Love triangles come in multiple flavors. The spice for Watari-kun’s ****** Is About to Collapse is psychological trauma. Naoto Watari, a 16-year-old high school student with dead parents, a hated childhood friend, and a dependent 10-year-old sister, is going to lose something, but what? Let’s dive into what Naoto could lose, and why you should watch this anime to find out what part of his delicate world is going to collapse.
Wannabe Lovers in Watari-kun’s ****** Is About to Collapse
Since Naoto’s parents died he has been transplanted between relatives, with no solid home. We meet him at his most stable since his parents’ deaths. He’s a good big bro who looks after his sister. He’s living with an aunt who is strange but seems nice. Most importantly, he has a crush on a girl at his school: Yukari Ishihara. Even better, she seems to like him back even if he can’t see it. They both enjoy gardening, and are involved in a school gardening club, but Naoto never attends because he has to walk his sister home. This doesn’t bother Yukari; she likes how responsible and caring Naoto is.
Enter the third corner of the love triangle: Satsuki Tachibana. Satsuki is Naoto’s childhood friend from six years ago. She hung out with him, ate his watermelon, looked cute, and annihilated his family’s garden — before disappearing and refusing to elaborate.
After she transfers into Naoto’s new school Satsuki stalks him, makes her approach, and tries to return the hoe she used to destroy his garden. Not normal behavior. She’s also overly familiar, calling him Nao-kun, not Watari-kun, or even Naoto. Frustrated with her stalker behavior, and a little scared, Naoto tells her off.
Their confrontation doesn’t go as he expected. As words fail, Satsuki falls back on the time-honored surprise French kiss to express that her interest in Naoto isn’t sinister. Or at least isn’t only sinister.
Watari-kun’s Peace Collapses
So with the love triangle, school dynamic, and family situation settled, what’s at risk in Watari-kun’s ****** Is About to Collapse? What is collapsing? There are many options.
Maybe it’s his body. Satsuki’s not shy, and she’s happy to stick her tongue down Naoto’s throat and crush his ribs to get him to speak to her. That’s before they’re really reacquainted. What kind of damage can she do if Naoto accepts her feelings?
With another love interest in the mix, maybe it’s less Naoto’s body in general that’s in danger, but his virginity? If Ishihara gets her competitive spirit up, aggression may be the only way to keep up with Satsuki, and it’s not like the two girls will pull Naoto apart. Although if they both get involved with Naoto, it’s not off the table that they also get involved with each other.
What if the collapse isn’t about the love triangle? Well, as I hinted in the title of this section, Naoto’s peace has already collapsed. He’s been assaulted and kissed, his little sister has played on his guilt, and he’s been on a date with his crush under the pretext of an out-of-school club activity. The title couldn’t be about the events of episode 1, though. That would be too easy.
That opens up more worrisome options. Naoto’s sanity could be at stake, as past traumas and present stress pile up. Or maybe his relationship with his little sister Suzu will suffer from the new chaos in his life.
Let’s See What Collapses
Whatever part of Naoto’s life is going to go wrong, you’ll need to watch to find out. Thank you for indulging my wild guesses about how Naoto’s going to suffer. Let me know in the comments what part of Naoto’s life you think is about to collapse, and let’s all watch together to see who is right.
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