English Dub Review: My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 “I Like You”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Akane, who was now determined to confess her feelings to Yamada, reaches out to ask for advice from Momoko, the friend who consoled her after her most recent breakup, and Rurihime, or rather Eita. As to not lose the momentum she got from that, Akane heads to Yamada’s apartment without any forewarning, but she had arrived just when he is rushing out of his home to get to cram school and can’t get herself to tell him how she feels. They decide to meet again after he finishes his lessons but are then met with a sudden rainstorm. Along with the rainstorm, Tsubaki also makes a sudden and impulsive action, which ended up leading to Akane and Yamada’s plans to meet up being canceled…

Our Take:
Ever since Tsubaki arrives at the scene, we’ve been dying to know who will be the first to confess their love to Yamada. Well, now we know, thanks to the show’s penultimate episode, and it’s not what we expect. Despite Akane and Tsubaki being friends in FOS, neither knows the other has strong feelings for Yamada. Both of them have been going back and forth on whether they want to tell him, and just like that, one managed to have the courage to blurt it out. Of course, I’m talking about Tsubaki, who confesses to Yamada while walking in the rain together.
This would’ve been a proud moment for the young classmate to gain the courage to confess…if it wasn’t at the worst possible time. Yamada initially planned to call Akane after cram school, but due to Tsubaki’s confession shocking him, he wound up canceling those plans. It’s quite a shame since Akane has attempted to confess to Yamada after talking to Eita about her feelings toward him. Unfortunately, she still couldn’t find the right moment to do so due to her conflicted feelings about what would happen next and his loud neighbors. With Yamada still unsure about the confession made by Tsubaki, it looks like the race for love is back on.
While I understand what Tsubaki went through regarding her history with Yamada, I still hope that Akane and Yamada will become a great couple. It’s not just because of their shared interest in FOS but also due to their different personalities creating a kinetic spark and how they help each other with their problems. The ending involving Akane cheering up Yamada by talking about the game is another example of this that always puts a smile on my face. I also liked how the episode briefly showcased Akane’s first encounter with Eita (Rurihime), who helped her get back on her feet in FOS, further showcasing his generosity. Overall, it’s an enjoyable episode that emphasizes a bit more on the drama, but it’s not without some humorous moments that didn’t reach the same heights as the previous one. See you all next week for the finale.