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Most high school romantic comedy anime are usually dry and repetitive, with very few that follow an original storyline. Many of them explore traditional tropes, including childhood friends to lovers, love at first sight, enemies to lovers, and so on. Yet I'm a sucker for them. There's something about them that just draws me in. I spend hours searching for a show; I yearn for a show that makes you think, maybe one that explores a philosophical dilemma or one that shows the dark side of humanity, all while being a spectacle to watch. Horimiya meets only one, a spectacle to watch, and yet it’s a masterpiece, arguably my favorite anime of all time. 

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A quick glance through the show paints it out to be no different from the overused trope "popular girl falls for a castaway." Yet it couldn't be further away: what Horimiya lacks in a cliché trope, it makes up for in every other aspect—a soothing soundtrack, a wonderful cast, character development, and hidden themes. Before I dive into the themes and their execution, here's a quick run-through of the plot. Hori Kyouko is the star of Katagiri High School, an outgoing and popular student who's the embodiment of the phrase "beauty and brains," while Miyamura Izumi, the protagonist, is the "quiet kid" of the school. Someone who is ostracized and excluded for their quiet personality, an introvert. One day, Miyamura runs into Hori's brother, Souta, who injured himself. While taking him home, he runs into Hori, who's oblivious to Miyamura. When they meet, however, they unsheathe their "hidden selves," which they choose to hide. 

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So, where are the underlying themes? These "hidden selves," as they call them, are sides unknown to anyone. These secrets are stark contrasts to the front they put up, or their "faces". Hori's true self is a family girl; she cares for her family, specifically her little brother, more than anybody in the world. She loves to work around the house (for context, her parents' jobs keep them occupied) and is much more laid-back and relaxed. Meanwhile, Miyamura finds peace and freedom in solitude; he's been driven to being the stranger, which he expresses by fixing his hair, showing his piercings and tattoos (which he hides). He's a character with a wide array of complexities and faces he shows to different people. To his childhood friend, Kouichi, he's outspoken and abusive (mind you, in a friendly way!); in school he's quiet, which does change however, as the story progresses; to Hori however, there's no way to describe it but to imagine a friendship yourself. I ask, is it wrong to hide your true self? 

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The narrative essentially progresses with the character's evolution. After the first few episodes, we begin to see layers of both Hori and Miyamura unravel. Miyamura becomes more outgoing and forms relationships with Hori's circle of friends. Ishikawa, one of Hori's friends, has a crush on her, which results in rejection, yet this plays a key role in Miyamura's relationship with her; Miyamura quotes "how he's dragging her reputation down," angering Hori (he also mentions they aren't a good match). Yet, it solidifies the base for their relationship with their sudden resolution after Hori's comical but strong words, "Don't you ever say something like that again," the first hint towards their relationship. Ishikawa's rejection results in the basis of his friendship with Miyamura - an important friendship, which helps Miyamura understand himself better and that he's no longer alone, on the rooftop in episode 3; Ishikawa plays a critical role in helping Miyamura progress in his relationship with Hori, he tries to break down Miyamura's illusion of them simply just being friends.

 

A key moment in which we see their evolution—or, rather, the point where they've finally opened up to each other—is about their past. I previously pointed out how Hori's parents are occupied with their jobs, and while Hori isn't affected by their lack of presence, she feels forgotten by her parents. She feels lost. During episode 4, we see Hori falling bedridden and Miyamura taking care of her. She opens up to him about her feelings of isolation and times of loneliness, about how she's scared and alone, and she clings on to Miyamura, muttering the words "Where are you going?" and expressing the instances of Hori's sadness she felt whenever her mother left her. Miyamura takes this time to communicate how he'll never leave and is always going to be by her side. The persona she puts on by trying to make everyone happy essentially breaks, and her soft side emerges. On the other hand, in Miyamura's case, there are 3 instances. The first is in episode 6, when Miyamura cuts his hair, revealing his piercings; his haircut is more of a symbol of his desire to separate himself from his gloomy, introverted persona to his true self. The next is in episode 8, where, in a dream, Miyamura talks to his middle school self. This scene reveals his true feelings, his feelings of misanthropy; he expresses his hatred for happiness, his teachers, classmates, and... himself. What Miyamura tells his younger self is that it'll all be okay. The third and final moment is when Tanihara (Miyamura's "bully") is confronted by Miyamura in a locker. The locker is a symbol of the outside world and the world Miyamura lives in; they're both cramped together in Miyamura's world, and Tanihara expresses his distaste for it. Miyamura continues to explain the concept of "inside and out." To him, being outside feels like being inside; he feels trapped and ostracized no matter what he tries to do, no matter what he's alone with. The reason I've explored these three moments is the fact that they exhibit the reason for Miyamura's personality traits yet also what made it break. 

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Horimiya's symbolism of the world is one that many relate to. It’s a story that touches you. It depicts the dark and bright sides of the world in a seemingly optimistic plot. Miyamura's words in the final few chapters of the story perfectly summarize my thoughts: "You know... I never knew I had this many faces. That there were these many emotions inside of me. You probably didn't know either. The fear, the anxiety, of showing who I am... You made it all disappear." 

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Written by: Neil Agarwal

Edited By: Vidhi Channa

Designed by: Aryan Dahal

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