Find Someone Who Looks at You the Way Cherry Magic’s Kurosawa Looks at Adachi

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! may sound like an isekai in the making, but in reality, it’s a rom-com with a wacky supernatural premise and a couple that’s steadily rising in my personal “favorite anime couples” list. When starting the series I thought I’d get some humorous encounters between the awkward main character, Adachi, as he attempted to navigate the feelings of his “I give Prince Charming a run for his money” coworker, Kurosawa. Those elements are there, but with them comes a story about a guy who gets to realize that he is, in fact, worthy of the attention of everyone’s workplace crush. It’s as encouraging as it is romantic (and magical)! What is Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! About? Adachi doesn’t have much planned for his 30th birthday. He’ll just go to work, continue to disappear into the background, oh, and read people’s minds with a simple touch. As the title of the series suggests, if you’re still a virgin at 30 you become a wizard, hence why Adachi can now read minds. The power may sound exciting, but it’s actually pretty boring, at least according to Adachi. That is until he runs into a man named Kurosawa. Kurosawa, one of Adachi’s well-loved coworkers, is so charming that his very presence can light up a room. Literally. This is a stark contrast to Adachi’s gloomy personality, which is why he’s so surprised to find out that Kurosawa is head over heels in love with him! After an accidental encounter in a crowded elevator, Adachi ends up reading Kurosawa’s mind and hearing all of his ongoing thoughts about him. What’s an introverted office employee to do??? Cherry Magic! thrives on the absurd humor of its premise as often as possible. Every time Adachi touches Kurosawa he ends up hearing the office heartthrob go on and on about how much he’s in love with him. This is occasionally accompanied by visual gags like Kurosawa imagining Adachi in different outfits or, my personal favorite, Kurosawa breaking into song because the two are going on a date. A date with your crush is a big deal, okay?! RELATED: Which Winter 2024 Romance Anime Should You Watch for Valentine’s Day? Kurosawa’s not the only one going through it, though. Adachi’s also prone to the wide eye Pikachu face whenever he’s reminded for the umpteenth time that Kurosawa thinks his bed hair is adorable. Honestly, the series could’ve spent the majority of its runtime on the mind reading will they, won’t they , but the true magic of, urm, Cherry Magic! is the relationship between Kurosawa and Adachi developing beyond the sudden wizardry. Kurosawa’s Great. 10 Out of 10. No Notes There’s a lot of relatability in Cherry Magic! , especially when it comes to how we regard ourselves and those around us. Adachi’s hesitation around Kurosawa stems from the fact that his coworker is so well-liked. This leads to Adachi dealing with a lot of self-doubts as he questions whether or not he’s good enough for someone like Kurosawa. He also questions himself because he has zero experience with love and romance. He doesn’t know what to do, nor does he know how to process these sorts of feelings because he’s never really had the opportunity to do so. This is why the way Kurosawa sees Adachi is so endearing. Oftentimes, when Adachi is spiraling into his self-sabotaging thoughts, he gets to hear Kurosawa’s thoughts and realize that his colleague thinks the world of him. Kurosawa is also very patient and kind to Adachi, moving at his pace and just enjoying the fact that they’re spending time together. When Adachi is nervous about Kurosawa potentially kissing him in front of coworkers during a drunken round of The King’s Game, for example, Kurosawa picks up on it and kisses him on the forehead. Kurosawa’s great is what I’m saying. I love that Adachi isn’t shamed for the fact that he’s still trying to figure out what he’s feeling and how to express it. Kurosawa doesn’t make him feel like some kind of failure because he hasn’t had these experiences yet, and from here Adachi starts to realize that he doesn’t have to try and rush out of his comfort zone and he can, instead, take small steps that Kurosawa will appreciate. He might not be ready for a helicopter ride, but he is ready for a bookstore date (which, btw, is an AMAZING date spot, if you ask me). Actually? Adachi’s Great, Too! Early in the series, we get to find out what led to Kurosawa developing feelings for Adachi in a flashback. It's because of the way Adachi has treated Kurosawa in the past. Because of Kurosawa’s good looks and bright attitude people don’t always respect the fact that he’s an incredibly hard worker who puts a lot of himself into what he does. Kurosawa’s trying very hard to please the people he works with, but some assume it’s easy for him because he’s attractive. More hateful coworkers go so far as to say his face is his only asset. One faithful evening, Adachi ends up unintentionally comforting Kurosawa after a negative experience with a company president they'd been working with. Adachi reveals that he notices all of the efforts Kurosawa makes for their company, seeing him for more than his good looks. Adachi even says that it's nice to see him not being perfect for once. Kurosawa hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Adachi ever since. Essentially, this is a couple who sees the best in each other when they can’t see it for themselves. While Adachi’s often hyperfocused on his insecurities, he gets to see that Kurosawa’s also insecure, he just hides it better than Adachi does... or displays it with a perfect gym body in the hopes that Adachi notices. It’s incredibly endearing to see the two of them get closer and realize these things about each other, especially since Kurosawa and Adachi are grown men. It’s nice to see two adult men going through these kinds of flustered scenarios of love and self-discovery that you often get in a teenage romance. Seeing a grown man so in love that his inner thoughts have him doing a full-on musical number is top-tier romance, in my opinion, followed by him being excited about something as simple as his crush holding his hand. As someone who is very much an adult, I adore seeing characters in my age range being encouraged instead of put down for their insecurities, leading to genuine excitement about the possibilities with the person they care about. That said... I have to agree with Adachi, I’d freak out about a helicopter ride, too, since I’m afraid of heights. Let’s have dates on land, please, and thank you. Watch Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! on Crunchyroll! NOTE: When you're done, watch the live action Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! on Crunchyroll!

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