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「一緒に，いたいです…」 (Issho ni, Itai Desu)
“I Want to Be… Together”
Episode at a Glance:
Prior to Haruka’s arrival, Shiina tells Yuuto what a great guy he is, having helped her with the swimming relay and executive committee work. While embarrassed, Yuuto notices the overhead sign falling and instinctly pushes Shiina out of way, just when Haruka happens to come by. Misunderstanding the situation, Haruka runs off, so Yuuto goes after her like Shiina suggests and manages to catch up at the shoe lockers. There, Yuuto tries to explain and Haruka is quick to accept that there must be a reason, but finds herself tearing up without knowing why. Later that night, Yuuto tries to call Haruka, but finds out from Hazuki that she’s already gone to bed. Hazuki also wants to ask Yuuto something, but stops herself.
At the school festival the next day, Yuuto decides to talk to Haruka about what happened, but finds her in surprisingly good spirits. Refraining from bringing it up, Yuuto then hears from Shiina and his other friends about Haruka’s entry into the festival beauty contest in addition to her own. Afterwards, Shiina wonders if Haruka’s still bothered about what happened yesterday, so Yuuto tells her that he thinks she’s alright. During the actual festival, their class’ “Marginal Symphony” cafe turns out to be extremely popular, but Yuuto is concerned about Haruka, who looks like she’s forcing herself to smile. Mika, Nanami, and Hazuki later drop by and ask about how things went with Haruka last night, making Yuuto realize that they haven’t heard about what happened. Hazuki seems to suspect something though, and decides to stay behind while the others head off to the festival beauty contest, where Haruka ends up winning first place.
After being declared the winner, Haruka notices Yuuto in the crowd and is reminded of the day before, so she diverts her eyes. Seeing this, Yuuto realizes that Haruka’s not okay and tries to talk to her, but she runs off. While frantically searching for her, Yuuto runs into Shiina, who asks him if she’ll dance with her at the closing bonfire folk dance. Reminded of his promise to dance with Haruka, Yuuto hesitates to answer, so Shiina tells him to not worry about it. Yuuto later runs into Hazuki, who claims she’s fully aware of the situation. Hazuki offers to tell him where Haruka is too, but asks that he think about Haruka first and foremost so that when he has to make a choice, he won’t make the same mistake she did with Eric three years ago.
Finding Haruka on some steps listening to her musical figurine, Yuuto apologizes for yesterday and not realizing the pain he put her through today. Surprised, Haruka tells Yuuto that there’s no reason for him to apologize and says she just felt it unexplicably painful when she saw him and Shiina together. Having decided not to bring Yuuto down, Haruka explains that she forced herself to be cheerful, but it’s still painful when it seems like he’s leaving her. Yuuto however says he won’t go anywhere as long as she wants him around, so Haruka tells her she wants to be with him. After a tearful hug, Yuuto suggests dancing even though the folk dance already ended, and uses the Dojikko Aki-chan figurine for music. Off in the bushes, Mika, Nanami, and Hazuki look on, pleased that everything turned out fine. Mika adds that she never knew Hazuki had such a painful memory, but Hazuki explains that Eric returned… via an online auction.
Next Episode:
「…お待たせしました♪」 (…Omataseshimashita ♪)
“…Sorry For Making You Wait ♪”
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Impressions:
As much as I like this series, I can’t ignore the fact that they cut the cheese pretty damn thick at times. Mind you, this is coming from someone who’s well aware that he can be pretty sappy himself when needed too. I find that there’s usually a fine line between 1.) watching a mushy scene that would move other viewers around you and 2.) watching a cheesy scene that you’d be embarrassed caught watching. To me, the end scene with Yuuto apologizing to Haruka and making her feel bad for avoiding him all day was fine, but Haruka’s subsequent explanation of how it hurts when it feels like Yuuto’s becoming distant was pretty borderline material. As was Yuuto’s line, “I won’t go anywhere unless you don’t want me around”, followed up by Haruka’s, “I want to always be with you. I don’t want to experience that feeling ever again.” I guess I would’ve been a bit more okay with it if it was followed up by a confession, but sadly, all they gave us was a hug. I’ll admit that Yuuto using the Dojikko Aki-chan music box figurine to give Haruka the dance she asked for was pretty smooth though.
