24-year-old Murakami Maiko is a very sheltered girl who has never had a relationship with a guy. It is decided that she will go for a matchmaking session with someone recommended by her father Genichiro who owns a company. The man Hanasato Harumi is 20 years her senior and also a divorcee. Although Maiko is less than thrilled, she discovers when they meet that he is a charming man with an air of maturity and she instinctively makes a move on him. Harumi had intended to meet Maiko once before he turned her down since she is the daughter of the CEO of an important client. However, she turns out to be more than he had imagined. Maiko confounds him the whole time but he is attracted to her straightforward, pure, and dignified nature. He accepts the completed marriage registration form from her on their third date after she presses him for a kiss. They get married despite their 20-year age gap, and their life as newlyweds begins.
Yae, an unremarkable girl working in a café and living with a friend, finds herself unable to afford rent when her friend suddenly gets married, and she loses her job in the same day! It’s only when her boyfriend dumps her that she finally hits rock bottom. She’s at her wits’ end when her childhood friend Takumi suddenly reappears into her life. Takumi suggests that Yae take on a part-time job as his “fake wife” for the next six months. He has his reasons for wanting people to think he’s married. Yae has no other choice but to accept his proposal, and in return receives housing and living expenses for playing the role of his “fake wife.” So begins a “fake marriage” with a time limit. Unbeknownst to Yae, she was Takumi’s first love, even though she thinks of him as nothing more than a childhood friend. Takumi struggles awkwardly but earnestly to win Yae’s heart and find true love. Even though their marriage starts as a sham, will the day come when this couple can become something more?
Ayaka, who works at the bridal department at a hotel, has a beauty that everyone recognizes, yet her personality is the worst. Everyone calls her a "wicked woman" after the way she wraps numerous men around her finger. The one who sets his eyes on her is the hotel's new executive Togo, who is the son of a very powerful person of the town. What are the orders that this King-like man requests of her!?
Rinka is single and works as a wedding planner. She is not good at dating men. Her colleague suggested to her to try a dating app. Rinka reluctantly registers with the dating app and gets matched to a man. When they meet, the man has a totally different appearance from his picture on the dating app. He seems like an ordinary man, but Rinka feels something is not right about him. Meanwhile, a series of murder cases takes place. The victims were all users of the dating app. The man that Rinka met through the app is investigated for the serial murder cases.
These dramas are near opposites which share the same catalysis of the government creating a program to increase Japanese birth rates.
Otona Koukou doesn't take this premise seriously at all and instead uses it as a premise for comedy amongst a fun cast of characters. Kekkon Aite takes this concept as seriously as it can to make a political statement about the social consequences this program would have on various Japanese minorities.
Both share the similar traits of having well-written and respected queer side characters who are given lots of plot relevance. Both also ultimately end up sharing the critique of the failures of this program in creating a long-lasting healthy relationship.
Otona Koukou doesn't take this premise seriously at all and instead uses it as a premise for comedy amongst a fun cast of characters. Kekkon Aite takes this concept as seriously as it can to make a political statement about the social consequences this program would have on various Japanese minorities.
Both share the similar traits of having well-written and respected queer side characters who are given lots of plot relevance. Both also ultimately end up sharing the critique of the failures of this program in creating a long-lasting healthy relationship.
Kitty desperately seeks true love, sometimes foolishly. She runs into her biological mother, only to discover her step father is a peeping-Tom. She elopes with her classmate A Liang, but eventually betrays him. She finds comfort from Xiao Gu whom she met online, only to discover he is married. Kitty then meets Sunshine who gives her the love she wants, but she starts to doubt his feelings for her.
