I Have a Crush at Work

I've seen several people complaining about this anime, and while I respect everyone's opinions, I think most of these complaints don't have much of a solid basis. The biggest reason people seem to complain is that the romance is already firmly established from the first episode, which is quite different from most anime. Because of this, it feels like an anime without a real conflict or goal, which is very different from typical romance anime. The fact that the main characters are a couple who openly show their affection, love, and desire for each other from the start can make some people uncomfortable. That being said, Ido agree that this anime lacks some drama or conflict. In theory, "the biggest obstacle"—which would normally be the development of their relationship—has already been overcome. The only real "conflict" is their attempts to keep their relationship a secret. While that is important, it's not the main focus. Another common complaint I've seen is that it makes it clear that the couple is sexually active, and this is shown in multiple episodes. I find this funny because, while it's true, I don't see anything wrong with it. Ironically, people don't seem to complain about this in the Ecchi genre. And while this anime doesn’t really have anything ecchi or provocative—except for one non-explicit scene—I don't see the issue. It's a cute and enjoyable anime that doesn’t rely on as many clichés as other romance anime. Even though it’s still an anime, I think it tells a believable story and is genuinely a solid concept. Two adults, co-workers, trying to keep their office romance a secret. A simple plot? Yes. Functional? Absolutely. I’m not sure what else to add. Everyone has their own tastes, and that’s fine, but I don’t think these complaints hold much weight. Personally, I do recommend this anime. It’s not the best I’ve ever seen, but it’s entertaining and very sweet. The main characters have great chemistry, and while the supporting cast isn’t particularly outstanding, they’re still enjoyable.

Another one of the shows that has a great general premise, but then doesn't do much with it for most of its runtime. The main recommendation I got for this show was that it was "different" to a lot of other romance shows and if you just look at the surface level elements, then you might even agree. After all, this show starts of by having the two characters already be in the relationship and they even have sex in the first episode. But if you look past these simple changes, then you will notice that the romance isn't that much different from your typicalromance. Which is a shame, because it didn't have to be. So let's start with the first aspect, the fact that they are already together. While most hail this as a revolutionary idea, it just creates more problems than it "solves". Don't get me wrong, I also dislike how most romance shows out there try to keep the status quo for too long and the characters awkardly move around just starting a relationship, but you don't solve that issue by just skipping that phase. Because now, it's kind of hard to get into their relationship as it's implied at several points that they have some kind of backstory with one another (they've known each other for a while) and you get hints every now and then, but this can't solve the problem that we completely missed out on that development. Why not have at least 3-4 episodes of them getting together? Why is that not an option? You might say, they want to get to the meat of the story right away, but that is the next issue, there isn't actually much meat to the story. The story is more or less a Slice of Life show where it's about the two main characters Yui and Masugu who want to become better in their carrer paths while also having a relationship with one another. And since the focus is more on that career part of the equation, the romance between the two feels heavily underdeveloped despite them already being together. Yes, they often play the typical tropes of a romance anime, but it feels so hollow very often, because at the end of the day, it is still the same as other romance shows where the status quo of the relationship won't be be changed. It might allude to it every now and then, but once that moment is over, we are back to the usual. And the worst part, it didn't have to. I am not even talking about big drama here, but as mentioned above, the main focus is them both advancing their careers which comes with its own hurdles. And this could have been used effectively to develop their relationship. As most people probably know, if you have stress at work, having someone you can rely on, even if it is just for not being alone is a great thing to have. And the show is at least acknowledging that. But instead of using moments like these to develop their relationship (as they understand how much it gives them to just be together with the other person and therefore wanting to take the next step for example), afterwards it's right back to career progression. And that is also why I can't really see them having sex immediately as a positive. Again, I like that the show doesn't shy away from the topic and I am not arguing that it is unrealistic for them to have sex immediately after getting together. It is quite realistic in fact. But realism doesn't make for a good story. A story lives off the fact that things develop. Getting intimate with one another as a sign of taking the next step in a relationship. It is exactly one of those potential signs to show that they are not just staying at the same level but they are progressing. But since they were already doing it from Day 1, there is no potential for development here and you are still stuck with the same tropes you've seen in other shows. At the end of the day, the show seems to really try to surprise by subverting the surface level elements that people are usually criticising about romance show. That being, the characters not getting together and them shying away from being intimate. But it completely fails to undestand WHY this criticism is made. The underlying criticism of romance shows is the lack of development, both on an emotional side (them not being able to just confess and get together) as well as on a physical side (them shying away from intimacy). So the show just "adressed" this by skipping these parts, thereby creating the same lack in development every other romance has.

