Finally we can see what has troubled Kaoru so much. This episode was excellent, we had more glimpses of other arc heroines and of course more screen time with our male lead – but unfortunately without any strange and new methods of kissing.
A Quick Summary
Junichi is watching TV with Miya and snacking on their favorite rice chips. A commercial with a girl in a bikini comes on and he stares at her bellybutton remembering his evil-doings from just yesterday. Miya notices and hits with a pillow calling him a pervert and a bellybutton-kisser. Later at school, Kaoru does not show up for class. Concerned, he asks he girl who he gave to advice to a few days ago where she is. She tried to call, but never got through because no one answered. Then, he goes to all of the places she hangs out, and then runs off into the city ignoring the rest of the day’s classes. He thinks about her favorite candy in a grocery store, he meets the boys whose birdie Kaoru saved – they told him that she was crying down by the beach. He just misses her, and he walks off somewhere and eventually overhears Haruka and Hibiki talking about a waitress that spilled crab all over.
Junichi found Kaoru working at her restaurant. He tried to get her attention through the class but only managed to get a customers attention and is broke so he can’t walk in and order coffee. He waits outside the back door for a while, and Kaoru pokes her head out saying it’ll be 15 minutes before her next break – she also gave Junichi a scarf During her break, she spills the beans: her mother was with a man she didn’t know – her mom smiled in a way she wouldn’t do at home so she was angry and when got home, they had a fight. Kaoru didn’t want her mom to remarry, so she stayed out all night at an manga cafe after seeing her mom with some guy. Then she hurls Junichi over and returns to work, well, after some mushy stuff. She goes to call her mom. Miya and her friends are walking by, but luckily don’t see Junichi this time. Finally, Junichi gives Kaoru her present – her favorite candy. The next day she is full of energy and very cheery, she thanks Junichi.
That was longer than I expected, but it was easier to write because I paused halfway in each section.
A Tale Along A Scarf – Impressions Mixed In
Miya took a moment before the opening credits to roll out what possibly could be the naming calling insult of the year: bullybutton-licking freak. She witnessed the previous escapade of Junichi in the library so she has every right to say this. Miya doesn’t really shy around Kaoru at all, unlike she did with Haruka, and the reason for that is still unknown.
Kaoru is found working and she notices him outside the window. She presents to him the scarf of his dreams, but I guess we don’t know if he keeps it or not. Anyway, he was willing to wait outside for her entire shift to end but luckily he’s not sly at all and is easily noticeable. Kaoru also showed her generosity by way of the scarf.
The emotional dump upon Junichi was taken very well. Thinking about on it now after watching the entire episode, it wasn’t that emotional. She wasn’t screaming and crying and she was totally crazy either. She obviously calmed down a lot already before he even got there. She was stable enough to be working after all.
I think every arc girl was in this episode. Of course Miya was with Ai and the other girl. Those three were talking about something, but they didn’t allude as to what it was. Something for Christmas perhaps?
Junichi gave Kaoru her favorite chocolate and started to cross the road. I thought for sure something was going to happen in that time to make this entire arc totally win. But that wasn’t to be since no truck came out of nowhere.
The day after brings Kaoru new life. Junichi offers to help carry a huge amount of paper for single class. That’s absurd. That school needs help.
It wasn’t the final scene, but seriously it was amazing. I never expected her to walk in while he was taking a bath. Since Miya called him a pervert earlier, I it was ironic she did that herself, so she’s more so than he is. Interesting for her I think. I couldn’t quite tell if she was honestly concerned about him in a hot bath and being all red and such.
Finally
Well, my impressions were above. Kaoru and Junichi have affirmed their relationship with each other, more or less. He vowed to stay with her. It’s kind of like the Haruka arc, she was lonely and he was going to be there for her. Kaoru wasn’t so lonely, she wanted to cherish her father’s memory and live with her mother alone. But as times change, she’s getting what is very much like a new guy in her life – making it more fair for her mother to also have new love in her life too.
Good episode.
Committed.
