While some might see this as an L, I disagree. Hiromi treated Nonoka with nothing but respect. He could’ve easily pressed the issue, she was the one who suggested going to a love hotel, and she seemed comfortable with the idea. But when she passed out drunk, he understood she might not be in her right mind. Instead of taking advantage, he chose to simply sleep beside her.
When she woke up and realized she still had all her clothes on, that he hadn’t done anything, she respected that. And what did she do? The exact same thing, she mirrored his respect and didn’t try to escalate anything either.
To me, this moment could be foreshadowing something between them. Maybe not a long-term relationship, but something real that comes from mutual respect. Even if it doesn’t last, it could lead to something meaningful in the short term.
Now, the real question is, should he tell Lili what happened?
In my honest opinion, no. Lili broke up with him. They’re just exes sharing a space now, and he doesn’t owe her an explanation. But knowing how kind-hearted Hiromi is, he’ll probably tell her anyway, and that’s only going to stir up unnecessary drama. It might even push Lili to confide in her male best friend, who could take that as a chance to make a move on her. But that’s a bridge we’ll cross when we get there.
As for Hiromi, I don’t see this as an L at all. Whether it’s a relationship or something physical, the last thing you want to do is make the other person feel uncomfortable. And in this case, Hiromi showed real restraint and respect. So yeah, maybe things didn’t go the way he hoped, but that doesn’t mean he lost.
