REVIEW: ‘Cherry Magic!’ Episode 6

Happy Valentine’s Day to Cherry Magic‘s Kiyoshi Adachi (Chiaki Kobayashi) and his co-worker Yuichi Kurosawa (Ryôta Suzuki). In the last episode, Kurosawa confessed his feelings. While Adachi has been able to hear all of Kurosawa’s inner thoughts and has known about the crush since they began spending time together, having it verbalized changes everything. Adachi ended Episode 5 crumpled on the bridge, debating whether or not he loved that Kurosawa loved him or if he actually reciprocated his feelings. Left confused, Cherry Magic Episode 6 is all about Adachi realizing his emotions and finally choosing to act on them.

With Kurosawa out on a business trip, Adachi begins Cherry Magic Episode 6 navigating the future he wants for himself. Up until this point in his life, Adachi’s inner monologue has made clear that he has only ever had feelings for women. As he helps Fujisaki with a task at work, he follows what he has done. Adachi thinks about dating her and the life that could bring.

He thinks about dating, marriage, and the dream he thought he had. And then he ascribes gender to it. When he thinks about Kurosawa, he says that it wouldn’t happen because he’s a man. But the conflict here isn’t that Adachi is homophobic, but rather that his idea of family and dating is informed by heteronormative expectations. Marry a woman and start a family; that’s your future. But even when he points out the flaws he sees in Kurosawa, he still comes back to him.

Reading this scene can be what the audience brings into it. That said, Adachi’s back and forth is about him understanding his sexuality. It’s about his understanding that there is no one way to build a future. And ultimately, the future that he wants is with Kurosawa—not the woman he thought was his ideal type. This conflict is one that comes through sincerity and vulnerability. Adachi’s decision to confess and reciprocate is one that is steadfast and passionate all the same. Cherry Magic Episode 6 makes that all clear.

On the other side of things, Kurosawa, despite his 19+ inner thoughts, is all about respecting Adachi’s boundaries. Kurosawa wanted to let Adachi be and just stay by his side as a friend. But as they got close, Kurosawa chose to open himself to potential pain to end up on the other side. If he speaks his truth, then he can move on. Then, Kurosawa could get over his crush. Kurosawa’s tenderness is heartfelt and loving. He is ready to accept rejection but must speak his truth. It’s finally cemented when Adachi sprints out of the office building and down a bridge to find Kurosawa. Adachi knows what he wants, and that is Kurosawa. No matter how worried he is about navigating romance.

With the confession out there, the two start dating. Trying to keep it together at work, Adachi and Kurosawa are all in on each other. It’s adorable to see, and more importantly, the awkwardness is still there. Little gestures between the two of them, like Kurosawa handing Adachi a sweet in passing, build up who they are. They care for each other, and the small moments speak as loudly as their embrace on the bridge.

Cherry Magic Episode 6 is sure not to lose its humor across the episode’s big moments. When the couple embraces each other, Adachi gets a peak into how confused Kurosawa is. Kurosawa is excited, but reason and passion are fighting in his mind. Part of Kurosawa knows that he should let go and make sure that his co-worker doesn’t see the pair. But selfishly, he also just doesn’t want the hug to end. The way that studio Satelight makes this internal conversation come to life in animation is perfect. It’s cute and thoughtful, just like you would think when the guy you like finally says he likes you back.

To top it all off, Cherry Magic Episode 6 also captures the complexity of Adachi’s life when reading thoughts isn’t on the table. While Adachi does have a leg up in the relationship because he knows exactly how to talk to Kurosawa because of what he’s thinking, it also means that he is unsure without that. When the two talk on the phone, Adachi is worried. He has to trust Kurosawa; more importantly, he needs to listen clearly to know what he needs. It’s a cute take on the series’ premise. It also highlights just how new Adachi is to romance.

Cherry Magic Episode 6 couldn’t have come soon enough. Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard (Sanjusai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii) is a series that has finally gone all in. Kurosawa and Adachi are dating now. The joy of having these two adults start dating is that they now have to grow with each other, not just individually. With six episodes left, there is a lot to cover from Yuu Toyota’s manga, but with this success, I’m excited to see how studio Satelight follows through.

Cherry Magic Episode 6 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.