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Summary:
Watching the preparations for the school festival, Shuuji remembers a discussion he had with another teacher about Hagu’s future. Hagu had gotten another invitation email to go study abroad, but it looks like Hagu will instead return to Nagano after graduating. The teacher voiced her concern about Shuuji continuing to look after Hagu even after graduation. However, the current Shuuji thinks of this as his final school festival. Nearby, Hagu is looking from a drawer for some brush cleaner when she finds a card with print of the Moonlight painting. Shuuji gets nostalgic and tells Hagu that it’s a drawing by Edvard Munch, who Hagu identifies as the man who painted The Scream. He recalls how when he was in college, there was a big Munch exhibit at the museum of modern art. He had gone with his friends and that’s when he bought the card. Shuuji remembers how those friends had been Harada and Rika, and how they had been drinking and admiring the view of the moon on water after having seen the exhibit. The scenery reminded Harada of the movie song “Moon River”, and he had suddenly gotten the urge to cross over the water, though Shuuji had tried to hold him back. Shuuji tried to get Rika to help him stop Harada too, but the drunken Rika said that she’d go if Harada goes. Harada freed himself from Shuuji, made it into the water, and then urged Rika to join him. Shuuji had tried to stop Rika from going in, but she starts falling towards Harada. It is at this moment that Shuuji wakes up from the nightmare.
Shuuji then remembers the accident which took Harada’s life. It had also left Rika with half her body in agony. When Rika stopped eating, Shuuji had told her that she couldn’t let herself die – she couldn’t go to the place where Harada is. She eventually came to her senses and started trying to eat and live with all her might. Rika completely absorbed herself in the work that Harada had left, but Shuuji could always hear the silent scream from her back. He realized that although it had always been the three of them together, it was in reality two people and one person. No matter how much he liked Harada or considered Rika precious, the only thing he could do was to continue to watch them be happy; Shuuji had wanted them to be together forever. Finally, on one occasion, he had walked up behind her with his hand outstretched. When she spotted him, he had tried to figure out what he was doing. She had embraced him and apologized because she realized the emotional condition that he was in. Rika suggested that they separate because they couldn’t stay together like this, though she had confessed to loving him first. Thinking about it all in the present, Shuuji feels bad for not being able to lead and support Rika, but being with Hagu is what’s allowed him to walk this far. He thinks that the man standing beside Rika now will be able to take her towards tomorrow.
Sometime later, Rika is with Mayama seeing an old man off at a train station. Afterwards, Mayama is thinking about how Rika no longer has anyone beside her because that person has been lost for eternity. The next train that pulls in beside them is the Cassiopeia Train, and Mayama catches Rika looking destination sign that says “Sapporo.” Remembering how she stared at her computer screen, Mayama decides to lift her up by the arms and put her on the train. The door closes behind them soon after and the train starts moving. A confused Rika wants to get off at the Oomiya stop, but Mayama suggests that they go to Hokkaido because she’s never gone back home. He doesn’t think that she’d agree, so when the train conductor comes by to check their tickets, Rika surprises Mayama by asking if there are still any vacant rooms; she wants to go all the way to Sapporo. The two check into their cabin and sit down, but Mayama has a hard time breaking the silence between them. Rika finally says that they left at 4:20PM, and that they’ll arrive in Sapporo the next morning at 9AM – a total of approximately 17 hours. With no laptops and their materials back at the office, Rika wonders how long it’s been since she’s had nothing to do. This is the kind of time people pay money to get. Mayama thinks to himself that her mumblings are like a soliloquy that melts the scenery blurred by the rain – becoming sleepy, becoming lonely, and becoming happy.
Mayama admits to himself that he’s always been uneasy whenever they finish a job, whenever Rika hums that song, and whenever he looks up at the moon. As night falls outside the train, Rika decides to get ready for bed so she heads for the shower first. Mayama is ready to let Rika have the bedroom to herself, but she insists that he’s big person and needs to be sleeping on a bed. After his own shower, Mayama joins her in the bedroom and the two go to sleep once he sets the alarm clock to 7AM. However, he is kept awake because of a mix of happiness and anxiety. By the time Rika wakes up the next morning, she discovers that Mayama is not in his bed. Instead, she’s astonished to see him sleeping on the chair in the adjoining room. The two soon arrive in Sapporo and disembark from the train. Rika explains that her home is far from the urban areas of Otaru. Going off to go rent a car, Mayama inquires if she wants anything, so Rika asks for some milk and biscuits.
