Warning: the following contains spoilers for Sasaki and Miyano, Episode 6, Feelings, now streaming on Funimation.
Sasaki and Miyano is quickly becoming one of the best series to watch for romance fans, and Episode 6, which aired right before Valentine’s Day is particularly great. It’s not necessarily because Sasaki and Miyano’s relationship has progressed significantly, but because this episode is actually featuring different kinds of romantic relationships that are all sweet in their own unique ways, and actually explores what it means to fall for someone.
This episode mainly revolved around Miyano’s attempt to figure out his true feelings towards Sasaki. He had always thought that he was straight because he liked a girl in middle school. But, Miyano is still young and is trying to determine his sexuality, so this is an entirely normal reaction. It is an important step towards meaningful representation to depict his struggles. The process of discovering one's identity is work, it's complicated, and it does take time to figure out. Miyano is trying to be very cautious and respectful because he is taking this issue seriously.
The fact that he is genuinely thinking about Sasaki’s confession is a sign that he has feelings for Sasaki, otherwise, he would have rejected him by now, and this is exactly what Sasaki believes. Although Sasaki should still be applauded for treating Miyano as he normally would, and not pushing for an answer or making things awkward, even though it is obvious that he is desperate for it. Sasaki’s attitude is showing Miyano that there might be a path forward even if he chooses to reject him, which could take some burden off of Miyano’s decision.
Sasaki is also already being extremely considerate in a very subtle way. As he and Miyano walk back home sharing an umbrella, he was deliberately tilting his umbrella towards Miyano so that he won’t be drenched in the rain. It is these little heartwarming details that make Sasaki and Miyano such a perfect romance show. Though for now, at least Miyano is starting to realize that his feelings are more complex than just admiration.
Miyano is also getting a push from his friends in unexpected ways. His best friend Kuresawa – the person that Sasaki rescued in Episode 1—is always gushing about his girlfriend whenever he gets a chance. Kuresawa and his girlfriend were classmates but weren’t close at first, but when she went to the hospital and missed a field trip, he visited her with the rest of the class and suddenly fell for her smile. Kuresawa can seem possessive, but he is also completely deferential about his girlfriend’s interests, as she is also a fujoshi just like Ogasawara’s girlfriend. Their story shows Miyano that relationships are not stagnant, and they can evolve into romance at any moment.
The representation of fujoshi in Sasaki and Miyano is definitely another highlight of this episode since they are often depicted as fanatical and obsessed with shipping. While these qualities can be true to an extent, fujoshi are also real people that have regular lives, as is the case with Kuresawa and Ogasawara’s girlfriends. They both seem to have fulfilling lives and are also perfectly capable of maintaining a healthy relationship with their boyfriends, something that all fans can appreciate. It would be nicer if these characters can be formally introduced at some point in the future.
