English Dub Review: More than a Married Couple, but Not Lovers: “Imagined, but Not Real”

Overview: Jiro (Ben Balmaceda) contemplates how to be a better husband for Watanabe (Lindsay Sheppard) with Shiori (Macy Anne Johnson) paying him a visit when he is sick in bed. 

Our Take: There is no better time to snuggle up than during a scawy blackout. With how much of a scaredy cat Watanabe is, comparatively with her fiery tongue and personality, it is adorable how she looks to Jiro for support. Instead, he is the grim reaper of storytelling, scaring the absolutely bejesus out of her, which is honestly well-founded in her ridicule. However, when she is genuinely frightened, it is a bit harsh. Her fear does touch on how hilariously self-aware Yakuin is of the romantic advancements she springs on him with his spazziness being a highlight. 

With Akira peeved at his mischief, it remedies an issue I was worried would progress throughout the season. With Jiro pondering how he can be a good husband already starts working towards more depth in him legitimately questioning how to progress and the emotional support pillar she needs. 

Akira and Jiro are performing beautifully in their couple standing but their crushes much less. It also makes for a perplexing issue in him being selfishly happy but also worried that they won’t be able to switch if they are not high enough. 

With Jiro sick, Watanabe helps look after him by sending his other crush Shiori to mend him back to health, which may be the most considerate and hottest gift ever. Shiori is a sweetie pie, who is easy to love in her shyness around boys but caring demeanor. Their flashback in the close call they had in never revealing their feelings for each other due to a misunderstanding nicely sets up how she feels now with her still being in love and pursuing him. Besides his humorous lines, we see how Shiori’s lack of confidence makes for a great way for him to scrape together some courage and make his intense belief in her known, despite how wholesomely awkward he is.  

The quintessential albeit unsurprising love triangle is building up nicely in how Watanabe as well is gaining feelings even thinking about Jiro instead of Minami. A strong point of profession for Jiro is how he commits to her because of what she did for him in his time of need. A heartwarming sentiment made more emotional by her complex growing feelings for Yakuin and anger from not wanting to be with her once beloved pretty boy.