「幸福な王子」 (Koufuku na Ouji)
“The Happy Prince”

So Emi is real, but she’s a pawn of a wish that’s been many years in the making, linking the Yokodera and Tsutsukakushi households for many years, but continues to be real even though all the wishes are cancelled, and she’s not actually a cat because that was a red herring, but–

No, just no. We’re going to leave it at that. Emi is cute but bipolar and she somehow ties in with Yokodera’s lost memories, which is now apparently a major plot device. Until the show decides to make sense of all this crazy nonsense, I’m not even going to try addressing the sporadic plot.

What I will address though is the amount of balance given to each of the main characters. I do like that Azuki has taken a front stage in competing for screentime, and I believe that we will see even more of her in the following episodes to come, balancing out the Tsutsukakushi sisters in the process. While i do enjoy my sister fanservice, it’s good to see Azuki return back to the fray after avoiding Yokodera so much.

However, Yokodera himself seems to be having some problems, which are piling up on the numerous ones he has to balance right now. Just like how the themes of fragile friendships are explored in Haganai, here we see Youto trying to balance a proper distance and closeness between each of the female characters. It’s interesting that he doesn’t chase after them actively and revels in his perverted nature–avoidance of commitment is actually not commonplace in romantic comedies–while the main male protagonist may find himself in many a perverted situation, he does show interest in being together with at least one of the characters, if not all in a close relation. Here, Youto instead seeks to form friendship with a proper distance, where he’s rejected imouto paradise and being Azuki’s beloved consciously. Like in Haganai, Youto may not show his awareness of the situation, but he knows. Just like how he faked hearing Azuki mention a kiss, he used that knowledge to his benefit, even though it was knowledge he wished to avoid before.

Although the plot is quite messy right now, I hope that the show does spend some time growing this aspect of Youto, as well as the consequences that go with such a stance. After all, his stance right now has definitely hurt many people for the sake of friendship, and it probably won’t be the last time. Like the cat sharply says–the sparrows can only keep granting the prince so much until they themselves tire from their unfulfilled wishes.

When will we see this breaking point? Perhaps when Youto’s past is finally revealed and we get to see what lead us to the Youto we see today, and how exactly he connects with every single character. We’ve already seen the ties that connect him to the Tsutsukakushi sisters, but now we must explore Emi’s role as well as Azuki Azusa’s possible past connections with our beloved prince, perhaps in the next episodes ahead.

Full-length images: 16.

 

Preview

27 Comments

  1. Now we realize why Azuki wasn’t affected by the powers of the wishes. And they kissed!!! 🙂

    https://randomc.net/image/Hentai%20Ouji%20to%20Warawanai%20Neko./Hentai%20Ouji%20to%20Warawanai%20Neko%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2035.jpg

    I think Tsukiko did not find out? Else she would be so mad!!

    That’s one beautiful drawing by Tsukiko, and that foreshadows Azuki’s narrative at the end of the episode.

    https://randomc.net/image/Hentai%20Ouji%20to%20Warawanai%20Neko./Hentai%20Ouji%20to%20Warawanai%20Neko%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2009.jpg

    And now we have one more name to call Yokodera by, “pumpkin”. 🙂

    mianghuei
  2. The kiss disappointed me… if only because Kantoku’s illustration of that scene was just like… wow.

    This seemed kind of plain in comparison.

    And they better not skip the parts of vol. 4 they haven’t already covered. Particularly Show Spoiler ▼

    .

    Kuntzy
      1. Sure thing. This does seem like the least likely part of vol. 4 to be adapted anyway.

        Show Spoiler ▼

        Kuntzy
  3. OK I have to express that with the story going on I’m terribly confused…It kinda felt like that the person behind the cat mask years ago wasn’t the little sister but the older one…but if that’s the case how is Yokodera still the same age in the flashback. Somehow I get the feeling that Yokodera isn’t human himself and we’re on for a major plot twist in the future episodes.

    gawrshness
  4. Wow, so many questions.

    – Did Emi have Tsukiko’s 100% perfect smile?
    – Tsukiko was having trouble remembering that he was “Hentai” and not “Ouji,” because of a wish’s effect. Is that the same reason why Yokodera can’t remember stuff?
    – Why does Tsukiko have a bottomless stomach but never grows?
    – Did Yokodera wish to see Tsukiko naked a lot?
    – Is Yokodera really a pumpkin?

    flap
    1. Now that you mention it, Youto doesn´t remember the incident when the dam broke and flodded the town so maybe that incident and Youto missing memories are connected with the Stony Cat.

      haseo0408
  5. This show is going into weird territories right now. Which could be interesting if the execution wasn’t so horribly lacking.
    No wonder Emi can’t sing, her voice is downright horrendous.

    Ananas
  6. yoto & tsukiko on bike ride wonder what going with azusa recently flashback show emi as church chori then walk around see bunny & “person” which forward cue youto seeing pic yet having memory probs to recall it.

    so after wonder give missing bunny, patch-up with azusa, then see emi & tsukiko going blah battle lead to swim match with all calm yea swimsuit wish is gone cue tsukiko run away.

    after bunny found & etc youto go talk to emi about past & wishes give emi going why give can’t recall the past & other reasons as well & oh school is still italy give youto see emi on top with azusa give acess to let youto reason with emi.

    youto go talk emi give bit upset & mention youto got memory probs then twist came here azusa but she been ghost hi-jack by STONY CAT itself due wish azusa did.

    & making choice that youto either keep still like same or cancel wish azusa is safe but emi goes “bye-bye” so 3rd option kiss azusa to rid stony cat control, move the italy stuff & emi still ok all fine indeed.

    b.i.t.w.
    1. bi·po·lar
      Having or relating to two poles or extremities.

      Now if we’re talking about bipolar disorder, then yes, I probably don’t know the exact definition. However, I can say with confidence that she does exhibit two extremities. Isn’t it safe to say at least that?

      Zanibas

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