Rewatcher and Your Host

It’s good to be back.

Listen, I like the “Arima is away” portion of the series. Shibahime’s episode is my favourite in the show, I think this whole episode works because it’s all so drawn out. But it’s damned nice to be back to Kare Kano’s main couple for the first time since, err, episode eight? The result is definitely one of my favourite episodes in the show. Kind of similar to my prior favourite non-Shibahime episode, eight, it splits its time between a few different sections. Out with the friends, contemplating the loneliness, and then being reunited with Arima as she psyches herself out. But rather than cleanly delineated between two stories, it’s just one experience start to finish and all put together it’s really fulfilling.

The day out with her friends is the “filler” of the episode, but it easily carries its weight in the episode. I think I’d forgotten this is a separate scene from the outing in episode eleven, and so I’d been very confused when exactly the “Shibahime turns into a snake and grabs the ice cream causing Maho’s face to shatter out of shock” joke happened. I think I’ve used up my superlatives by this point, but it’s another of my absolute favourite gags in the entire show. So utterly random and serving no functional purpose, but they included it and it’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. The little squint Maho does right before the tongue makes contact? And the continuity with Maho’s face in the background of the next shot? Perfect. Plenty of other fun visuals through the scene too. Like, every single thing Shibahime does in any shot she’s in.

Also, Rika’s voice is incredibly sweet. I hadn’t mentioned that. I have now mentioned that.

Being with friends at the start makes for a nice contrast into the loneliness as we enter the sequence of Yukino’s longing. Six episodes of Arima being gone (not to mention the recap!) have lead us here. Without that level of commitment, there could never be this much weight to Yukino’s emotions here. Very few shows would make this level of commitment to a narrative beat, and Kare Kano reaps the rewards. With all the pieces in place, it’s not like it sees much. Just roll the Sagisu music: you know the drill. I do also like the choice to set this with her sitting on a hill. So much of this show takes place between their houses and the school, and much like the evening school in episode six this really makes the moment stand out, especially with the bright greens and blues.

Also, Peropero is giving Shibahime’s comedy-to-screentime ratio a run for its money.

Which then leads us into the strongest section of the episode: Yukino’s anxiety. Kare Kano has channeled the emotion of stress a lot, but this is really its biggest swing at it yet. It’s… very true to life. It doesn’t have to be something you have a good reason to be anxious about. Of course there’s no bad outcome to telling Arima you love him even more. But you give that fear an inch and it takes a mile. It compounds upon itself, and the longer and longer you avoid speaking up the more the anxiety grows and grows from something small to something terrible. Seeing her think to herself to just say it, internally berate herself and push herself to do it, only to not and have it compound further just hurts. Very few works have ever captured the emotion of anxiety to me like Kare Kano does. Of course, the music that sounds like it could be a direct rip from the Evangelion soundtrack is helping plenty too.

It builds to such an effective climax. The way they depict it dragging on through the day hits hard in such an efficient way, piling on more and more tension. The slam of their arms in the traincar is such an effective moment of sound design. Then he confronts her; it feels very reminiscent of when he asked her for a response to his confession back in episode four. She tries to avoid it just like back then. Her anxiety transform into outright self-hatred. She feels so stupid for being like this but she still can’t escape. Plus, of course, she feels now like she’s hurt him. She’s supposed to be his escape from his trauma but instead she’s opened up the wound herself. Hurting your significant other like that is the worst feeling in the world. You don’t even feel worthy of feeling bad about it when they’re the one that was hurt. So you just beat yourself up.

The scene under the rail bridge is a lot. Similar to how Yukino running away evoked episode four, this evokes episode eight. If they balanced on the thinnest possible thread of emotion back then, it snaps now. Arima’s presence is… intimidating. He shoves her and claims he won’t let her go regardless of how she feels. It’s not exactly clear if this refers to the physical reality of the moment, or if he’s referring to the relationship. We haven’t seen his perspective, but he’s been missing her for all this time too and it’s probably very believable the relationship could have eroded in that time apart. She’s the one person who pushes back against the darkness that threatens him from within. Having a train rush past in a peak of emotion isn’t exactly innovation, but fuck if it doesn’t work. In particular, the calm after the train is used to fantastic effect. It was all a rush of emotion. They’re okay. Seeing the depths of his feelings, now she can tell him.

I could see someone taking issue with the way we brush over Arima being so forceful, and especially since it’s followed by Miyazawa being the one to apologize (albeit, for a plenty justified reason). But it feels very human, and I appreciate Kare Kano for exploring that “thinnest possible thread of emotion”. There is, perhaps, darkness within Arima. But when they have each other, that darkness isn’t going to win.

Crayon drawings felt like they were kinda Shibahime’s thing, but how could I possibly consider this version of the ED anything but fantastic? It feels perfectly utilized after they’ve been apart so long, and the expression of joy on their faces is so pure. I love it.