If you asked me about the prospects for an entire episode spent wandering the hilarious and slightly terrifying hallways of Raidou’s mind, I’d have been extremely bullish. And unsurprisingly, the results were just as glorious as you’d expect. Matsuboshi’s imagination is one of animanga’s great comedic superpowers. The winning formula for Aharen-san wa Hakarenai is so simple, really. Matsuboshi getting ahead of himself where Reina is concerned, Reina being cute. Just stick with that and they really can’t miss, which makes it slightly irritating that they sometimes do.
But not this week. We’re on safe ground here, almost start to finish. I was worried after the pre-open that we were going to get another segment wasted on Riku, but happily she was used as she should be – as a catalyst for the main pair’s antics. In fact Aharen-san is entranced by her loose socks, of which Tamanaha-san has an extra pair (and who doesn’t carry extra socks in their bag). This leads to a full gyaru makeover for Aharen, which naturally sets off Raidou-kun’s fancy in numerous wholly erroneous directions.
Off-track as Matsuboshi’s imagination may be here, his reaction is still fascinating. Faced with the idea that Reina is rebelling and asserting her need for independence, he resolves to be fully supportive – which is of course classic Raidou. He’s the ultimate mensch, this kid. But then he goes to the restroom and comes back with a full (if prefab) gyaruo (yes, that is the official word) transformation himself. Well, a wig and shades. But this is Matsuboshi’s idea of what a gyaruo is, which means some vaguely hip-hop language and then going out and doing community service with grade-schoolers. As you’d expect, Raidou is the most good-boy gyaruo ever.
The next day Reina has decided that makeover isn’t for her, so Matsuboshi promptly follows her back. Then it’s a deft Monty Python segue into a long segment about idols. Specifically “PriPla”, the idol game which Reina has gotten into and invites Raidou to join her. This leads to Raidou, unsurprisingly, becoming totally addicted to it. He designs a character called “Rai-chan” who looks strangely familiar. He stays up all night designing a custom outfit for her. He takes her on a magical journey to stardom, only to walk into the arcade one day and find out all the PriPla machines are gone. There’s a sequel – “PriGachi” – but his heart is too broken to give it to another game (and character).
This is Aharen-san, and it’s not the sort of series to overtly engage in biting social commentary. But it bites just the same, just in subtle ways couched in its usual gently satirical tone. It’s not surprising that Raidou – eventually drawn into PriGachi too (for Reina’s sake, LOL) – winds up broke after spending all his money on the various idol add-ons that go along with the franchise. But that’s not the end of the idol aside, oh no. Back in school Matsuboshi sees Aharen drawing lyrics in her notebook and making clothes in the home ec room. Surely this is a sign that, smitten with the allure from her “Pri” experience, she’s decided to become an idol herself?
The genius in this bit is in Matsuboshi’s self-reflection. “When I get ahead of myself the results usually aren’t good” is one of the most subtly hilarious lines of dialogue in anime this year. Matsuboshi keeps observing, keeps cautioning himself about his tendencies (at least he’s aware of them). Then he sees his little sister performing as part of an idol trio at the shopping district street fair, and a familiar voice calls out “Raidou-niinii!”. Turns out the one time he tried to keep his imagination in-check, it was right all along. Well, sort of…
It must be said, Ren-kun is one interesting kid. He’s the one behind this new idol trio, “The Aharen Sisters“. He designs pro-level virtual cities. He’s a man of mystery, Ren-kun. Matsuboshi shows his true colors two more times. First, he tells Reina she should have more confidence because she’s incredible. Then his imagination gets the aftermath (Reina wearing a mask to school) totally wrong. But with a character this pure and this hilarious, why would you ever want him to change?
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