We finally got to the study session, and while it wasn’t as chaotic as I had hoped it to be, they did dabble a bit of that energy later on when the group decides to go to the mall together afterwards. It was then when we got more of the mix-up matchmaking and failed communications shenanigans. While they were at the mall, Koyuki tried to read the mall map and lead the group one way, but Youta knowing how awful she is with directions was like: ABSOLUTELY NOT. This whole thing between them had Miki fangirling, while Minato was shell-shocked and jealous at the same time. And then just moments later, the situations is flipped, where Koyuki spots Miki and Minato seemingly having a moment together (where they were really just talking about Igarashi being spotted in the proximity), and her immediate mission was to protect Youta by not letting him see it!
That said, going back to the point where Minato had spotted Igarashi: Since he notified Miki, that made her think that Koyuki had told him about the fact she and Igarashi had dated. However that wasn’t the case, because Minato only knows the two are on bad terms with each other. But it didn’t take long for that miscommunication to be made known (at least on Minato’s side of things) when Miki ended up indirectly spilling the beans by bringing up how it’d be better if Igarashi has a new girlfriend or something. Only then, did Minato realize that meant Igarashi and Koyuki had actually dated– and just the thought of it was extremely baffling to him. He can’t wrap his head around it how that happened.
But this is where things get quite interesting. We know things been pretty bad for Koyuki in middle school, but we never really fully understood the tension that was portrayed to us between Koyuki and Igarashi. The only thing we had already unknown up to this point, was that Koyuki disliked Igarashi. But today we learned parts of the reason why she eventually accepted Igarashi’s feelings was because she had thought she’d feel better if she fell in love with somebody who loves her. But when that didn’t make her feel better, she began acting out with malicious intent. She wanted to hurt him– and that’s something she doesn’t want to tell anyone. It’s a secret she’d rather take to the grave.
So this complexity adds a layer of complication to this already extremely messy relationship. Igarashi is not necessarily a villain, but perhaps equally as much as a victim as she was, just under different circumstances. Koyuki was constantly pressured by her peers to just ‘give in’ to Igarashi, while others were notably jealous of the fact he liked her, and she was relentlessly bullied as result of it. This may have been the contributing factor as to why she hurt Igarashi, because it took out all that external frustration that had been building up, onto him. And it’s because of this, Koyuki truly doesn’t believe she should be recommended to anyone.
Needless to say, credit where credit is due: When Koyuki and Igarashi inevitably crossed paths at the train station, it was Koyuki who tried to muster up the courage to speak to him once more. It was Igarashi had opted to ignore her, acting as though she wasn’t there until she called out to him. He didn’t ignore her then, but rather had a funny response of wondering why she’s asking as though they are some long-lost relative or something. He at least tells her he’s fine, and adds it’s not like he needs her concern, but this is still a good step in the right direction for both of them so they don’t feel like they have to walk on egg-shells around each other.
Apart from all of that, it was super nice to see Koyuki actually made a new friend in her class. Her partner for library duties (Tsukiko Shimojima) has become a new lunch buddy, where the two of them eat in the art-room in peace and solitude. Tsukiko had explained she started doing that because of the way the unspoken rules of the friend circles in the class was just too unpleasant for her, so she left it altogether. Koyuki totally understood what she was talking about, so the fact these two are two peas of a pod makes it great to hang out together for lunch.
Meanwhile, Youta found himself cornered when Miki brought up the subject of love, asking if there was anyone he liked. He had started off with her name, but quickly covered it up by listing everyone he knows. But truth to be told, I was holding my breath for the truth to accidentally come out when Minato and Koyuki thought the other two were elsewhere. Minato doesn’t know that Koyuki knows that Youta has feelings for Miki. So if he were to suddenly bring it up then, man that would’ve been rough– good thing he didn’t! CRISIS AVERTED! However he did make a rather important observation that I don’t think Koyuki has quite picked up on yet since she has only recently come to learn this. Minato has noticed that it takes a lot of effort on Youta’s part to hide his true feelings for Miki, so it’s quite draining. Koyuki probably hasn’t picked this up yet because she literally just learned about it, but this could be why he gets very antsy when Koyuki subtly tries to give him extra time with Miki.
And finally, while Miki’s oblivious as ever and Youta’s being pressed about love, we have Minato who’s absolutely falling HARD for Koyuki, (boy was blushing so hard today). He hasn’t even realized it yet, but at least he is taking steps in the right direction. It’s crucial that he has come to realize that with Koyuki, he genuinely wants to get to become friends, as opposed to being that guy sticking his nose into others’ business. BUt that’s also why he felt like he has been walking on egg-shells around her, because he was under the impression she either hated or was scared of him (or both). While she was for a time afraid of him, she’s not anymore and hearing helped clear the tension between them that hasn’t quite been able to dissipate until now. At the very least, Koyuki has also come to realize that she’s been a bit too stand-offish/sending him mixed signals, which was giving him the wrong impression despite she has recently (thanks to Youta’s explanation) come to realize Minato has no malicious intentions. They had a hysterical moment when Minato was getting confused again, but was in for a world of surprise when she grabbed him after spotting a huge cockroach running past them. I guess you could say, it was a great icebreaker. (I’ll see myself out.)
Overall this was an okay episode. The content was good, but the execution kind of felt all over the place. It left me feeling a bit miffed, so hopefully the next one be delivered better.
