「出雲荘花軍」 (Izumosou Hana Ikusa)
“Izumo Inn Flower Troops”

Episode at a Glance:
Despite being attacked by Tsukiumi, Minato is determined to befriend her and stops Ku from fighting back. Hearing how he wants her to be his Sekirei, Tsukiumi attacks Minato again, but purposely spares his life. She claims she’ll finish him with the next one though, so Hikari and Hibiki unleash their Norito on her with the help of Seo. While Minato is able to save her from their Kaminari attack, Seo steps in and restrains Tsukiumi, who’s weakened by a special Ashikabi ability he got from Takehito. Realizing that Seo isn’t the one she yearns for, Tsukiumi is surprised to hear Minato ask him to release her and declare that she’s his Sekirei. As this was part of his plan all along, Seo lets Tsukiumi go, but gets electrocuted by Hikari and Hibiki shortly afterwards for flirting in front of them. Still touched by his words, Tsukiumi then makes Minato take responsibility for his words, accepts his “proposal”, and forms a contract with him. After witnessing Tsukiumi sprout wings, Hikari and Hibiki think about how they’ll have to fight her again later on. Seeing Kuu, Tsukiumi is willing to accept a child like her as one of Minato’s Sekirei, but Musubi soon arrives and she finds out there’s one more person, so she declares herself as the official wife before lashing out at Minato.

Back at the Izumo guest house, Kagari makes the mistake of suggesting that Miya’s like a mother to the others, who suddenly return along with Tsukiumi. After meeting Miya, Tsukiumi introduces herself as Minato’s wife, much to the instinctive displeasure of Musubi and Ku. While Matsu is being entertained by the sight of them fighting over Minato, Kagari is surprised that he got got the Ashikabi-hater Tsukiumi to sprout wings. Miya then calms the quarreling with her persuasive methods and also realizes that Tsukiumi is a Sekirei, saving Minato from having to explain anything. Upon noticing Kagari, Tsukiumi is unable to tell that he’s Homura much to the latter’s disbelief, so he simply tells her that it’s probably a mere resemblance. As he walks off, Matsu asks him if his burns are fine and suggests that he sprout wings soon to stabilize his abilities, but Kagari simply says he isn’t chosen by anyone nor chooses anyone and simply iterates the desire to kill someone before heading off to work.

At Yukari’s place, she resists the desire to peek at Shiina in the shower and is reminded of how he briefly explained the Sekirei Project and asked to become her Sekirei. Thinking about the kiss that’s required, Yukari is unable to control her excitement when Shiina comes in, and figures she can’t tell Minato or her mother about this. (Oh the irony.) After Yukari suggests shopping for some guy’s clothes for him tomorrow, Shiina is worried about getting attacked again, but she reassures that she do something if that happens. During dinner, Tsukiumi isn’t happy about Matsu who she meets for the first time, but is slightly relieved that Uzume isn’t one of Minato’s as well. As Musubi, Tsukiumi, and Ku fight over Minato, Uzume and Miya comment on how lively things have gotten. Later on in the bath, Tsukiumi is disappointed that Minato refused to join her when it’s no different than sharing a bed, making Musubi wonder what she means by that. Meanwhile, Ku asks Minato who he likes, so he tells her he likes everyone for choosing a meritless person such as himself and expresses the desire to return those feelings one day. Hugging him and kissing him on the cheek, Ku tells Minato how much she loves him and asks to be his wife when she grows up, which sets off an internal alarm in Tsukiumi and Musubi.

Elsewhere, Takami informs Hiroto of No.09 Tsukiumi’s “winging”, causing him to comment on how they’ll soon have nothing to fear with the economy, technology, and networking under their control. Claiming he’ll play the fool for his “cute birds”, he announces that the Sekirei Project is moving onto its second phase in this very city, Shintou Teito.

 

Next Episode:
「黒ノ鶺鴒」 (Kuro no Sekirei)
“The Black Sekirei”

Impressions:
This is definitely my favorite episode so far, as I couldn’t help but laugh at most of the character reactions. Sure the episode was purely harem in all senses of the word, but Tsukiumi was the “serious” voice of reason in all that nonsense and constantly questioned Minato’s intentions with so many girls, which was what made it so hilarious. Seeing her declare herself as the official wife and having Musubi and Kuu try to chase her away was pretty priceless to watch. I guess this is what happens when your “pimpness” level gets out of control. Seeing as Minato’s Sekireis can sense when someone makes a move on him, I can only imagine the trouble he’ll get into later on. If this is anything like Love Hina‘s harem style (which it’s reminiscent of), Minato’s sure in for a beating. Perhaps this is the writer’s way of preventing anyone from potentially becoming jealous of his situation.

As for the actual plot, Tsukiumi became one of Minato’s Sekirei as expected, but I have to admit he won her over in a pretty smooth way, so kudos to him. With Tsukiumi being the tsundere that she is (and Inoue Marina doing an awesome job playing her), I was thinking that Minato would get abused to the point where she’d finally feel sorry for him, but this works a lot better. Aside from that, Hikari and Hibiki demonstrated their Ashikabi/Sekirei combined Norito (祝詞) power, Kaminari (神鳴), which “conveniently” gets activated with some saliva exchange. (They really refer to it as such and not a mere kiss. Seriously, who comes up with this stuff? o_O) We also got explicit bishounen confirmation that Shiina is indeed a guy. While watching Yukari being unable to control her excitement was hilarious in its own right, I would say it’s safe to assume uncertain whether or not she’s formed a contract with Shiina.

