This is the second vertical AI BL drama I've sat through, and honestly I went in knowing better. I had it on while I was doing cardio at the gym, and what struck me was just how much the plot echoed the last one I watched. Same step brother romance angle, same mystery girlfriend showing up near the end, same extra guy pining after one of the leads. Genuinely the only thing going for it was the runtime, the whole thing wrapped up in forty five minutes flat. The setup kicks off with Finn moving schools because his mom just married into money. He finds out his new step brother Aiden goes to the same place, and he's warned to keep his distance from him. Their first run in at school is rocky, just like you'd expect, but there's this odd pull between them neither can shake off. Finn keeps telling himself not to read into it because Aiden's straight and openly homophobic. Things shift when some kids start bullying Finn and the student council president, Ryan, steps in to ...
Kijima is an award winning novelist, who has lost his mojo an dis now struggling for money. He gets reacquainted with his college classmate Kido, who is now an editor in publishing company. Kido was recently kicked out by his girlfriend, so Kijima invites him as roommate in return for expenses. At his work, Kido deals with erotica novels that Kijima looks down upon. Kido suggests that Kijima start writing erotica too to make money. Initially very reluctant, the growing debt on Kijima makes him accept this and hid stories to be published under a fake name. Meanwhile, Kido's company also publishes erotic novels by Gamoda, a very old, almost dying man, who is a heavyweight in this industry. Kido's company wants to buy rights of his posthumous novel, for which Ido recommends him that he take Kijima under his wing. For some reason Gamoda makes Kijima give blowjob to Kido to see how serious is he about apprenticeship. This leads to a very unexpected love story between the two men. Kijima also starts to faithfully take care of Gamoda as well. But Kido is not sure of where he falls in all this. He loves Kido, but is also very much a straight guy who wants to have a family and a wife. The two men go through a few ups and downs, while Gamoda is struggling with his health. The ending is not a happy one, but to be honest, it is one of the most real and practical ending, that can happen in such a situation.
This series surprisingly has some very erotic and sensual sexual scenes between its two leading men. But at no point they become steamy. They are needed for the story, and that combined with the very poignant emotions going through both the men make the whole journey very novel and very interesting. The physical intimacy and the chemistry between the two lead actors is just too good. The entire mood of the series is very mellow, calm and stable. No over the top shouting or anything. Kijima is allowed to show a lot more vulnerability, while Kido is a fantastic screen partner with an equally compelling characterization. Are they in love, is this physical need or is it just merely a way for them to not be lonely? The beauty of this series is that despite everything that happened between the two men, they never lost touch of intimacy and connection with each other. This is a feeling that very few people get to experience. The actors are good looking, acted well, the screenplay is tight and overall the pacing and the melancholic mood of the series makes this an absolute must watch to your list. (8/10)
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