Akagami no Shirayukihime Episode 10: Inexperienced Heart, Going Deeper

Let’s be honest, we all saw this coming.

But even if we did……ummmmmmmmmmmm………………..okay?

I didn’t think it’d happen already. Well Shirayuki…you said you didn’t want Zen to not act on his feelings. Well, he certainly acted on them. But before I get to the part where everyone started wetting their pants and I had to deeply think, let me talk about the events that led up to this moment.

So we meet our totally cute bird lady, Kihal. She comes from the Yuris Island where the island is known for having a certain species of bird that help them in their daily lives, like find ores, schools of fish, etc. Kihal has come to make an audience with Zen in hopes that he would help with the situation in her home. A new lord took ownership of the island and for sport he and his ugly noble friends hunt the birds for fun. Kihal has asked the lord multiple times for him to stop, and he made the deal that they could talk to Zen to see what he thinks. So they do, and Zen says the current parties are to solve this problem. Earlier Kihal had told this story to Shirayuki, then Shirayuki went to Zen to talk about the birds’ special ability, their extremely sensitive hearing. The following evening, Zen calls up Kihal and asks her how the bird’s hearing works. She explain that the ore they have all have a unique sound and the birds will follow that sound to whatever location they’re sent to, whether it’s somewhere close or far off in the middle of the ocean to find a fishing boat. So Zen makes a deal…

Test to see if they can use the birds for a means of communication in Clarines. The test consists of handing someone the bell and message, make them go to a watchtower that takes 40 minutes away by horse, and have the bird retrieve the bell and message. The test is to see if the bird can leave and return in 25 minutes, almost half the time it takes for horses. If Popo (the bird) makes it in time, then the test would be a success, and Zen would make it that some bird handlers from the island come to the mainland and work as messengers. So no more hunting of the birds!

To keep things short, the test succeeds. Shirayuki is the one that takes the bell and is sent to the watchtower with some guards. The terrible lord also goes because he asks and of course he makes it so the test almost fails. Of course, we all knew that was gonna happen. He grabs the bell from Shirayuki and throws it into the water and locks Shirayuki in the tower. The subject of social status is brought up twice in this episode. Once when Kihal thought Zen would not take her seriously about her situation, and again in this moment when Lord Asshole said that Zen would never believe Shirayuki over him because he has social status and she doesn’t and ahkhlifhfd;ghd;lfkg yeah we get it. Also, he hates her hair or something idk. Honestly this part was pretty predictable.

Shirayuki jumps out the window while cutting her arm, swims to find the bell, and Popo makes it back in time. One of the guards arrests Lord Asshole and also sends an extra message to Zen about what happened. He explains everything to Zen when he arrives. Zen goes upstairs to Shirayuki, checks her wound, and then…the kiss. Hot damn. There’s no going back anymore man. What’s done is done and that should make everything clear to Shirayuki. But…okay. He kisses her. I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t jumping for joy, but more like I was like UH OHHHHHHHHHH with my hand over my mouth because I’m a shit and I love drama. Like, it was cute and I know things are going to be awkward between them and now Shirayuki is going to have to consider her feelings for Zen too…….but I’m not…totally shipping this couple? And I guess I might be in the minority with this? Like I want to ship it, but I can’t totally do that right now. Maybe because I know how much Zen loves Shirayuki, but I don’t feel that same vibe with Shirayuki towards Zen. I mean yeah they always had the hand-holding-stare-into-your-eyes-and-hugging thing going on like…once a week. But…hm.

I can’t really explain it well. I want to ship them, but I can’t. Not just yet. But it’ll be interesting to see how things transpire from here on out on Shirayuki’s end. Will she accept his feelings? Will she have to think about it longer and keep his feelings in the air? Or will she reject them? Or will she lock herself in her room and hide forever? We’ll just have to wait and see.