mother shows real care for Yamada, not being closed minded about Yamada's relationship with Kyoutarou, but recognizing that love could play a major role in her child's well-being and happiness. Thus, she supports her in many ways, through words of affirmation and more impactfully through her actions, pushing for Yamada to find her happiness with Kyoutarou. In the world full of idealized portrayals of love, Dangers in my heart season 2 does not indulge in the "match made in heaven" bullshit, but instead shows just how beautiful two people, supporting each other and helping each other grow, being in love truly is.

The first season had promise and you either like this kind of anime or you do not. I did like the first season even though it started off a bit odd and paced into a romance nice feeling anime. The second season, well, it was just an extension of the first season. Very little movement forward happened. (now i can hear some saying, it Did move forward in the plot), however, overall that movement was so small. If you like being teased with plot progression that does not really happen, then this is a great one for you. If you get mad because you WANT to see some movement forward and do not, then this one will just leave you feeling bad at the end. I really wanted to give it an 8, but a 7 instead because I was like, enough is enough, Move Forward with the plot, I am not into a never ending 1 step forward 1 step back scenario. You watch a fight scene in an anime and say, wow that was good, but the whole rest of the anime is the same fight scene over and over and over, never ending, exactly the same; you will feel bad about it. Oh well, lets see if this even gets posted, it has no spoilers about what happens, Nothing New Happened! It could save someone frustration in attempting to watch season 2 just to feel raw.

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu Season 2 offers a new perspectives in romance anime genre. This anime still consistent keeping its quality to the max with every episode released. The love journey of the main characters (Ichikawa Kyoutarou and Yamada Anna) as they grow up to become a better person for each other. Their bond keeps growing as they go through their middle high school life with the involvement of other students in their life and events that affect their relationship. Their relationship knitted to become stronger tinged with classic teenager humour and plentiful of school occurrences which helping their relationship to grow even more determined than before. Story (10/10) The story progression is so consistent in each episode. Every episode shows how the main characters relationships keep growing little by little. While they focus on their lives as students, they keep supporting each other and exhibiting their affection for each other. Kyoutarou is a student who feels like he doesn’t belong in society, while Yamada has insecurities and worries that she is not her perfect self. Their interaction makes them better people and solidifies their connection to tackle the issues they faced in school and outside of school. The story pacing is not too fast or too slow, and it keeps progressing towards the romance of the main characters. Art (10/10) For romance anime, the animators nailed it their animations and the art with such as great background and lighting. The drawing for giving the school life vibes is just spot on. Even some memorable events like the snow scene and the ending drawn so beautifully, that elevated some of the monumental occasions in this series. The comedy animation is really good too with great facial expression and not too over-cringy animation. Not to mention the beautiful OP video they composed, its just so appealing to watch Sound (9/10) Probably one of the best OP i’ve ever heard in all of romance anime. The OP using incredible duet voices and the ED song was so calming and relaxing. Unfortunately, the ED song is nothing special is just like most common ED song that used in every anime. The background music is spot on, but it used many BG music from previous season of this anime. It will be better if it used more variety of BG music. The VA really get into their roles, especially the main character’s seiyuu. Ichikawa voice is not always low and gloomy, it can be shrill too, meanwhile yamada’s voice is often happy and cheerful but also sometimes it can be sound so emotional in the peak moments. Their voices matches their personality so well. Character (10/10) The best part from this anime is how well they portrayed the character development in this series. From previous season, we can see that Ichikawa has personality of “quiet” type person and indifferent to others. But in this season, he become more care to others and prefer joining his friends now rather than being alone. Another great character development is from Yamada. Yamada seems so cheerful but deep inside she still afraid that people don’t like her with her imperfections. But later on, we can see she become more confident to herself and more open to her feeling rather than suppressing them. We also can see their character development in their relationship furthermore. They become more considerate to each other and support each other in each other problems as a middle school students. Surprisingly, the side cast characters assist the bond of Ichikawa and Yamada to become even more stronger. With their advice or action, they supported the main duo to become more powerful and stronger than before. The side characters personalities also adds up to the comedies of this series. Enjoyment (10/10) The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 surely is elevated than its previous season. The progression of the romance story is so advanced. The consistency of every episode is top-notch where each episode is so enjoyable to watch. The OP section is outstanding with beautiful song and mesmerizing choreography. The main characters compliment each other and together they built their love story into a beautiful narrative. The romance progression is presented with a perfect momentum, not too fast and not too slow. