OVA
Description
Izumi Miyamura navigates high school cloaked in a deliberately constructed image: classmates see a gloomy, anti-social otaku with good grades but poor social skills. He hides his true self under heavy clothing, glasses, and long hair, masking numerous piercings and tattoos. Outside school, he reveals a contrasting, casual persona – piercings (initially nine, though some close), tattoos visible on his left shoulder, arm, and side, hair tied back, glasses off.
Childhood social anxiety, ostracization, and junior high bullying, notably by Makio Tanihara, forged his reserved nature, leading to deep pessimism and self-harm where safety pin piercings became a coping mechanism. A pivotal friendship with Kouichi Shindou, who offered kindness despite social pressure, lifted his outlook, though he retained his distant high school reputation.
His life shifts dramatically after helping Kyouko Hori's brother, Souta, leading to an encounter with Hori. They mutually agree to conceal each other's secrets: her home responsibilities and his alternative appearance. Bonding at the Hori household, their connection deepens from friendship into romance. Miyamura cherishes Hori's genuine self, finding her "cute" even when angry, and values her acceptance of his true identity.
As their relationship grows, Miyamura gains confidence. He sheds his protective layers: cutting his hair short, ditching the glasses, and wearing fewer clothes at school, drawing new attention and sparking Hori's jealousy. Interacting more with peers reveals his loyalty and protectiveness; he will fight physically if friends are threatened, though generally avoids conflict. An underlying impulsiveness and occasional denseness surface, linked to choices like getting his tattoos.
Persistent low self-esteem makes him fear embarrassing Hori. Yet, he steadfastly supports her through abandonment issues and family trauma. Their intimacy and emotional complexity surface during conflicts, like Hori's jealousy-fueled text about a late period during an argument. They eventually marry and have a son, Kyouhei.
Beyond romance, his family runs the Iori bakery where he works part-time, planning to take over. He mispronounces certain Japanese words despite tongue-twister proficiency, fears horror movies but endures them for Hori, and excels in Health class. Academically, he performs averagely, particularly struggling with Japanese, and dislikes tomato peels.
Childhood social anxiety, ostracization, and junior high bullying, notably by Makio Tanihara, forged his reserved nature, leading to deep pessimism and self-harm where safety pin piercings became a coping mechanism. A pivotal friendship with Kouichi Shindou, who offered kindness despite social pressure, lifted his outlook, though he retained his distant high school reputation.
His life shifts dramatically after helping Kyouko Hori's brother, Souta, leading to an encounter with Hori. They mutually agree to conceal each other's secrets: her home responsibilities and his alternative appearance. Bonding at the Hori household, their connection deepens from friendship into romance. Miyamura cherishes Hori's genuine self, finding her "cute" even when angry, and values her acceptance of his true identity.
As their relationship grows, Miyamura gains confidence. He sheds his protective layers: cutting his hair short, ditching the glasses, and wearing fewer clothes at school, drawing new attention and sparking Hori's jealousy. Interacting more with peers reveals his loyalty and protectiveness; he will fight physically if friends are threatened, though generally avoids conflict. An underlying impulsiveness and occasional denseness surface, linked to choices like getting his tattoos.
Persistent low self-esteem makes him fear embarrassing Hori. Yet, he steadfastly supports her through abandonment issues and family trauma. Their intimacy and emotional complexity surface during conflicts, like Hori's jealousy-fueled text about a late period during an argument. They eventually marry and have a son, Kyouhei.
Beyond romance, his family runs the Iori bakery where he works part-time, planning to take over. He mispronounces certain Japanese words despite tongue-twister proficiency, fears horror movies but endures them for Hori, and excels in Health class. Academically, he performs averagely, particularly struggling with Japanese, and dislikes tomato peels.