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「あなたがいたから」 (Anata ga Ita Kara)
“Because You Were by My Side”
Ah yes Yuutousei, now that’s what I’m talking about. All the girls; all the fun; all the goddamn cuteness going straight to my head doing your best and coming out better for it. It may inevitably only be the calm before the storm (since you know exactly how next week’s bout will turn out), but I dare say it’s the perfect calm.
Considering how I’ve splurged on praising Yuutousei’s approach this arc to playing up its secondary cast and letting its various members shine there’s little point to doing so yet again so I’ll just stick with the obvious: Eimi is great, Honoka deserved her big break, and nothing says satisfying in Mahouka than the magic technobabble being kept to a comfortable minimum. Eimi of course was the star this time around, taking that tried and true snaggle tooth energy and converting it into a thematically appropriate gameplan. Barreling over the competition didn’t work? No biggie, just blast them instead. I’d be wholly content in labelling it the smooth-brain strategy (in a side-aching manner) if the likes of Indiana Jones hadn’t previously proven its worth – and Eimi didn’t look so damn adorable while doing it. Don’t worry Shiori it’s not your fault, the snaggle tooth just always wins.
On the demurer side of things then came Honoka and once again we got the best of Shiba-less Mahouka. Besides flaunting the obvious benefits the cutie pie holds over her compatriots, Honoka too had her chance to come into her own, effectively taking her innate talent, utilizing it to its utmost, and coming out stronger (and victorious for it). It’s your typical development run of course, but it’s quite nice seeing Honoka find her success independent of Tatsuya; Magic Jesus may have had a role in giving her the tools, but it was Honoka’s own efforts that let her maximize the use of said tools. Seeing such action here is very much welcome because, at least for me, it helps ground that crush the girl has yet fully embrace: Honoka may crush on Tatsuya, but it’s less a Gary Stu-influenced infatuation (as Rettousei alluded towards) and more a result of mystery and talent acting in concert. Narrative simplicity aside, Yuutousei certainly knows how to surprise at times.
Speaking of surprise, next week is unlikely to be one. I may have my bestie in Shizuku, but I think we all know how the upcoming battle with Miyuki will turn out. The more things change the more they stay the same, and the end of this arc will be no exception.
Preview
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