User Reviews

If you're yearning for 6 days, 23 hours, and 37 minutes to pass, what's waiting for you must be something extraordinary. "If it's with you" is exactly that, because it is one of the cutest shows I've ever seen, although there's always an element of angst lurking underground.

Amane (Okura Takato) moves to Enoshima to finish school after unpleasant, if not traumatic experiences with gay lovers (or maybe clients?). In his new school he meets Riuyi (Hyuga Wataru) and immediately falls in love with him. Riuyi, however, doesn't have much time as he runs his late father's restaurant.

Both actors do an amazing job displaying the doubts and fears of gay boys coming of age, and they are both extremely handsome, so that their cuteness makes the viewer forget about the hard road they both had to travel.

The predominant feeling in the series is of uncomplicated clarity and pure honesty. Both central characters- Amane and Ryuji- are honest towards their own feelings, and also towards each other.

Amane is clear about his sexuality and does not hesitate in letting Ryuji know. Ryuji, being mature and stable, is not affected by this revelation, and this paves the way for their friendship to grow.

But Amane is attracted sexually towards Ryuji. So he tries to maintain a safe distance from Ryuji after sensing that his feelings are unrequited.

The highlight for me is the way in which Ryuji responds to Amane's confession- he states clearly and precisely what he feels, without any worry or fear of what might happen next, and thankfully gets an appropriate response from Amane. There are no unnecessary tears nor any forced turmoil. A situation that is often turned into an exaggerated and complicated drama is handled just as it ought to be handled- with grace, calmness and composure.

Thus, at its end, the series left me with an unexpected feeling of satisfaction and goodness.

This good feeling would have been more complete if I could sense Amane's love for Ryuji. But unfortunately, this never happened. His eyes and body never conveyed any feelings beyond closeness, for Ryuji.

If this last issue does not bother you too much, then you might enjoy watching this series.

However, if it does bother you, then skipping this series is probably the better option.