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE ENDING OF THIS SEASON IS SO IMPECCABLE AND SHOWED THE TRUE FORM OF ROMANCE ANIME ! Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu Season 2 or in english called The Dangers in My Heart Season 2 should be deserved an award as the best romance anime in this season or even this year. It showcased beautiful art with understandable story telling followed by impactful character development accompanied by brilliant romance stories in perfect pacing. I highly recommended this anime to the viewers who loves watching comedic romance anime because this anime is the definition of “the peak of romance”. I willingly put this anime as the best comedic romance anime below Kaguya-sama: Love is War. Standing applause for the production team for creating this magnificent anime and hoping that will be a season 3 sooner or later ❤

Well. This one’s special. “The Dangers in My Heart” walks in wearing the mask of a simple rom com with a weird twist and then quietly turns into something far more intimate and affecting than expected. The early stretch is rough around the edges on purpose. Kyoutarou starts in a weird, edgy headspace that is uncomfortable to watch, and for two or three episodes I wondered what exactly I had signed up for. Then the switch flips. The show uses that awkward beginning in the first season as a bridge into a genuinely moving story and suddenly I was watching a boy crawl out of his own darkness. Once it settles, the slow burn is phenomenal. Every glance, every half sentence, every hesitation lands. The chemistry between Kyoutarou and Yamada is the engine and heart of the series. Yamada lights up scenes without ever feeling forced. Kyoutarou grows into someone you root for, not because the story tells you to, but because you feel it. When the romance starts to bloom, it hits like a truck. I caught myself whispering just kiss already more times than I care to admit. The show moves past its initial gag and becomes careful, coherent, and quietly sharp. Character work is the star. The leads evolve in ways that feel earned, and the supporting cast is surprisingly fun each with enough things to make them memorable. As the story goes, the emotions deepen, and the series finds a rhythm that balances cute, awkward, and loveable without tripping over itself. What really elevates this show is its message of redemption. This isn’t just about romance. It’s about self-discovery, about learning to see another person for who they truly are, and finding the strength to become better because of them. Once the story kicks in, you start to see Kyoutarou evolve into this genuinely loveable, awkward, kind guy who’s just figuring himself out. There is so much love and care in this Anime which is so palpable while watching. The animation is beautiful, the soundtrack enhances it and the story is written to near perfection. One of the most beautiful seasons of romance I have seen. Breathtaking when it matters, tender in the right places, and written with more care than its first impression suggests. Give it the chance to click. When it does, it does so hard.

After watching season 1, I thought that this was just going to be an average school romance show. Season 2 not only outperformed my expectations, but elevated my view of the romance genre. In other words, this show went from good to PEAK romance. Some of you reading this may be thinking: "It's just another show of a shy loner kid getting with the outgoing popular girl. What makes this show so different? Why does it have this high of a rating on MAL?" The answer is simple: They perfected the trope. It is clear that from the characters, the writer, the animators, and everyone else involved that they devoted their hearts to a high quality show and story. The first few episodes of season 1 were very strange, I felt a bit uncomfortable watching it. The Japanese version of the "quiet kid" that wants to kill the popular girl in school. After episode 4 of the first season, it had only gotten better. The animation, the soundtrack, and the writing for season 2 are nothing but exceptional. What stood out the most to me was the emotional maturity and character development for both of the main characters. Ichikawa in this season starts to break out from his shell of loner mentality and allows her and his friends to change him for the better. His constant growth in each episode compared to his cringe self in Season 1 is a massive payoff as you can't help but to root for him. Yamada, also is not just there to build up Kyotaro. She truly cares for others and grows to learn more about him and in turn, learns more about herself. Another thing that makes a great show is its side characters. Whenever most of them are involved, they make their mark with the short time they have on screen. Kana, Kyotaro's sister, is a perfect example of a sister who truly cares for his brother without being too clingy. Kyotaro's friend Adachi is the comedic relief of the show and says the craziest things which lead to funny situations. Moeko, Yamada's friend, is the ultimate wingman for both Kyotaro and Yamada. She always backs them up but also likes to tease with them. Many other characters in the show are great in some way where there's not one you can really hate and are well written themselves. Giving a 10/10 for a show is not something I take lightly. A show that's a 10 for me, has to be a true masterpiece and this season alone is that. It made me a fan of this series where I couldn't wait to see the next episode every week. It is truly as advertised: A literal Danger to My Heart.

