The act of keeping secrets is a natural form of human communication that has for as long as verbal and written communication have existed been utilized for both the benefit and detriment of those within our social circles. We do it to protect others from a painful truth while others do it to foster malicious rumors beyond ones earshot. Many people also view keeping collective secrets as a necessity in order to keep others safe the phrase Loose Lips Sink Ships exists for a reason. We all do it whether we realize it or not and our innate desire to keep aspects about ourselves and others private has made for many quality forms of cinema some which focus their entire plot around the concept of secrecy. The anime Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is one such example a show that takes the common act of keeping secrets and makes it the catalyst for a most unexpected relationship. On the face of it Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is exactly what the animes advertising banner makes you think itll be: a romance sliceoflife style show. And thats exactly what it is another installment in a genre that includes enough anime to last you months if not years. Now with that in mind the situation becomes very polarizing very quickly you either despise the genre and wont want to watch it because of said copypaste oversaturation or you love the genre and will gladly watch it all the way through. I personally AM a fan of the genre but I also believe that while Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu utilizes the same concept that hundreds of anime have already used that doesnt automatically make it something not worth watching. Quite the contrary in fact. As previously mentioned the driving theme behind Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsus plot is crazily enough secrecy. Its a trope that finds its way into all forms of cinema but theres a reason why audiences enjoy it much. We all have/share secrets theres that feeling of glee we feel when we know something of value that our peers do not. On the contrary though when someone keeps a secret from us we get anxious our minds race at the thought of what could be hidden from us and why. When audiences gain that omniscient perspective on what the characters may or may not know it makes the story and overall viewing experience that much more enjoyable. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu does exactly that. In this instance of cinematic secrecy the titular Nogizaka Haruka is an incredibly wealthy classy and talented girl from high society who inadvertently lets slip her secret love of all things anime manga video games etc. with Ayase Yuuto an accepting young man whose social standing is drastically different from that of Harukas. Rather than laughing at the duality of Harukas royal standing and her childlike hobbies Yuuto rightly doesnt ridicule Haruka like she had feared and the two become close. I personally loved how in theory a secret about something so minor became the catalyst and fuel for Haruka and Yuutos relationship one that started as friends and gradually became romantic. I found their relationship to be incredibly cute and the difference between Yuutos normal humble life and Harukas regal life of luxury made it that much better. Personal Ratings 1. Music: 88/100 I was not expecting the OP of this anime to go this hard but I will gladly admit and repent for my preemptive judgement if it means I get to listen to Tomadoi Bitter Tune on repeat. The credits theme Pointer Finger QUIET is catchy too but if I had a choice I would take the OP everytime it slaps that much. 2. Plot: 64/100 Here we go again. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu does not have a bad plot I actually enjoyed it. With that being said its another romance sliceoflife. If I were to say this to someone who has never watched this anime before but understands the genre I am fairly certain that theyd be able to get an idea as to what theyll experience before they even watch the first episode. With that being said the major focus on secrecy and how it can make or break the relations we have with our peers and family members was interesting and I believe it made the characters themselves more interesting as well. 3. Characters: 82/100 The cast of Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu revolves around Haruka and Yuuto that much is clear from the very beginning. However I personally found that the large group of supporting characters did a wonderful job at providing support and backup for Haruka and Yuuto respectively i.e. Mika Hazuki etc. supporting Haruka and Ruko Nobunaga etc. supporting Yuuto. With that being said the relationship between Haruka and Yuuto stole the show for me personally. I absolutely loved watching their relationship and trust between each other grow the more and more Yuuto dedicated himself to protecting both Haruka and her secret. The final two episodes of the season sealed the deal I wont spoil anything for those who havent seen them. 4. Art Animations: 74/100 Ill be honest the main reason I watched this anime was because of the artwork on its advertising banner on Crunchyroll. I understand that early 2000s anime artwork attracts a very mixed array of opinions within the community which is why I rated it the way I did. Ive gone on record as a person who prefers the artwork and animation styles from 80s and 90s anime but some of that love can leak into early 2000s anime art as well. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu is one such example. Conclusions Its no secret that I enjoyed watching the first season of Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu its an anime that casts the very relatable act of making and keeping secrets in an equally relatable spotlight. We all make secrets we break them and we secretly judge and critique others whether intentionally or unintentionally. This anime shows how devastating it can be to have aspects of our private lives revealed to our family and peers but it also emphasizes trust tolerance acceptance and respect for others. As Haruka and Yuuto demonstrate so well sharing a secret with someone you trust can not only bring you closer together but you may also learn a thing or two about your own personal interests.