Days with My Stepsister

## Season 1

### Soundtrack

Honestly, the animations for the opening and credits were generic and boring. The songs themselves were just fine. Not much to talk about here.

I will mention something beyond the opening and credits, though. The tracks that is used in the scenes are amazingly gentle. They always fit the scene perfectly. It never feels off, like each song is supposed to be there. Genuinely, this anime has one of the best soundtracks I've heard in a while. It's not flashy, but it's so good at setting the mood and tone of the show. I really love it.

### Thoughts

When I read the synopsis, I was intrigued. But, I had prepared myself for a comedic show with pieces of serious moments here and there. Instead, this show was a masterclass in pacing and theme. It didn't speak much, but it told a story of growing up and of growing connections.

The story is slow and serious. It's way too slow. Maybe it's not for everyone, but I love it. I love when the show takes its time and lingers on a frame or a scene for far too long. To put it simply, the story is about human connection. At first, the story focuses on Saki and how she's learning how to really connect with people. How she can be relied on and rely on others. I relate to that way too much for it to not be emotional. Then, the show suddenly pivots to Yuta and Saki reconciling their feelings for eachother. The way they navigate through these trials and tribulations is so endearingly realistic. Like, I can imagine someone in real life going through the same motions. It's so damn good.

This anime has one of the best directions in storytelling. I loved how Saki's feelings within her diary entries were portrayed. It hits so close to your heart that it begins to want to burst just like Saki's. Not to mention the art direction. It's so good in every scene, including the diary ones. This is one of the only animes that is shot like a serious movie. There aren't really a lot of cuts. The framing, along with the timing is almost always perfect. It just feels right.

Yuta and Saki's so called romance is portrayed so incredibly well. It's written and portrayed so incredibly well that you feel like you're also in love. The romance aspect isn't even entertained as an option for the first half of the show. During the second half, the show suddenly changes gears after a certain moment to show the pain, the denial, and the struggle that the characters are experiencing as they come to accept, or rather compromise with this love. The feelings they have for each other is built up so damn slow that you don't notice it, then it hits a point where it's impossible to ignore anymore. It's so excruciatingly painful, like they've distilled the struggle of love and poured it on my screen. The love they have is so painful and forbidden, yet so beautiful and intimate that your heart wants to explode when you witness it. It's a tragedy that they were destined to be soulmates, yet were dealt a horrible hand.

I'd like to also talk a little bit about the side characters. You don't really learn much about them, they're mainly plot vehicles to move the story and open up the main characters more. Yet, I feel as though their development is perfectly done. The parents are so real, so intimate, and so loving. Yuta and Saki's friends are just as realistic. Maybe they're not as developed as the main characters, but that's not what this story is about, anyways.

Overall, this is probably one of the most intimate animes I've ever watched. Every scene, every shot, and every moment you feel as though you're embodying the main characters. It's like watching an anime through your heart, instead of your eyes. You feel their struggles, their love, their hardships, and their happiness. In the end, Yuta and Saki choose to accept their love for eachother and work through it together. They realize the dynamism of love, and how the way they feel towards someone doesn't mean one thing or the other. They don't owe eachother anything. The love they feel is from a place of intimacy and understanding. How they interpret that together is what defines what that love really is.

I'd give this anime a 10/10, but the first quarter was very slow. Yes, the show is supposed to be that way, but it really felt slower than the rest of the show. So, I'm giving this the highest 9/10 possible (probably a 9.7 or something). For the quality rating, I think it's very clear from the get-go that this show is going to be a mid, and it certainly is not. If you truly do lock in and pay attention, you'll see how this show is certainly a gem. That's about it. Oh, did I mention I love the "up in the air" ending they did? I love and hate it at the same time. My heart wants a second season, but my brain knows that this show doesn't need another season. I hope I remember this anime in the future. It's so close to my heart.