Warning! This review on Horimiya Chapter one contains spoilers. If you haven't seen the episode yet, I recommend watching it and then going back to read the review.

Horimiya chapter one
© HERO QU 萩 原 ダ イ ス ス QU SQUARE ENIX ・ 「ホ リ ミ ヤ」 製作 製作

Page 1. A small chance

Horimiya Chapter one begins with a daily scene in the classroom, we soon meet Hori and his group of friends. She is a popular girl who gives the image of being popular and fashionable. However, she devotes her evenings to housework and looking after her younger brother. On the other hand is Miyamura, a classmate who looks depressed and looks like an otaku. Miyamura is a laid-back boy with piercings and tattoos. A little coincidence leads to the fact that the lives of these two boys overlap and an unlikely friendship develops between them. A matter that does not go unnoticed by the others, especially Ishikawa, who has feelings for Hori. In the end, it is thanks to Ishikawa's admission that Hori and Miyamura can open up through their friendship and strengthen their bonds even more.

A long awaited premiere

It's been 12 years since HERO started releasing its web manga. "Hori-san to Miyamura-kun"Which peaked three years later and was compiled in a series of ten volumes. The story intrigued its readers and switched to Gekkan GFantasy, this time with a drawing by Daisuke Hagiwara. The manga has continued to be published since 2012 and currently has fifteen in all For a story with such a long trajectory, it's normal for it to have such a large following, especially considering that it's a story that can strike a chord while still entertaining and having fun .

To be honest, this is another story that I know very well, although I am not particularly good at dealing with original work as a web manga, I have been following the illustrated version of Hagiwara very closely. This is probably why I longed for this premiere more than any other this season. Besides this background Horimiya it had animated adjustments before. With four OVAS predecessors, it was difficult to know what to expect for the animated adaptation on this new foray. Each OVA was adjusted by a different study, the first two by the same, but the third and fourth were separate papers. It must be said that by no means did they particularly shine, so the concern was not so unfounded.

However, the CloverWorks studio managed to cover more than one mouth and did an excellent and neat customization job. We feel that Horimiya has fallen into very capable hands to reach his full potential. Because although at first glance this may seem like a typical piece of life story, the truth is that it contains a very human background and the experiences it tells us are able to touch the most delicate fibers of our being. That this is a teenage story gives you the space to uniquely capitalize on the sorrows of early life. This isn't just any romance, it's the story of two people with their own accusations worthy of a teenager, yes.

His and her circumstances

Well, if we are already fully entering what we were able to see in this first episode, without delay we find the opposite polarity of two classmates. Hori and Miyamura are diametrically opposed, it is obvious to anyone as the image they both project at school is that of a popular girl and a somber man. It doesn't seem like this couple has anything in common, even their interaction is practically zero. But things change when the two accidentally "find out". She is not the popular and fashionable girl that everyone seems to believe in, nor is he a depressed otaku.

The thing is, none of them actually act like they're something they aren't. They just adapted to the river that flows. Hori is indeed a popular person, but she is not particularly fashionable as her free time is spent at home and she takes care of her little brother. For his part, Miyamura is not an otaku, but he is certainly someone with a somewhat depressed character, but the biggest difference in his image is that outside of school he is someone with his own style. Not that he's someone who follows trends or fashions, but if he's someone who's a little bit impulsive and not that thoughtful, then that's what I call nine piercings and a tattoo.

They've both got used to their images, but they can't help but feel an affinity for one another when they discover how similar their situation is. This is a rare case where two lines that seemed impossible to reach intersect. It's no wonder familiarity and comfort grow between the two as they share a secret. But it's more than just that, it's something so personal that the level of intimacy is higher than any other. By sharing their time, one that only belongs to both, they have become accomplices of themselves, almost as if only they know who the other really is. As you will see, this is not a minimum of trust.

Friendliness and reputation

With the above, we can take a leap towards the end. Both Hori and Miyamura formed a solid friendship as they were valued for who they really are, with no mask involved. This is something very significant to both of them, but due to the different characters, they cannot appreciate it in the same way. Most insecure is Miyamura, who, although he has a very gentle character and is not socially incompetent, in reality has a major problem with his self-esteem. Which led him to have some uncomfortable thoughts for the person receiving them.

For Miyamura, who has very poor self-awareness, Hori is someone who is blind and kind. Unfortunately, he has come to believe that Hori is only in a relationship with him out of friendliness. As I said, this is just a result of his poor perception of himself. Since he looks like someone "pathetic", he believes that he will only get sympathy from the girl. Something in which he couldn't be more wrong and which Hori finally makes him understandable with a few complaints and tears. She's not someone who spreads sympathy everywhere, she really wants to hang out with him.

As we have already seen, they both project an image that is opposite to each other. This has also led to Miyamura having reservations about her interaction with Hori. Well, the "student society" certainly wouldn't welcome someone as popular as Hori to bond with someone as dark and depressing as Miyamura. Ishikawa was inadvertently confirming this idea. Because Miyamura questioned her approach to Hori so much, she looked even more at the gap between them. But even this is just a question of prejudice, and Hori is not someone who accepts that so easily. While she doesn't want to popularize her life outside of school, that doesn't mean she's worried about a reputation as low as the one projected on her.

Reputation is something we have to struggle to build, but since it depends entirely on someone else's perception, it is difficult to define how important it really is. Nor should we forget that a good reputation is easily damaged and a bad reputation is hardly forgotten. In the end, it doesn't matter what others think, but what you want. Hori was rightly upset with Miyamura as it is not up to him to leave so as not to damage Hori's reputation. This is a decision that involves her directly, and she has to decide what is important when that role she has formed with the boy who unconditionally accepts her for herself.

Final comment

Horimiya Chapter one was a wonderful episode to introduce us to that story. As a start to this anime, this chapter had what it takes: a good introduction to the main characters, an overview of what to expect, and a burst of nostalgia that is second to none. The narrative feels sped up at times, but it's not a mistake, especially considering that the manga's chapters are actually short. The animation is beautiful, clean and the color palette between gloss and matte makes it visually appealing to watch. The work of the voice actors is another great success, the voices fit like a glove.

Before we close on this review, let's talk about the perfection I felt in the opening. She Kamiyama's "Iro Kousui" is the chosen opening theme for this story and we can say that it was a complete and accurate hit. Music conveys a feeling that goes from warm to cold and is very suitable for the associated picture. I was surprised that the opening was so open about how depressing this story can get. But don't get me wrong, although it is true that there are sensitive subjects and that tears can come, we will not regret it forever. It's just that the construction of the characters can show us that deep down Horimiya is an excuse for the depression of youth and the constant struggle for acceptance, albeit clearly with a hopeful message at every step.

We'll talk about the future ending which, while not my favorite, deserves recognition.

So far, I leave you the usual questions: What did you think of this chapter? Do you think it was a good start for this story? What is your opinion on Hori and Miyamura at this first meeting? Will it be possible to build an unshakable reputation? Who do you think should decide our personal relationships, a third party, or ourselves?

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Sweety Otaku

One of the best parts of watching anime is how many times a show can surprise you. Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. But if the Otaku know one thing, it's that anything is possible.

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