On another note, Hazuki’s revelation that the “Eric” she hesitated on making a decision about three years ago is actually a teddy bear really lost its comedic effect on me, mostly due to the fact that it followed up after Yuuto and Haruka’s dance. That quick shift from “serious sappiness” to “quirky comedy” just didn’t work for me. As for the cosplay cafe, I was kind of disappointed to see that there were only two types of costumes, because I was actually hoping there would be a few anime references we could pick out.
So as expected, Yuuto did nothing wrong when he groped Shiina’s chest, since he actually saved her from a sign that fell overhead. While that comes as no surprise, it did provide that bit of drama I was hoping for. For a moment, it looked like Shiina wanted to make a move on Yuuto during this misunderstanding, but she turned out to be a much better friend than the backstabbing girls you find in School Days. In fact, it almost looks like Shiina’s given up on Yuuto at this point. While I feel a bit bad for her, she acted like you would expect as one of Haruka’s friends, so there won’t be any bloody black stabbings and decapitations here.
Edit: After rewatching this episode when I was more awake, I realized I misheard 事項 (Jikou, i.e. matter) for 事故 (Jiko, i.e. accident), so I rewrote some impressions.
Cast:
– Nogizaka Haruka (乃木坂 春香) / Noto Mamiko (能登 麻美子)
– Ayase Yuuto (綾瀬 裕人) / Hatano Wataru (羽多野 渉)
– Nogizaka Mika (乃木坂 美夏) / Gotou Mai (後藤 麻衣)
– Sakurazaka Hadzuki (桜坂 葉月) / Shimizu Kaori (清水 香里)
– Nanashiro Nanami (七城 那波) / Ueda Kana (植田 佳奈)
– Amamiya Shiina (天宮 椎菜) / Satou Rina (佐藤 利奈)
– Asakura Nobunaga (朝倉 信長) / Takagi Reiko (高木 礼子)
– Kamishiro Yukari (上代 由香里) / Matsuki Miyu (松来 未祐)
– Nagai (永井) / Miyashita Eiji (宮下 栄治)
– Ogawa (小川) / Oosuka Jun (大須 賀純)
– Takenami (竹浪) / Yasumoto Hiroki (安元 洋貴)
– Asahina Mai (朝比奈 麻衣) / Toyosaki Aki (豊崎 愛生)
– Sawamura Yoshika (澤村 良子) / Kitamura Eri (喜多村 英梨)
– Female student (女生徒) / Iguchi Yuka (井口 裕香)
yes nothing to dramatic happened, was a sweet episode tho for our two leads. ya i want this series to stay on the same flow as it is going at…
Save the last dance for Yuuto & Haruka
Show Spoiler ▼
as much as I moderately like this series so far, why is Haruka so naive compared to her younger sister?
almost kissed…!! cute series.. nothin’ much happens… but i just love this anime!!!
so relaxin’…
match:
Probably because it’s funnier to see the little sister more knowledgeable in relationships and sexuality in general. =)
i dont like much this series. the plot seems goes normal but when they put some insane scene, it looks really lame. sorry about my bad english.
its ironic that even if Mika is in an all girl school and Haruka is in a co-ed one the younger sister knows more when dealing with the opposite sex. 😀
To me, it doesn’t matter if the entire scene was cheesy. I just like lovey-dovey kinds of couples. And when such couples are unto conflict either internally or through a third party, the situation makes me cringe and jumpy for a resolution, which I got happily through this episode.
If I’m not mistaken, according to Wikipedia, this is the penultimate episode, so I presume the identity of the boy who gave Haruka the first issue of *forgot the name of the manga magazine*, but there may be humorous twists along the way. But that’ll wait for now.
Looks like this might be the end of the series. Next episode can only be anti-climatic. It’s been an odd series but enjoyable. Like I said, compared to some of the other romance-type anime that’s airing know, it’s a nice change of pace.
I think it would be tough to have a 2nd season and not add more drama or comedy. Eventually, it can get a little old not having any real competition for either protagonist. Having Shina give up so quickly was disappointing. They left alot on the table.
Nanami kamimura here is quite right, it really doesn’t matter if the entire scene was cheesy, but as long as the “couple atmosphere” (which is lovey-dovey and also some attacks of jealousy ) was there. This romantic series will not be complete if these were not present. U rock haruka!!!
https://randomc.net/image/Nogizaka%20Haruka%20no%20Himitsu/Nogizaka%20Haruka%20no%20Himitsu%20-%2010%20-%20Large%2005.jpg
Oh, I see what’s going on here…
[i]”If I’m not mistaken, according to Wikipedia, this is the penultimate episode […]”
– Nanami Kamimura
Just off by one — this is episode 10 of 12, so 2 episodes left.
