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「沙雨」 (Sau)
“Fine Rain”
If there was one thing I didn’t expect to see, it was the element of friendship rearing its unsightly head into an already messy scenario. That doesn’t mean I didn’t love it though.
General Impressions
Thinking about it from my own personal perspective, the notion of friendship and all the little connotations that are associated with it can turn into a real messy thing if you try to get into it. Throw the moniker of “best friend” into the mix and you can really push things into the realm of insanity if you want to. Which is probably why watching Haruka and Tachibana try to sort out their friendship really hit me when you think about all the little things the show was trying to show us. From Haruka’s perspective she’s afraid of losing someone dear to her, but can’t figure out if they were only being held together by a common passion for running. On Tachibana’s side, I think it’s clear that she views Haruka positively, but with her injury knocking her out of the running game, you can tell that there are some emotions there that she hasn’t properly dealt with. Specifically, the pain of being unable to be there for the ones you care about compounded on top of the shame and disgrace of having to give up something you loved is clearly visible whenever something involving running comes into play. Together, these two are stuck in this awkward situation where they both feel unable to honestly talk to one another which then leads to things just getting progressively worse.
Except, unlike most typical situations, something actually did happen to break free of that vicious loop. Props to Haruka for being able to face her fears and genuinely reach out to Tachibana. Because if there’s one thing that can overcome situations like the one Tachibana and Haruka are facing, it’s simply being honest about how you feel and acting accordingly. A notion that Haruka has committed to and one that I’m hoping Tachibana will also be able to do.
Boy, after such an emotionally draining episode can you believe the story had the nerve to throw in another curveball with Kondou!? While I don’t want to make too many guesses about why that specific book got him so down (I’m guessing maybe his ex-wife wrote it), I appreciate how he managed to be the voice of reason that’ll hopefully help Tachibana express her feelings to Haruka.
Anyways, I’ll catch you guys next week. See you then!
Although the story progression was as charming as ever, I was a bit concerned by the animation quality drop-off towards the end of the episode. It was almost to the point where I wondered if their key animators had maybe taken time off to watch the Winter Olympics! The faces especially had lost the precision of design that helps set this show apart, even to the point where they were decidedly off-model sometimes.
Comparing Tachibana’s face in some of the worst shots to how it looks in the previous episode, she’s lost half of her eyelashes and there’s a secondary highlight missing from her eyes. It even feels like they knew there would be a problem in this episode because I’m sure we are seeing her from behind rather more than usual, which then would avoid having to animate her face.
Anyway, here is the real star of the show:
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2006%20-%20Large%2022.jpg
Yes, a weird-ass looking cat with wings, but the thing is it really worked – almost as soon as she had it, she bumped into Kondou. And that meeting should set the next story arc in motion.
And now after the quality drop I see it’s been announced that the manga is coming to an end rather quickly. I know the anime pre-orders have been disappointing, but has the production committee thrown in the towel already?
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2006%20-%20Large%2019.jpg
A smile that must be repaired and protected.
Special spotlight this week: Haruka
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2006%20-%20Large%2004.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2006%20-%20Large%2005.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2006%20-%20Large%2017.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2006%20-%20Large%2023.jpg
Boy, being a former athlete myself, i somehow feel so sad for Haruka, always chasing Akira’s shadow and the only ties they have between their friendship is field and track. Im no manga reader, but whatever i see in Akira is obviously she’s venting/replacing her “frustration” with her infatuation on Kondou, just like how Kase pointed it out. And its true, despite how you look at it. It could be anybody else, who appeared and threw some magic trick at her while Akira is all gloomy at the cafe while waiting for the rain to stop. This show has been repeating so many times how Akira has flashbacks and how these whole situations circling back to her running days and how obvious she missed it without her showing it out loud. I bet after the rain (get it? XD), she might be returning herself (well she def cannot go back running since its her achilles tendon is now torn) being a normal highschool student hanging out with Haruka, be more outgoing with her classmates, maybe falling in love with someone her age, and finally moving on from Kondo.