Adapted from the manga series Kimi to Nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo by Kubota Maru, the new Japanese BL If It’s With You starring Hyuga Wataru (Yamasuge Ryuji) and Okura Takato (Kaido Amane) is setting the stage for a poignant tale about opening up and letting go.

Amane is a gay young man hiding the pain and shame he feels over a past rejection behind smiles and laughter. But, upon meeting Ryuji, an overly helpful classmate who sees beyond the pain, he slowly lets go of his fear of falling in love.

Japanese BLs have a way of digging deep into the soul of things, of reaching behind the surface of a character and ripping out what makes that character tick.

If It’s With You is no different. It starts from Amane’s point of view, but it’s easy to see that this will likely change, as is generally the case with Japanese BLs.

Amane’s narrative voice sets the stage well, exploring the depths of his trauma and the teasing mask he wears while delving into the unexpected excitement that finding someone like Ryuji brings him. It’s nice finding someone who sees beyond the smiles to the tears. But what’s nicer is realizing what the joy of letting go and genuinely falling in love can feel like, especially when you’ve spent so much time pretending to be okay.

For two episodes, we feel Amane’s pain while also feeling him begin to bloom. It’s a joy watching an openly gay character find himself on screen, even if there is a possibility of heartbreak.

I look forward to seeing if Ryuji’s understanding and overly helpful personality also compensate for something the same way Amane’s teasing does. The stolen glances he gives Amane and the thoughtful expressions he often wears hold much deeper truths that I look forward to exploring.

For a series that promises to dig beyond the surface of two young men finding a connection with each other, check out If It’s With You now on Gagaoolala.

Rating- 4.5 out of 5