I have no words, yet so much to say. I feel so empty, yet so full. It’s rare for me to find an anime that leaves me feeling like this not only at the conclusion, but all throughout its runtime. It’s even rarer for me to become as invested as I was with the story and its characters. The Dangers in My Heart did all this and more with seemingly no effort at all. It’s nothing short of artistic beauty at its simplest form, reminding me of how beautiful love can be. This show isn’t just a romance anime; it is first and foremost an anime about change. How those around you and the choices you make can change someone. Conversely, the choices you make and the way you treat people can change others. Ichikawa started off as a character so difficult to watch that I put off this show for longer than I should have, but looking back on it, it’s because of how much I saw my younger self in him. Exhibiting strange behaviors and daydreaming of grandiose displays because I wanted to feel seen by everyone. Playing a character that isn’t who you are because you want to feel noticed. I have struggled with anxiety my entire life and I can attest it is hard to be noticed the normal way. Seeing it in a character made me cringe and avoid continuing the show. “I was a hollow shell. I thought everyone was making fun of me.” Ichikawa’s struggle with self-worth and inferiority was so real that it was sometimes difficult to watch. Your mind automatically puts you lower than those around you and you find difficulty in speaking your mind. You assume that every snicker around you is about you, every negative whisper you hear is against you, and the people laughing over there are laughing at you. You constantly feel insecure and find yourself comparing to others. Ichikawa’s delusions of murder weren’t simply cringe childish antics; they were the manifestation of his self hatred and his coping mechanism for his anxiety. By the end of the show, he has progressed leaps and bounds with his maturity that I could not help but feel emotional. He learned how to deal with his insecurities and instead focus on self improvement. He relied heavily on Anna in the beginning, but the show made a point to declare that he doesn’t need her to feel wanted and seen at school. This is not a bad thing, but rather it is a testament to how far he has come with himself and how far he has matured. Similarly, Anna learns how to love herself, even the bad parts, with Ichikawa’s help. The antisocial loner with the outgoing popular couple has been a trope that has been beat to death for a while now but I think this anime explores the trope further than any I have seen before. The characters don’t stay stagnant; they grow and change into people that I didn’t think possible in episode 1 in such a natural and realistic way that you can’t help but to be invested and root for them with all your heart. Themes of insecurity, uncertainty, and ambivalence all show up naturally. I still vividly remember all the times I showed up to school in new clothes or the first time I spent money on a nicer haircut, hoping people will see me. This anime is artistically so beautiful and made with so much passion both visually and sonically. The soundtrack in particular fits the show so perfectly and conveys so much emotion without any words. It is highly reminiscent of A Silent Voice, which makes sense considering it’s the same composter. The relationship between the main characters is so well developed and done so perfectly. As jaded as I am with anime recently, I’ve struggled with finishing many shows without thinking it as a chore. I found myself dreading this one to end. Just two kids growing up, and it felt like I was growing up with them. It has truly reminded me how incredible and intricate love can be. While the love between Ichikawa and Anna is important enough, finding out how to love yourself is even more beautiful. “Comparing myself to others I fall into self-loathing It's scary, but still In everything about you I find salvation The world you showed me Was incredibly beautiful”

If Maison Ikkoku was the romance of Showa, Toradora was the romance of Heisei, then we might have got the romance of Reiwa, and that is BokuYaba. Not very far ago back in early 2010s the common question of romance genre is: what is the point of telling the story of a boy and a girl, when everything is literally already been written? Well think about the context of mood after Toradora and Clannad. But thanks to Tsuki Ga Kirei, there is a revival of contemporary romance, which talk about romance in contemporary context, followed by Teasing Master Tagaki-san, and popularised by Kaguya-sama. Do you realise that I almost bring up a third of all time greats in romance titles? Because romance in general is easy to write but extremely hard to excel, tropes are extremely common, and come by easily. Almost each great title in romance anime has something that stand apart from the others in the genre. What is the strength of the show? Characters development, storytelling, storyboard writing, OST and cinematography would be it. BokuYaba does have its relative weakness of course, lighting could sometimes gone too far, robbing the subtlety of this series, oh and yes the first 3 episodes of S1 if you think it is a problem. Set aside the issue which might bother you, this show is going to stay in the list of masterpieces of romance, in 10 years time, or in 20 years time.

