Ao Haru Ride (2023)
At the end of the first year of high school, Futaba Yoshioka meets Kou Tanaka who was her first love. In their middle school days, they attended the same school, but he suddenly transferred to another school. Three years later, he appears in front of her again with the different last name of Kou Mabuchi. His personality also seems to have changed from warm to cold. He is like a totally different person from three years ago. Futaba Yoshioka slowly learns what happened to Kou Mabuchi for the past three years and she become to have feelings for him again.
- Io Sakisaka
Country: JP
Language: Ja
Runtime:
Season 2:
Futaba Yoshioka (Natsuki Deguchi) and Kou Mabuchi (Kaede Sakurai) gradually draw closer to each other's feelings and come into close contact on the day of the cultural festival. Futaba, who wants to know Kou's true feelings, resolves to convey her feelings to him. Just then, Yui Narumi (Karin Fujiyoshi), a classmate Kou met in Nagasaki when he transferred during middle school and who shares the same sadness, appears before them. Unable to leave Yui, who knows the same sadness, alone, Kou embraces her in front of Futaba and Toma Kikuchi (Ryosuke Sota). Their youth is just one millimeter away, yet so distant.
Futaba, worried that Kou's progress might halt again due to Yui's presence, who knows about Kou's past, confronts Yui with her feelings, fearing that they might not be for Kou's sake but for her own. Amidst this, a "suspicion" arises about Yoichi Tanaka (Daiki Kenkon). Shuko Muraoka (Ayara Shida), harboring steadfast feelings, calls Yoichi to the rooftop to confess her feelings. And then, Futaba also opens up her feelings to Kou
Futaba's heart sways greatly at Toma's straightforward words, and the distance between them rapidly closes. Meanwhile, as Kou recalls painful memories with his mother, Akari (Keiko Horiuchi), he once again realizes his feelings for Futaba. Encouraged by Aya Kominato (Yasutaka Niibata), Kou decides to face his honest feelings and meet Yui again to sever any lingering emotions of sympathy. In the midst of this, Toma presses Futaba for an answer to his confession. What answer will Futaba come up with?
Futaba has started dating Toma. Meanwhile, the time for the school trip is approaching. Coincidentally, the destination is Nagasaki, where Kou spent his final days with Akari. Witnessing the intimate relationship between Futaba and Toma, Kou feels uncomfortable. On the other hand, developments begin to unfold in the relationships between Shuko and Kominato, Makita Yuriko (Riko) and Naigu Haruhiko (Miyazato Soru). Kou decides to take action to create new memories in Nagasaki.
Despite feeling bewildered by Kou's invitation, Futaba decides to accompany him as a representative of their friends. Kou tries to move forward to overcome his sadness as they walk through the streets of Nagasaki. Futaba's heart wavers as she tries to support Kou, but she begins to feel guilty towards Toma. Later, Futaba honestly tells Toma about sneaking out with Kou during the school trip and promises to face their issues together. On the other hand, Kou, in an attempt to establish boundaries with Yui, meets with her—.
Unable to erase Kou from her heart, Futaba heads to Toma to bid farewell. However, Kou, without knowing about Futaba's decision, stops himself from reaching out to her. Futaba and Kou continue to pass by each other... And then comes the Christmas night. Amidst the intertwining of their feelings, Futaba visits the place filled with memories of Kou. Over and over again, it felt like it would start but never did, between Futaba and Kou. Near yet far, will their youth, just one millimeter away, truly reach its conclusion?