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「君じゃないんだ」 (Kimi janai nda)
“It’s Not You”
Know what’s better than the beach episode? Why the pool episode of course! With ever more fan service and just a touch more drama, MnR continues apace and arguably delivers best episode yet.
After last week’s beach-time adventures, it only makes sense under the romcom format for something to pop up that “resets” the Aki-Masamune relationship. Initially we had this, with Masamune brooding over the recently noticed missing picture, ignoring Aki, and ending up destroyed by the mind of a child. It was the perfect—if typical—setup for ridiculous drama, misconstrued words, and serious overthought. Instead of the playbook, however, MnR broke with convention by exploring the background behind the ever mysterious Neko.
Although we still frustratingly still lack knowledge on Neko’s history with Masamune–at least until next week–that part was more than filled in by the literal bedroom developments occurring in tandem. While I always thought Neko never gave up on Masamune, I never anticipated her actually kissing him and professing love for a second time, at least before Masamune got Aki. Among some choice moments so far, this was arguably MnR’s strongest scene, buoyed by the good background music, the choice of lighting, and Masamune’s seriousness throughout. Instead of the usual half-hearted development where male MC awkwardly attempts playing dumb, this moment—as with Futuba before—ended with a polite, yet firm rejection and renewed commitment to the chosen girl path. Future romcoms take note.
What particularly got me during this scene too was how Neko actually broke Masamune’s vengeance and almost had him abandon Aki. Besides showing Masamune out to be like any other guy when it comes to love (i.e. never questioning an interested, attractive girl), it also highlights how superficial his revenge is. Masamune knows his plan is incredibly selfish and rationally stupid, but cannot back away because the plan is as much for him as knocking Aki down. Masamune in part wants his past accepted, believing that hurting Aki will achieve this goal by showing how drastically people can change. This is why Masamune formally rejected Neko here. While Neko has a clear love for fat kids—just look where the picture was kept—she boldly lied about her history with Masamune. Accepting Neko’s love now would not achieve Masamune’s goal because under these circumstances her love would be fake. Until Neko can answer the reasons for her love and explain the hole in Masamune’s memories, vengeance for Masamune remains his ideal method for throwing off his past.
How that revenge plan continues, however, is again up in the air with Neko pulling some serious drama and disappearing. Although the whole thing is probably overblown—seriously, I’d laugh if Neko went somewhere like a friend’s house—given Neko’s newly revealed seizures and Aki’s revitalized struggle between love and jealousy over Masamune, you can be sure some big developments are not far off. With only four episodes to go, it’s about time MnR decided if Masamune’s revenge is something which will finally be realized.
https://randomc.net/image/Masamune-kun%20no%20Revenge/Masamune-kun%20no%20Revenge%20-%2008%20-%2027.jpg
I know Neko is not the one for Masamune but when I saw her getting rejected it somehow broke my heart T_T
It’s much worse now that the anime watchers know (or at least have a faint idea) why Neko was taking meds. (Those aren’t weight-loss pills, that’s for sure.)
On the brighter side of things:
https://randomc.net/image/Masamune-kun%20no%20Revenge/Masamune-kun%20no%20Revenge%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2014.jpg
Still better than Fifty Shades of Grey. (Or its recently released movie sequel–Fifty Shades Darker–if the reviews and Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes are to be believed…)
I watched the 2nd half with much trepidation thinking that it’ll take a turn for the worse. Little did I know that it really got worse.
Though in hindsight, what if all this is a farce as well by Neko to extract revenge on Masamune?
Considering the secretive history and Neko’s lying, I’m thinking it’s a revenge plot too. Neko’s interest in Masamune isn’t purely romantic, it’s too easy, especially with her remarks about Aki not being a threat.
If Neko had just put herself in a position where Masamune could’ve trusted her, I think he would’ve broke there. She’s everything he wants in life aside from not being Aki, but when you introduce yourself with a blatant lie you’re kinda shooting yourself in the foot.
Show Spoiler ▼
The funny thing was he did actually break, but those convenient memories and Neko’s introduction managed to right the cart before it fell too far off the tracks. It really shows Masamune wants an excuse–at least subconsciously–to stop with his vengeance, but hasn’t found it yet.
Starting to ship Neko and Masamune. Both chasing after someone they don’t really desire, and both knows the pain of rejection. They’re also absolutely strange health freaks. Waiting to see how it goes next episode. I might end up shipping them furiously (and futilely).
Masamune’s still on his chosen path. Makes me wonder if he’ll really get to fulfil his plan. If so, I’m really interested on how he’ll receive his “victory”.