Given is a popular boys’ love anime and manga with musical elements. It’s a story about love, heartbreak, toxic relationships, and moving on. The series depicts multiple plot lines within limited screen time flawlessly. Each character is struggling with their relationship issues as they make music. Needless to say, they pour their emotions into their which captivates viewers all the more. The series has a strong plot and mostly focuses on Ritsuka Uenoyama and Mafuyu Sato.
However, the side characters also have complex relationship issues. What’s special about Given is not its plot, but how it compels the viewers to think from the character’s perspective and maybe make them relate to the characters. Especially for a boys’ love anime, the series is fresh and unique. Given is most certainly a progressive anime friendly to the LGBT+ community. Keeping that in mind, the main focus here is to delve deeper into the relationships of the major characters and discuss how they move on from their past. Please remember that going forth, there will be a lot of spoilers.
Mafuyu and Yuki
Mafuyu and Yuki were friends turned lovers. To Mafuyu, who faced a troubled childhood, Yuki was a bright and cheerful presence in his life. Yuki saved him from his father and himself. They were always together up until Yuki decides to join a band with their other friends and starts meeting Mafuyu less and less. To Mafuyu, it felt like Yuki was abandoning him. Due to his past trauma, he couldn’t stand the thought of being alone and watching Yuki leave with others. The two got into a huge fight and in a fit of anger, Mafuyu asks Yuki to die for him.
Yuki goes back without saying anything and two days later, Mafuyu found him. Mafuyu was stunned by the sudden loss of the person he loved. He couldn’t comprehend his own emotions and didn’t know how to react. Mafuyu couldn’t cry over Yuki’s death for a long time since he didn’t want to face his feelings. Yuki means “snow” and Mafuyu means “winter”. They were always together just like snow and winter should. However, the sad part is that winter can exist without snow, but the opposite isn’t true. That is what the series is based on after all. The story is about Mafuyu moving on and finding new love as he makes music and keeps Yuki close to his heart.
Mafuyu and Ritsuka
If Yuki was snow for Mafuyu, then Ritsuka was his summer. Winter represents hopelessness, loneliness, and despair; which is true in the case of Mafuyu’s personality. After Yuki’s death, Mafuyu was simply carrying his guitar everywhere he went. He was unable to forgive Yuki as well as himself. It didn’t help that Mafuyu was always bad at expressing his emotions, so he couldn’t rely on anyone. As time passes, Mafuyu becomes more and more depressed.
On the other hand, summer represents optimism, positivity, hope for the future, and joy. Ritsuka means “summer”, and he brings all these positive things into Mafuyu’s life. He pushes Mafuyu to pursue music and join his band. The two fall in love with each other as though it was only natural. During their band’s first live performance, Mafuyu sings a song about everything he wanted to say to Yuki. After that, he was finally able to cry and admit his feelings for Ritsuka. The two eventually get together and Mafuyu slowly moves on from his past love. Though he won’t forget Yuki for the rest of his life, Ritsuka’s appearance gave him the courage to fall in love again.
Akihiko and Ugetsu
Akihiko and Ugetsu both met during high school and had a common interest in the violin. Akihiko was floored by his talent. Although he fell in love with Ugetsu, he stopped playing violin professionally since he felt it was pointless to compare to a true genius. They both went out for a short while and broke up when their high school ended. Their relationship during that time was bittersweet. Although they loved each other, being together was hurting them more than ever.
Ugetsu couldn’t have complete freedom over his music while Akihiko was struggling inside as he stops playing the violin. Akihiko explains that being in love was a painful feeling, like someone’s flesh being ripped apart constantly. Thus, even two years after they broke up, they continue to live together and would often get into fights over each other’s private lives. Ultimately, after listening to Mafuyu’s song “Yoru ga Akeru”, Akihiko finally builds up the courage to end things with Ugetsu once and for all. Although Ugetsu was heartbroken and was still in love with Akihiko, he doesn’t stop him.
Akihiko and Haruki
Haruki had a one-sided crush on Akihiko for two years. The two were in the same band and were close friends. Haruki doesn’t know about Ahihiko’s toxic relationship with Ugetsu and continues to have feelings for him. It was fine, until Akihiko and Ugetsu got into a fight and the former decides to crash at Haruki’s place. Akihiko takes out his frustration on Haruki and even reveals the latter’s feelings for him. However, when Haruki asks him to talk and says that he’d anything for him, Akihiko rejects him and apologizes for his behavior. Crushed by his rejection, Haruki cuts his hair the next day and tries to act normal, though it was difficult for him.
Since Akihiko didn’t have a place to live, Haruki decides to help him for a while. As the two start to live together, Akihiko was able to heal himself from his past relationship. He realizes that he was suffocating in that basement house with no sunlight. Meanwhile, Haruki’s house was much brighter. After his final breakup with Ugetsu, Akihiko moves out from Haruki’s place and tries to become a man worthy of his love. Therefore, even after all his past difficulties, Akihiko was finally able to move on, thanks to Haruki’s support. They still continue to be together and are happier than ever.