If you're the type that likes humour and fluff with funny misunderstanding etc, an easy watch? then it's for you - the higher rated reviews give you an idea but if you're a little more picky (like me ://///) then this might help?

I only watched it because of Hoshino Gen's song koi, all the utaites were covering it and i said, gosh at this point i gotta watch. I checked it out and well, the concept isn't anything new but at the same time, it felt like a more serious or mature take on the idea. Typically, the marriage contract concept is humourous and hijinks ensue! sort of vibes but nigehaji takes itself a little seriously and luckily that provides a different story. As the synopsis explains, the story follows Mikuri who is lost in life– jobless and feeling purposeless, so she takes on a job as a housekeeper for this 30 ish year old office worker who's pretty much given up on love. Circumstances arise and Tsuzaki makes a suggestion for Mikuri to be his contract wife pretty much for the sake of convenience (which u know what, i get that – the tax benefits is just one thing-). Its pretty fucking slow burn but the story is still sometimes fluffy where the pair very slowly come to care about each other moving from worker/boss to aquintances to almost friends/one sided love and finally the slow development into lovers.

The characters themselves come off pretty simple and bland initially but the humour was enough to keep me interested. As the show progresses though, you understand the inner workings of the characters little by little, understanding their insecurities and worries and doubts and wants that they've both kept to themselves. Mikuri's character is much more likeable than Tsuzaki (extremely so) but at the same time i liked the way i didn't like Tsuzaki much – honestly he's pretty annoying but there are times when he's unbelievably considerate in this honest, no ulterior motives sort of way other than simply wanting to help. He was a very understandable character but also so typical and bland that just about anyone can relate to. I think his characteristics that were highlighted, was a lot of the things most people have seen in themselves at some point – he didn't seem to enjoy his life but wasn't doing anything about it, he has just about given up and is unintentionally being thoughtless in his actions because of his lack of experience? etc. Mikuri has similar feelings but she's a little more desperate to make things work out for herself because she had valued herself as a working woman and needed to get back into something that made her feel useful (as the lit title suggests). Mikuri is more complex in that, for her she has a lot of expectations of herself and is well aware of where her value comes in as a woman according to the expectations of Japanese society. For her, her sex plays a role in her life while for Tsuzaki, not so much and there's an interesting dynamic and dilemma between the two there. For Tsuzaki sex isn't something he cares about but in the real world even if it's something that doesn't change your view of someone, in society it is a key point that makes a difference. Like with racism saying you 'don't see race', you’re ignoring racism, not helping to solve it, the same can be applied with sexism and transphobia, homophobia etc. But yeah anyways, Mikuri has a kind, dynamic personality that despite her struggling with feelings of doubt makes her someone you want to root for, especially when Tsuzaki acts like an idiot.

There's very cute moments here and there and there's moments of frustration that also feel mature and poignant at times in the sense that these two characters who despite coming off very simple and bland are people that aren't just two characteristics and that events and experiences shape their reactions etc. The thing that falls short is that i think at points it felt like they were dragging things out, like crazily so and the show's only 11 episodes! I personally find it annoying when issues can be solved when people communicate well and i just find that communication issues (without trauma playing a factor), a cheap plot device. I honestly would've dropped it were it not for the fact that it was only 11 episodes and that the ending was interesting.

So nearly good, despite the average... well? everything. The story kinda falls flat in it's pacing and character development. I think the romance aspect of it should've been dealt better for both characters and I think if they had used the uniqueness of both leads to build off each other and push for growth in each other, - as the story seemed to have to wanted to go in that direction, but like most things in this show- it falls short - then the somewhat openendedness of the ending could've felt more satisfying. It gets a 7 because ost? slaps! and the casting was great and acting wasn't bad - not particularly amazing but above average !

Do note though, the manga is pretty different in comparison, it is a much more mature and mellow story that's very meaningful, i think, i hadn't read much, too much 2ndhand dread.