Summary:
It’s Valentine’s Day, and everyone’s caught up in a chocolate-giving frenzy. Misaki goes out and buys an expensive chocolate to give to Yuuji, but Kei bumps into her on the way home resulting in the two chocolates being switched. Even worse, Misaki runs into Mamoru and is shocked to learn that he has a big crush on her. Misaki seeks out Yoshihiko for advice about Yuuji, but Meguru clues her in on the fact that Yoshihiko also has a big crush on Misaki.
Ayumi overhears Mamoru confessing to Misaki, and after talking to Koyoi they realize what they must do. The girls decide to ensure that Misaki ends up with Yuuji, in order to free up Mamoru and Yoshihiko. Ayumi encourages Misaki, but later overhears Kei calling Yuu about the chocolate mixup and mistakenly believes that Misaki is about to give Yuuji a Bomb Chocolate. By giving Misao one of her disgusting electric-chocolates, Ayumi scores an epic mount to get her to Ajisai Bridge in time to high-kick the chocolates out of Misaki’s hand. It turns out the chocolate just had a kappa inside, but the tension is broken and Misaki happily asks Yuuji to be her friend first.
Reaction:
I don’t understand how Ayumi comes to the conclusion that Misaki has Bomb Chocolate, but this was still the best Valentine’s Day episode I’ve ever seen. They really captured that intense buildup of expectations, and I loved how Misaki lamented falling for the marketing ploy. Ayumi and Koyoi really put Misaki on the spot by having Mamoru and Yoshihiko show up, but Misaki never faltered. She even apologized for being so hot and making Mamoru and Yoshihiko so emo. I doubt this eased the pain though, considering she was ready to give chocolates to a guy she had yet to even get a good look at. Also, Misaki has no idea how to tie a scarf…
Although Koyoi herself is pretty annoying, she continues to bring the comedy in bushels. I liked how Koyoi was totally crestfallen at her disguise failing, and her moment with the satsumas rocked. Ayumi’s machinations were excellent as well, and I loved when she flipped down and told the kappa-chocolate, “Say bye!” in her serious voice. I was really hoping for a classic striker-grapper battle, but it looks like Ayumi and Misaki will remain allies. The Kei x Etsu moments were just icing on the gigantic chocolate wedding cake and/or chocolate lobster.
This post was written by...
Kabitzin – who has written 1971 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.
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Have not rewatched the subs, but I thought it was because Ayumi overheard Kei’s conversation, so she figured out who it was. I don’t remember if Kei said her name or not.
I think Ayumi presumed that Kei bought a bomb chocolate given how Kei was frantically calling to locate the chocolate. I wonder if they really sell the kappa chocolate that Kei was planning to give to Kusuda lol.
In the manga it ‘really’ was a bomb and it was another extra character instead of Kei who had it. Knowing that, I feared this bomb would totally break the flow of Kei’s pairing with Kusuda but then I was totally delighted to see it was just a joke Kappa choco! JC Staff totally won me in this episode which actually improved on the manga by adding that extra Kei X Kappa goodness!
I agree, although I would have liked seeing Ayumi nail some random scrub with her bag. It seems like JC Staff has really done an outstanding job of adapting the Hatsukoi Limited manga, between minor streamlining like this and random added fanservice.
Also, Bomber-kun must be Canadian.
You make a good point about how the episode captured the build up to Valentines Day very accurately. I’m sure we all remember that from High School. I’m not a big fan of the younger Zaitsu, but I felt bad for him when I ran into Misaki on the street as she took care of him briefly in what seems to be a moment where she feeds the stray dog with false hope. I know many will brush this off as a generic ecchi/romance show, but it is actually pretty serious at times and seems to capture the suffering and other feelings encompassed by High School romance.
LOL, I’d never think such a fanservice extravaganza would offer one of the most entertaining V-Day episodes ever.
poor Kusuda… xD i wonder how much time he waited
Saki-nee focus made for a great episode (Ayumi’s kick and KxK being cherry on top and icing respectively) but I was slightly disappointed that neither Yoshihiko nor Mamoru did anything to acknowledge Saki-nee’s apology/bow. Come on, guys, at least a return bow or nod would have been gentlemanly. Before going home to bawl your heart out…
Yoshihiko went right for the “go home and cry into your chocolate lobster dinner” route. Yuuji didn’t seem to notice that his beloved little sister just rode in on a gigantic brute either.
Man, best Valentine’s episode ever. This just had it all. The final “chocolate bomb” scene actually had me all dokidoki wondering if Ayumi would get there in time. But I think the best scene was when both Ayumi and Koyoi realized their targets both liked the same girl.
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