DVD Region 2. pub: Revelation Films B000OIOJDM. Price: £15.99 (UK) 125 mins.

check out website: www.revfilms.com

The first two episodes revolve around the few days before school starts. Yamato, strangely the main character, catches a glimpse of a beautiful young girl Suzuka. He's come from a small village to go to school in Tokyo while staying in his aunt's boarding house. She is training to do the high jump and has promised to be a real athlete in track and field. His hopes of getting to know her are a bit are shaken up a bit when he finds out that she, too, lives at his aunt's Bathhouse and boarding house. Through a series of misfortunate events, he fails to appeal to Suzuka, although he does rescue her from the sauna when she stays into long. Even then he is left having to pay for the damage for the door he destroyed, he is further humiliated when Suzuka tells him the door wasn't locked as he thought, but he should have just pulled on the door instead of pushing.



Yamato is hindered further by his latching onto an old friend, Hatori, who is a bit of a manipulator, often making Yamato take the blame for his actions. He always ends up with the girls while Yamato seems to be on the sidelines. There is hope as, slowly with lots of ups and downs, Yamato and Suzuka have some 'good' moments together like when they have something to eat at the shrine, although there are still plenty of disagreements. There are times where Yamato is lost in knowing why Suzuka behaves like she does and is often taking the brunt of the blame for things he really hasn't done. Hatori does on occasion help the two to get together.

School becomes a bit traumatic for Yamato and on the first day he feels isolated until he starts getting attention from another girl Honoka who says he knows him from past visits to Tokyo when he was visiting his aunt when he was younger. Yamato, though, has no recollection of her. Hatori stirs the situation with Suzuka by telling her that Yamato and Honoka are probably arranging something for that night.

Things come to a head when after school its raining and Yamato hangs around waiting for Suzuka and, after a bit of embarrassment, Suzuka asks whether Yamato wants to share her umbrella. On the way home, Suzuka is startled by a car that nearly hits her and falls into Yamato's arms. He is quite the gentleman but there is an awkward pause. After Suzuka seems to be avoiding Yamato but things start to smooth over a bit. They slowly with trepidation start to get closer to each other with both unwilling to say how they feel.

So what we've got is a romantic comedy with the usual obstacles, blunders and a mix of problems that go with the territory. It's perhaps a bit slow to start with but there is a good if awkward chemistry between Yamato and Suzuka. They compliment each other in the fact that they are opposites. Yamato is laid back, to some degree and relatively unorganised with little in the way of goals. He's still fitting in. Whereas Suzuka, even though she too is from a small village, is far more confident and organised in her approach to things. Even with all Yamato's blunders she still sees something in him.

It's quite sweet and innocent. There's the usual bunch of school 'friends' as background to the main. We've got the jealous element from Honoka's interest in Yamato to the annoyance of Suzuka. The contrast between the two main characters keeps the whole thing rolling as do the problems that they face. The last episode ends on a good high if not resolution.

There's very little in the way of extras apart from some trailers and school yearbook pictures. The animation and music are OK and fit in with what's on screen. If your looking for a bit of light slightly amusing romantic story then this isn't bad.

Phil Jones