When I hear that an anime is “slice-of-life,” I always wonder how big the slice is. Because some end up going pretty big, like workplace or school romances that sweep through human emotion like a starship. Others, though, offer something smaller, and I’ve rarely seen one as small in physical scope as See You Tomorrow at the Food Court which, for the most part, takes place in a single booth at a shopping center’s food court. But this tiny series gets at a lot of universal truths about the nature of friendship. And the two main characters come to represent us all. See You Tomorrow at the Food Court dives into the lives of two high school students: Wada and Yamamoto. The former is a likeable yet skittish girl who struggles with the perception of her classmates. The latter, bearing a gyaru (gal) style, doesn’t seem as openly bothered as her friend, but still is invested in her studies and the way that people might judge her and her ambition. Each episode runs through a variety of subjects in an anthology style, all of which occur at a lackadaisical pace. If you’ve ever wanted an anime that actually feels like a lazy afternoon spent at the mall, try out See You Tomorrow at the Food Court . Friendships in fiction and anime are often shown through broad strokes and pinnacles. They reach agreements and partnerships and the relationships evolve in a way that befits the story arc. And there’s nothing wrong with that. You might want to hang out with a character, but you also want the narrative to be going somewhere and for people to change and grow and have problems that they experience and eventually fix. RELATED: See You Tomorrow at the Food Court Anime Releases Special Ending Song Video But real-life friendships often involve a different cadence, especially good ones. There’s a sense of comfort there, of the ability to be open and casual without the pressure of fitting in with the rest of the world or with a story that’s pushing you forward. If you watch two best friends talk, it seems like they speak their own language in their own little corner of the world. And if you’re blessed enough to have a friendship like that, you know the specific joy that comes with it — that booth at the food court feeling of safety. Of being able to lay all of your quirks out on the table (alongside your delicious mall food) with the knowledge that the other person isn’t going to walk away. That’s not to say that See You Tomorrow at the Food Court is lacking in verbal kineticism, nor is Wada and Yamamoto’s relationship perfect. They can annoy one another, disagree with each other and have misunderstandings that leave them feeling distant. But they tend to reconnect, with each one willing to humble themselves rather than let pride dissolve the pair. Also, the little segments usually have an ebb and flow based on their own interests and obsessions, with some subplots throughout (like Wada’s adoration of the gacha game Starlight Fantasy and her particular love/hate fixation on the rare character Duke Abel). When the show does include other characters, it’s relatably petty. Any new person that intrudes on their territory is forced to endure the duo’s scrutiny and while some of it comes off as catty, one can’t help but see themselves in the people-watching pair. However, these little turns do allow them some moments of slight growth. Nothing that forms a dramatic ride-off-into-the-sunset moment, but allowances that maybe you’ve been wrong about a peer, or that you don’t see something in someone that your friend does, so maybe you should extend a second chance. See You Tomorrow at the Food Court commits to the bit. It is so indebted to its particular vision of friendship that by the end, the series feels almost cyclical. If you don’t buy into its particular vision, you’ll likely be left thinking “Wait, that’s it?” And with just six episodes, it’s a breeze to finish. Before you know it, it’s over and all you’re assured of is that, yep, Wada and Yamamoto will probably be coming back to the food court sooner rather than later, and be having conversations exactly like they’ve been doing all along. RELATED: 3 Anime That Teach Us the Importance of Love and Friendship If you do engage with this anime on its terms, though, it’s one of the most distinctly pleasant watches of 2025. See You Tomorrow at the Food Court is a reminder of the lovely rhythm of being beside someone you’re pals with, someone you can chat and gossip and rant and be silent with. Six episodes isn’t long to establish a profound connection with Wada and Yamamoto (unless you’re really into a certain gacha game, in which case Wada is Character of the Year). But it might leave you wanting to text someone and ask them what they’re doing for lunch tomorrow.