Tl;dr Is it overrated? Probably. Does that make it a bad show? No, it’s still an excellent middle school romance. For me, it was a lot like eating cotton candy, deliciously sweet, but not substantial enough to stay with me long after eating it. If you like sweet things as I do, you’ll enjoy it. If you are expecting something more filling, you may be disappointed. I’m going to start with a confession: When I sat down to write this review, I realized I had already forgotten what happened in the first half of the show and had to read the episode summaries online to refresh my memory. When I read them, I was able to recall the events that happened, but this speaks to the narrative weakness of the show’s story that I had already forgotten so much so quickly. To be honest, going into season 2 I forgot most/nearly all of season 1 too, other than the characters and their relationships to each other. If you think I’m exaggerating, forgetful, or being overly harsh, I’ll give you a quick rundown of how much I remember from the first half of each of this season’s anime I watched weekly, with how much I remember of the first half, and if/when I read the source material. BokuYaba Season 2– Totally forgot – Current on the manga as of last summer. Chained Soldier – Remember the beginning plus bits and pieces – Current on the manga as of last fall. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki 2nd Stage – Remember most of it – Read the LN last December. Solo Leveling – Remember most of it – Never read it. As you can see, it is not the overall quality or enjoyment of the show impacting my forgetfulness, it is a larger issue with the story narrative, or lack thereof beyond the love story, to be frank, that is likely the reason I forgot so much of what happened. While Solo Leveling was awful all around, the story does flow smoothly in the beginning from arc to arc to maintain narrative coherence. You get an origin story, a training arc, and the first dungeon after finishing training, all with a beginning, middle, and end with a climax to the story of each arc that resolves the conflict. Allow me to dive into this issue more deeply by discussing the story of BokuYaba itself in the hopes of level-setting expectations for someone curious about the series that hasn’t watched season 1 yet. Story – 5 This is easily the weakest part of the show, and even putting aside how easily I forgot much of it, there are a couple of other issues regarding realism that need to be addressed. Especially if you haven’t watched season 1 and are expecting a masterpiece as you start the series from the beginning. Regarding the narrative weakness of the show, because the only “conflict” throughout the story is waiting for the 2 main characters to confess and start dating, the episode planning largely feels like the author was just brainstorming as many ideas as she could to put the “cute idol at school" she wanted to draw, the literal impetus for creating the series (I shit you not), into as many cute situations as possible to interact with the protagonist. There is no narrative story thread underlying almost any of the show. There is just a series of slice of life scenarios designed to push the two main characters together through as many cute and romantic situations as possible. Compared to another popular and well-regarded romance story like Toradora, which has character arcs for Ami, Minorin, and Kitamura, as well as story arcs for the swimming competition, summer vacation, the ski trip, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, each with its own beginning, middle, and end, I can easily recall many details from each of those arcs because they actually follow a normal story progression involving the resolution of some kind of conflict. With BokuYaba, there isn’t any of that across a similar run time to Toradora besides the speech and the climax of this season. Since there is basically no real conflict, villain/antagonist, or anything else going on in most of the storytelling besides the love story of the 2 main characters, there is no flow to anything that connects 1 episode to the next with some sort of conflict resolution to help me remember what happened after I have watched it. Beyond the narrative weakness of the story, the other issue that people that haven’t seen season 1 yet should be aware of is the realism of the premise. While each person has their own idiosyncrasies for what they find attractive in falling for a potential partner, there are some basic commonalities among them. To borrow a description from another story: “It’s when dependence, sexual desire, possessiveness, and