More colors in the OP this week. Honestly, I don’t really pay that much attention to it. It seems they’re actually expanding the scope of the show a bit to cover the old characters as well too.
The past, Himura and Yuuko:
The both of them go on a date to buy Yuuko new shoes. Himura wants to skip lunch but Yuuko persuades him to eat as well, showing her prowess at flirting with Himura (lol). Both of them enjoy the day until Yuuko decides to head for the church and they bump in to Akira and he warns Himura about “possessing his sister” in a very creepy, possessive sort of way. Is he infatuated with Yuuko? After he leaves the lovebirds alone, Yuuko reveals that Akira also lost his sister in the same disaster that claimed Akane.
Himura, on his way back, is “ambushed” by Nagi, who demands to know about his day with Yuuko, whom she knows thanks to Akira, in jealous, possesive sort of way. Himura sure is popular despite being a loner. Later that night, there is a longer flash back of when he bought Akane the red watch and how she was killed in the disaster when Himura flashes back on it. Yuuko is surprised by her brother too, and a look of loathing? maybe anger? crosses her face.
The present, Mizuki, Kuze, Nagi, Hiro and Miyako:
Kuze’s condition is worsening and he is slowly running out of time. He pays a visit next door, only to find out that Mizuki fell sick and he shares an intimate moment with her. “Artificial respiration” LOL. The next day comes, Kuze and Mizuki spend a day just lying outside in the sun under a tree, letting the day pass by them. Himura appears and in his usual fashion, dispenses his advice to Mizuki. Mizuki asks him to bless them in the way priests do and while denying he’s a priest, he does the gesture anyways but replaces it with “May the Force with you.” (LOL). Evening comes around and Kuze tells her to stay away from her.
On another Otowa, Hiro is having trouble with his deadlines so he asks his elder sister, Nagi, for help. Looks like both he and Miyako’s relationship are doing just fine.
Thoughts:
Eh, well, things are moving slower this time round I guess, but there is still substantial development in both timelines.
Akira is hinted to have an “unhealthy” relationship with Yuuko, and I really can’t imagine what he has done to her to give her that expression when all the while she has been very much cheery and smiling despite being in a hard position. I think it’s pretty much the first time we’ve seen Yuuko having a negative expression, really. Whatever is it, it must be pretty bad.
Nagi’s also… showing some similarities to Kei, particularly in her possessiveness towards Himura, which pretty much validates her interest in him. Adult Nagi makes an appearance in this week’s episode, and she does look a lot more mature now as well as having reaching a stature of fame. We’ve also solved the mystery of her relationship with Hiro, and it turns out she is Hiro’s elder sister, so that cleared another thing up for me. It seems she’s heading for Australia too, will she cross paths with Kuze and Mizuki?
It was also fun to see Miyako back to, even though it was pretty much a few scenes, including one that seems to give some form of resolution to her own feelings now that she’s going out with Hiro. I’d always thought their arc ended a bit too short.
On Kuze x Mizuki, well… it’s still like that I guess? Rather painful to see really.
