As a member of the alphabet mafia, I hate, hate, hate the cis/het “can men and women really be friends??” bullshit, so I came into this with a bit of a chip on my shoulder, but left pretty impressed. Our main characters seem well defined and expressive, and it’s easy to like and root for them. It’s also easy to see why this boy-girl friendship will not survive, since from the beginning it’s been pretty flirty and not exactly platonic. I was a bit worried this would turn into a harem, but it seems like it’s just the two girls, so hopefully it’ll just be an emotionally messy love triangle, which I am definitely here for. I give the premiere a 4/5.

Also, I can’t help but draw parallels between Himari’s attitude toward Yuu and the way a lot of in-denial lesbians talk about their best friend (who they are in love with). “Ya, we’re just friends, but we’re best friends, and even if they get married, I’m always going to take priority, right? that’s what it means to be a best friend. we’ll still hang out and have sleepovers and stuff because that’s what best friends do, and if their spouse doesn’t accept that they don’t deserve them.”

lets gooo!! blue short haired childhood friend!!! surely this time will be the one. i believe! (not really, but i want to). going up against an at-first icy long black hair. i dont want to say its a foregone conclusion but maybe the true harem are the friends we made along the way. also maybe its a really common name but i think we had a genki himari last season too. its even the same VA, i love it but its so over

im thinking shes actually not joking about being in an arranged marriage for political purposes. she might just be playing it off and not wanting to put the pressure on mc to feel obligated thinking he has to save her or something