Haruka needs to wake up, fast. Her naiveness is on the level of a fished crawfish that’s about to be boiled. Although Yuuto is a cut above all the stupid male leads floating around, he’s definitely being held back by her. But I do give him credit in that area too. Haruka has the mindset of a quiet 10yo, she would go crazy if Yuuto rushed their relationship at any level.
Unfortunately for School Days, it will live inn the lore of the worst trainwreck in anime history. Indecisiveness is one thing but killing because it stops just doesn’t make any sense. Too bad Yuuto isn’t indecisive. I guess his character is way too perfect when it comes to a girls feelings. He probably already noticed Shina’s feelings but he’s all for Haruka anyway…but I wouldn’t be surpized if he was to end up treating her like a little sister until she woke up.
I see a slight parallel with Yuuto x Haruka & Haruka’s parents…when Haruka finally does wake up, she’ll be just like her mother 😉 I just wonder will Yuuto’s dependent nature will turn into the monster that is her father. Grr, too bad I won’t get to see any of that in this anime. BTW, I amost lol’d at the mushiness of this eps & I still don’t know why.
As far as why younger sis more worldly then older… many parents are super strict and protective of their 1st born and loosen up the reins for younger sibblings. My 2 younger brothers got away with alot more stuff as kids then myself (oldest) or my sister (2nd oldest)ever did. Haruka is also a genius level pianist so most likely they watched her like a hawk and shielded her from everything thats naughty (and fun).
To relentlessframe: didn’t see the episode number, so yeah, I am off by one.
animesource seems to have this going to 13 episodes. Either way, this really felt like an ending. I might be wrong, but the script writer is the same guy who did DaCapo II. If you compare the two, the endings seem to come one or two episodes before with alot of background filler at the end. I visited the anime’s website and they seem to focus alot on the novels, magazines and CD’s. There’s tons of material for another run.
Isn’t it Haruka’s naïve nature that makes her so adorable? IT is a good thing that she fell in with Yuuto insted of some guy who would take advantage of her.
Yeah, most of the stuff in this ep came from volume 4 of the books, and there are another 4 volumes after this. Not to mention stories from the books that they skipped…
There’s still tons of material if they want to do another 13-ep run, like a lot of series do these days. It’s safer to do 13 and see if it sticks to the wall, than do a run of 26 that crashes and burns. Not that it’s hard to screw up such a calculatingly designed to be ubermoe as Haruka is. (Although I’m sure some studios could do it.) I wonder what would have happened if a studio like KyoAni had done this with some better art.
As for Shiina…
Show Spoiler ▼
sarcastic_weasel:
This episode didn’t make it clear-cut that Shiina’s given up, but it’s just the impression that I got, hence why I said it “looks like”.
Also, this series is only slated for 12 episodes, so I hope nobody’s expecting 13.
who’s eric?
elodie:
Read my impressions and you’ll find your answer. =)
devine:
Also, this series is only slated for 12 episodes, so I hope nobody’s expecting 13.
I am expecting a second season!!!
I wanted a confession. Lol! Still, it was a fine episode.
I really really wished for some of their classmates or schoolmates to have an inkling of the budding relationship between Haruka and Yuuto. But, its just me.
Come on guys, think about this for a minute. Between both Haruka and Yuuto you already know they’re pretty dense around each other. The fact that they both said something closely familiar to many people as a “confession” didn’t really ring a bell with them at this point. Though you can clearly see blushing you know they have feelings and you know like the ending of the OP you know they’ll kiss sometime soon, one way or another. I really loved the “Eric” teddy bear part that was funny in a cute way. Such a good series guys give it some more credit. Especially how the last few scenes were so well done in my opinion. Animation was at its prime at some points, especially the ending.
The way I see it, Shiina ran off in the hopes that Yuuto would chase after her. When he ran off in the other direction, she seemed to be disappointed.
If it were any other couple, I’d say this would be a really good final episode for the series, but knowing that they’re both naive and dense, yeah, we’re going to need something more concrete/obvious. I’ll be bummed when it’s over. It’s a cute series.
Oh hey. You thought the music box part was pretty suave, too.
Aw… No something like….
HARUKA drew FIRST BLOOD
Every Fanboys gets 230gold!
HARUKA(6) killed SHIINA(7)
hehe…
aw….
i really liked this episode
i cant believe that this anime is only 12 episode T.T