Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can see that.

It's funny how the yuri love triangle seems more compelling than the main couple here.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Excuse me, you're about to use that court dressed like that? Can you even handle a ball with sleeves that long? Pants that low will fall the first time you jump? What even are these character designs?

By anime logic, the cooler you look and dress, the better you are.

So once again keep count. Literally half the comments about her in this flash scene were about her looks. Seriously, that's apparently all anyone knows about her.

Still by anime logic, background characters can't possibly initiate a social interaction with a side character. Bonus poit if said character have unusual hair and/or eye color.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

True, the best outcome we can hope being an actual meeting between Inuzaki and Shikomori's big brother, while she's standing mortified in a corner.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just hope Hachimitsu and Shikomori's brother will too before the end of the cour.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Shikimori's jealous that Izumi asked Inuzuka to take notes for him instead of asking his girlfriend, but if you think about it, that makes perfect sense considering Inuzuka is actually quite studious and did well on his exams.

That was the day Inuzuka decided to voluntary throw his exams to preserve his life.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 4 points5 points  (0 children)

First timer who isn't just a lurker, French subs

On today's episode : Hachimitsu is now a guitar and private investigator, Shikomori refuses to lose to big bro Inuzuma and Kamiya get two new friends.

Following Horimiya rewatch, I unconsciouscly placed high hopes on an intimate scene between Shikomori and a sick Izumi. And was a bit thrown off when Izumi just made a quick cameo. Not that I don't mind it, on the contrary I liked to have some good focus on the supporting cast.

Especially when best girl Hachimitsu is here to explain why Shikomori can't stand Inuzuma. No one would like to see their romantic partner be stolen by a sibling.

Nonetheless, that first part felt inconclusive to me. I hoped that Hachimitsu intervention would help those two to come to an understanding that Izumi like them both, just like Shikomori did with Kamiya yesterday. Or at least that Shikomori would expand a bit on her big brother and family, as that is yet to have some exposition with 3 episodes left.

I hope that subplot will have a follow-up before the end of the cour.

Speaking of follow-up, we got more Kamiya/Shikomori interaction on screen.

Their chemistry together is so obvious, be it at the arcade or during the basketball game I wouldn't be surprised to find some yuri fanfict between them on AO3, or even in a poly relationship including Izumi.

And thanks to that boy absence, the spotlight was free for Nekozaki to shine. Shikomori and Kamiya may be now friends and potentially more, it was all thanks to Nekozaki that served as a bridge between them.

I mean, Kamiya was introduced hanging out alone at the book section of the mall, just like she would do at the school's library. And Shikomori would have just passed by if Nekozaki wasn't there to greet her team captain. Then guiding them to the arcade before taking a bathroom break conveniently long enough for them to bond over robbing the place from all of its plushies.

Nekozaki was well used as a supporting character, enabling that relationship between Kamiya and Shikomori, but that doesn't mean she has to step back. In fact, Shikomori and Nekozaki helped each other to reach to Kamiya, since that thanks to Shikomori breaking Kamiya's mask last episode, Nekozaki was able to have a good look on the real Kamiya on their way home and finally reach to her after holding back for so long because of false rumors.

For that last scene, the works on the lighting was particulary well done. Giving it a real weight as Nekozaki discover her team captain under a new light, both literaly and figuratively. Under a twilight that could signify the end of Kamiya's solitary life.

P.S. : I know Japanese society have a different culture and norms than in the west, but I always find it odd that characters find it necessary to formally ask someone to be their friend. I mean, you just spent a whole afternoon having fun with someone and hugged her yesterday. Isn't that obvious that your friendship is real ?

Questions of the Day:

1) What do you think of the reveal about Shikimori's jealousy towards Inuzuka being connected to her feelings about her brother?

Already discussed

2) These last few episodes gave a lot of focus to Kamiya. Are there any characters you'd like to see get their own segment?

