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「絢辻詞編 第二章 ウラガワ」 (Ayatsuji Tsukasa-hen Dai Nishou – Uragawa)
“Ayatsuji Tsukasa Chapter 2 – The Other Side”
Imagine my surprise when the other side of Tsukasa turned out to be more tsundere than anything else. And here I thought only Kaoru would be filling in that stereotype in this series. Tsukasa is a lot scarier with the way she threatens Junichi into keeping her secret, but there’s something kinky about the way she goes about it as well.
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「大きな壁の中と外」 (Ookina Kabe no Naka to Soto)
“Inside and Outside the Large Wall”
If there’s a book girl that needs to be played, Hanazawa Kana is poised for the task regardless of whether or not the series is titled Bungaku Shoujo. For this first episode of Shiomiya Shiori’s arc, we didn’t really get to see too much of the girl behind that quiet, intellectual, and shy exterior though. In lieu, there was a fair bit of spillover from Elsie’s episode last time, which I rather enjoyed given all of her quirky interactions with Keima.
Ika’s glammed up like a porcelain doll and ready to make mankind fall for her.
「ピンポンダッシュしなイカ？／メイクしなイカ？／秘密兵器じゃなイカ？」
(Pinpon Dasshu Shinai ka? / Meiku Shinai ka? / Himitsu Heiki Janai ka?)
“Won’t You Doorbell Dash? / Won’t You Put on Makeup? / Isn’t That a Secret Weapon?”
For whatever reason, this series isn’t getting nearly as much attention as it should be among English-speaking fans, so I thought I’d spark some more interest by having Ika Musume invade Random Curiosity in the form of a banner. Those who have stopped by the IRC channel have already heard me go on and on about this series, so for everyone else who hasn’t been checking out this little gem of the season, I’ll say the same thing I’ve been saying there. Go watch Ika Musume! (…and Samurai Girls.) You know what they say, once you go squid girl, you can never go back (…or something like that).
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「将（ジェネラル）の帰還」 (Shou (Jeneraru) no Kikan)
“The General’s Return”
First off, congrats to Kanetsugu for winning the first Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls popularity poll and getting an official wallpaper to commemorate the occasion. It looks like I’m not the only one that’s grown really fond of our idiotic samurai, who managed to edge out the top spot from the very adorable Jubei.
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「ハルカナオモイ」 (Haruka na Omoi)
“Distant Feelings”
Sparks fly in the conclusion of this arc to settle things once and for all between Nao and Sora. Haru is nowhere to be seen either, as the bus stop goes up in flames when the two girls meet. It was a life and death struggle…
With that look of disbelief, I can finally see that Kirino is related to Kyousuke. Who says they don’t look alike?
「俺の妹がこんなにエロゲー三昧なわけがない」 (Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Erogee Sanmai na Wake ga Nai)
“There’s No Way My Sister is This Into Eroge”
As if to calm our souls since Kirino’s personality seems to have so few redeeming traits, the producers have graced us with an episode about her getting a taste of her own medicine. Given how fed up she got playing the latest kiss x kiss Re:Version eroge, I would’ve gladly bought a copy too. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that Kirino doesn’t even realize that the Rinko character (Igarashi Hiromi) is the spitting image of herself. If only there were a little sister character in this show who acts just like her, then she’d truly know what Kyousuke has to put up with day in day out. 100% tsun, 0% dere? Kirino, you’re more like 110% tsun, -10% dere.
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「インスペクター」 (Insupekutaa)
“Inspector”
After witnessing Mao Industries on the moon get taken over by the Inspectors, the focus shifts to Tesla Reich Institute where they’re in the process of doing the same. There, the forces led by Vigaji are interested in taking over the research facility and stealing the latest Earth Federation prototypes, forcing the pilots of the Project TD team to escape with them. Coming in to lend a hand is none other than Trombe.
It won’t cause her to explode like a Gaichuu, but Lag’s Akabari is effective in its own way.
「ひとりぼっちの200年」 (Hitoribocchi no 200 Nen)
“200 Years of Solitude”
Just like the preview hinted at last time, we have a full-out fight between Niche and her sister after the latter decides to kill Lag along with the foolish townsfolk. With the sheer amount of action involved, it was an episode very unlike the usual ones. What I really enjoyed was how it touched upon Lag and Niche’s past and finally made the memories of the main characters the focus for a change, plus there was Lag stepping in to save Niche as well. For those reasons, this arc covering Niche’s past have quickly become some of my favorite episodes to date.
Tomoko may not feel that Nymph’s worth catching, but I beg to differ when she’s flustered like that and at everyone’s mercy. She’s totally worth measuring.
「激闘！夢の一本釣り（ジャンボカーニバル）」 (Gekitou! Yume no Ipponzuri (Janbo Kaanibaru))
“Fierce Battle! The Fishing (Jumbo Carnival) of Dreams”
This series never ceases to amaze with the ridiculous ways the characters kill time. Lately, it’s been all Mikako’s doing as well, so her latest idea deserves special praise for being right out of the book of something I’d expect from Tomoki. Tied up girls in bikinis floating helplessly in the water by their arms and hormone-pumping guys going “fishing” for the one with the biggest rack? That’s like combining the kinkiness from bondage with the embarrassment from exhibitionism and feeding the end result to a bunch of perverts. Oh what will they come up with next?
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「絢辻詞編 第一章 ハッケン」 (Ayatsuji Tsukasa-hen Dai Isshou – Hakken)
“Ayatsuji Tsukasa Chapter 1 – Discovery”
The start of arguably one of the most anticipated arcs, a full-length shot of Haruka winning the Miss Santa contest, the sight of Tsukasa, Kaoru, and Keiko in their swimsuits, and more “nishishishi” from Miya than you can shake a stick at. This episode had just about everything to make Tsukasa’s story seem like an ideal one, provided that you like two-faced class presidents who are nothing like they appear.