First Impressions / Kanon

Summary:

Seven years ago, when Yuuichi had to return home because winter break was ending, he made a promise to Ayu that he’d come play again the next year. He had also told her that the angel doll he gave her granted wishes. She would get three of them and the person who was going to grant those wishes was Yuuichi himself. Surprisingly, Ayu’s first wish had been for him not to forget about her, and he had no problem promising this to her. He had also repeated his promise about coming back to this city and had suggested that they eat taiyaki together when the time comes. Unable to sleep, the current Yuuichi goes out onto the veranda and is soon joined by Ayu who correctly guesses that he was thinking about Shiori. She had heard about Shiori’s sickness from Nayuki who heard about it from Kaori. Yuuichi, however, doesn’t know what’s going on with Shiori right now – only that she can’t come outside for the time being. Ayu then says that she’s willing to do anything she can, just like Yuuichi cheered her up long ago. She feels that if he hadn’t done so, she wouldn’t have been able to smile again. The hair band she wears all the time is also something that he gave to her before he left back then, but neither she nor he can clearly remember the day.

The next day, Ayu, Akiko, Yuuichi, and Kitagawa show up to cheer Nayuki on in her race. While they’re talking with her, Yuuichi notices that there are a lot of guys around who seem to know who Nayuki is. After Ayu drags Yuuichi off to a better vantage point, Kitagawa tells Nayuki that he’s depending on her to win in order to cheer up both Yuuichi and Kaori. He then goes and advises Yuuichi that there would be problems if Yuuichi made an elementary school student his girlfriend. Since he’s referring to Ayu, she shocks him with the revelation that she’s the same age as them. They then start talking about the school Ayu goes to that’s supposedly out in the west forest, but the race soon begins. Since Nayuki is the anchor of the relay team, she starts out behind in the race and has a lot of catching up to do. Fortunately, with Nayuki’s famed running speed and with Yuuichi using Kitagawa’s bicycle to chase her and cheer her on, she is able to get first place. After her team gets the trophy and she gets recognized by the school, Nayuki and Yuuichi go out to a cafe to celebrate her new record. It is there that Nayuki reveals that she talked with Kaori over the phone and Kaori was happy for her.

Nayuki then changes the topic to if Yuuichi has gotten accustomed to this city yet since he had complained about the cold when he first got there. The reason she’s asking is because she likes the city a lot and wants Yuuichi to like it too. Hearing this reminds Yuuichi to ask if Nayuki has a person that she likes since she’s so popular. Nayuki admits that there was a boy back when she was in elementary school, but she got rejected. She thinks that this boy has forgotten about it and that it couldn’t be helped back then because he liked someone else. Not knowing who she’s talking about, Yuuichi suggests that the boy’s feeling could have changed, but Nayuki explains that she is sure that this boy – both back then and now – likes only one girl. She describes the person as someone earnest who can sometimes be mean, but he is unable to leave someone troubled alone even though he doesn’t personally conscious of it. The two then head home and Yuuichi offers to buy a present for her victory. After she selects a simple red marble, he calls her strange and compares her to Ayu. On the subject of Ayu, Nayuki suddenly tells Yuuichi not to trouble Ayu too much. When Yuuichi claims that he’s the one being troubled, Nayuki says that he doesn’t understand and starts to reveal something about Ayu, but then stops herself and claims that it’s a secret.

Seven years ago, Yuuichi had arrived late to meet Ayu on one occasion and had to suffer through her burnt cookies. He then took her up a hill through some woods to a clearing with a large tree in the middle. Seeing the tree, Ayu made Yuuichi turn around while she climbed it and surprised him a bit later when she called out to him from atop one of the branches. Yuuichi tried to get her to come down because it was dangerous, and he explained that just seeing people climb up made him scared. When she finally came down after enjoying the view, he asked her why she had him turn around. Embarrassed, Ayu had not explained that she had not wanted him looking up her skirt. Despite Yuuichi having to leave in two days, the two had promised to meet again tomorrow to play, and Ayu had said she’d be waiting at that bench. Back in the present, Yuuichi wakes up from his dream and goes back out to the veranda. Ayu meets him out there again and, coincidentally, she had also just woken up from a dream. When he says he doesn’t remember it, Ayu suggests that perhaps they had the same dream. Because of this, Yuuichi asks her what she remembers about seven years ago. The only thing Ayu can recall is that she and Yuuichi met every day, and Yuuichi himself can’t remember much more than that. As he’s wondering why he was able to remember Makoto and Mai, Ayu says that it can’t be helped because it was seven years ago. Still, she finds it amazing that even after seven years, the hair band is still there and Yuuichi is in front of her.

