You're My (Pretend) Friend

Now that R-15-free situational CDs have become an endangered species, to think I'd get to meet a couple this frustrating, pure, and neither-close-nor-distant... Thank you, and thank you again (hands clasped in gratitude) It's wonderful in the sense that you get to savor an incredibly beautiful voice for 60 minutes, and I also think the scenario gently stirs up everyone's emotions!! (what even is that reasoning, lol) Midori-kun, who becomes close friends with the heroine at lightning speed over something like "an unprecedented tie" — like, are they elementary schoolers or something?? — in a relationship that's close and ambiguous, somewhere between best friend and lover. His words and actions are suggestive... but not quite... it's an exquisite balance, and that's just unfair. It's not blatantly "actually I have feelings for you," but rather a line that makes you think, as a normal person, that you're liked by him. In a lot of romance works, it's more like "there's no way you don't like them from any angle, just get together already!!" but this one hovers right on the edge of "no, this is just Midori's version of best-friend treatment... there's no ulterior motive, right? ...right?" It's not just his words and actions, but I guess it's the voice and the subtle nuances? The way he speaks with a hint of laughter sometimes sounds like Midori himself is probing the boundary, and it's exquisitely unclear whether he's testing how far he can go or testing where the line is. Like, if he straight up said "how about being my sleeping-together friend?" that would sound like a declaration of romantic awareness, but given the flow of the conversation, it's not necessarily so clear-cut. The way it wobbles on the boundary, never easily falling into "just friends" or "more than that," was truly impressive, I thought... Since the day they started sleeping side by side, Midori-kun's voice has gotten even softer, and the sense of "ah, maybe he's taken a step forward" is also amazing. His position, or rather, the position of his heart. But still!! Even after they start sleeping together, various things happen, but it remains unresolved right up until the very end. But that's what makes it good. I thought this was a fine work with a rare vector in this genre, one that makes your heart wobble and race with the blueness and straightforwardness of someone who's just become an adult! I really want people to give it a listen.

First of all, I loved the setting!! When I listened to the sample, I loved the atmosphere too!! Honestly, I think I might have been looking forward to this the most out of everyone — I was excited about it well before release!!! Before listening, I just assumed he'd call her "omae," but the fact that he calls her "kimi" felt kind of nice. They're best friends and he draws a line, but they're still pretty close in distance, and you can really tell he always prioritizes and treasures the heroine. Midori-kun, how should I put it — it feels like he's doing things while fully knowing what he's doing, which is kind of sly of him. So in the end, including the SS, once you learn Midori-kun's feelings, am I right in thinking that even while drawing a line, they were both being suggestive toward each other...? So does that mean Midori-kun's actions really were done knowingly?! Were they?!?! That's so sly???? Um... I thought if things worked out they'd at least kiss, but that scene isn't in the main story or the extras!! There's a standalone "kiss" in the cheer voice tracks, so please mentally attach it wherever you like!!!! It's really great!!!! And honestly, the cheer voice tracks are ridiculously fun!!!!! There are more varieties than I expected. What even is this?!??!! Infinite possibilities, infinite fun await you. It feels like it's been a while since I listened to such a high-quality all-ages work. Thank you so much!!!

I was so, so looking forward to this ever since the preview came out. To cut to the conclusion, it was amazing. Thank you. Even though their relationship is obviously more than friends — to the point that even other people point it out — she insists on calling it "best friends." As the story progresses, it becomes clear that this is a defense line the heroine herself put up, but honestly, seeing Midori-kun's attitude toward other people makes it really, really understandable why she'd be scared. If messing something up leads to that kind of attitude from him, being "best friends" is definitely the safer option. That's how firmly Midori-kun keeps his boundaries in place. And precisely because of that, he probably only gets confessed to by girls hoping for a long shot. I think the key to this sense of distance is that Midori-kun is a year older because he's a ronin (retaking exams). As the protagonist herself says in the story, he has a kind of "big brother" vibe. Precisely because of that, even though she's only one year younger, I feel like the protagonist has been telling herself something like "this closeness is just him doting on me like a little sister"... but man, he really acts like a big brother, doesn't he. In reality, though, he was acting like a boyfriend. Also, it was just genuinely great as something to help you fall asleep. Komatsu-san's vocal tone is relaxed and soft, perfect for right before bed.