During the drive, Mayama admits that this is his first time in Hokkaido and that’s it really spacious here. Rika says that there aren’t any traffic lights or signs, so it’s good that they have a navigation system. She thanks him for the blanket that’s covering her legs and then expresses her concern over his lack of proper sleep. Mayama just consumes a handful of Black Mint Gum and says that he’s ok. As the two drive north on the small national highway that’s surrounded by rock, Mayama sees to his left the colorless Sea of Japan. The two eventually reach the place that had fallen into ruin, Rika’s hometown. Rika explains that the house that everyone left became crushed by the snow and then became exposed to nature once spring came. The last time she came here was when her father died. That time, Harada had been with her to comfort her by telling her that she had him. Rika then walks forward, opens the pack of biscuits, and buries a few in the dirt. She apologizes to Shiro for not coming to visit. Shiro was her dog from when she was little all the way until she was in high school, a span of 13 years. In this land with nothing, Shiro was always by her side. Rika then thanks Mayama for bringing her him because she couldn’t have come on her own. She was finally able to come here and properly visit. As she’s wiping her tears away, Mayama grabs her dirty hand and starts rubbing it. He hugs her, understanding that the thing she tied has become untied. She’s tearing up the tapes of separation one after another.
Mayama and Rika spend the night together at a hotel, with Rika sleeping in Mayama’s arms. The next morning, Rika attempts to sneak out, but an alarm goes off when she tries to take her purse. Getting up, Mayama disarms the trap that he had set because he had a feeling she was going to do something like this. He knows that going together to Europe was a lie because he knows that she’s arranged a plane ticket for only one and that she’s searching for an apartment for only one. Mayama accuses her of going to finish her husband’s work and then planning on dying. His voice now in a yell, he tells her not to think that it’s possible to die so easily. As his tears hit the floor, Mayama begs her to try to live properly. She collapses on the ground with him and puts her arms around him. After a while, Mayama picks himself back up and asks her to leave the room so that he can get himself together again. He suggests that she go to the lounge for some tea, though he refuses to let her leave with her purse. Sometime later, a now-embarrassed Mayama comes to the hotel lounge and tells Rika that he’s checked them out of the hotel. He’s also reserved them seats on a 12:30PM flight back. He’s about to say something concerning what had happened earlier, but she suggests he sit down because they still have some time before the flight.
Two days later, Mayama sees Rika off at Narita, and right up to the last minute the two talk about work. Mayama returns to the office, and while he is tidying up the place, he peeps into her mail again. He discovers that the requirements for the apartment she was searching for have now been changed to an apartment with two bedrooms.
Preview:
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I found this to be a very powerful episode in terms of how they developed Mayama and Rika’s relationship. Never mind that the two were in bed together, it was a combination of the raw emotion during that confrontation with great music (the insert song) and great animation (I don’t think I’ve seen that expression on Mayama’s face before) . And then at the end, right as the ending song is starting, they hit you with the realization that the event really effected Rika, enough for her to change her plans. Incidentally, this week’s insert song is 「ほのほ」 (Honoho) by Spitz from their 2005 album 「スーベニア」 (Souvenir).
So if there were any doubts about Rika and Mayama ending up together, this should have cleared those up. Shuuji put it best when he said that Mayama was the one who could take her towards tomorrow. This episode also explains a bit about Shuuji’s relationship with Rika, and how Shuuji is now devoted to Hagu. I assume since he calls this the last festival that he’ll be joining Hagu in Nagano after graduation.
On a semi-random note, drunken Rika during the flashback/nightmare reminded me a lot of Hazumu.
Next week, more NomiyaXYamada (with Leader caught in the middle).
Judging by the six screen panels on the front page (not the rest because I dont’ want to spoil it myself), this looks like a good episode! :O..
Did they do it?
OMG! RIKA!!! What HAVE YOU DONE?! LoL!
Yeah, that is the big question. I think they did it, because they are naked.
Very cool! Can’t wait to see this episode! Also, next week’s episode looks good! 🙂 More Yamada and Nomiya! YAY!!!
Thank goodness Yamada has the dog as a shield! shoo shoo, Nomiya!
Nomiya x Dog x Yamada ~~~ lawl!?!?
i’m much more interested in next week’s epi than episode 4! XD
mayama looks like he’s being used. =X
Oh well, I guess the with Rika giving in and looking for a 2 bedroom apartment, it is descided that it will be a Mayama+Rika and Nomiya+Yamada coupling. 🙁
the animation’s really stopping me from picking up this series and the first one 🙁
x_x Why won’t anybody upload the raws to a BT site? I don’t wanna wait to see this, and I don’t know how to use Winny! Nooooo~~~
Wow… What an episode here. Such a passion mayama had been showing here.
It seems that they are focusing on MayamaXRika and AyuXNomiya. I hope they soon focus on MoritaXHaguXTakemoto…
To Yohko regarding Morita x Hagu x Takemoto:
I’m pretty sure that they’ll get around to solving that pretty soon.
Show Spoiler ▼
*wails* and I have to wait three more days till the subs come out! Life’s so unfair.
OOOh next is yet another slice of Nomiya/Yamada. I love them. Tee-hee I love the picture with Leader between the two of them. So does Leader himself, I see 😉
Mayama’s voice quavering at the confrontation scene was a very nice touch, as was Mayama still being able to read her mail at the end.
Care to share who Hagu chooses?
You will be surprised
Show Spoiler ▼
golthin : No.
