Main character. Ryuuji. He looks super tough and scary 'cause he looks like his dad, who was a gangster when he was alive. But in reality, he's a softie who likes to cook and clean and is basically the perfect housewife, as he had to grow up taking care of his mommy (she's not ill. She's a dancer at a club or something. She's super sweet, but she's just always tipsy and lazy and clumsy and airheaded haha).
Ryuuji's best friend is Kitamura. Sweet guy, kinda nerdy. One of the few people who isn't scared of him. He's student council VP. He's also in the baseball club.
Kitamura is teammates with Kushieda Minori (last name, then first. Guys call her by the last name out of respect). She's a hyper energetic little ball of bursting sunshine. And she's not afraid of Ryuuji at all. He's had a serious crush on her for a while. He blushes and everything, it's so cute.
Minori is best friends with Aisaka. She's this short, fiery ginger. Shorter than me even. She can pack quite the punch. She's got a lot of anger towards everyone, except Minori. Because she's tiny and angry, she's earned the nickname "Palmtop Tiger" (like a tiger that fits in your hand?). She has a huge crush on Kitamura. To the point that he makes her freeze and all her anger goes away and she completely misses social cues.
The series is Ryuuji and Aisaka teaming up to get to the best friends. Of course they become friends along the way. The school starts shipping them. Yada yada. Funny writing. All the students mentioned are juniors at this point.
EPISODE 16 WHERE I SOB FOR DAYS
Don't read if you plan on watching. But you probably won't watch, so just read.
Kitamura starts rebelling and quits Student Council. He reveals to Ryuuji that it's because the President, Kanou, who is graduating this year, is going abroad to America. He apparently joined Student Council because he fell in love with Kanou. He planned on confessing when he became President, but since she was leaving, he saw no point. Even if she did feel the same, it would be stupid to assume that she'd give up an opportunity to study abroad just for him.
Kitamura eventually realizes he HAS to be President so the school can thrive and such, and so he accepts. His speech is actually him confessing to Kanou, who pretty much knew everything that was going through his mind, but she never expected a confession then and there. When Kitamura says he just wants to know how she feels before she goes, she dodges the question by calling him "an interesting guy" and encouraging people to vote for him. The whole school is automatically sympathetic, but Ryuuji is more concerned with how Aisaka probably feels about it.
Ryuuji asks Kanou why she wouldn't just answer, but she avoids him. Aisaka interrupts Ryuuji demanding that he go comfort Kitamura. Ryuuji asks how she's doing and she says that she'll be fine and she just wants Kitamura to feel better. She says he's crying in the classroom, and she knows she can't be of any help. She wants to, but can't, so Ryuuji has to go make sure he's okay. After all the times Kitamura helped Aisaka when she was lonely, and after making it so that she didn't feel alone and had the courage to stand up again, she needed to know that he would be okay. Even if she felt heartbroken, she just wanted Kitamura to not feel alone. Ryuuji leaves Aisaka and goes to check on Kitamura. Soon, someone runs into that classroom and tells Ryuuji that they need him because Aisaka's going crazy.
Aisaka went into Kanou's class and basically challenged her to a fight. She calls Kanou a coward and selfish for not responding, and she bashes her for hurting Kitamura, which is unforgivable. Both girls are in tears, and Kanou reveals that she loves him back. But she knows Kitamura is the kind of person who would sacrifice everything for her. Kanou chose to keep quiet because, as much as she wants him to follow her, she knows that he has a future right where he is and he shouldn't leave it just for her. Kitamura overhears this and thanks Kanou for the experience of being in love with her. The episode ends with everyone in tears because they know they can never get the thing they wish for the most. With that in mind, all they truly want is for the person they love to be happy, even if it means they'll be alone.
Seriously. I sobbed. I didn't see why this show was all that popular or why it was compared to so many great romances that I'd seen. But this episode? I felt it. I felt it in a wave that was all too real.
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"Leave your low-down at the ding-dong" -- Vic, RvB