UlasanAnime.com – In April, I last engaged in meaningful time with Rinko Kobayakawa, the self-proclaimed virtual girlfriend from Love Plus. The concept is an intriguing mental exercise: you are tasked with maintaining a relationship with a piece of software that operates on a clock. Instead of nurturing a relationship with a pet through feeding, care, and spending time, this is now achievable via your Nintendo DS, or in this case, a 3DS with New Love Plus.
Is this truly different from Natsuo’s stuffed boyfriend? Yes, undeniably so. However, I wish to highlight the similarity to emphasize what I perceive as the truly remarkable aspect of Love Lab and what makes exceptional individuals stand out: diligence. Please note, mild spoilers for Love Lab ahead.
A devoted Love Plus boyfriend must dedicate time to playing the game. It might be surprising, but it genuinely consumes a significant amount of time. Despite this, the latest iteration of the game functions adequately for brief play sessions, and one can always manipulate the clock to their advantage. Nevertheless, it demands time and commitment. An average date typically lasts an hour or more, and if one is diligent, these dates can occur at least once a week. I ceased playing partly because it simply diverts too much time from other activities I consider of similar priority, such as watching anime like this Love Lab series.
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The narrative of Love Lab isn’t particularly compelling on its own; rather, its strength lies in its unique framing. The story centers on a girl who, like many in her situation, is consumed by romantic fantasies. Lacking real-world experience but possessing an excess of pent-up energy, she draws in a group of other girls. These girls aren’t as consumed by fanciful notions but are equally curious and eager for enjoyment. Love Lab tells its story through the formation of friendships and how individuals connect when someone meticulously attends to every detail, impressing even the valedictorian of an all-girls prep school. This doesn’t happen overnight, unlike some of the schemes Natsuo and Maki employed to subtly defy authority or outwit them. In fact, the very fact they go to such lengths is surprising.
This is not my primary point; it serves as a good illustration of how, when skillfully constructed, deception can be effective. Such actions are typical and expected from a group of youngsters living in a high-class, high-pressure environment. It embodies the essence of a “seishun” (coming-of-age) story. However, executing it with the precision of the A-Team is not. Nor is the fact that they undertake these actions in the name of love. It’s akin to Keima, the gaming god from Kaminomi, who skips class for the sake of love video games. Yet, somehow, when Natsuo does it, it’s all perceived as ~scandalous~. Would it be scandalous to skip class because you’re deeply invested in the minute details of Love Plus? Would it be scandalous to publish an underground newsletter for your campus to meticulously explore the intricacies of romance?
Japan holds its diligent men, women, and children in high regard. Love Lab, in its approach, is more reminiscent of Alton Brown than Julia Child (there’s a reason they don’t call them love handles for nothing). The point here is that love is accessible to everyone, whether they are actively seeking it or not. The crucial element is how it is presented, and when we witness these girls working diligently to achieve their goal, we become invested in their journey. That is the core of the appeal. A half-hearted rebellion is a narrative more commonly found in stories like Valvrave or Code Geass, where the rebels confront the individuals suppressing their will, rather than the cultural expectations that both sides adhere to. Through diligent effort within the established framework and by thinking outside of it, the Love Lab members attain their objectives. It is a rebellion conducted within the rules. Perhaps this resonates too closely with the Yamato Nadeshiko spirit, which some find somewhat patronizingly misogynistic, but that, too, celebrates diligence.
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