I Give My First Love to You

Primarily set across countryside fields, the childhood memories frame the couple's bond. The hospital and the elite high school mark the central settings where their hopes, promises, and heartbreak unfold. A church and hospital scenes punctuate the ending as Mayu and Takuma confront love, loss, and a final farewell.

💞 Love & Sacrifice

Love drives the relationship from childhood to adulthood, anchoring their stubborn hope against a looming deadline. Takuma's illness casts a shadow over their happiness, forcing difficult choices and sacrifices. Mayu's devotion persists even as Takuma tries to push her away to spare her pain. The film frames love as both a source of strength and a catalyst for painful decisions.

🫀 Mortality

The story centers on the fragility of life as Takuma battles a heart condition and the specter of death hovers over their time together. A potential heart donor and the drama around consent expose how fate can hinge on family wishes and medical limits. Kou's role as a donor candidate and the subsequent refusal underline the harsh reality of life versus hope. In the end, life continues in memory even as Takuma's time runs out.

🌸 Promises

Childhood vows set the emotional course of the film, most notably the promise to marry when they turn twenty. Those promises persist through illness, separation, and social pressures, shaping every decision they make. Mayu and Takuma defend their bond with quiet resilience, even when the world seems ready to pull them apart. The ending reframes the promise as a lasting memory and a ceremonial goodbye.