English Dub Review: You Can’t Be in a Rom-Com with Your Childhood Friends! “Feeling the Afterglow Kiss After Kiss? Become a Sports Day Committee Member? Still Won’t Start a Rom-Com”

Overview:

Eiyu is confused after being kissed by Haru and Shio. Shio and Eiyu become sports day committee members.

Our Take:

I feel like I’m watching Schrodinger’s Rom-Com, with it both having progress and no progress all at the same time. Apparently, Eiyu and Haru had kissed when they were kids while playing the Pocky Game. In case you’re unfamiliar with what that it is, it’s when two people eat the same piece of Pocky from opposite ends and meet in the middle, it’s like a game of chicken but with kissing. So, they all agreed that it doesn’t really count. But while chasing Runa around, Haru trips, and while she falls, she ends up kissing Eiyu, and I feel like that one counts. Not to be outdone, Shio kisses Eiyu the next day, and this is where I start to feel torn.

On one hand, it looks like Akari is falling wayyyy behind. She started in the lead as it appeared to me, but now it seems like she has some catching up to do. She might have stayed the night with Eiyu, but Haru and Shio have now kissed him, and it’s looking like the next episode will have a heavy Shio focus. We have made progress in the sense that kissing and other things have happened, but it somehow still feels like nothing is going to happen. This doesn’t have the vibe of a show that will have a harem ending with Eiyu being with everyone, so he’s going to have to choose.

This show sometimes shows me something that’s unique when it comes to a harem rom-com. But with only a few episodes left, it seems like we’re getting something we’re used to getting. The characters are enjoyable, and ultimately, that’s what will set a show like this apart, but to me, that won’t be enough when many of the characters don’t get any screentime.