The main character in 'Hige wo Soru. Soshite Joshikousei wo Hirou' is Yoshida, a salaryman who ends up taking in a runaway high school girl named Sayu after a drunken night. Yoshida’s life takes a sharp turn when he finds Sayu sitting on the street, and despite his initial reluctance, he lets her stay at his place. What makes Yoshida so compelling is his moral struggle—he’s not a saint, but he’s trying to do the right thing in a messy situation. The story dives deep into his internal conflicts, his past relationships, and how he grapples with responsibility versus desire.
Sayu, the runaway girl, is just as central to the narrative, but Yoshida’s perspective drives the story. His interactions with her, his coworkers, and his ex-girlfriend paint a nuanced picture of adulthood and loneliness. The series does a fantastic job of balancing his flaws with his kindness, making him relatable without glorifying his decisions. It’s rare to see a male lead in this genre who feels so grounded, and that’s part of why the story resonates so much.