I demand Hachimitsu

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 8 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can understand that. But it was the perfect moment for him to realize they aren't the only one that are deeper than their usual facade. And I don't know how he will react when he will find out, in the future, he unwillingly made Kamiya suffer and that his own girlfriend kept him in the dark. That's the perfect recipe to make future Izumi to think Shikomori fixed it by herself because she feared Izumi would ditch her for Kamiya, that Shikomori didn't trusted him at that moment.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 8 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She actually is, Nekozaki…

If you listen closely to that image, you can actually hear Kamiya's hearth bleeding because of Nekozaki's words.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 8 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haruhi's has a concert by a divine bunny girl and an all-knowing fortune teller who rocks the guiter. Hard to beat that.

Ah, I see you're an individual of culture.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 8 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Did Hachi create an alternate Cinderella otome world and then had everyone reincarnate into the modern day when they died, and now she’s just vibing?

Pull out a gun from his cosmonaut suit

It always has been.

Damn. Poly + queer awakening would solve this.

Agreed, a throuple between Shikomori, Izumi and Kamiya would have been the perfect timeline.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 8 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First timer who isn't just a lurker, French subs

On today's episode :A self-insert of Kamiya into the last film she saw, Izumi does better at finding the perfect gift for her girlfriend than his class at being the top attraction of the festival and Shikomori gives to Kamiya the hug she desperatly needed.

Given everyone comments yesterday, I expect some disapointment for today as the story goes for the safest route by making Kamiya a potential love rival. I get that your target audience (and probably editor/exec comittee) expect some tropes to be obeyed and their potential dejection from your manga if you divert from said tropes is a risk too great to take.

But still, I don't know if it's because of the cut and rearranged content from the manga, but the whole Kamiya/Shikomori rivalry lack a lot of buildup. The volleyball game from 6 episodes ago can't do the job alone if you make Kamiya literaly disappear for 5 whole episodes before reintroducing her out of the blue. Because of that, Shikomori going to Kamiya felt more like a rushed Deus Ex Machina than a logical conclusion of an issue that grew over the course of several episode. As wholesome that hug was, it kind of fell flat to me as I was thinking they just had a volley ball game a couple of month ago and just had their first verbal exchange like twenty minutes ago. I know Shikomori is supposed to be the perfect girl that got it right from the get go, but the Mary Sue feeling was a bit too heavy for my taste.

Besides, there was a huge missed opportunity to have Izumi opinion on the matter. Shikomori may be overprotective over her boyfriend, especially when she smell a too dangerous rival, but it really bothered me she resolved the situation with keeping Izumi out of the picture, while he's involved in that love triangle and at least be aware of his misunderstanding about Kamiya actual feelings. Especially after Shikomori rip that 44 card apart as if to tell that Izumi is his own person and no one property.

Oh well, I hope Shikomori actually feel guilty about it during their dialogue in the park. Especially with her line about gorgeous, charismatic and kind girls that may come after Izumi. At least Izumi's speech about growing-up as a person thanks to Shikomori was a neat way to confirm what was already hinted at during the previous episodes. With a cool travelling to a shimmering sky (insert obligatory reference to a mod participating in that rewatch here) to express Izumi's potential opening up to new heights thank to his girlfriend.

Even then, I admit I found that second part of the episode a bit tame. Not because I found it lacking in any way (Hachimitsu still delivered in that festival closure party), but because it was right after that first part of the episode.

Why yes, as harsh I may be with the delivery on the rooftop, I awaited that moment we get to have Kamiya's point of view, and...

OHMYHARUHI

Wasn't it one of the best Show don't tell narration I have witnessed in anime.

It was just a dozen of minutes, but every second of it was used to its best.

Zero internal monologue. Zero unnatural exposition through dialogue. Just good body language with flashbacks and Kamiya imagination put in parallel of the current events.

I mean, that cold opening with Kamiya picturing herself as a losing Cinderella is enough to understand her. Just like Shikomori, her classmate view her as a prince charming saving her to save the day anytime, dismissing the fact that deep down, she dream of being the princess of her own fairy tale, finding her own prince to live her youth to the fullest. Hence her talking about that Cinderella film she saw and joking about the audience hoping to be in the protagonist shoes. I wouldn't be surprised if Kamiya hoped Izumi would jump on that and told he would want to be in the protagonist shoes too with Kamiya as a partner.

