Love, Loss, and Music: My Journey with Given
- Kaito_2
- Dec 24, 2024
- 4 min read
Catching Up with Given – A Heartfelt Journey Through Love, Loss, and Music
Hey everyone! How’s it going? I hope you’re all staying warm and cozy during this winter season! As for me, it’s been hitting me hard—the sniffles are no joke! Make sure you stay up on your vitamins and take care of yourselves!
Since I’ve been down with the ickies, I thought it would be the perfect time to watch something nice and cozy. So, I decided to dive into Given, and let me tell you—it’s been such a sweet journey watching my boys fall in love throughout season 1!
If you haven’t heard of Given, it’s an anime adaptation based on the manga by Natsuki Kizu. It aired from July to September 2019, and there’s also a movie that came out in August 2020. The show is all about love, healing, and music—and if you’re looking for a series that tugs at your heartstrings, this one will definitely do the job.
So, let me tell you a little about it. The story follows Mafuyu Sato, a quiet and reserved student who has a hard time expressing himself. He’s withdrawn, and to be honest, he kinda just walks away or runs from situations instead of facing them. But when it comes to music, he’s serious and works hard to improve. To help him open up more, he even takes a part-time job and shows some moments of being straightforward—even if he doesn’t quite get everything right!
Mafuyu was definitely my favorite character while watching. His cuteness and shyness made him so relatable, and I found myself rooting for him the entire time.
At the beginning of the series, Mafuyu is haunted by a recurring dream about a tragic event. When he wakes up, he finds himself in an isolated stairwell, which eventually becomes his personal hangout spot. This is where he meets Ritsuka Uenoyama—our black-haired boy who often falls asleep in class because he’s so bored.
Their first interaction was awkward, but also super cute. Uenoyama notices that Mafuyu’s guitar strings are rusted and starts lecturing him about taking better care of his instrument. Then, he fixes the strings for him and, despite Mafuyu’s shy nature, agrees to teach him how to play. Of course, Mafuyu is met with a “no” at first.
I gotta admit, when I saw that first interaction, I couldn’t help but smile and think, I know where this is going. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and I was already looking forward to their story.
Mafuyu doesn’t give up though. He starts offering Uenoyama money and even bread as a “fee” to teach him, but again, Uenoyama declines. This time, he tells him to join the Light Club, where they could maybe help him out. Does Mafuyu listen? Nope, he starts following Uenoyama around like a puppy, and eventually, Uenoyama takes him to meet the rest of the band: Akihiko Kaji and Haruki Makayama.
When Mafuyu hears a song they’ve been working on, he’s immediately entranced by the beauty of it.
—Fast forward—
Uenoyama finally gives in and teaches Mafuyu how to play the guitar. He starts learning the first chord he ever heard Uenoyama play. It was beautiful to watch him grow, both musically and emotionally.
One evening, Uenoyama asks Mafuyu what his favorite music was. Mafuyu doesn’t really know, but he does remember a tune that’s been playing in his head over and over. He sings it using “lalalala” as his lyrics, and it’s enough to make the band offer him a chance to join them. But you’d think Mafuyu would jump at the opportunity, right? Nope. He declines again, then withdraws into himself and takes a job at a small concert venue.
Later, he runs into an old friend named Hiiragi Kashima, who brings up Mafuyu’s first love, Yuki. Hearing that name triggers a flood of painful memories for Mafuyu, and before you know it, he’s running away from everything. I was definitely feeling some type of way here—Hiiragi came out of nowhere and stirred up drama! Things were going so well, and then boom—chaos.
Despite the emotional turmoil, Mafuyu continues to find comfort in music and his bond with Uenoyama. Slowly, he starts to open up and realize that in order to heal, he needs to face his past.
It all comes to a head during a performance. After a deeply emotional set, Mafuyu finally breaks out in song, and wow—let me tell you, it was a moment. Even though I don’t speak Japanese, the emotion in his voice was so raw, I could feel it. I was cheering right alongside the audience, feeling the power of that moment.
And then, just when you think it’s over, Uenoyama leans in and kisses Mafuyu. I can’t even explain how that made me feel—I was so proud to witness our boys seal the deal with a kiss and finally express their love for each other. It was such a sweet, beautiful moment.
Honestly, watching Mafuyu’s journey from being closed off to finally embracing his emotions was incredible. This show is a perfect blend of love, healing, and finding your place in the world. It reminded me that no one has to go through life alone, and sometimes, it’s those around you who help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
So, if you haven’t checked out Given yet, I highly recommend it. It’s got everything—heartbreak, growth, music, and, of course, love. I’m so glad I watched it, and I can’t wait for more.
Wrap-Up:
What about you? Have you watched Given? Who’s your favorite character, and what part of the story stood out to you the most? Let me know in the comments!
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