Promises aren’t always made to be kept, but they carry a lot of weight.

Adapted from the manga of the same name by Tsurukame Mayo, the new Japanese BL Perfect Propose showcases the connection that revisiting past promises can build.

The first two episodes delve quickly into the story, traversing a lot of time in its bid to set the groundwork for the remaining four episodes. While its fast pace should be off-putting, it somehow manages to create a compelling story with well-fleshed-out characters.

Kaneko Shunya, portraying the overworked Hirokuni Watari, makes it easy to become immersed in the chaos of his hectic life. Having recently started a new job that requires a lot of dedication and time, I found myself relating to his exhaustion on an incredibly personal level. As Hiro collapses from the weight of his responsibilities, he suddenly finds himself peering up at Fukaya Kai (Nomura Kota), the face of a man he’d promised to marry when they were kids.

Despite its quick pace, Perfect Propose seamlessly transitions from the past to the present, from work to home, in a way that captures Hiro and Kai’s complex emotions and relationships while maintaining a sense of mystery around Kai that makes his appearance much more intriguing. When Kai claims a forgotten promise of marriage to live with Hiro, they fall into a comfortable symbiotic relationship that feels natural. It was so natural that, by the middle of the second episode, I forgot they hadn’t always lived this way. All in a forty-minute time span, which is a testament to how well this adaptation captures so much in so little time.

But it doesn’t stop there. Perfect Propose is much more than a romance that grows from a forgotten promise. It explores work-related stress and childhood trauma, weaving both together in a compelling story that captures the heart.

I am always awed by how well Japanese BLs and dramas capture so much in so little time. The day-to-day corporate struggle that Hiro navigates and the apparent need Kai has for a home fisted its way around my heart, especially when Hiro cannot keep his festival promise to Kai in the second episode.

Simple touches make a significant impact, such as Hiro handing his spare key to Kai, to a man who hasn’t really known a home and hasn’t truly experienced a childhood. And it’s these simple touches that create the depth needed to pull off a solid emotional story in a limited time frame.

I have no doubt Perfect Propose will do just that.

For a story that brings together two men seeking a home in each other, check out Perfect Propose now on Gagaoolala.

Rating- 4 out of 5