Relationships aren’t always perfect or anything close to what outsiders think they should be. Sometimes the person we fall in love with is the one who quietly reminds us of the version of ourselves we most want to grow into, even when getting there is messy. That’s the heart of At 25:00 in Akasaka Season 2, the continuation of the story adapted from Natsuno Hiroko’s manga 25 Ji, Akasaka de, once again starring Niihara Taisuke as Shirasaki Yuki and Komagine Kiita as Hayama Asami, two actors whose love began in a complicated blur of fiction and truth.

Season one explored the uncertainty of a fake relationship turning real, watching two men slowly carve out confidence and connection through each other. Season two begins on that note: their love is sincere, private, and still hidden from the public, tucked carefully behind closed doors while both actors rise steadily in their careers. Shirasaki is growing into a promising talent, and Hayama is in high demand, but their private time together remains the steady place where they get to breathe.

But as preparations begin for their new special Daytime Dream, the world around them changes. A manager stumbles upon their secret. A chance encounter unsettles Shirasaki. And a script that both men desire sets the stage for rivalry neither of them is quite ready to face. What season two does differently than the first is slow things down, moving the conflict inward. Rather than external chaos, it’s communication issues, ambition, insecurity, and the complicated reality of dating someone who walks the same professional tightrope.

The season is undeniably slower paced, and at times difficult, but that slowness allows something interesting to happen: it reveals the parts of a relationship people don’t usually show. All love starts off a little superficial, even when the feelings are real. You don’t truly understand someone until you share a life with them, until you’ve seen how they handle hurt, pride, disappointment, and success. That’s where the season’s strength lies. Hayama is closed-off and guarded, keeping his emotions tightly controlled, while Shirasaki wears his feelings openly, sometimes too openly, especially when it comes to wanting to stand at Hayama’s level professionally. These differences clash often, but they also illuminate why the two fell for each other in the first place.

What struck me most is that while they don’t always understand each other, they constantly inspire each other with Hayama grounding Shirasaki’s vulnerabilities and Shirasaki pulling Hayama out of the emotional corners he hides in. It almost feels as if each man has fallen in love not only with the other, but with the version of himself the other person brings out. It’s imperfect, but it’s sincere, and it makes their relationship compelling even when the pacing falters and the frustration is real.

The unexpected surprise of the season, however, is the secondary couple hinted at through Sakuma Hajime (Usa Takuma) and Yamase Kazuma (Nagumo Shoma). They bring a refreshing spark to every scene they touch, and I found myself genuinely invested in their dynamic. If the end of season two is going where I think it’s going, I can’t wait to see them again in their own story.

While season two may not have the immediate charm and intensity of season one, it offers something more introspective: an honest look at two people still learning how to love each other while chasing individual dreams. It isn’t perfect, and it isn’t always easy to watch, but it feels real in the way relationships often are. It’s full of quiet misunderstandings, personal growth, and moments where love is both the tension and the answer.

For a series that understands the beauty and difficulty of loving someone while still learning who you are, At 25:00 in Akasaka Season 2 delivers a thoughtful continuation carried by two excellent performances. It may be slower, softer, and more internal than its first season, but the emotional honesty remains steady and reminds me just how frustrating real love can often be.

For a series that is honest with itself, even when it’s hard to watch, check out At 25:00 in Akasaka Season 2 now streaming on GagaOOLala.

Rating- 4 out of 5