Review of Horimiya

In their high school classrooms, Kyoko Hori is the center of a popular in-group, while Izumi Miyamura has barely said a word to anyone in the last three years. Outside of school, Kyoko is unable to live the life she wants with her friends due to personal responsibilities at home, and Izumi's meek appearance hides piercings and tattoos. When a chance encounter -- or perhaps fate -- exposes both of their secrets, the two are fascinated by the discovery of the other's hidden self. This is, of course, a premise that has been done time and time again; but this iteration is the one thatspoke to me.

This peek into each others' private lives forges an immediate bond between them, as they feel seen and understood by the other. Over time, they begin to flourish under each others' influence. This isn't your average "will they, won't they"--it is immediately apparent to the audience that they care for each other; they only need to learn *how* to navigate their unexpected friendship and mutual attraction.

And, unlike many other anime, we are allowed to witness an *actually healthy* relationship emerge. Rather than focusing exclusively on "love for love's sake", Horimiya remembers that wholesome and nourishing connections have the potential to improve one's life in tangible and meaningful ways. As Izumi and Kyoko grow closer, both of their worlds are opened up in ways that otherwise couldn't have happened--whether it's as intense as that's making friends out of enemies, or as simple as watching new genres of movies. When one of them is struggling to navigate a situation, the other steps in to protect and defend them if necessary. They learn to support each other at school as well as in the home, which allows them to reduce the dissonance they feel between their public and private selves. Izumi and Kyoko, to borrow an old phrase, truly broaden each others' horizons.

And not solely each others'. Almost as much screentime is dedicated to those *around* Kyoko and Izumi as the pair themselves. The repercussions of their fateful encounter improve not only their lives, but the lives of those around them. Their blossoming intimacy affects their families, their friends, and even total strangers, for the better.

The constant upward trend of the relationships is what separates Horimiya from lesser anime of its type, in my opinion. Unlike Toradora!--which has the characters undergo no meaningful growth or change after the second episode--the lives of multiple characters in Horimiya improve in ways that go beyond dating. Unlike "Say I Love You", you could consider both (or neither) character to be self-insert or wish fulfillment; and in Horimiya, there is no forced roller-coaster drama.

It isn't flawless, by any means, but the show goes to lengths to improve the slice-of-life high school romance by actually letting its characters grow up and discover themselves, rather than forcing them to stay static and dramatic. All in all, Horimiya is a beautiful, sometimes bittersweet exploration of a relationship that truly allows those touched by it to spread their wings.