maybe personal interests coincide”. To be frank, I don’t think any of those conditions were met by the time Yamada liked Ichikawa in season 1. I just kind of shrugged it off and went along with it to continue enjoying the sweet moments the show was creating, but it can be an issue for some people’s suspension of disbelief. Particularly if you usually don’t watch romance shows in general or ones that use the cliche formula of a model with giant breasts falling for another average looking loser/loner guy because of how unrealistic that scenario is in real life. There is little this series does differently in season 1 to make it believable. It’s honestly worse than average in establishing why she likes him besides narrative convenience, which is already a very low bar for the genre. The extent to which she throws herself at him during both seasons and his stubborn denial of her obvious attraction to him can also wear thin at times too. Yamada and Ichikawa barely spend any time together before she likes him, and I wouldn’t call him stalking her in the library for most of it as “quality time together” either. I would guess Taiga and Ryuuji spent more time together in a single average day in their lives than Yamada and Ichikawa spent together over the 6 months of time spread out over 6 episodes in season 1 it took for her to like him. It is very much another in a long line of formulaic and predictable wish fulfillment fantasy romances. If that bothers you or isn’t your jam, you’ve been forewarned. The only things I found after researching it for why Yamada likes/is attracted to Ichikawa is because his personality and hair remind her of the male lead in her favorite shojo manga, and her father. That last part is pretty icky, but I’m not going to go all Freud on you over this either. There are plenty of infinitely more degenerate things that are popular in Japanese media *cough* Mushoku Tensei *cough*. Having said all of that, if you got through season 1 accepting the premise, season 2 will continue to develop the relationship in an organic way that largely feels believable and real, if not a bit too convenient. The last thing I will add is that while the romance itself is very well done, the comedy was more hit or miss for me. Probably more miss than hit, but comedy is very subjective, and you can expect more of the same from season 1 to season 2. Art/Animation – 9 The art, animation, and direction are all superbly done. The production value the studio put into this anime is top notch and deserving of all the praise it gets. The anime definitely elevates the source material quite substantially. There isn’t much more for me to add that other people with a keener eye haven’t already explained. Sound – 9 The music that plays at the end of each episode before the title card is shown really hits home for the beautiful moments at the end of each episode. It is magical. Really pulls at your heartstrings and adds greater emotional impact to the scene. The OP is also very well done. Characters – 8 Overall, Ichikawa is an excellent romantic male lead. He is a very realistic representation of a male middle school student going through all the usual foibles of school life as he tries to navigate that and his budding romance with Yamada. Yamada herself is also a pretty good romantic female lead. She has significantly l…

This series, the lovely Dangers in My Heart, captivated me in a way I never anticipated, weaving its way into the deepest corners of my soul. Every episode felt like a delicate dance between innocence and raw emotion (and also sometimes pervy-ness lol), painting a picture of love that was both tender and heart-wrenching. The characters' vulnerabilities mirrored my own, making their joys and pains resonate so profoundly within me. I found myself living each moment with them, my heart swelling with affection and breaking in equal measure. It wasn’t just a story; it was an experience that left an indelible mark on my heart. The subtlety in their interactions, the unspoken words, and the lingering glances all spoke volumes, drawing me in deeper with each passing episode. I was entranced by the way the series balanced light-hearted moments with the intensity of growing feelings, crafting a narrative that was as beautiful as it was bittersweet. Dangers in My Heart wasn’t just an anime; it was a journey of emotional discovery, where I felt the sting of loneliness, the warmth of unexpected connection, and the pure, unfiltered essence of first love. It's a story that I will carry with me always, a reminder of the beauty that can be found in the most unexpected places.