There was too, too much for me to handle in this episode. Ahhhhh. Ahhhhhhhh. It’s all fucked. Nooooo. I’m getting a headache thinking about all of this.
Things started off pretty slow with the Cultural Festival that I completely forgot was happening, which led us into the revelation that Kiriya-sensei is actually a semi-famous novelist. Which was a plotline tha
t lined up oddly well with one of the recent episodes of another show I’m covering this season, Doukyonin no Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue, where the MC had a similar “I’m actually a famous author” reveal moment. I wouldn’t have mentioned it but the last episode of Doukyonin was about how depressing it is to eat alone and at the time it really reminded me of Momo’s first episode in Domestic na Kanojo, and now I’m kind of weirded out by the little similarities that are piling up between this gentle, pure-hearted show and the biggest dumpster fire of the season.
After that reveal, there was a little bit of a lull, after which Natsuo falls down the stairs because we hadn’t had something wacky happen in a minute and a half. It’s something that both thrills and horrifies me about this show; sometimes just to liven things up you’ll get a wildcard event like a broken leg to throw a little more chaos into the mix.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for Natsuo, though, who ought to get much worse than a broken leg after his shenanigans this episode. Even before he got caught at the end of the episode my heart was already breaking for Rui. She’s getting done so dirty, she’s going full deredere for this bastard and he doesn’t deserve it. Man though when she defrosts she really defrosts, which makes it especially hard to watch. Someone get this poor girl out of here already, she’s been through the wringer.
Literally how? JUST TELL HER YOU CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE, HOLY SHIT. He doesn’t even have to tell her why! I will say, though, that the accidental penis-touching scene was art and Natsuo’s face is my face after watching this episode.
I am absolutely furious at Natsuo this episode. It’s been a while since I’ve felt such frustration at the behaviour of a fictional character. It’s not so much the morality of what he’s doing (his behaviour is gross, but what else is new?) as the sheer incompetence of it. Like… is there something mentally wrong with Natsuo? The way he was acting I have trouble believing he didn’t want to be caught, and I’d be glad he did if it weren’t so crushing for Rui. She can do better. Seriously, what a scrub. He gets caught in a lie, then uses the SAME LIE the second he gets a chance? What the fuck. What the actual fuck. Fumiya deserves a better friend as well. He’s also being pretty shady to Hina by essentially cheating on her with her sister but she does not really deserve a better boyfriend.
I share Fumiya’s scepticism. Oh my god I can’t believe how sloppy he is.
Natsuo: I’m doing everything I can to keep my relationship with Hina secret!
Also Natsuo: leaves the novel he wrote about being in love with Hina in plain view in his room
How fucking fast does Rui read though, damn, she got through that thing quick. Come to think of it, as well, it was totally inevitable that she would unexpectedly drop by Hina’s house at some point while Natsuo was there. If anything it’s surprising it didn’t happen sooner. These guys are complete idiots and everything is ruined and I look forward to the next episode with a sense of severe apprehension.