By Courtney
In the April anime of the Month, My New Boss is Goofy, we find a wholesome slice-of-life workplace comedy. The main character, Momose, comes to work for Shirosake after leaving an abusive work situation that has left him emotionally and physically traumatized. While he is nervous about his new boss, all of his doubts are put to ease when he discovers that Shirosake is a bit of a clumsy airhead when it comes to anything other than his professional endeavors. We see the two grow so close, and yet the question remains at the end of the story – are they just friends, or is something more blooming between them?
Was it casual when we adopted a pet together?
Early in the series, we see the boss and employee duo wandering down the street when they stumble upon an abandoned kitty in a box. The two save the cat and begin jointly dotting on it. For Momose to see the kitten more often, Shirosake gives him a key to his apartment and tells him he can come over anytime. To everyone who witnessed the exchange on the train – it seemed to be a romantic moment between a couple dating. To the audience, it was hard not to see it as such, especially as Momose welcomes the development in their relationship, and it seems to counteract the mistreatment he received in the past. Shirosake names the cat after both of them, and they effectively adopt an animal together.
History will say they were roommates.
After a threatening call by Momose’s ex-boss, Shirosake offers his subordinate a room in his apartment. They quickly move in together and begin a life of domestic bliss, caring for their cat, bird-watching from their patio, cooking, and going out on their days off. The two commute to work daily, and moments on the train lead to chummy interactions such as Momose falling asleep on Shirosake’s shoulder. We also have a Kabedon (when a character in a romance puts their hand on the wall at the side of another character’s face and essentially corners them) where Shirosake loses his balance on the train, and his face ends up mere inches away from Momose. The romantic tension is unmistakable, and the tropes are stereotypical in romance anime, especially Boys Love.
Why, then, with all the watercolor visuals depicting feelings and the characters verbalizing and emphasizing how cute they find each other, did we never get a kiss? The series ends with Momose finding his own apartment across the street. I understand this was necessary for his personal character development. He needed to fully move on from the past that left him traumatized and do so in a way that he could be proud of himself. Had he stayed living with his new boss, it would’ve been like that relationship was to thank for his new life instead of being able to credit himself and feel fully independent and acting with agency.
My headcannon will have to suffice.
None of that rationale changes the fact that I cried angry tears as Shirosake held onto Momose one last time and tried to get him not to leave but couldn’t confess his feelings. I am sure he fell in love with his subordinate and isn’t sure how to navigate the professional part of their relationship if he takes it to the next level. That dynamic is richly complex and worth exploring, but from what I can tell, it is never fleshed out in this anime adaptation or the manga.
I don’t know what we call these stories that end in platonic ambiguity, but I do know they frustrate the hell out of me. I want these two to be together, and I would watch five seasons of them figuring it out if possible. I don’t accept that they were just roommates, friends, or colleagues, and I’ll die on the hill that they were more than that. I give this a shaky recommendation to BL lovers as they will likely be disappointed with the story’s resolution. This might tickle your fancy if you are just looking for a wholesome comedy and don’t mind a deafening denial of a romantic undertone. I loved this series but can only love it as I mentally add in the depth of love I feel like the creator left out.
Did you feel satisfied by this story?
How did this series resonate with you? Do you think it is a BL? I didn’t touch on the side couple in this post, but would they end up together? Let me know all of your feelings over at the discussion board! Stay tuned for the podcast on this series, which will be released on April 5th alongside the manga of the month. You can always watch the podcast on YouTube; please make sure you subscribe to our channel! Check out our other social media spaces to stay updated with the book club! Until next time, remember sometimes the delusion is the solution!
Yours in Deep Delusion,
Courtney