Show Spoiler ▼
lol.
Show Spoiler ▼
Show Spoiler ▼
Awww… So is this manga done or still running in Japan?
I still hold out hope that Hagu…(spoiler for future events follows)Show Spoiler ▼
As for Rika and Mayama…Show Spoiler ▼
This second season may be even better than the first. Amazing.
Did they sleep on the same bed? From the screens it clearly showed them sleeping in 2 separate beds?
Jax, See this image.
FIRIGN SPOILER TAGS FHSIAHFASF
now what new piece of his work will Takemoto smash up now?
Show Spoiler ▼
Rev, Show Spoiler ▼
rev that’s total spoil, use the tags, god.
golthin:
I’m saying no to
Show Spoiler ▼
Kaito: Yeah. It has always been one-sided. The way I see it…
Show Spoiler ▼
The big question after watching the episode is, if they actually did more than sleeping. My money is on them doing more than sleeping, because there was not reason to get naked if they were just going to sleep. IT is also 99% for sure now that Yamada will end with Nomiya. 🙁
i was really hoping for HaguxTakemoto .. i dont know why, though he plays a serious big brother role. is there a microscopic chance that it’ll happen?
rawrrrrr hulk smash…. Poor Takemoto… and Mayama is an idiot for not going to Yamada. This series pisses me off more than KGNE. I swear, all the couples are paired in a really messed up fashion.
I don’t mind… >_>
i like mayama x rika
you know i thought that a good coupling would have been rika and the teacher, hagu and morita, yamada and mayama
Hagu chose? mmm… ahahaha.
I can’t believe that Rika ended up with Mayama!!
I don’t approve of this. I mean he took advantage over a defenseless woman who loss a husband and now he’s doing the same again.
Nomiya & Yamada will make a good couple, I still don’t understand why she like Mayama in the first place
although i couldn’t care less for rika x mayama up to this point, this episode was as beautiful as shocking and now i’m supporting their getting together, especially now that things seem to be going pretty well with yamada x nomiya…(can’t help it, i never really liked mayama, but nomiya had me interested ever since he showed up :))
as for those things said under the spoiler tags about hagu…i shouldn’t have read them in the first place (my bad :P), but now that i did, i must say that i wasn’t very surprised…for me it makes more sense this way than any other solution would, but we’ll see.
It’s not a shock for me to find out that they’ve slept with each other. Even in the previous season, in the manga, Mayama was shown to have slept with Rika. But, is it meaningful? Rika slept with Mayama for the very first time when she missed Harada (She was drugged and confused). They slept together for the second time because she was depressed. Personally, I dont’ think Rika fully accept Mayama as her lover. She can’t get over Harada. Mayama is being used, he knows it but doesn’t minded. This episode allowed Rika to see much Mayama loves her and how much she means to him. From this point on, I hope Rika will take things more seriously with Mayama. (Otherwise, Mayama is being wasted and I feel very sorry for Hamada.)
As for Hagu
Show Spoiler ▼
The case with Hamada.
Yamada loves Mayama eventhough she knows that Mayama may never return the love that she had for him. Yamada doesn’t give up, because she wants to make worth of her decision and devotion. She values her decision for loving Mayama and treasures the time she spent on chasing after him. If she chooses to give up, all her efforts would be worthless. Thus, she continues to loves him. The way I see it, Yamada will not end up with Mormya. Instead, she will chase after Mayama forever.
One thing to note here, with regards to the relationships, is that they’re true to life in many ways:
For Ayu, the choice between Nomiya (or anyone else) and Mayama rests on one thing: one is the known, ‘safe’ choice – Mayama would never willingly hurt Yamada, and she knows him and knows how she’s loved him for years, so it’s comfortable – and there’s the dangerous ‘unknown’ choice, which is anyone else but Mayama as the love would be new and different, and she wouldn’t know whether the other person would hurt her or not. Stasis or change – safety and futility or risk and possible reward.
With Rika, it was similar – the ‘safe’ choice was to just remember Harada, devote her life to his work, and love no others as she wouldn’t be hurt any worse or in any new and unfamiliar way if she did. Mayama is the risky, unknown decision; he MIGHT be able to hurt her worse, even if he says he won’t and she believes him. This meant she could take a risk, or stay ‘safe’.
Show Spoiler ▼
AAARRRGH!
I don’t like Rika! what does she want?? just live mayama, so he can be with yamada, the pretty one.
please, don’t tell me it’s true that mayama and rika sleep together.. 🙁
sorry, just ask. where are you all guys from? is it south east asia? or world wide? thks.
Aww.. I feel sorry for Show Spoiler ▼
Hey, do anyone here knows where I can get Mayama’s ringtone “Moon River”?
I can’t believe it!Mayama and rika!!!!!!!!!LOL:-0!iJUST CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!but i think mayama is better of with rika than yamada.I think yamada becomes couple wit nomiya.for a second there when i saw yamada’s leg,i thought nomiya was going to take advantage on her.