Junjou Romantica follows the stories of three couples. The main couple consists of Misaki and Usagi. Misaki is a young student trying hard to get into the college of his dreams, Mitsuhashi University, the school his brother, Takahiro, couldn't attend because he dedicated his life to raising Misaki. Misaki's grades are far from perfect however, and Takahiro asks his childhood friend Usami Akihiko to tutor Misaki. Misaki soon learns he's in for one hell of a ride as Usami (friends call him Usagi) is a lazy, perverted, chain smoking, Boy's Love novelist. That's right.. XD (dun dun dun) He's gay. Usagi has been in love with Misaki's brother for a very long time but he doesn't make a move for fear of ruining their friendship. As the months go on and Misaki gets to know Usagi better he starts to feel sympathetic towards him. On the day of Takahiro's birthday, Misaki and Usagi throw him a birthday party and Takahiro announces his plans to marry a woman (whom we see very little of after that) named Kajiwara Minami. Usagi quickly covers his hurt and shock by congratuating his friend, but Misaki can't seem to do the same. He makes up some crappy excuse about needing to buy sake and drags Usagi outside and under a street light bawling his eyes out. Misaki tells Usagi he's sorry and that he can't believe his brother could be that mean, and of course Usagi awed that someone is actually crying for him and his hurt feelings falls for Misaki on the spot. They share a romantic kiss under the streetlamp and thus begins their very humorous and turbulant relationship.
The second couple consists of Literature professor Hiroki, and would be doctor Nowaki. Hiroki had been in love with Usagi since childhood and had recently had his heart broken when a strange young man named Nowaki finds him crying in the park. A short while later, he begs Hiroki tutor him so he can pass his high school equivalence exams and get into university. Hiroki blatantly says "NO!" and gains a new stalker who goes so far as to steal his house key, break in, and cook him breakfast. Eventually Hiroki agrees to tutor him. Nowaki hears Hiroki talking in his sleep about Usagi and gets jealous, wanting to be the one Hiroki loves, so when Usagi actually shows up at Hiroki's apartment, Nowaki grabs Hiroki around the waist and says "I'm sorry, Hiro-san is mine!" Once the door is closed Nowaki admits his love and is kicked out. He comes back later and apologizes for his actions but says he can't give up. He says "When I fell in love with you, you were crying, but now, I want to see you smile!" Thus begins a really rocky relationship full of trust issues and a lot of Hiroki being a pissy bitch (don't get me wrong, he's my favorite character <3 <3 <3)
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The third couple consists of Fellow Literature proffessor (and Hiroki's Partner) You Miyagi, and high school student Shinobu Takatsuki. Shinobu is Miyagi's Ex Wife's son who's been studying abroad in Australia. He heard Miyagi got divorced and has come back to Japan to tell Miyagi it is their Destiny to be together! After this announcement Miyagi utters to the viewer my favorite line "There Stood before me...A Terrorist" Miyagi throughout the first few days of Shinobu staying with him constantly tries to get it into the boy's head that he's a straight as can be, but Shinobu is persistant. Finally however he succeeds and Shinobu runs away to his stay with his mommy instead. Miyagi begins to get lonely without his little Terrorist following him around all the time and calls up his Ex to see how the kids doing. Turns out Shinobu's heading back to Australia since he can't be with Miyagi. The very next scene we see Shinobu sitting at the airport and Miyagi comes strolling up to him saying "I don't know about this Destiny stuff, but I'm willing to give it a chance." And they begin a complicated mess of a relationship (though not quite as complicated as Hiro-san and Nowaki's)
Now ONTO THE REVIEW PART: My favorite couple by far is Nowaki and Hiroki. They seem to have the most problems in their relationship, but the character types aren't your typical Seme and Uke. Young, sweet, shy and quiet Nowaki is the Seme. And brash, loud, violent Hiroki is the Uke. Yes they visually they fit the stereotype, but I never thought I'd scream so much at my tv things like "NOWAKI YOU IDIOT!!!!!" or "Oh come on Hiro-san!!! Stop blaming him! ITS YOUR OWN FAULT!" Its a little dissappointing though, while the series gives a solid resolution to Usagi and Misaki's relationship, the other two don't really have any closure. We get Hiroki moving in with Nowaki, but they still have problems, and Miyagi finally admitting he's head over heals for Shinobu...but then what?? The manga's ongoing but I wish the anime would have gone on! The animation quality is good, and the pastel colors are adorable. (Usagi's bedrooms kinda creepy though) The side and background characters are fun and love to get in the way, whether they think they're being helpful or not. The opening songs are really catchy and will have you singing along in no time! Any yaoi fangirl or a girl just getting into yaoi will love it. Heck it was truly my gateway into being a yaoi fangirl <3
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