Hands off: Sawaranaide Kotesashi-kun [Season 1 Episode 10: Aroma-chan Needs to Rest Part 1]

Okay, let’s spill the tea on Hands Off! Kotesashi-kun Episode 10—Aroma-chan Needs to Rest Part 1. I binged this after finishing my math homework last night, and honestly? It’s the kind of show you watch when you don’t want to use any brain cells, but some parts had me pausing my screen and going, “Wait, did that really just happen?”

First off, let’s recap the vibe for anyone new: Kotesashi is a guy with insane massage skills who dreams of being a sports doctor. To get a scholarship, he enrolls in a high school full of top athletes and takes a live-in job at the dorm—where he’s surrounded by a bunch of quirky, over-the-top female athletes. Episode 10 focuses on Aroma-chan, the hyper track star who’s always pushing herself to the limit, finally burning out and needing to rest.

Now, the episode itself: Let’s start with the good parts. The animation is bright and colorful, which fits the rom-com vibe perfectly. The comedic timing in some scenes is on point—like when Aroma-chan tries to hide her fatigue from her teammates by pretending to be fine (we’ve all been there, right?), or when Kotesashi accidentally walks in on her napping. Those moments made me snort-laugh, which is always a win. And since each episode is short (around 12 minutes), it’s perfect for a quick break between classes or when you’re waiting for your friend to text back.

But here’s the catch: The writing feels so lazy at times. The big scene everyone’s talking about is when Kotesashi offers to massage Aroma-chan to help her relax. What starts as a normal shoulder massage quickly turns into… well, a chest massage. And the reasoning? “Your pectoral muscles are tight from running.” Um, okay? Fans on MyAnimeList are tearing this scene apart—calling it “low-hanging fruit” and “beyond lazy.” I have to agree. It feels like the writers just threw in an ecchi moment for the sake of it, without any real setup or logic. Like, did they really think that was a natural way to progress the scene?

And don’t even get me started on Kotesashi, the main character. He’s so bland. Like, he has no personality outside of “nice guy with massage skills.” Fans are saying he’s one of the lamest MCs in this genre, and I can’t argue. He just goes along with whatever the girls do, never standing up for himself or showing any real emotion. One fan even joked that his mom should be the MC instead—and honestly? I’d watch that show. Imagine a badass mom with massage skills navigating a dorm full of chaotic teens? That’s way more interesting than Kotesashi’s “I’m just here to help” schtick.

Another thing fans are complaining about: The lack of jiggle physics. Yeah, I know that’s a small detail, but for an ecchi rom-com, it’s weird that they skimped on it. Most shows in this genre use that kind of animation to emphasize the ecchi moments, but Hands Off! feels like it’s holding back—except for the random chest massage scene, which feels out of place. It’s like the writers couldn’t decide whether to go all-in on the ecchi or keep it light, so they ended up with a messy middle ground.

But it’s not all bad. The supporting characters are fun—like the other athletes in the dorm. They’re quirky and over-the-top, which adds some much-needed energy to the show. And the short runtime means you don’t have to commit a lot of time to it. If you’re in the mood for something mindless and a little cringey (in a fun way?), it’s worth a watch. I even found myself replaying the part where Aroma-chan tries to run while exhausted—her wobbly legs and dramatic fall had me laughing out loud.

Let’s be real: This show isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for deep storytelling or complex characters, you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re under 20 and love silly ecchi rom-coms with bright animation and quick laughs, this is right up your alley. It’s the kind of show you watch with your friends and make fun of together—like, “Did they really think that scene was a good idea?”

Final verdict: Episode 10 is a mixed bag. It has its funny moments, but the lazy writing and bland MC hold it back. You can catch it on Crunchyroll or Roku if you’re curious, but don’t go in expecting a masterpiece.

What do you guys think? Did you love Episode 10, or did it make you cringe? Drop a comment below—I’m curious to hear your take! ✌️