Renako was an introverted nerd in middle school, but now, in high school, she has determined to fit in with the normies. She’s gotten a physical upgrade and somehow was adopted by a popular girl, Mai, which means she’s surrounded by a group of talkative girls. Only, Renako is still an awkward nerd and gets overwhelmed by conversation, blurts out some random word, then runs away mortified.

It was a deeply uncomfortablemaking set-up, but then…

Mai goes after Renako, and after a ridiculous plot complication that we just have to handwave, they talk sincerely about what they want. Renako is assured that she is not required to be eloquent, which leads to the one genuinely lovely bit of this anime, as Mai neatly inserts herself as Renako’s spokeperson whenever she gets overwhelmed. 

On the other hand, Mai wants something far more intimate from Renako – she wants to be her girlfriend. Love comedy shenanigans ensue! Renako and Mai will spend quality time together and, as the second episode develops, will find themselves building intimacy with the other. The conflict is how each desires and interprets that intimacy. Mai is insistent on a romantic and sexual relationship, while Renako is hoping to have a best friend. Both make legitimate cases for their wants but, despite saying she will not force herself on Renako, Mai does. Again, less funny than uncomfortable.

There were several things about this set-up that worked against it, right from the beginning. The nerd trying to fit in with the normies in a media for nerds… well, bzzzt. I don’t care about fitting in, neither should you, nor Renako. Who the fuck cares if you’re a nerd? You’re fine, full stop.

Mai insisting on violating Renako’s boundaries is…not cute. Mai is otherwise likable and relatable, and Renako, after that first scene, becomes increasingly sympathetic. By the end of episode two, I hope they can work something out. But as a driver of a “comedy?” Bzzt.

There is a lot of fan service and it’s neither subtle nor amusing. Thigh shots, a pointless and excruciating leering at Mai in bikini, that kind of thing. Extended bathing scene in ep 2. Bzzt.

The final strike against this anime has nothing to do with the story, but I am VERY salty about this series getting the decent animation that Whisper Me A Love Song failed to get. It seems wholly unfair that the adorable, practically all-ages Yuri that you could show your grandmother was a powerpoint presentation, and Renako’s thighs are better animated than any episode of Takeshima Eku’s wonderful ongoing series. This is especially irking as this series character designs are by by Takaeshima Eku-sensei, so it’s hard to ignore.Oh well. 

On the other hand, the shenanigans actually got me to chuckle once or twice. And I found my sympathy for both characters growing as the episodes developed.

Ratings: 

Animation – 8, sometimes 9, dammit
Characters – 7 with room to grow
Story – 6 same as above
Service – 4
Yuri – 9, in the classic predatory style

Overall – 7

As not-for-me as this series is, I did not hate it and will continue to watch.

There is something that this anime edges close to and I hope it actually addresses – there really isn’t (or, at least doesn’t have to be) that much of a difference between a romantic partner and best friend. It comes up a lot in rom-com manga, I’d like to see a series that delve into it.