Without getting into the weeds too much, you can expect this boy to get treated LIKE DIRT the entire time. People are always stringing him along, and the one who does this the most by far is the leading lady herself... yet why and how this evolves into a romance isn't communicated to the viewer in the slightest. I wrote in my letterboxd review, "Why does he have any obligation to do that? Rikako already said she hates Kochi boys, so it's up to her to stand up for herself." Perhaps that doesn't make total sense without more context, but do believe me. Taku's decision to go to college in Tokyo, too, just comes out of the blue when he's being strung along. Despite this, somehow, perhaps it's a realistic depiction of when a relationship forms from nothing? It has a beautiful presentation, and I'm not kidding about that. Particularly the still images! I just can't shake the feeling that Rikako is a bitch with no redemption arc. The role of falling in love with her and putting up with her bold, self-centered nature falls on you. Despite my low score I have a weirdly positive view of the movie due to its, like, mystique and gorgeously dreamlike art direction. Yet I can't say I "like" it. It has such a bad heroine!
