If there’s one hard and fast rule about working in an office, it’s never date your coworkers. The Office would have you believe that a Jim and Pam romance can work but the reality is a lot harder to navigate. And no one wants to have a sit down with HR if things go bad. But hey, people tend to do it anyway, whether they’re horny for someone in a business suit or looking for a legitimate love connection. As unpopular as they are for the bean counters and fellow employees who just don’t want to hear about it, office romances tend to play a major role in erotic stories. Mostly, I suspect, because they can be so sordid and risky. Such is the case with Jimihen!! Jimiko o Kae Chau Jun Isei Kouyuu, an eight-episode sex series about the pleasures and pitfalls of two office mates trying to keep their sexual relationship a secret and the inevitable fallout that occurs when they get caught.
Ryouhei Hachiya and his supervisor enjoy an afternoon smoke break with a little bit of locker room talk. The subject eventually turns to Rena Yukuhashi, a quiet and studious employee who doesn’t go out of her way to bring attention to herself. Ryouhei’s boss wonders aloud whether or not Rena could be a virgin. After all, she dresses in frumpy clothes, doesn’t hang out after work, and is the complete opposite of the more outgoing Sekiguchi, their mutual lady pal at the office. As recompense for sneaking out the afternoon before, Ryouhei’s supervisor tells him to ask Rena out on a date and find out the truth. Kind of a ridiculous and invasive request but there you have it. Rena agrees to the date and when they meet up for food and drink, Ryouhei is shocked to see her transformed into a glamorous, full-bodied woman. The two hit it off really well until our clueless protagonist does something really stupid. When Rena asks why he asked her out, Ryouhei blurts out that he was ordered to find out if she was a virgin. This pisses her off, and rightly so, and Rena storms off while Ryouhei pleads that he really did have a great time and wants to get to know her. They find themselves standing across from the entrance of a love hotel, an odd circumstance that Ryouhei regrets but is surprised when Rena suggests they spend the night. It is there that the two have their first of several sexual encounters.
Their night together is a turning point for Rena, who starts spending more time with her coworkers outside of the job, if only as an excuse to stay close to Ryouhei. After partying a little too hard, Rena guides him home and is immediately jumped on by her inebriated office mate. After sobering up, Ryouhei begins to worry that he is taking advantage of Rena since they’ve done little more than fuck each other on two separate occasions. He tries to build some distance between her but that only causes Rena to get more aggressive and attentive, which makes their continued sexual exploits more fulfilling and, to my surprise, riskier! Over time, we see Rena come out of her shelf and take on a more commanding persona. She knows wants she wants out of Ryouhei and is willing to take the lead. Their relationship, complicated as it may be, suffers a stinging setback after a misunderstanding causes Ryouhei to lash out and act completely out of character, thereby putting his connection to Rena under a serious strain.
Jimihen!! Jimiko o Kae Chau Jun Isei Kouyuu is not your typical vanilla hentai and as such, I found myself really enjoying it. The series benefits from being much longer than most other OVAs which has the benefit of allowing the hentai to tell a story and give its characters plenty of room to grow. Both Ryouhei and Ren undergo character development that’s compelling and fairly realistic, as Ryouhei experiences a rollercoaster of emotions in his relationship with Rena. Rena, too, experiences change as we watch her come out of her shell. Both characters stumble, especially Ryouhei whose rage at being dumped causes him to lash out in a way that is cause for feelings of extreme guilt, but theirs is a story many can probably relate to. There are no bad or manipulative people here, though Ryouhei’s boss probably needs to have a conversation about minding his own business.
Another reason I enjoyed the series is the animation. There are a lot of beautiful cartoon characters, both male and female, and even though Sekiguchi is pretty on the eyes, Rena clearly is the best of the bunch. Her work attire is deliberately low key but I tell you, when she shows up for her first date with Ryouhei, she is elegance personified. I really enjoyed watching her have sex, too. They don’t get too crazy or acrobatic but the situations they find themselves in – a love hotel, an empty office, a risky fuck inside a company van, and some light dom/sub action – are genuinely exciting and seductive. There are plenty of opportunities and setups for Rena and Ryouhei to physically express themselves and as a result, we get to enjoy seeing her in several fun outfits and sexy underwear. Oh, and her boobs are pretty hot, too!
If you are a lover of plot and romance, then I heartily recommend giving Jimihen!! Jimiko o Kae Chau Jun Isei Kouyuu a view. A lot of hentai has a tendency to be outrageous so it’s nice to turn down the dial a bit and watch a porno that feels grounded in reality and depicts a healthy, consensual sexual relationship between two adults. And for those of you out there still finding a way to ease into this genre of porn, this series is a perfect jumping-off point. Rena and Ryouhei are relatable people who start of fooling around with each other under different pretenses but ultimately struggle with their growing feelings for one another in an environment that strongly discourages romantic entanglements. Love, however, always finds a way to persevere.