When bookish, compassionate Jun moves into the house next door, young Rumi is instantly lovestruck. As the years go by, it is clear that they are opposites in every way: she is into sports, he is a living encyclopedia. He loves to talk about authors and books, she cares for appearances. She fails to stop bullying and ends up feeling like a bystander, he is an effective peacemaker. Nevertheless, their friendship and her affection keep growing. The only problem is Naori, Rumi’s twin sister, as bookish as Jun and much more forward, eccentric and with a theatrical flair, who shares with him a group of friends, vibrant conversations, and a love for literature and philosophy. One night, a panicked Rumi decides to make her move and asks Jun out after a walk to the store. Jun is startled, and Rumi thinks quickly. Instead of talking about her longtime crush, she tells him she would love to experience dating, and that she trusts him. She asks him if she’s not good enough. Looking into her eyes, Jun accepts with a smile. Naori congratulates her sister with a happy demeanor, and an idyllic relationship begins. But a lot has been left unsaid, and as Rumi starts to crumble under the weight of her actions, Naori’s side of the story starts to unfold…

I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect to love a show with a pulp-sounding name like Love Is Indivisible by Twins, but so far, I do! Rumi and Naori, the titular twins, are incredibly compelling characters with unique voices: they have recognizable traits, yet avoid the stereotype. They remind me of actual people I know. Jun, too, feels like a real, admirable person with a powerful presence (plus, The Lord of the Rings? Rider Haggard? Murakami? This guy just rocks!). Right off the bat, we are set for heartbreak, and heartbreak we get, of the most relatable and well-conveyed variety, bringing flashbacks of the angst, the miseries, the heroism, and the foolishness of a teenage first love. Naori thought that she could wait forever, not wanting to hurt Rumi. Now, she mutters to herself “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” Rumi was afraid that she would lose her chance, but now she fears she might have put unfair pressure on Jun, and perhaps Naori. And Jun made his choice and is now hurt and confused. The result is something between the masterful capture of teenager voices in OreGairu or Your Lie in April and the confused heroism of Toradora, and the smart jokes (according to Rumi, Naori is reading either Márquez or Marx) make me laugh out loud. This was a great first salvo: if the rest is up to this standard, this story will become one of my all-time favorites.

PS: Almost forgot. Nudity warning, for a split second after a bath scene.

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Love Is Indivisible by Twins can be streamed at Crunchyroll.