Raoul’s Perfect Fit as Drama Host Reveals His Surprisingly Opposite Real Personality

Contrary to expectations that it would be criticized due to the malicious host issue.

The forbidden romance between a high school teacher and a host has reached a critical point.

This is the currently airing drama Ai no, Gakkou. (Fuji TV). Fumino Kimura (37) plays the earnest high school teacher “Chihuahua-sensei,” also known as Ogawa Aimi, while Raoul (22) from Snow Man delivers a standout performance as Kaoru, a popular host who grew up without experiencing love. Given the current issues surrounding problematic hosts, there were concerns about the drama’s reception, but surprisingly, the response hasn’t been bad.

“Perhaps due to the host issue, the first episode recorded the lowest rating ever for a Thursday Drama slot. However, online reviews are quite positive. Many comments praise the script and say the actors are unexpectedly skilled, indicating that viewers who are following the show are very satisfied.

In the first place, even if the TV ratings are low, Ai no, Gakkou. is being simultaneously streamed on Netflix, so many viewers are likely watching there. Additionally, its ranking on TVer is fifth in subscriber numbers, which is respectable. Overall, it seems to have succeeded well enough to overturn the pre-broadcast worries,” said a TV magazine editor.

Among all, Raoul, who plays the host, has exceeded expectations the most.

“Due to his limited acting experience, there were concerns like ‘Can Raoul act?’ but his performance turned out to be far above expectations. Kaoru, as played by Raoul, is a handsome, highly skilled host aiming to be the next number one, but he also carries the loneliness of having been unloved by his parents—a complex, dual-sided character. Audiences, however, have responded with comments like ‘Sexy and perfect for the role’ and ‘I’m swooning over their romance!’ earning him high praise,” said an entertainment writer.

A child who is simply at a high intellectual level

Kaoru has a developmental dyslexia, a disorder that makes reading and writing difficult. As a result, he never even properly received a basic education, which is his defining trait. The story of Ai no Gakkou begins when the Japanese-language teacher played by Kimura meets him due to a student-related incident and starts teaching him to read and write.

What’s particularly interesting is that, in reality, Raul—the actor portraying Kaoru, who is said to be perfectly cast in the role—is the exact opposite of his character. An interview writer commented:

“Far from just receiving a basic education, he is a highly educated talent who, while engaging in a busy idol career, is also enrolled in a university correspondence course. He is so diligent that he often works on assignments even during interviews. In interviews, he speaks very logically, even as a teenager, so I felt he is simply a highly intelligent person. His fellow group members also say, ‘Even though he’s the youngest, his thinking is deeper than anyone else. We need to learn from him,’ showing that he is highly respected.”

Moreover, regarding the aspect of difficulty with reading and writing, he is completely different from Kaoru. Another interview writer shared an amusingly opposite anecdote:

“The character Kaoru has a complex about not being able to write his own name properly due to his developmental disorder. But Raul, in reality, is far from having such a complex—in fact, his handwriting is much neater than average. At one point, during a break in filming, we asked him to jot down some personal principles as a memo. Later we planned to discuss the content in detail, but the handwriting was so beautiful that we immediately asked, ‘Can we publish this as-is?’ It was astonishing because the drama gives absolutely no hint of this real-life skill, which is what makes it so impressive.”

It’s not just about his looks—Raul’s power

Regarding Raul in the drama, entertainment reporter Kaoru Shimada, who has been covering him since middle school, praised him, saying, “Although he has never appeared in many roles before, he seems to have fully blossomed here, perfectly suited for this role.”

“Whether on stage or screen, he has shown growth with each project. Every time he encounters something in the world of acting, his honesty and purity absorb experiences like a sponge. In episode 5, the line ‘I hate you, teacher!’ sounded to me like ‘I love you.’ His heart-wrenching expression is impossible to look away from. This will become one of his signature roles.”

Shimada also explained why Raul, the youngest member of Snow Man, commands attention despite his age:

“With his long limbs and outstanding physique, he looks stunning just standing there. But more than that, he has the ability to find his own weapon, work on it, and turn it into reality. Previously, he drew attention as a model at Paris Fashion Week, but during that time, he moved to Paris alone, traveled by bicycle to attend auditions, and successfully secured a contract with a modeling agency there. His power lies in recognizing his own appeal and then taking action and making effort to maximize it.”

In the drama, even though their love is forbidden, “Chihuahua-sensei” and Kaoru cannot suppress their growing feelings for each other. The story, which will only intensify from here, keeps viewers glued to the screen.