Warning: Spoilers for A Condition Called Love episode #11!!
Summary
It would normally have been a remarkable event that the official couple in theanimeA Condition Called Lovekissed before the season finale, which does actually happen. That’s because such a development is already a rarity in romance anime. However, it’s the fact that the couple in question is Saki and Hotaru, which makes the development even more shockingly noteworthy. Part of this instilled feeling of unexpectedness in most viewers derives from why most criticsconsiderA Condition Called Loveto be so controversial. However, the true reason lies inthe season’s exciting trend– Hotaru’s overall newness to love in general.
Although Hotaru’s character has grown exponentially over the last few episodes, her initial lack of understanding of what love wasand evenher inability to actually feel such an emotionbefore now were so extreme that no amount of character growth would have convinced viewers that she would ever be willing to kiss anyone, even Saki.
The controversy surrounding Saki’s purported “love bombing” and controlling nature for critics definitely contributed to their state of befuddlement. However, recent episodes had already confirmed thatHotaru wasn’t bothered by Saki’s overbearing personality and that she not only tried to accommodate such behaviorbut some might say, even encouraged such negative feelings by giving Saki chances to express them when he tried to hide them away.
The Kiss Happens At The Most Unexpected Moment of Any Romance Anime
Based on the original series by Megumi Morino
Of course, Hotaru doesn’t actually take the initiative to kiss him on the lips herself. She permits Saki in the most submissive way and by using subtle language that has no meaning by itself unless when taken in context with an earlier conversation. Despite the fact she eventually tells him directly in so many words, Hotaru manages it as indirectly as possible, and this had to happen only after her first attempt failed.
Although pretty forward for Hotaru, she initially tries to give her permission by kissing him in a place where there’s the least amount of contact – the middle of his head where there’s actually hair in the way of his skin, as opposed to kissing his forehead. It’s still monumental, regardless, after seeing her many hesitations before, since she gives both verbal and some form of physical consent.
This isn’t even taking into account the fact that the whole scene transpires in the 11th episode rather than the season finale, let alone the second to last episode of thefirstseason. If any kiss is to be had in any romance anime, it’s normally relegated to the series finale, and if it’s to happen earlier, it’s normally during the second season’s last episode. If it is to transpire in the first season, it’s at the very end, not the episode before it.
Hotaru and Saki Are Actually a Perfect Match Despite What Critics Might Say
Despite the anime’s initial controversies, it’s more than proven itself to be an effective love story
Of course, some might say that Hotaru has only been accepting of Saki since she’s new to being in a relationship and doesn’t know that his behavior is inappropriate. However, the fact that she has clearly never been bothered by Saki’s actions or personality just makes her a better match for him.
Moreover, when Hotaru does look concerned by Saki’s overbearing nature,the series' unprecedented honest deliveryallows viewers to learn that her uneasiness came from a place of worry for him or curiosity behind what was causing Saki to act in such a way. It’sA Condition Called Love’s honesty and the fact that their own idiosyncrasies make them perfect for only each other.
