My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999

At first, I couldn't really get into this series. Akane seemed extremely stupid to me, and Yamada seemed like an emotional stump in the style of Saitama from One Punch Man. I was trying to figure out why this anime was so popular, thinking it might be because it's set in the world of video game players, which many people can relate to. I should be able to relate to it, too, being a gamer myself, but there wasn't that much gaming in it after all; it was more of a backdrop, like in Recovery of an MMO Junkie. However, I gradually started to like this romantic comedy. It was because its humor worked on me, and I found myself laughing multiple times per episode. It was also because the animation felt strong at the right moments and depicted powerful romantic moments enhanced by a beautiful work with colors and filters. The last episode in particular had many intense and well-executed scenes. This is how an impressive romantic comedy finale should be done. I also found a way to connect with the main characters. I can't say I'm really into them, but I have no problem rooting for their relationship. So, from an average romantic comedy, it gradually became slightly above average, and the final episode reinforced the overall impression. I'm giving it a 7/10. (24/06/2023)