Amagami SS / First Impressions

「七咲逢 前編 ツヨガリ」 (Nanasaki Ai Zenpen – Tsuyogari)
“Nanasaki Ai, First Chapter – Bluff”

It’s with mixed feelings that I’m writing this post on Nanasaki Ai’s arc, because as cute as it is to see her “lovey-dovey” relationship with Junichi develop further, there are times that I just want to tell them to get a room and not make me watch how happy they are together. I’m okay with the cuddling on the beach and even commend Junichi for doing what I was thinking when he pulled Ai under the bed covers, but I have to draw the line at Junichi’s unusual requests that are downright awkward to watch. The only thing that had me watching intently was to see exactly how much embarrassment Ai would put up with, as her reluctant yet willing look in a public place really got my imagination going on the things that I’d be able to make her do if I were in Junichi’s shoes. I say if he’s going to make this arc “The Kinky Adventures of Nanasaki Ai”, he may as well go all the way regardless of whether it would be appropriate for television.

Of course, that highly depends on who you ask, as the playfulness in Junichi and Ai’s relationship and the mutual embarrassment they feel when teased about it still sit heavily on the innocent side of things — a tendency befitting of first relationships. That’s largely where the cuteness comes into play, because anyone who’s been there should be able to understand the uneasiness they still have around one another — especially when it’s in front of others with a very blunt younger sister who’s not helping — so I can definitely appreciate and enjoy that aspect (a lot more so than I care to admit in fact). Given how well things are going for the two of them, it only make sense that their relatively private relationship — at least compared to Tsukasa’s that the main cast openly talked about — is met a somewhat minor problem in the form of spending Christmas Eve apart. I say “minor” because it’s not like someone’s trying to sabotage their relationship (at least not directly) and it’s hardly the end of the world if they can’t spend time together for some time because of other priorities.

Still, Junichi getting hauled away for cram school is enough of a problem for the happy couple that’s been sitting on cloud nine and just dying to be with one another, so it’ll be interesting to see how Ai’s bluff/white lie starts eating away at her even more in the second half. She actually looked like she was on the verge of tears at times, which should make the heartfelt conclusion where Junichi (presumably) surprises her with an expensive Christmas gift that much better. From the look of things, that swing of emotions from a lonely junior to the happiest girl in the world is the direction this arc is headed, so I’m already anticipating a very sweet conclusion.

* Full-length images: 09, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 29, 32.
* Images 18 and 23 were not trivial to put together due to subtle shifts during the pan, so I had to piece them together in sections. That of course means another good 20 or so minutes on each, but I saw them as must-do opportunities.

 

Preview

ED3 Sequence & End Card

32 Comments

  3. The subbed version I was watching last night lost the subtitles right after Junichi was sleeping on Ai-chan’s stomach as seen here:

    https://randomc.net/image/Amagami%20SS/Amagami%20SS%20plus%20-%2005%20-%20Large%2019.jpg

    Although I sorta understood that cram school is cutting down on their lovey-dovey time, was that all? There isn’t anyone out to try to NTR either Junichi or Ai-chan from each other?

    Why was Tsukasa holding a whip and looking like a very sexy-evil dominatrix nazi (although I am not complaining)? Was she the one driving Junichi hard in cram school?

    The_Magus_Killer
    Reply

  6. ” I say if he’s going to make this arc “The Kinky Adventures of Nanasaki Ai”, he may as well go all the way regardless of whether it would be appropriate for television.”

    SECONDED. But they did that already in season 1 right?

    The Moondoggie
    Reply

    1. ” I say if he’s going to make this arc “The Kinky Adventures of Nanasaki Ai”, he may as well go all the way regardless of whether it would be appropriate for television.”
      they need moar hot springs visits…

      ewok40k
      Reply

  7. “…and not make me watch how happy they are together.”

    “…My imagination going on the things that I’d be able to make her do if I were in Junichi’s shoes…”

    Lol Divine, your quiet voice is a little louder than usual ^^;

    Chaos2Frozen
    Reply

    2. Yeah. I remember TIME magazine published an article on it depicting the hardships of cram school life, which was summarized in a sentence: “sleep fours hours and pass, sleep five hours and fail.” Cram Schools are serious business

      The_Magus_Killer
      Reply

  11. That was…ok I guess. Plenty of cute moments and it didn’t feel like padding like the last arc. Still I’m not feeling the conflict. So Junichi can’t make the Christmas date, life goes on they still love each other. Not exactly drama material. I really think Ai wouldn’t be able to top her naked hot spring date like before anyway.

    fragb85
    Reply

    1. I was thinking the same thing (that the conflict here wasn’t that dramatic, that is). Actually, I was thinking “come on girl, at least you actually have somebody. Think of all those lonely NEETs out there (and Umehara) who don’t even have a significant other!”. But then I remembered something…when you’re used to being alone, it’s easy to keep being alone, but when you’re used to having someone there it’s way harder when they suddenly aren’t. Add that to the whole “first relationship” thing and it’s a crisis befitting their situation…something silly and insignificant that in the long run they’ll look back on and laugh, but for now it’s all srs bsns.

      Stilts
      Reply

  14. Dunno why but at first, I thought Junichi was just making up the whole “cram school on Christmas” business, thinking he was trying to surprise Ai or something along those lines.

    and I agree with you Divine; it’s so hard to see Junichi and Ai so lovey-dovey!

    Die Junichi! Nanasaki is miiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!

    Beedle
    Reply

    1. I still think it’s a trick. The transposed multiple choice answers, the super-strict extra cam camp, the van coming to grab him a night earlier than planned? It all feels like a set up he created in order to surprise her on Christmas Eve.

      Dingus
      Reply

  21. “got my imagination going on the things that I’d be able to make her do if I were in Junichi’s shoes.”

    So you are more of a pervert than Junichi? that’s saying something.

    In 2 weeks there will be Kaoru, Amagami’s best girl (not, it’s not an opinion).

    Lectro Volpi
    Reply

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