Suzuka 16

Yamato keeps trying to get Suzuka out of his mind, and when he gets back to Tokyo, Honoka greets him. Suzuka is driven off, and Honoka leaps into Yamato’s arms; the payoff comes as he gives her a kiss and tells her he likes her for the first time. Things get better and better as Honoka helps him with his homework and gives him someone new to chat with on the morning walk to school. Meanwhile, Suzuka has to skulk in her room, because she doesn’t wear camouflage like Miki.

It’s all going well, but then Yasunobu tells Yamato that a kiss means it’s time to take the next step. Yamato has his doubts, but is warned that without stepping up his game, he and Honoka will end up just as good friends. At that moment, Honoka shows up in a cute outfit and with a bag of food (she clearly understands men well!). Yamato enjoys the meal, but then starts thinking about how Suzuka is probably going hungry since Aunt Asano is out and Suzuka can’t cook at all. To compensate, Yamato goes too far and forces himself on Honoka; she notices his scary face and pushes him off. The next day, Yamato does the right thing and apologizes to Honoka, and she is glad that he doesn’t hate her; moreover, she likes him when he has a kind expression and not the lecherous Yasunobu Face he was making the other night. Meanwhile, Suzuka can’t stop hanging around Yamato’s door and being snarky to try to get some attention…

In spite of everything, I didn’t hate Yamato too much this time; yeah it was heinous that he tried to forcefully sexxor Honoka while thinking about Suzuka, but he really does seem to want to leave the whole Suzuka business behind. It’s made pretty clear that although Yamato is incredibly naive and stupid, he is basically a good person. Both he and Suzuka have the same problems with being inexperienced in relationships. Yamato tends to force things too much, and Suzuka tends to skulk and say mean things to get attention. Honoka, however, must read lots of manga, because she knows exactly how to reel in a man and ward off high jumping girls. I’m still rooting for Suzuka, though, and I love watching her ineffective attempts to try to recapture Yamato’s adoration.

The apology scene was very entertaining, as Yamato gets lucky that Honoka doesn’t freak and kick him the nuts when he grabs her wrist again (dude, chill with the violence). Then she babbles about how it’d be ok if he forced himself on her as long as he has that kind expression, before remembering how dumb Yamato is and getting afraid he will try to sexxor her on the shrine steps. The anime definitely toned down Yamato’s advances, since in the manga he also grabbed himself a handful before getting pushed off. Bad Yamato! It now becomes clear why Yasunobu has not been successful in getting a girl.

Related posts:

1. Suzuka 26 (Final)
2. Suzuka 20
3. Suzuka 17