Two strangers are reunited and given a diary that guides their entire relationship, right down to giving instructions on how to behave and how they will eventually go their separate ways. Will they fall in love anyway? Maai, a 19-year-old student, is from Okinawa. Takuto, 24, is from Hokkaido and works in Tokyo as a chef. Maai and Takuto Star in Netflix Reboot of Hit Reality and Dating Show The Future Diary. Find out how they really feel about each other here. (The following text contains spoilers.)
What did you think of this experiment dictated by the instructions contained in a diary?
Takuto : Actually, it was quite nice and fun to go on dates organized in this way. And since we were given different diaries, some of our dates sometimes ended in surprising ways.
maai : In my previous relationships, I was always too shy to hold my boyfriend’s hand, kiss him or take the initiative. So I wasn’t sure how to react when the newspaper told me to do that kind of thing. One of the first instructions forbade me from telling Takuto that I loved him until the end of The Future Diary. But since I’m quite transparent, I was afraid that he would notice even if I didn’t say anything.
When did you realize you had fallen in love?
Takuto : In the third episode in Hokkaido, my diary told me that everything would be over if I didn’t arrive before the last bus in which Maai was. I did not succeed and I was very worried. It was then that I realized that my feelings for Maai had changed. I wanted to tell her that I loved her during filming, but it seemed so sudden to me, and I was so embarrassed, that I didn’t tell her how I felt.
What did you think when you read the page that said you could meet again?
maai : When the fireworks ended, I thought it was the end and we couldn’t even exchange our numbers. So I was delighted when I learned that we could see each other again, even if I told myself that we were going to have to say goodbye after that.
Takuto : I also thought that we would only see each other once. But when we received the last diary in the field of sunflowers and I saw that it was blank, I understood that we were free to write our future and that I could be with Maai.
How did you react when you realized that viewers around the world were passionate about your love story?
maai : When Episode 6 was released, many viewers thought the next one was the last. They sent me messages on social media that said they didn’t want the story to end like this, or that they hoped we would end up being together. These messages made us laugh, because we were a couple at the time. It’s very touching to receive so much support when we are very ordinary people.
How is your relationship going?
maai : Everything is fine ! We have already met our respective parents. Takuto came to Okinawa last November and met my family. At the end of the year, I went to Hokkaido and visited a hot spring with hers. We did not let go! (laughs)
Takuto : With the distance, we communicate a lot by telephone. But I told Maai that the time would pass faster if we immersed ourselves in work and studies, and that the moments shared together once a month would be all the more appreciable!
The Future Diary is only available on Netflix. The reality and dating show will return for a second season with a new couple. Watch for its release!