After a normal next morning with a sleepy Nayuki, Yuuichi finds himself eating lunch with just Kitagawa. Feeling a bit lonely, Kitagawa comments on how Shiori is supposedly now in good condition. After school, Yuuichi is walking through town alone when Ayu jumps him. They just happen to be standing by the bench that Nayuki made Yuuichi wait at for two hours when he first arrived in town a while back, and it’s the same bench that Yuuichi and Ayu met at all the time seven years ago. Ayu starts acting out how she would scold Yuuichi for being late, but he then reminds her that she still has something she’s searching for. Although the pair spend the rest of the afternoon looking, they don’t find anything. They eventually return to the bench and Ayu comments on how sitting on it reminds her of the past. Back then, Ayu had been crying because she had lost her mother and she was alone when Yuuichi called out to her. This talk causes Ayu to ask Yuuichi if he’s ever lost an important person who was right in front of him. Before he can answer, she reveals that she has lost someone, and she couldn’t do anything about it. This made her realize how powerless a child she was – all she could do was call out her mother’s name until her voice grew hoarse. As she now starts crying, Ayu says that she doesn’t want to go through those feelings again.

Faced with the question of if he’s had such an experience, Yuuichi remembers Makoto, Mai, Shiori, and two other fuzzy memories. He tries to tell Ayu about Shiori, but briefly breaks down and walks away from the bench, but stops a short distance later and apologizes. By now, Ayu has realized that he has indeed had an experience where he lost someone important to him. She then asks him not to look at her crying face by closing his eyes and she follows suit by closing her eyes too. Knowing what’s coming, the two gravitate towards one another and kiss as another tear falls off Ayu’s face.

Preview:

That last scene between Yuuichi and Ayu was soooo good that it gave me goosebumps. I hadn’t expected them to kiss, and while it seemed a little sudden, it made sense in my mind. What’s more, I loved how they focused on the tear drop and then zoomed out and spun the camera around the two as they were kissing. The song that was playing in the background just made it all that much better. I’ve watched that scene so many times now, and it just doesn’t lose its effect. Of course, part of the crux of that scene was based on Yuuichi’s feelings for Shiori, who appears to be ok after all.
There are so many clues now emerging about Ayu and Yuuichi’s past that it’s hard not to speculate about what happened seven years ago. Every time Yuuichi promised something to Ayu, I thought to myself that he wouldn’t be able to keep it. I had originally thought that Yuuichi’s fear of heights stemmed from something seven years ago, but it would seem that he had that fear back then too. I assume that tree’s pretty important since it’s both starts the opening sequence and was featured in Yuuichi’s memories when Ayu asks him about losing someone important. Since it was a memory sequence that also featured Makoto, Mai, and Shiori, I can only guess that that picture is associated with Ayu’s story and this one is associated with Nayuki’s.
Speaking of Nayuki, Yuuichi is a complete and utter bonehead for not figuring out that she was talking about him during their conversation about who she liked. At least I’m pretty sure that she was talking about him. I’m not quite sure what to make of Nayuki’s arc yet because there’s nothing readily apparent or particularly strange about her aside from her sleepiness tendencies. Then again, it doesn’t feel like we’ve gotten into Nayuki’s story much at all yet, and next week appears to be an Ayu-centric episode. Perhaps they really are saving Nayuki for last, which surprises me because I always considered Ayu to be the “main” girl. I guess we’ll find out soon.

50 Comments

  5. Man, the headband and the tree are coming into play. It’s not hard to remember what was coming game wise when you saw those two.

    Seeing a recap of all the past events was pretty touching. Kind of glad the beginning had some happier events to keep the episode from being another completely depressing one.

    Likkun
    Reply

  13. Shiori will be back because the construction of her story leads logically to her survival, and because her survival is consistent with Kanon’s miracle motif. Also because Kaori is required to play a part in the upcoming events, and thus cannot be allowed to be too torn up emotionally.

    Tim
    Reply

  15. Everyone *eventually* dies…. but it begins to look like Shiori won’t be taking a dive for now (unless they substantially change Kaori’s impact) … I’m kind of interested in that they seem to trooping into Ayu’s storyline — which makes me smile and be curious about what sort of ending they’re going to smack our emotionally-overamped brains with.

    Vexx
    Reply

  20. I don’t get it…Is this an Ayu or Nayuki centric episode?

    Anyway, that was an excellent last scene. I’m looking forward to watching the whole thing, especially how Yuuichi finally breaks down.

    Owaranai Destiny
    Reply

  27. Hmmmm…I guess we can guess the outcome at this point of who the pairings are going to be. Though, same as the last one, I had hoped for there to be more of a build up between the relationship rather than an out of the blue declartion of love.

    Remy
    Reply

  28. you could all say TOGETHER :

    ” HEY WAIT A SEC CHAMPZ…THIS IS NOT SUPOSED TO HAPPEN HERE….I´VE READ THE MANGA AND WATCHED THE FIRST ANIMATION…..I WANT TO HAVE ” THE FUCKING CLICHE” OF THE LAST EPISODE KISS ALL THE TIME…DON´T TAKE FROM ME!!! 😀 ….AS AN OLD OTAKU…I VALUE THE VERY LAST CKICHE A GOOD ANIME CAN GIVE…..HOLY MOLLY!!! ”

    😀 😀 😛

    tensai_otaku
    Reply

  34. What do you mean pull a Shuffle? You mean like how Rin went from Sia to Asa? That was considerably earlier in the series. We’re 7 episodes from the end. This time in Shuffle, it was starting to become apparent, who Rin chose…

    So if you want it to pull a Shuffle, then Yuuichi will end up with Ayu.

