Kabitzin on June 30, 2009 · in Hatsukoi Limited

Summary:

The girls are worried the boys may have gotten eaten by wild animals, but not worried enough to call off the onsen fanservice.  Having already read the manga, the girls know the boys are heading to the beach, and decide to catch some rays while they wait.  Meanwhile, the boys are pedaling fast and yelling out their frustration as they near the water.  It’s a beautiful sunset, and Etsu thinks about how he went on this trip to build confidence.  It’s not easy been a short ugly guy who’s had his eye on Kei ever since she was a tween.  All that’s left for Etsu to do is to run into the ocean and loudly proclaim his love for Kei (as his homies join him and shout about their own crushes).

Unsurprisingly, the girls are already there and overhear everything.  At first the boys try to run, but it’s not much of a chase.  Nao catches Hiroyuki and tells him to just be himself, while Ayumi catches Mamoru and explains that running away won’t erase the image of Misaki’s hot body.  Kei’s long strides enable her to catch up and confess to Etsu, and the two share a little love time.  With that done, Yuuji decides to stop being a siscon and instead try to get to know Misaki, Ayumi decides to give her decision to the Zaitsu brothers, Hiroyuki decides to get a haircut, and Yoshihiko ends up sad and alone (with Koyoi).

Reaction:

While everything was super-convenient, I was happy with the way things ended (although I wish J.C. Staff had kept Koyoi’s advice to take the older brother).  The final montage satisfied my curiosity about all the characters I cared about, although Yuu got totally screwed, considering that Nanoka unexpectedly secured a swim team harem.  I also find it completely hilarious that Nao told Hiroyuki to be himself, and then forced him to get a Yukito-esque haircut and do Yukito-esque things (like paint with her).  No doubt a flash forward will show those two getting intimate, only to have Nao call Hiroyuki “Yukito.”

From the looks of things, I’d guess that Ayumi chose Mamoru.  Ayumi is clearly creeped out by older brothers with a thing for younger girls, and with Yuuji making some moves on Misaki, I’d say Mamoru’s chances with his Saki-nee are pretty slim.  Someone’s gotta move in for the rebound, and Ayumi is volunteering.  Of course, the best thing for Mamoru to do would be to get revenge on Yuuji by scoring with his younger sister, and then breaking her heart.  That would be awesome, I mean, terrible.  Finally, I love how during Ayumi’s ending narration the part about “sometimes love goes wrong” was synced with the scene showing Koyoi and Yoshihiko.  Way to rub salt in the wound, Ayumi!