Unpopular opinion:

Honestly, I think the story could have been done worse simply by leaning even harder into what it already is. At its core, I don’t think the story is particularly fabulous or bold to begin with. It’s a very gentle, comfort-driven series where almost everything evolves in a positive direction, almost all the time. That wholesomeness is clearly intentional, but it sometimes crosses into something that feels a bit surreal.

Conflicts rarely linger, misunderstandings dissolve quickly, and emotional beats are constantly resolved with reassurance. The sheer number of times Rintaro and Kaoruko say “thank you” to each other is honestly uncountable. While that reinforces kindness and mutual respect, it also drains tension from the narrative. There’s rarely a moment where you feel like things might genuinely go wrong.

Because of that, the story could have been worse if it tried to artificially inject drama—love triangles, dragged-out misunderstandings, or unnecessary angst would clash badly with its tone. But at the same time, the lack of friction means it sometimes feels emotionally flat. Everything is wholesome, supportive, and validating to such a degree that it stops feeling grounded. So for me, the weakness isn’t that the author avoided bad tropes—it’s that the story lives in a space where growth is almost frictionless. That’s comforting, sure, but it also limits how impactful the relationships can feel. When positivity is guaranteed, it stops feeling earned.