Not only was it the best romance of the season, we're also facing the best office romance. The story is simple, an office romance that wants to remain hidden between the parties. Kono Kaisha arrived without any kind of spotlight on it, and it's not like it really needed it. The story knew it had the necessary quality to attract attention without even the need for publicity. The anime doesn't just aim to place two lovebirds in an office so they can constantly display affection. They play with the elements of a secret romance to tell various aspects of the protagonists' lives. During work, the focusis on professional and work-related topics. While during free time, it's when we get mushy. This duality suits the show quite well because it never feels cloying, but it also doesn't feel like it's trying to preach at your work life, if you're at that stage of your life. The way it portrays office life is very accurate. It doesn't try to romanticize it but rather shows us a picture of reality. It shows how two people have to juggle their professional and personal lives while having a relationship they try to hide from their colleagues. On the professional side, they show us the harshness of the schedules and the unexpected overtime, but they also show us the hunger for growth, the pursuit of new projects, and the pursuit of new opportunities. Every adult knows that work isn't easy, but it's also true that we can enjoy this place where we spend more time than at home. On the personal side, they show how each of them views the relationship from both perspectives, both male and female. Each gender has its own ideas and concepts of what it means to be in a relationship. Friction is inevitable, but it's healthy for a relationship that has good communication; in the end, a relationship grows through conflict and reconciliation. I don't know if it's worth mentioning, but I know many people enjoy these types of references. The relationship is adult throughout, not only in the conflicts and thoughts, but also in the actions. At various points, they make it very clear, without being explicit or morbid, that the protagonists are sexually active. As I said, I don't know if it was worth it, but it's an element within the show. One aspect that adds many points to the show is that what other romances this season didn't do, Kono Kaisha did twice. I mean, building a good romance. The main couple starts off established, so we don't get to see the back-and-forth that usually exists in the pre-relationship phase. The anime didn't settle for just one couple and showed us it knows how to handle romance by building a secondary couple completely from scratch. The best thing is that this couple is built and formalized over the course of two episodes, with a short but precise development. At no point does it feel forced or rushed; everything falls perfectly into place. Kono Kaisha isn't good just because its protagonists love each other so much. It's good because it demonstrates and develops that even in the most mundane spaces of adult life, a feeling as beautiful and fleeting as love can exist. That such a brilliant feeling isn't something that can be kept hidden, because it always seeks to emerge.

In the desert of romance anime, there seems to be countless tired, boring, and cliché titles that all feel the same, with no development or even actual relationships. But this feels like a tall, cool glass of water. A refreshing take on romance that romance fans need much more of. I Have a Crush At Work is an adult romance anime that follows two office workers in a secret relationship. By adult, I mean two actual adults who are in a relationship. And thanks to this one aspect alone, this is more interesting and compelling than most high school anime. The story follows two officeworkers, Masugu and Mitsuya as they live their lives having a secret office relationship. The story is simple, but the setting and characters are what makes it effective. There's no high school melodrama nonsense, no cringe misunderstandings with over the top reactions, and it has actual romantic development between the two lovers aside from just holding hands or finally getting that first kiss. Seeing two adults together, well into their relationship and acting with maturity is this show's greatest strength From choosing to sleep over at one another's apartments, choosing vacations to go on, or discussing each other's daily stresses, you can see an actual relationship happening. It all feels grounded and believable. The story and plot beats tread familiar territory with nothing too out of the ordinary, but I enjoyed see two adults with adult problems and jobs. It explores the daily struggle of keeping a secret romance from coworkers, the stress of a job, as well as their ever deepening relationship. If you're a fan of slice of life elements mixed in with romance, this is a fun and easy going watch. The real meat and potatoes of the series is its characters. As explained prior, everyone is an adult and this is to the series' advantage. Everyone seems down to Earth, reasonable, and mature. Of course everyone has their quirks, insecurities, and flaws, but it all comes in a believable package. Masugu and Mitsuya's relationship is the main focus, and when they're together is when the series is at its best. Seeing their after work interactions is what it's all about. Some other characters get their own development, and it felt substantial enough without taking away from the main couple. The best part for me is that even during times of conflict or doubt, the characters handled things in a level-headed and reasonable way, like an adult should. Much different than your run of the mill high school romance. Visually, this is also nothing to write home about. The art is fairly basic, but it's attractive enough to keep your attention. Plenty of nice cityscape backgrounds and locales. The animation would be considered standard for a TV anime. The music is also nothing special, but it does its job. Overall, if you're looking for a series with a relationship with real development, void of any cliché kiddie nonsense, look no further than this refreshing and comfy series.