As for Hiroto, he’s standing on top of the clock tower yet again, ranting about his beloved Sekirei Project, which is started to make me wonder if he lives up there. Joking aside, next week looks like we’ll see Karasuba again, the black Sekirei who appeared briefly at the beginning of episode one and is played by the one and only Paku Romi.

 

Cast:
– Sahashi Minato (佐橋 皆人) / Tachibana Shinnosuke (立花 慎之介)
– Musubi (結) / Hayami Saori (早見 沙織)
– Kusano (草野) / Hanazawa Kana (花澤 香菜)
– Matsu (松) / Endou Aya (遠藤 綾)
– Tsukiumi (月海) / Inoue Marina (井上 麻里奈)
– Asama Miya (浅間 美哉) / Oohara Sayaka (大原 さやか)
– Homura (焔) / Kagari (篝) / Kaida Yuki (甲斐田 ゆき)
– Uzume (鈿女) / Nabatame Hitomi (生天目 仁美)
– Seo Kaoru (瀬尾 香) / Konishi Katsuyuki (小西 克幸)
– Hikari (光) / Kaida Yuuko (甲斐田 裕子)
– Hibiki (響) / Neya Michiko (根谷 美智子)
– Sahashi Yukari (佐橋 ユカリ) / Asumi Kana (阿澄 佳奈)
– Shiina (椎菜) / Ishidzuka Sayori (石塚 さより)
– Minaka Hiroto (御中 広人) / Seki Toshihiko (関 俊彦)
– Takami (高美) / Itou Miki (伊藤 美紀)

29 Comments

  1. sanjiv:
    I haven’t read anything official yet, but I originally heard 13, but have seen mention of 26. If it is indeed two seasons, then the current pacing is fine; otherwise, I get the feeling that everything’s going to be rushed even more later on.

  2. I do find it amusing that Tsukiumi, the feistiest of the lot, uses water as her element and that Homura/Kagali, the calmest, uses fire. I thought it was the calm ones that sues water and the hot-heads that use fire?

    ordnance11
  3. Oh Divine … at this page they are blowing to the manga, not that is wrong since the manga is still at early stages but at 13 episodes they can reach the end of the 2nd stage … going beyond it means “welcome to filler/stuff we made up” that is not a good thing.

    Drakron
  4. Kuu’s reactions are priceless mid ep. I wish I never read the manga now sinse the anime is way better so far which is rare, so I pretty much know what to expect until atleast ep10 with the current pace. So if you havnt read the manga yet… don’t, watch the Anime.

    Willi
  5. @ordnance11
    I have never thought about that before, but now that you mention, it is pretty hilarious! Usually it is just like you said, cool person uses water while the opposite uses fire. (Take ‘Flame of Recca’ for example… and… well… most super power-action mangas in general)

    Kaitune
  6. from what i can tell so far about tsukiumi being a tsundere and minis sekirei is………….

    tsukiumi= the louise of sekirei
    but with different better qualities:
    bigger chest area
    tends not to kill the harem lead too much
    very beautiful
    screw magic her powers come from abilites
    did admit to minato she loved him
    did fight against her love rivals ( physically )
    did i mention more developed??

    asian182
  7. I don’t think the series, or rather this first 13 episodes will make it to the end of the 2nd stage like the manga is now.

    I believe they’ll end it with Kazehana joining and wait a bit then give us a season 2 later.

    GP
  8. “Oh Divine … at this page they are blowing to the manga, not that is wrong since the manga is still at early stages but at 13 episodes they can reach the end of the 2nd stage … going beyond it means “welcome to filler/stuff we made up” that is not a good thing.”

    “I don’t think the series, or rather this first 13 episodes will make it to the end of the 2nd stage like the manga is now.

    I believe they’ll end it with Kazehana joining and wait a bit then give us a season 2 later.”

    It’s 12 episodes I think. Should end after the bridge, Kazehana shows up in the background of the OP and ED (Always the 4 main sekirei of Season 1 plus her in the background) so I assume that is some foreshadowing.

    If they introduct No. 95 and her ashikabi soon we will know what direction they are headed with the ending.

    Man0warr
  9. MidnightTide, I would advise you to read the manga but you are not going to find out what happens by reading what was released since in the manga they just started the 3rd stage, there are supposed to be 6 stages.

    Drakron
  10. Eight stages, not six.
    We begin the third stage.
    For the animé first season (i have found too they did 26 épisodes because the first épisodes have been really liked in Japan), i think that finish with Kazehana, like the end of the 5eme book.

    ShiroiRyu
  11. it interesting how this manga/anime solves the “love triangle” problem. If Tsukiumi say they are married because Minato winged her… that would mean she will have to accept the other Sekireis to one degree or another.

    zephir

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