This episode was a mixed bag, but I will say it was better than last week’s! But the only reason why this episode was salvaged in any way and form was because of two things that unfolded.
The first was because of Sakurako. Now back when Sakurako had confronted Yuzu, while I was leaning more towards the idea that she had malicious intentions, I mentioned it did cross my mind of possibility that she may very well truly believe that Takamichi and Reiya are “secret lovers”. I was also not really sure at the time whether such route of genuinely believing it would satisfy me.
And sure enough, yes, that was actually the case! Sakurako genuinely believed that Reiya and Takamichi were in-love with each other. Though this rumour ended up not really a “secret” (except to Takamichi and Reiya who were oblivious to it all), considering how wide-spread this gossip since everyone and their grandmothers knows about it!
What made this especially entertaining, was the fact Sakurako was actually a devoted shipper of the two. So much so, she had even commissioned the Manga Club at her school to make doujinshi of the two! Like holy shit, HAHAHA!!! So I’m happy to say that even though I had my doubts,this was peak comedy and the outcome was hysterical and well done. This was definitely the part that made me laugh the hardest in this show! (And that’s a good thing!) I think it helped a lot to see just how earnest and passionate she was about supporting and watching over Reiya’s and Takamichi’s love, because girl was all in for her OTP. Luckily for Sakrauko though, she was spared of a worst punishment for having misled Yuzu… well, maybe she wouldn’t consider herself to be “lucky” considering Reiya had burned her precious Reiya x Takamichi doujishi collection to crisp.
I will also say, because this was very entertaining, I’m not too disappointed that she isn’t the cunning lady as she was said to be. In-fact at this point, I find myself actually glad she isn’t another antagonistic figure Yuzu got to deal with, and this whole misunderstanding with Takamichi and Reiya being lovers was resolved rather quickly.
That said, before this was all sorted out: For the first time we actually saw Yuzu spiralling. She completely lost it when had thought she saw Takamichi and Reiya kissing when she arrived at the mansion. In that moment, her behaviour wasn’t stemmed from “love”, but panicked, desperate response to protect and keep a hold of the one person who given her “love”. Yuzu spiralling so badly that even Reiya caught on it because he was shocked. He didn’t even have the chance to feel happy about it because he knew something had to be up for her to throw herself at him, lock-lips and declare her love like that.
But it’s thanks to this whole misunderstanding that Yuzu and Reiya finally had another reason to sit down and talk (which is insane that I even have to put it this way at this point. And the entire time I was watching, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated about how satisfying this scene could’ve been if these two actually had any build-up in their relationship at this point. It’s the lost potential of something that could have been actually great!
And when we finally got the some real sweet tender moments of communication between the two, I felt no fuzziness, and that sucks. That’s not what you want to feel when reading/watching any romance. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, REIYA’S DIALOGUE STILL HASN’T EXPANDED WHATSOEVER! Apart from debunking the rumour, he hasn’t said anything new. It’s still the same old, same old! It’s so frustrating to see because he’s just going in circles! (Heck, I’M STUCK IN A LOOP TOO! How many times have I already said this?!) There’s so much potential being lost because they are not giving him the substance and dialogue he needs, to flesh out his character and his “love” for Yuzu. (And yes, I’m keeping that in quotations, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN’T GIVEN US ANYTHING FOR NINE FREAKING EPISODES NOW.)
It’s just like, they keep saying they love each other, but I’m sitting here thinking, WE HAVEN’T SEEN THESE TWO SPEND ANY QUALITY TIME TOGETHER! WHY HAVEN’T THEY GONE A SINGLE DATE YET FOR CRYING OUT LOUD?! It’s actually infuriating! Again, I need to know: Does the original source (the novel specifically) not give these two any productive time together up to this point?
And you know what the other part that really got me riled up? It was the bit where Takamichi acknowledges Yuzu and Reiya seem to be fated for each other. And what he says is an important point. Before Reiya and Yuzu met each other, they’ve been subjected to the kind of loneliness that others could not fulfill. It was only when they found each other that they stopped feeling this way. Had we had actually seen these two spend time together, and witness much colour they bring to each other’s worlds, Takamichi’s realization, would have made Reiya’s and Yuzu’s love story far more romantic and far more sweeter, and most importantly, meaningful!
All that being said, it is important to note wasn’t all sunshines and rainbows with Reiya. After hearing what had transpired at her grandparents’ place, not only did he ask them to move altogether into his mansion (which they politely refused, and Reiya had to accept after hearing their home is a special place that bears precious memories with Yuzu), but he went as far to instruct Takamichi to get a listening device that looks like jewellery. Even Takamichi honestly expressed that was a bad idea (and yes, it is terrible idea) and that Yuzu wouldn’t appreciate it. Not sure if Reiya was had any intention to be upfront about it with her, but with how vulnerable Yuzu is at the moment, while Yuzu would probably be put off by it, considering how she rationalizes everything, I wouldn’t be surprised if she did accept it. Though I think the only reasonable instance to consent this is when she has to be in the same space as Karin during the banquest. If those two somehow get alone together. This would be the fastest way to expose Karin, and protect Yuzu
Speaking of the psycho bitch! Boy this girl got a narcissistic god-complex because she cannot stand the fact the world is not revolving around her! She’s pissed off about being looked at in contempt (gee I wonder why?), annoyed she’s under house arrest, and was finally subjected to her parents’ true colours, which revealed just how easily they were willing to cast her aside once she lost use to them. Her insufferable ego can’t even fathom apologizing to Yuzu. The only thing she did right was tear up her parents letter to Yuzu, because we all know it’s just the usual bullshit. Unfortunately for Youta, he’s going to need to brace himself for whatever shit Karin’s about to try and force him to do, because she has no intentions of letting Yuzu go.
With that said, at this point there’s only three episodes left, so I will be finishing this one way or another~! Still, it’s really is a shame when we can see there’s so much untapped potential here…