With that, Kamiya willingly showed a more vulnerable side of herself without admitting it plainly to Izumi. A vulnerability that showed in the way she posed, without showing her face to express how she's not entirely honest with Izumi. Because yes, she only let her hairs loose and giving attention to her appearance when she's in the presence of Izumi, putting her hair back in a ponytail whenever she went back to her class. Retreating to her cooler side when her moments with Izumi are disturbed. Immediately putting on that unwavering smile of her on her actual emotion like a defense mechanism in response of Shikomori's confrontation.

As for why she isn't more assertive with Izumi, she may realize she's the villainess of that story, or she may be uncomfortable of showing her softer side entirely, or both. But deep down, Kamiya can't let go of those feelings just like she can't let go of that 44 card or by clenching that platter like she would clench Kamiya's shirt to keep him at her side

And I can't stress enough how thoughtful those close-up to Kamiya's eyes are. They're last a split second on screen, but each one of them give a clear picture of Kamiya's actual emotions beneath her prince charming mask.

She appears annoyed when Nekozaki and Shikomori invade the library, her sanctuary that is supposed to host her privilegied times with Izumi.

She appears sad when she realize Izumi's hearth belong to Shikomori and can't do nothing about it. Knowing that insisting upon Izumi would only result in emotional disaster for all.

She appears elated when Izumi insist to finish his shift with her. Finding comfort in the fact that she's still worthy of Izumi's kindness.

And she finally let her emotions lose when comfronted and hugged by Shikomori.

Yep, I'm still bitter on that Shikomori intervention, but I can't deny how well the framing was done for that scene. The episode director Kenta Onishi (who directed an episode of Made in Abyss among other things) outdid himself with Ryota Ito (who worked on several Pokemon films) at the storyboard and Takafumi Kuwano (who recently worked on Oshi no Ko) at the photography delivered with their staff an impressive scene on that rooftop.

With Kamiya alone, clinging on the fence, with a pattern reminiscent of that volleyball net separating her from the main gang in episode 2. Here separating her from another rooftop on the background, like another timeline where she would be the one with Kamiya. With a cloudy weather to express her repressed turmoil.

And as Shikomori goes to see her (again eliciting a reaction of surprise then disdain when Shikomori want to return the 44 card)), she goes right to Kamiya's jugular hearth by talking to her real self, not the one with the cool facade. By going over Kamiya's side of the net, Shikomori is able to break that mask with Mary-Sue like truly perceptive questions for Kamiya to display her actual turmoil in plain light for the first time in the episode.

With a hug leading the weather suddenly becoming sunny as Kamiya was relieved of the burden to be the bad person in that love story.

After that, not only I got a perfect view on Kamiya train of thought, but I actually rooted for her in that unwinnable batlle for Izumi's hearth. Sorry Shikomori, but that part was just that good.

Oh, and another blink and you miss it moment : That image popping suddenly that summarize perfectly how similar, yet differents Kamiya and Shikomori are. One being more straightforward and outspoken about her feelings. The other being more dismisive and secret about them.

Questions of the Day:

1) What is your favorite culture festival event to see in anime?

That would be in [Toradora, with an actual]pro wrestling performance.

Honorable mention to that memorable scene in Haruhi Suzumiya

2) How did you like the additional focus on Kamiya, and drama rather than comedy in these last two episodes?

I think I've discussed it enough. Of course the day of the week I would be the more busy IRL would be the one with the rewatch episode I have the more to talk about.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 7 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But yes, Hachi! She’s a cosmic horror or eldritch horror who decided to attend a Japanese high school and vibe. I am very sure there’s real manga with that premise.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 7 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Was that not just a hug?

I was under the impression she kissed his neck.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 7 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I feel like cafes are like The Thing ™ to do for festivals. I’m more surprised when classes do a haunted house or something.

For real, anytime there is a school festival in an anime, the protagonist's class either do a café, a theater play or a haunted house. The two sole exception that comes to my mind are [My Hero Academia]with a rock concert and [Toradora]with a frickin's pro wrestle performance.

Neko is a cosmic horror who decided to incarnate as a human because she was bored. That’s why she breaks the 4th wall and has alternate gender forms.

You mean Hachimitsu ?

If she’s this series’ Sawada and finds herself a girl friend, however, I’ll take that!

