Short Summary:
Rin and company arrive at Makai world and are taken to Primula by Eustoma and Forbesii. Rin and Kaede call out her name over and over again after seeing her, but she doesn’t seem to be responding. However, Rin’s resolve prevents him from quitting and he pleads for Primula to return. Primula starts to stir, and call out Rin’s name. At the same time, she starts to overload and the energy waves throw Rin and Kaede back. Forbesii is ready to blast her to protect everyone else, but Rin stops him. Primula dreams of Lycoris, but then hears Rin calling out to her. She wakes up, but things in the room start to explode. In a flash of light, everything stops. Rin looks up to see Nerine encasing Primula with her own power, and everyone makes one more plea to Primula. Her capsule breaks, and she is reunited with Rin. Primula identifies Nerine as Lycoris, but the yellow light soon disappears and Nerine faints. Back with her family, Primula is allowed to return ot the human world. As everyone celebrates at home, Nerine and Primula watch the stars and think of Lycoris. The next day, Rin returns Asa’s hair ribbon, thanking her for helping him whenever he was in trouble and wanting her to get better soon. Asa’s coughing gets worse when Rin is out of the room, so Nerine offers to use her magic, but Asa refuses it. Nerine concludes that Asa must really like Rin. After leaving Asa’s house, Nerine admits to Rin that it was Lycoris who Rin met eight years ago. Those original feelings for Rin are Lycoris’, which has caused Nerine a lot of confusion about her own feelings. But now, Nerine is sure that she is also in love, and walks over to give Rin a kiss on the cheek after he promises to listen to her own song one day.

This is hands down one of the best episodes so far, if not the best one. The journey to the Makai world isn’t shown, but the episode starts out with no OP and several shots of the world itself (complete with dragons and swamps). For a moment, it felt like I was watching a different series. From there, the plot just takes off, from Rin and company saving Primula to returning home to seeing Asa to Nerine’s confessions. The high quality production aspects don’t falter, and you get the feeling that a lot went into this episode. It feels almost reminiscent the pull-out-all-the-stops normally done for final episodes.
Nerine and Primula’s stories are concluded for now, in, what I must say, a very satisfying way. By the time Nerine kissed Rin on the cheek to finish the episode, I had a smile on my face from watching it all. Asa gets some more development as we see her dislike of magic and her still sick condition (though I hesitate to say it’s worsening). Seems like they’ll continue to develop Asa’s story as we watch the other girls’ stories. Next week is about the other story that they’ve been developing – Sia’s. Simply titled 「キキョウ」(Kikyou), it seems to hint that we’ll see Sia’s other inner self.

Closing Thought: They take advantage of R-15 this week to show several breasts shots of Primula, which I’ve capped above because it related to the story.

16 Comments

  1. Looks like a good episode, though Primula’s seemingly uncureable overloading magic is “cured” so easily with Nerine/Lycoris’ help. Now that things are moving on well, perhaps they’re going to focus on Asa next?

    kws
  2. Finally, all this dark and sad mood without any sunshine was driving me nuts…

    Now hopefully the Kikyou part won’t be as dark and sad…With her awesome personality, I’m expecting a nicer mood.

    Rasmiel
  3. Ummm, I have a question about the opening sequence…

    The pairings of the characters are quite interesting. Eustoma and Forbesii are paired, obviously as they are the rulers of the God and Demon realms. Nerine and Licorice are paired, for obvious reasons, as are Sia and Kikyou. Ama and Primula are paired because of (I think) the connection shown in episode 14. But, why are Asa and Kaede paired?

    I think that they’ve shown us Primula’s and Nerine’s story to make it clear that Rin isn’t choosing either of them. If it’s Sia’s story next, then Rin would have a choice between Asa and Kaede, so does that mean there could be some kind of conflict between them?

    btw, has anyone else noticed that black cat that appears in every episode?

    Jade Maehara
  4. Asa and Kaede are the only human members of the Tsuchimi Lovers (Well, not exactly true for Asa, but let’s not spoil)?

    And I don’t know where you got the idea that there won’t be a Nerine ending. I say she’s still in the game, as much as I hate to say it.

    Rasmiel
  5. For the look and feel of the episode, it looks like an entirely different series. After all you don’t need an ironically upbeat opening song to begin a very serious episode. And it is heart-wrenching and heart-stomping one.

    Based the fact that Nerine confessed to Rin that it was Lycoris who met him eight years before, I was thinking that the Lizzy (or Sia, as you always call her here) whom he met eight years before was actually her inner self, Kikyou (name based from Zyl’s comments on last episode). And that’s considering that Rin doesn’t even remember meeting both Lizzy AND Nerine. But it’s just me.

    Personally, I’m for Kaede. She needs attention! Asa may be still in the game, but considering her health, I think she better get well soon to size herself up for Rin once again.

    One more thing, what are those “sticks” sticking out Forbesi’s nose (row 9, first cap)? Is that for a laugh?

  6. “Based the fact that Nerine confessed to Rin that it was Lycoris who met him eight years before, I was thinking that the Lizzy (or Sia, as you always call her here) whom he met eight years before was actually her inner self, Kikyou (name based from Zyl’s comments on last episode). And that’s considering that Rin doesn’t even remember meeting both Lizzy AND Nerine. But it’s just me.”

    Nope, the girl Rin met eight years ago and kissed with is without a doubt Sia herself. For Sia and Kikyou, it’s the opposite of Nerine/Lycoris case.

    Rasmiel
  7. @Kurogane: Thanks for the explanation. I’ve played the game as well so I know the circumstances regarding Kaede and Rin, but I couldn’t quite understand how Asa fitted into the picture. Personally I hope Rin and Asa have a happy ending together, but I’m pretty sure he and Kaede will end up together.

    Jade Maehara
  8. I’d like for it to be Rin and Kaede at the end but judging by the next episode titles (which can be found on ANN) it looks like it will end with Rin and Asa. That’s just my speculation though.

    nyte
  9. Rarely would a harem anime end with one-on-one. It can’t please everyone, so I think Shuffle! is just gonna end with Rin without permanently settled on one of the girls, since all girls have good reasons to marry him to begin with.
    …The episode title info on ANN can be improved. At least the translations are mostly erroneous/incomplete.

    Atashi
  10. I realize ANN’s translations aren’t very good, but I can read the japanese. The comment above was purely my speculation but I do agree that the series likely could end without him choosing anyone.

    nyte

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