Watari-kun’s ****** Is About to Collapse [Season 1 Episode 23]

Watari-kun’s Secret Is About to Collapse: Episode 23 Review – When Love and Loss Collide

If you’ve been following Watari-kun’s * Is About to Collapse* this season, you know it’s never just been about Naoto and Suzushiro’s daily struggles. It’s about the quiet, messy, and beautiful way they hold each other up after losing their parents. But Episode 23? It’s like the show took all that unspoken tension and cranked it to 11. Let’s dive in—spoilers ahead, obviously.

First off, let’s get real about the title. Fans have been arguing about the censored “**” since day one. Is it “corpse”? “Secret”? “Siscon life”? (Shoutout to the MAL user who guessed that—wild, but not wrong.) But after this episode, I’m leaning hard into “secret.” Because Naoto’s been hiding something big, and it’s finally blowing up.

The episode starts slow, like usual. Naoto’s making breakfast (burning toast, as per usual), Suzushiro’s complaining about school, and there’s that warm, fuzzy vibe we’ve come to love. But then their aunt shows up. You remember her—she’s the one who keeps pushing Naoto to “let go” and let Suzushiro live with her. At first, it’s just awkward small talk. But then she drops the bomb: she found a letter from Naoto’s parents, written right before they died.

Here’s where things get heavy. The letter isn’t just a “we love you” note. It’s their parents admitting they were scared—scared they couldn’t take care of Suzushiro, scared Naoto would have to sacrifice his life for her. And Naoto? He’s been hiding it for two years. Why? Because he didn’t want Suzushiro to think her parents didn’t love her. But now, the secret’s out, and Suzushiro is crushed.

The scene where Suzushiro confronts Naoto? Chef’s kiss. She’s screaming, crying, asking why he lied. Naoto just stands there, silent, because he doesn’t have an answer. It’s raw. It’s messy. It’s not the “perfect sibling” moment we’re used to. And that’s why it works. As one fan put it on MAL, “This isn’t Usagi Drop with its sweet, idealized parenting. This is real. This is what happens when you try to be a hero for someone and forget to be human.”

But let’s talk about the animation here. The studio (whoever they are—seriously, why is that info so hard to find?) killed it. The close-ups on Naoto’s hands shaking as he holds the letter. Suzushiro’s face crumpling when she reads it. The way the camera lingers on their empty living room after Suzushiro runs out. It’s all so quiet, but it says more than any dialogue could.

And then there’s the ending. Suzushiro runs to the park where she used to play with her parents. Naoto finds her, and instead of apologizing, he just sits down next to her. No words. Just silence. But then he pulls out a drawing Suzushiro made when she was little—of their family, all together. And Suzushiro finally breaks down, hugging him. It’s not a fix. It’s not a “everything’s okay now” moment. It’s just… them, being there for each other.

So, what’s the takeaway from Episode 23? It’s that love isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being honest—even when it hurts. Naoto thought he was protecting Suzushiro by hiding the letter, but he was really just protecting himself from the pain of facing the truth. And Suzushiro? She needed to hear the truth to heal. As another fan said, “This episode didn’t collapse their world. It built a stronger one—because now they’re not just siblings. They’re two people, broken, but finally able to be broken together.”

Is this episode perfect? No. The pacing is a little slow at the start. The aunt’s character feels a bit one-note (seriously, why is she so pushy?). But does it matter? Not really. Because it’s real. It’s the kind of episode that sticks with you long after the credits roll.

If you’re a fan of slice-of-life anime that doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff, this episode is a must-watch. It’s not happy. It’s not easy. But it’s important. And in a season full of ecchi harems and isekai power fantasies, that’s a breath of fresh air.

So, what do you think? Did the secret live up to the hype? Let me know in the comments—just keep the “siscon life” jokes to a minimum, okay?

Rating: 9/10. Because sometimes, the best stories are the ones that make you cry.

P.S. If you haven’t watched it yet, go stream it now. And bring tissues. Trust me.