Kubo-san wa boku o jurusanai

Kubo-san essentially takes the dynamic of Takagi-san and adds an extra layer of cuteness and a more relaxed execution. The series carefully crafts its music, color palette, and character design, and employs various animation techniques, including occasional use of simplified and chibi models. Everything is orchestrated to maximize the show's charm, creating a pleasant and relaxing viewing experience. In Kubo-san, there are no intense dramas; instead, the humor leans toward the cute side. The main heroine, Kubo, stands out as an interesting, nice, and active character. However, there isn't much else to uncover beyond the adorable interactions and Kubo's engaging personality. Junta, the male lead, didn't particularly resonate with me. Like most male heroes in teasing school romances, he's intentionally unremarkable, often overlooked by everyone in the class except Kubo. Unfortunately, I found him rather generic, despite the internal monologues and the authors' efforts to narrate the story mainly from his perspective. In essence, I have the same impression of the main couple as in Takagi-san. As I find myself drawing parallels to Takagi-san, Kubo-san comes off as cuter, while Takagi-san retains the edge in humor and inventiveness. Characters in Kubo-san develop at a faster pace, but when it comes to overall entertainment value, I'm inclined to lean toward Takagi-san. It's tempting to compare Kubo-san with other similar teasing romances that have surfaced in recent years, but perhaps it's unnecessary. When focusing solely on the first seasons, I can confidently say that Kubo-san entertained me more than Nagatoro-san or  Uzaki-chan. When it comes to Takagi, it's a tie, I guess. 7/10 (2023.06.20)