Whether we realize it or not, we, as humans, are always looking for another person(s) to connect to. A person who understands us. A person who can become the place we come home to. A place to rest. A place to be.

Adapted from the manga of the same name by Tsurukame Mayo, the new Japanese BL Perfect Propose gives its characters a place to come home to—a place to be comfortable being themselves.

For six episodes, the series quickly traverses a seemingly simple but surprisingly profound and compelling story about two men who met and connected as children before reuniting years later. Hirokuni Watari (Kaneko Shunya) is an overworked corporate employee with little time outside the office. Fukaya Kai (Nomura Kota) is an orphan who works in the food industry for an older man who took him in after he tried to dash and dine. They come face-to-face when Hiro collapses from the weight of his responsibilities and finds himself peering up at Fukaya Kai, the face of the man he’d promised to marry when they were kids.

From there, viewers are drawn quickly into the lives of two men who made a promise to each other, cohabitating while navigating tough times in their personal lives. Together, they find solace from their problems.

And that’s where the beauty of this series lies.

While their living situation begins because Kai uses a forgotten promise of marriage to live with Hiro, they fall into a comfortable symbiotic relationship that feels natural. One that allows them to face themselves, all while falling in love. From exploring work-related stress to childhood trauma, Perfect Propose is a series about trust, need, and home. The day-to-day corporate struggle that Hiro navigates and the apparent need Kai has for a home and love fisted its way around my heart and never let go.

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. The plant Kai buys for them to grow together. The windchimes that ‘ding’ together, a constant reminder that each step is drawing them closer to being home. The way Kai always picks Hiro up when he needs it the most while Hiro gives Kai a place to be.

These moments build a strong story with the depth needed to bring it all together to the perfect proposal at the end.

And that’s where the most pivotal part of the series comes into play–the chemistry. From the first episode to the last, the magnetic pull between the leads is strong and vital to making a story like this work. Even though Kai is a very tsundere type of character with little outward emotional reactions, his eyes and subtle facial expressions when around Hiro perfectly showcase his need for an ever-lasting place to stay and the love for Hiro he’s held onto for many years. Hiro’s reactions to Kai also vividly express his need for an emotional connection and a place to rest. And that’s why the proposal at the end hits so hard.

It isn’t just a proposal. It’s another promise. A much deeper promise than the one Hiro and Kai made as children. A promise to be for each other the things they need most. A promise to continue being for each other what they’ve always been since they were children: a place to rest and a place to be.

It left me feeling at home and at peace.

For a story that brings together two men seeking solace and love in each other, check out Perfect Propose now on Gagaoolala. I highly recommend it.

Rating- 4.5 out of 5