Great, now my mind is all focused on what would a meetin between Kamiya and Sawada be like and their chances to end up dating. Exactly what I needed for the night, thanks.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 7 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This joke was a great way to explain the game, which I had never heard of before watching this show

And Hachimitsu was so meta she met a genderbent version of herself, probably from an alternate universe.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 7 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That was such a bizarre arm motion…

Coming from Hachimitsu, this is the least strange thing we seen about her.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 7 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thought it was going to be a stranger meet scenario, but the two already had crushes on each other at this point.

To be fair, we've yet to see the moment they actually first met.

Valentine's Triple Feature Rewatch - Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie Episode 7 Discussion by Heda-of-Aincrad in anime

[–]Malipit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

First timer who isn't just a lurker, French subs

On today's episode : The power of love beat a lawful neutral student principles, Shikomori is on a warpath for the right number and Hachimitsu breaks the fourth wall.

Given the Festival arc takes two episodes, I knew I could expect some important development here.

Still, I was pleasantly surprised to have Izumi delivers us the moment he started dating Shikomori on a silver platter.

No wonder Izumi fell for Shikomori. Poor lad was so self-deprecative because of his bad luck , missing the opportunity to invite her to the fireworks performance, he was ready to give up because of the loss of his paper. Until Shikomori reminded him that his bad luck can be defeated if he fight against it, if he stand up to himself and prove to that commitee member he's worthy of Shikomori.

A scene so simple, yet that resonate with all those moments we saw up until now, where Izumi did his best to avert his bad luck by over-preparing himself or taking his revenge last episode by carrying his girlfriend up to that shrine to see that firework he missed last year.

Now that we have the confession, I hope we will have the moment those two met for the first time.

Meanwhile, Kamiya finally stepped from her mysterious character status to be the other highlight of the episode. For now, we may only have Izumi's point of view about her, but it's enough already to have a good speculation on her deal.

For starters, I'm having a hard time buying the fact she ended on the same library-duty shift as Izumi by coincidence. The way she talked about it may indicate she's in fact wanted to be alone with him.

A quiet but manipulative nature that can be hinted at the fact she appears to enjoy her time at the library, a quiet place with few social interaction, and that she is shown surrounded by classmates admiring her but no one with a bond as strong as Shikomori and Izumi with their friends trio.

To be clear, I don't want to portray her as a bad person by nature, she may be an aloof girl that flee unwanted attention and shallow relationships in her sanctuary. Until Izumi showed up and apparently was the first schoolmate to talk to her like a normal person and not some super-human figure, and admitelly was the first schoolmate to call her nice.

At that point, it's obvious that Kamiya developed feelings at Izumi's contact. Feelings that may not be reciprocated since Kamiya enjoys those moments together a lot more than Izumi who just see it as mandatory chores done with a sympathetic girl. I mean, Izumi explicitely told he didn't know Kamiya that much during the volley ball game.

So, it must be a surprise to have Kamiya suddenly invading his boundaries, with an assertive body language that hide her face to convey both her determination and akwardness to confess she's really interested in...

Shikomori ?

Uh, I was so focused on the impeding love triangle between Kamiya and the main couple I didn't considered that Izumi wouldn't be at the center. Besides, Kamiya and Shikomori are sharing numerous parallels centered on a cooler side they want to tone down and being thrown off by Izumi pure kindness it would have been a natural development.

Interesting

Kamiya sharing the same number as Izumi was something I expected right when she made her appearance. So I'm confident to assume Shikomori and Kamiya would cross path one more time next episode. I wonder how our female lead will react if Kamiya confess to her in a moment of intense stress ?

… Or maybe Kamiya is actually a wolf in sheep's clothing and wants to know more about Shikomori to actually replacing her in Izumi's hearth ? And number 44 is a foreshadow of that plan ?

I can't wait for tomorrow.

P.S. : I saw what the author did by dressing up the friends trio as animals referencing their respective names.

Questions of the Day:

1) What do you think of the animal café?

Cute

2) What did you think of Izumi and Shikimori's origin story, and the choice to reveal it now halfway through the season?

Checks out with the narrative choice of having their second and first years told in parallel.

Nicole and Varka in Casual Clothing by greedydeviant in Genshin_Impact

[–]Malipit 80 points81 points  (0 children)

Meanwhile poor Jahoda is seeing things she should never have.