The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist

Wataru Sajō is a quiet high school student whose careful, shy moves toward romance end up misread, and Aika Natsukawa reacts with impatience that only deepens their confusion. The series follows their everyday interactions, where glances, half-finished sentences and awkward timing keep feelings locked away instead of shared. Friends and classmates orbit the pair, adding small complications that turn ordinary school moments into repeated near-confessions and comic misunderstandings. The show stays focused on the slow build between two people who want to be honest but can’t seem to get the timing or words right, keeping things light, sometimes tender, and deliberately slow to resolve.

Released in 2023, the TV anime was created by Michiko Yokote and features Naoya Miyase, Akiho Suzumoto, Yumiri Hanamori, Mikako Komatsu and Kaori Ishihara in the principal voice roles.

The series didn’t pick up major industry awards, and it wasn’t a high-profile contender in season-end prize lists. Still, it earned some recognition within niche circles for its character-driven scenes and faithful adaptation of romantic-comedy beats, attracting attention from dedicated romcom viewers.

On social media and fan forums the show found a modest audience, with clips of awkward exchanges and close-call moments shared widely. Fans produced art and short edits highlighting the leads’ miscommunication, and conversations about who should confess next kept interest going between episodes.

Critically and among viewers it holds a modest score, 6.9 out of 10 from 40 votes, and opinions tend to split over pacing. Many viewers like the focus on timing, social anxiety and the micro-details of dating, praising the realistic awkwardness and warm humor. Others find the slow pace and repeated misunderstandings a little frustrating, but most agree the character interactions are the series’ strongest asset.