Normally I’m strongly against episodes without much Raidou, never mind Raidou or Reina. This week was something of an exception, because the Aharen sibs are all great characters. Nevertheless, whatever the reason, this direction does annoy me. I don’t know whether it’s a function of the anime having adapted out of order or just the way the manga evolves. But straying away from a clearly winning formula – no sir, I don’t like it one bit. Matsuboshi and Reina are the essence of this series (especially his imagination). Why move away from that?
Again, though, the stuff with Eru and Ren is always excellent, so no complaints there. Futaba and Akkun are kind of a one-gag subplot, so those chapters tend to get pretty repetitive. But there’s no doubt it’s a damn good gag. And we got enough twists on it here to make it interesting. The gag, of course, is Futaba’s fruitless pursuit of Akkun and her tendency to see anyone and everyone as a potential love rival. But she had an abundance to choose from this week, starting with Riku (who just isn’t very funny, and is taking up way too much oxygen in the room).
Indeed, labeling Riku a “shotacon hussy” is pretty hilarious. Obviously she has no interest whatsoever in Akkun or his buddies but that doesn’t stop Futaba’s imagination, almost as powerful as Raidou’s. The next threat is “Secret King” Ren-kun, who Futaba quite understandably mistakes for a girl at first (after mistaking him for Reina, anyway). Ren is a super-extrovert, that’s for sure – and he seems to be good at pretty much everything. Once she realizes the truth she chills out – until she catches the blush on Akkun when Ren hugs him (he’s a hugger). At that point he’s reinstated to threat status.
The find leg of the Royal triumvirate is Eru, who shows up in the park more or less by chance it seems. Mistaking her for Reina even for a second is a stretch, but even once it becomes clear she’s not, Futaba still sees her as another shotacon hussy. The joke here is that the boys keep asking Eru to teach them stuff (like skateboarding), most of which she has no idea how to do. And by the time she masters it (with her siblings’ help), the boys – who have the attention span of a gnat – have already moved on to something else. At least she knows how to do cat’s cradle…
It’s fun watching Eru and Futaba have a tsun-off, but the highlight of the episode is the final chapter, a hardcore siblings one. And seriously, the cuteness is cranked up to twelve here. The Aharen clan is pretty hard not to love, and they’re incredibly devoted to her each other. The “fight” between Ren and Eru comes when the latter is mean to Matsuboshi after Ren recruits him for advice in making something for Reina that she’ll really like. Riku (sigh) ends up involved yet again, giving Ren advice (though not really) after he runs off in a huff. Ren gilds the lily by making a pudding dessert for Reina to amplify the “thanking Onee-sans” vibe.
Again – I love the Aharen siblings. They’re great and Ren is beyond adorable (and has competition-grade bedhead). But this show needs to get back to its roots, seriously. It desperately needs more Matsuboshi, and Matsuboshi and Reina together. We’re halfway through the season so this counts as more than a blip at this point. With so little time left to run through the rest of the manga, I sincerely hope that happens soon. I’m enjoying most of what we’re getting, but the magic isn’t quite the same.
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