    Justin Strife
    Reply

  37. NO Canvas BS, NO NAYUKI. NO SHIORI. AYU ALL THE WAY. VIVA AYU!!
    I’d like a Sayuri ending, though. Sayuri is the only person who can compare with Ayu in terms of cuteness.
    And that would be much more unexpected than anything else :p

    coisman
    Reply

  38. i thot maybe its because both of them were feeling sorrow at the same time that they just gravitate towards the kiss .. or someting along that line .. so even if there wasn’t any build up between them in the last few episodes, i didnt feel that it was rushed.
    aawww but it’s so sweet 😉

    nana
    Reply

  39. If Yuuichi and Ayu were real and I found them kissing, I’d definitely label Yuuichi as a lolicon. -_-;

    I hope it’s a Nayuki ending this time too. Kanon has been a Shuffle! up ’till now (going through heroine by heroine), and nothing would make me happier than seeing Nayuki get her light that she deserves. I just hope this won’t be a second Canvas2. That was the shittiest excuse for an ending, and I’d be mad if they neglect Nayuki to the end while focusing all ounce of attention on Ayu.

    Oh yeah, it seems Yuuichi is infected with your typical HGMLADS (HGameMaleLeadsAreDense Syndrome). 😉

    Rasmiel
    Reply

  40. I think some of you are forgetting something; Yuuichi really didn’t love Nayuki back then, and I’m sure he doesn’t love her now. With Ayu is another tale, especially because Yuuichi is now starting to remember what happens seven years ago. I’m pretty sure of it. Maybe the only thing Yuuichi needs to do about Nayuki is beg for forgiveness after what he done seven years ago (some already know what I’m talking about; the rest will have to wait a little more).

    The kiss scene takes me by surprise, but after what happens earlier it was the most predictable outcome. Oh man, so Yuuichi felt hopeless about Shiori, maybe he really care for her in more than just friends, at least she is a special someone to him. Damn it KyoAni, you know how to handle the tension to its extreme.

    Only five episodes more to go….
    Gambatte! Taiyaki-hime

    Syaoran Li
    Reply

  42. the kiss only happened cuz of their mutual feelings about loosing someone important in front of their eyes (that’s what i think)

    “Nayuki,”
    “I can’t make a miracle happen”
    “But I can be by your side”
    “I promise”
    “If you’re in despair I’ll comfort you”
    “At happy times I’ll laugh with you”
    “Even in Winter, filled with snow”
    “Even in Spring, when the sakura tree blooms”
    “Even in the quiet Summer”
    “Even in Fall, when the color of leaves change”
    “and even if the snow starts to fall again”
    “I will stay here”
    “I won’t go anywhere”
    “Because I”
    “really like you”

    Kyon
    Reply

  47. I never thought the kiss was random.

    I mean, most teenagers kiss for fun out of nowhere, and between teasing friends there’s a high chance it will happen.
    Plus, you can notice how Yuuichi blushes when Ayu smiles at him when she starts joking about him being late.

    I agree, he liked her back then and starts noticing now. Nayuki needs to get over it.

    Ritsuka
    Reply

  48. first time posting

    i would like to say that Nayuki’s arc is not last. Although Ayu’s arc starts first Nayuki’s arc is suppose to be placed in the middle of Ayu’s arc (lol not sure if that is a spoiler).

    Genesis
    Reply

  49. Nayuki’s ending is impossible in this particular version of the Kanon story. Hate to break it to the Nayuki fan members, but it’s impossible. Either it’s going to be with Ayu at this point, or he’s going to end up alone. You can dream as much as you want(my favorites have lost plenty of times before), but it won’t happen here.

    Yuuichi has NEVER shown any feelings towards Nayuki. Even as a child he never did anything for her. Though if you noticed, he did plenty for Mai and Ayu in years past. And even with Shiori he at least took on dates and spent his lunches with at school. What has he done for Nayuki? Even after he realizes how he’s treated her all these years, it’s not enough to make him completely change how he feels about her(Which is obviously not romantic).

    She needs to move on, and find a guy who would better appreciate her good qualities.

    Justin Strife
    Reply

  50. Just my own opinion, but i am pretty sure, Yuuichi controls the whole situation, as if he has strong supernatural powers that can influence the girls, since he does cause many miracles from happening around him. Evidence is not just Makoto, but also Mai’s powers knowing Yuuichi even before they met, saying he is the one who will accept them.

    I would like it if there is also an arc about Yuuichi, i mean there are still 6 episodes left, since Ayu and Nayuki’s arc is combined since their story relates to each other, that would probably take 4 episodes, im hoping at least like one episode explaining about Yuuichi, i think he deserves a screen time mainly about himself, explaining how he can influence so many girls lol, and not to mention to the fact that they’l do anything for him. The last episode should be something that will show all of them back together or something.

    KanonFan
    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *