Preview

During the winter, Yuichi was hospitalized with viral Hepatitis, a disease that, though not fatal, makes the patient need to stay hospitalized for several months until the virus is completely subdued. As the time passes, Yuichi starts getting anxious about his life at the hospital and starts trying to hide and leave the hospital without the nurses realizing just to get a stroll on the town or visit a friend - that, obviously, if the nurse doesn't spoil his plans. One day, as per the hint of the nurse, Yuichi visits a girl who was just admitted to a nearby ward - the final patients ward, and thus he meets Rika, a gorgeous girl, though very selfish and stubborn. However, as he finds out her motives, she doesn't seam so bad: she have very little time to live.

Pacing

Hantsuki (Kind of a nickname for the title, since it have a big title) focuses strongly - if not only - at it's characters and development. Be it at the hate and love relationship that Yuichi shares with his nurse Akiko, as with the romance that is born between him and Rika. All characters are very well developed for such small title.

The most interesting is to note how Yuichi eventually empathizes and realizes Rika's selfishness, wanting everything done her way and at her time. Certainly, during her last days, she wants to experience everything, and not only that, she wants to experience things that she will never be able to actually do, like go to school. Yuichi ends up being the way out she finds to make some of her dreams come true - while in time.

However, although Rika is ready to die and made up her mind, without fear, she finally finds in Yuichi something to live for and fear death: loosing him. At this point you kind of get the drama of this title.

Conclusion

Hantsuki have a pleasant development and a quite unexpected ending (though nothing forced or out of reality). The best definition about Hantsuki's ending is it is sad and happy at the same time - you have to watch it to understand why.

Hantsuki shows us, thru the eyes of Rika and everybody around her, how life is fragile and subtle, and how most of the things we worry and do are quite idiot if we start realizing that everything might end just like that. The nice Rika's romance of the show, and the amazing life lesson, will to live and, in the end, happiness just to be able to share the little time she has, makes this one of the best titles with huge emotions

Although there are some humorous moments, Hantsuki is for those strong at heart, for those who have a soul mate and are ready to shed some serious tears.

Cherish what you have, and cherish it NOW!