Noragami Aragoto Episode 9

There’s a reason why everyone loves Ebisu despite the fact how little screen-time he has. He is an absolute dork who is extremely clumsy, acts casually despite the fact they are within the underworld and it is a VERY dangerous place to be ‘taking it easy’ in. His charm also comes from his ability to pull off a show, to absolutely fool both Izanami and Yato flawlessly with a performance of battling it out to determine who will be scapegoat for Izanami. Another hilarious moment was that the individual Ebisu saw Izanami represent as, was ‘the old lady from the Olive Tavern’. (Izanami takes form of the one the individual wishes to see, this is why Yato saw her taking form as Hiyori)

Ebisu is a very curious individual, and what is more, he is determined to fulfill his goals such as his project as a Conjurer. He explained today how this is something his previous incarnations have been working on as well, and his previous incarnations were often devoured by the Masked ones. His goal is to be able to have precise control of the phantoms with the masks. The idea of naming and employing a phantom like a regalia is very enamoring to him, but it’s very difficult and each failure taints him, because the Phantoms desire someone who is stronger. This is why he wanted the Locution Brush, because he would allow this project to be successful in the way he hasn’t been able to accomplish yet. It just shows how Ebisu has the appreciation for a lot of things that aren’t popular with such sentiments. However what is striking about this, is how Ebisu cares more about the Phantoms and others, more than he does about his own well-being. He told Yato how he envies his will to live, something which he does not have. And because of that, he believes Yato is someone who can make people happy.

On the flip-side of all of this, we have to wonder about Yato’s Father’s intentions when he sent him on this mission to protect Ebisu. It is  precisely because we learned a couple of things that raises a lot questions due to the high-staked circumstances. First off, Ebisu had knowledge of this request, and never asked for one in the first place, and nobody was really supposed to know about him going to the Underworld in the first place. Second, we learn the Gods have received a tip off regarding the identity of the Conjurer they have been pursuing, revealing it is none other than Ebisu, who is shown to be missing from the meeting. They will now proceed to interrogate Ebisu’s regalia and go after him. be Following that, we learn from Izanami how Ebisu is the second person to ask for the Locution Brush. Another important clue is from last week’s episode: someone gave Ebisu the tip to where and how to get the brush was in the first place.

When you put all of these things together, it points a lot of suspicion to Yato’s Father. How did he know that Ebisu was going to the underworld? One could say it was Nora who tipped him off because she also has a name bestowed by Ebisu in one of his previous incarnation, but Ebisu was surprised she was there, so that would negate the reason. As result, it only makes me question what is the true intention of the mission.
But let’s not forget there is clearly another motive with this “Rescue Mission”, and it started out well before Yato was given the mission in the first place and that involves being seperated from Hiyori and Yukine. We saw this in action with Hiyori, as she gets caught up with the living world, losing contact with those on the Far Shore. She has not seen Yato in at least a month, Yukine is studying at Takamagahara , and as result, Hiyori has been slowly but surely starting to forget both of them. She is becoming increasingly more anxious because she knows she is forgetting something important. She has a bits of memories which involve key clues. Capypa Land is probably doing a major job in keeping her connected in the first place because of Yato’s wish to go there as a group. Hiyori remembers the number make as a group (three), she remembers she wanted to go to the park with these individuals,  she remembers she wanted to give a present to someone, she remembers Yato’s gender as she refers to ‘him’ as she thinks about what she wanted to do with him, but the most important part of all, which is the key to preventing her from shrugging everything off was: her heart knows she is forgetting someone very important to her. And this is why she can’t and won’t stop thinking about it.

But then that little shit boy Fujisaki, goes ahead and kisses her without her consent. NOBODY TOUCHES HIYORI’S SACRED LIPS WITHOUT HER CONSENT, NOBODY. THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY!!!!! WHERE’S KOFUKU WHEN WE NEED HER?!

Also other thoughts I’d like to share, but it contains Manga Spoilers, so I am putting it under the cut.
*If you wish to share your thoughts which contain manga spoilers, please use the spoiler tag in your comment to accommodate those who have not read the manga, thanks! You can find the instructions here (FAQ)

[spoiler]FUCKING TRASH DAD. YOU PIECE OF ROTTEN SHIT. DAMNIT THEY ENDED THE EPISODE ON THAT CLIFFHANGER! D:<
WHEN I FIRST READ IT IN THE MANGA, I WAS MAD YOU KNOW, BECAUSE NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO TOUCH HIYORI’S LIPS WITHOUT HER CONSENT! BUT KNOWING WHO THIS SHIT REALLY IS MAKES ME FURIOUS. HOW DARE YOU, DOING IT ON PURPOSE BECAUSE YOU WANT HIYORI TO FORGET YATO! [/spoiler]

Considering how they have reduce the pace significantly this episode, I am curious to see whether or not they will try to tie the end of this arc with the season finale. At this point I am not a 100% certain about how they will choose to proceed if they end the arc early, but considering how well they have been doing this season, I am not particularly worried about it, I will have faith in the production team.