I was not so keen on watching multiple versions of the same story like I used to when I had more time, but this show came highly recommended. You may ask: aren’t most dramas these days rehashed works of the same story, using the same tropes and plot devices, but just used a different name or a varied setting, and you have the same old, recycled drama, only all jazzed up. But I digress.

This Japanese adaptation did not hold my interest at first. The characters seemed disconnected from each other. Especially off-putting was Risa’s character. I already knew going in that she would impersonate her best friend for her own selfish desires. One may also argue that she had Sato Ai’s permission to do so in the first place, and therefore, it was acceptable. But she continued the pretense without Ai’s knowledge, and she did not seem remorseful about it; that midway through the show, I put this on hold for quite some time.

Picking up a second time where I left off, the show fared better, but not by much. My impression of Sato AI has improved, especially with how she dealt with the obstacles and challenges thrown her way. Sosuke, on the other hand, remained just a pretty face. He had very little chemistry with Sato Ai and had more engagement with Takuya. Speaking of Takuya, I did not feel a strong Second-lead syndrome like I did with the original Korean drama, though no fault of the actor.

The revelation at the end was no surprise to me. Perhaps if I watched this first, I might have a different opinion about this drama. There’s very little difference between the two titles, except this is less angsty and shorter, of course. What this Japanese version did better for me was the portrayal of female friendships. Perhaps due to its length, this show wasn’t able to explore much else. Nevertheless, it’s a decent copy of the original.