Stranded and practically penniless, Yamato and Suzuka loiter around for a bit and get harassed by a drunk. Yamato calls his dad for a pickup and cash (so Suzuka can stay at a hotel), and then Suzuka tells the captain about their situation. Things get awkward when Honoka demands the phone, and Suzuka has to listen to Yamato tell Honoka not to worry about him being faithful. Suzuka then asks Yamato if he was the one who confessed to Honoka, and he confirms it and then goes on to tell Suzuka about how great Honoka is. Suzuka cuts him off before it gets any more awful, and they spend the next 90 minutes in silence.
When Yamato’s dad shows up, he insists on bringing Suzuka back to the house. Meanwhile, Suzuka is being very cold to Yamato, especially when he asks if she wants to stay another night to check out the fireflies he told her about. She sharply refuses, and asks if he isn’t being nice to the wrong person. Yamato agrees it’s for the best, as he is able to balance the change of housing with the news that he’ll be back the next day, and Honoka doesn’t seem to be too mad about it. This is when the games begin…
As soon as Yamato hangs up the phone, Suzuka changes her mind and says that she now wants to stay an extra night and see the fireflies. When they go, however, there is not a single firefly, and Suzuka says she’s not surprised; Yamato can never seem to finish at the critical time. Yamato mentions that this crap always happens, and that the last time he tried to confess to a girl here, the fireflies stayed away, it rained, and he got flat-out rejected. Suzuka giggles with glee at this idea, and then demands a reenactment. Ignoring common sense, Yamato goes along, and puts a firefly (that conveniently showed up at the right time) inside a bellflower and confesses to Suzuka. Then in a completely amazing scene, Suzuka takes the flower and agrees to go out with Yamato, and all the fireflies suddenly appear and light up the night, while playing little firefly pianos. Suzuka appears completely serious, but after a long pause says she’s joking; however, the moment is so significant that they bust out the white on black thought-text!
This episode rocked so hard, I almost don’t know where to begin. Between Yamato constantly trying to squirm out of sticky situations, and the super-high level of awkwardness in every other scene, I would have been pleased even if nothing had happened between Yamato and Suzuka. However, Suzuka isn’t one to settle, and she busts out some absolutely mind-blowing games to take this episode to the next level. The final scene was just perfect, and I was spazzing on my typed notes as I watched the moment unfold. Now I’m rooting for Suzuka harder than ever, even if the prize is just Yamato.
I find it interesting that Yamato is so concerned about how everyone sees him. He’s ashamed of his dialect in front of Suzuka, and he always seems so close to just lying to Suzuka and Honoka. In addition to the spectacular Suzuka-mind-games, there were more cute animals, another Miko, and a new ED (music was ok, and animation was just rehashed scenes of Suzuka).
BTW, I had previously noted Miki’s penchant for camouflage, but it also seems that Suzuka really like horizontal stripes… I need more fashion trends! I know Ren is with me on this one =D.
This post was written by...
Kabitzin – who has written 1970 posts on Sea Slugs! Anime Blog.
One of the founders of Sea Slugs, I handle most of the blog admin tasks while wearing my I AM BOSS shirt. I like my action series well choreographed, and my romance series extra trashy. I also have a soft spot for puns.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Yamato should remember the lyric “if you can’t be with the one you love
love the one you’re with”. Suzuka already had her chances so it’s time for her to move on (although we know that won’t happen or else the story is over). Honoka seems like a genuinely nice girl. A nice girl like that shouldn’t be considered a consolation prize. In fact, both Suzuka and Honoka are too good for Yamato. He should be happy with either one.
I am finding it harder and harder to like this show. It’s hard to cheer for Suzuka and Yamato, since they just can’t seem to do the right things. Honoka is the only one I am cheering for, although that’s probably a losing effort in the end.
You must have noticed the line “Suzuka-chan, have some sea slug. They’re delicious.” Was that a hidden greeting? Anyway, I didn’t know you can eat them, I thought they’re even poisonous. I think I’ve finally understood what he likes about Suzuka. She’s about as mean as his family. Heh, even his dog doesn’t give a crap about what he’s saying. I wonder whether Yamato and his father actually speak the same language because his father must have understood “Please, help me kidnap Suzuka” or the like.
Also, was a single VA performing his complete family? At least the female voices sounded all the same with some pitiful variation. Kudos to Yamato’s sister for lending Suzuka that one-piece though. I don’t think we have to pity Honoka. The preview of ep. 16 hints towards a blood bath. I guess the next episodes are about getting rid of Honoka and it’ll end like Bonnie and Clyde or the like.
Haha, yeah I definitely noticed the sea slug line =). I’m trying to tell if Yamato is honestly making an effort to move on past Suzuka or just playing Honoka, but he’s not making it easy. I don’t blame the dog for not wanting to listen to Yamato’s boring tirades…
It’s no wonder you can’t tell. He obviously doesn’t know himself what he wants or what he should do. Well, as soon as Honoko isn’t around anymore she’s not on his mind at all. I don’t think he was trying to put Suzuka in the right mood using the firefly (hotaru?) cheat. At least to me seems to be pretty naive and he does not consider consequences at all. Even Suzuka is more considerate of Honoka’s feelings. Yamato isn’t really stupid but he has no common sense. That said it would certainly be wrong to go for Honoko instead. He finds her cute but he doesn’t love her. Unfortunately, he’s sending the wrong signals to her.
Well well well… even as an open Honoka disciple, I’ve got to admit that they managed to capture the amazing bellflower confession scene VERY nicely. Sweeeeet!
We’re entering the story arc parts in which the fans of each rival start to jump at each others’ throats. I don’t see this as a problem, rather a confirmation that there’s a really good storywriting behind all this ^_^
The screenshot of Honoko on the left and “Blog harder!” on the top – priceless.
I’ve been marathoning the Suzuka episodes all day today, and I can’t get this anime out of my mind. The characters’ feelings and reactions toward each other are very realistic in that nothing is rushed or too dramatic, and I love the pace of the show. I feel bad for Yamato, though, because he’s finally found happiness with Honoka, but that beautiful firefly scene with Suzuka has just complicated his life even further. I really want to root for Suzuka, but her icy attitude toward him in the past just makes me feel like he would be setting himself up for another emotional disaster. I really wouldn’t know what to do if I were him. I can’t wait to see how this story will unfold in the upcoming episodes.
SWEET MOTHERF*CKING TAPDANCING CHRIST!
That last outro gave me a big scare, kinda reminded me of other anime’s that have a “look what happened in the alst 14 episodes” ending… thankfully I saw the first frame of the preview bit, so I know it’s not the end… I’m just wondering when I can borrow the next episode from the internet (*sends bombletter to retarded dutch shops for not selling anime* )
Either way, the major things have been said, Today it was Zusuka, tomorrow it’l be the final episode of FMPtsr… remind me to stack up on handkerchiefs, hehe.
I don’t know how this will end, I put my money on Honoka ending up sad and alone… just like… what was that serie called again… kimi ga nozomu eien ? (
Ya, it was Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, and the girl was Haruka…