Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia – 10

「姉はん星 乙女座スピ力」 (Anehanhoshi -Otomeza Supica-)
“The Elder Sister Star -Spica of Virgo-“

There was an interesting announcement this week from Big Comic Spirits – where Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia is published – stating that “news about the anime” would be released on June 19. There’s already been some news about a spring series where I was much more hopeful (we’ll talk about that this weekend), but as I noted last week I didn’t think there was much chance of Insomnia getting a continuation. It may very well not be, but it’d be a lot of kerfuffle about something like a BD extra. We’ll see – maybe it’s an OVA or bonus episode.

I would be thrilled if it was a second season, because this series really is a gem. One of the only downsides (my workload is another) of a season like this one is that shows sometimes don’t get the attention they deserve. Vinland Saga is a towering colossus that kind of overshadows everything else airing on the same night, even series as superb as this one and Golden Kamuy. It would not be an exaggeration to see there have been seasons, and not an isolated few, where Insomnia would have been my clear top series. And truthfully, the manga is even better.

Call it what you will (a “vibe” is what I said a few weeks ago) but this show does a masterful job of unorthodox storytelling. It’s like a slice of life where the slice of the life is the plot, if that makes any sense. And here it finds Ganta and Isaki getting ready for their training camp, which means getting permission from the parents with Kurashiki-sensei in tow. Shiromaru-san reveals later that Kurashiki-san went with her to Kanazawa to accept a photo award when she was embarrassed about being the only astronomy club member – despite the fact that she had no connection to the club herself. Kurashiki-sensei is seriously a mensch.

Haya-san has indeed been asked to chaperone by Isaki’s parents, which I guess isn’t that unreasonable. The visit to the Nakami house is more interesting, actually, as it sheds a little more light on the odd relationship between Ganta and his father (Kokuchi Hidenobu). There’s no sign at all of mean-spiritedness on the father’s part – the two of them simply don’t talk. Ganta prepares his meals (including for his entire absence), Dad sleeps on the couch, and that’s it. Ganta didn’t even tell his father when he outgrew his shoes. Dad also confirms that Ganta’s mother in fact walked out on the two of them, and it’s pretty clear that’s at the heart of Ganta’s lack of communication – and sleep.

After a brief shopping/photo trip in Kanazawa (if you like photography you won’t find many better cities), it’s off on the trip, with Haya driving. The relationship between the sisters seems intimate but hostile, you might say. The teasing is pretty much non-stop, as is the third degree Haya gives Ganta every time Isaki isn’t around. I think Haya is painting herself in the best light here, but there’s something to be said for not patronizing kids in Isaki’s position – they almost always hate it as much as she did. And it’s hard to blame Haya for having a little resentment over being pretty much ignored by their parents.

Grandma’s house is pretty spectacular, I have to say. Right on the sea, across from a gorgeous shrine. Ganta goes into photo mode immediately after cooking lunch, and Haya buys some time for a private chat with a face-painting prank on Isaki. You can interpret it any number of ways, but it seems to me that Haya was testing Ganta’s seriousness about her sister, as well as his general trustworthiness. The latter she picks up on pretty quickly – Ganta could hardly be less threatening. I think the key on the former was when he rebutted Haya’s call not to get involved with Isaki by declaring that he never felt sorry for her at all.

Haya’s endgame here, it seems, was to determine whether she could bug out and leave Isaki in Ganta’s hands while she goes off to rendezvous wither her boyfriend. And clearly she was satisfied with her answer, because that’s just what Haya does – which really does seem like the best thing for everybody. Now, of course, the two kids are alone together in a big house next to a bus stop with the world at their fingertips. I can hardly imagine anything more exhilarating than being in the situation Ganta and Isaki are in here – and that’s a vibe if ever there was one.