First Impressions / Masamune-kun no Revenge

「シンデレラは笑わない」 (Shinderera wa warawanai)
“Cinderella Doesn’t Smile”

After a largely lax introduction, MnR finally gets down and dirty this week as character personalities are revealed, girls are rejected, and Masamune’s Dead or Love plan encounters its first stumbling blocks. Masamune certainly was the star of this week, between the obvious wrangling over who knows his past to the hilarious concern over exchanging email addresses. I particularly got a kick out of the obliviousness Masamune had to the attention he unknowingly garnered, with girls snatching looks his way amid his nervous side glances—top of the high school popularity pyramid indeed. Of course the unfortunate victim of all this charm was class rep Futaba, who took one for the team with one hell of a quick—albeit gentle—rejection. Whatever one’s inclinations towards Futaba’s shutdown, Masamune deserves some credit for sticking hard to his original plan.

The shocker, however, resides with poor little Yoshino, who turns out to not be as helpless as first thought. I knew this part was coming, although it was still pretty damn funny watching the switch flip between clumsy servant Yoshino and “going to cut your heart out” maid Yoshino. This girl may not be anywhere near yandere territory (yet), but guaranteed there’s going to be some hilarious fireworks once Yoshino gets to work assisting Masamune. After all, Yoshino may have a hidden side, but she is still a caring klutz at heart.

Getting Aki smitten with Masamune will likely take Yoshino’s aid too given Aki is increasingly looking like a long term project. Although it was never expected for Aki to fall for Masamune two episodes in, I’m still surprised by the progress he’s made so far. The girl definitely has Masamune on the mind at times, although her tiny seed of unconscious infatuation has yet to mature into a fully-fledged crush. Masamune is still largely in the “attraction” phase, he hasn’t quite got her full attention yet and signalled himself out—in Aki’s eyes—as a prime love interest. All Masamune is missing is additional intimacy, scenes like the milk box on the cheek which break personal barriers and flirtatiously establish him as something “more” than just friendly acquaintances. You know he’s getting there though when Aki went to the trouble of leading him through that ridiculous (but no less funny) treasure hunt which ended with a simple “I decline”—no public humiliation whatsoever. If someone goes to all that trouble just to reject you–more so over an email address–treat it like it is: a flirtatious call to see if that’s the best you can do. Aki might be (is) a total bitch, but even she is not immune to the intoxicating effects of love.

Next Time: Let’s get Personal

With two episodes down and Yoshino now firmly partnered up with Masamune, it’s time to accelerate the whole seduce Aki plan. After all Yoshino just forked over her own contact information, and Masamune is certainly not a man who lets such opportunities go to waste. I dare say it’s time for a little Aki double teaming.

20 Comments

  1. And so, the suffering begins 😉 …

    Compared to the manga, the anime seems to be giving Masamune a slightly whiny streak (in the manga, he’s going to be in despair often, but not whiny), which I’m not too fond of. Also, the repeated Yoshino pantsu fanservice felt off. But as for the rest, this is a highly enjoyable and eminently watchable show, IMHO.

    Full season pass for me.

    Mentar
    Reply

  3. Didn’t Yoshino just give her own contact information, not Aki’s? Anyways, I haven’t read the manga so I was surprised by Yoshino’s other personality. I won’t be surprised if Yoshino making Masamune buy all the bread for her was also planned. The real mystery now for me here is Yoshino’s motive for assisting in the revenge plan. It sounds too convenient if it’s simply wanting Masamune to succeed. And Futaba…Masamune could have chosen happiness right there coz she’s just a hottie. Then again we wouldn’t have a series if he did. Just two episodes in and already we got two great girls in Yoshino and Futaba. Aki’s pretty awesome too for the wild goose chase plan.

    Zhinvu
    Reply

    1. Yupp that was Yoshino’s info, dumb error my part lol. I’m guessing Yoshino just wants Aki knocked down a bit because of Aki’s treatment of her, and Masamune’s revenge plan provides that without Yoshino having to publicize her own discontent. Thus it’s not so much she wants Masamune to succeed, but that she can vicariously use Masamune as the means for her own “revenge”. Aki gets humiliated, Yoshino remains the loyal retainer, and Masamune receives all the infamy from the act.

      Pancakes
      Reply

    1. I’m thinking she does want revenge, mostly due to Yoshino’s family situation and the whole Aki treating her like crap situation. If Yoshino really wanted to crush Masamune, she would have told Aki who he was and set up some massive public reveal. Plus Yoshino–as far as we know–has nothing personal against Masamune, now or previously.

      Pancakes
      Reply

  11. Yoshino helped me make up my mind on this show. Good to see a servant that doesn’t fully accept being treated like that without going on an all out rebellion. An assumption on my part because her motives still aren’t that clear.

    Now about Futaba, I think that it was a missed opportunity for Masamune. I don’t mean in a romantic way, but more in getting to know girls way. He seems pretty clueless. Getting his info from shoujo manga, without consulting with his sister to boot. Getting to know Futaba might actually help him formulate his strategy better.

    Was hoping the other girl that is paired with Futaba in the ending being introduced. Guess she’ll show up in next weeks episode. Will be surprised if she doesn’t.

    theirs
    Reply

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