Mai and Mikoto are behind some bushes when they overhear Akira grilling Takumi for not getting the operation. Takumi is conflicted because he knows that the operation is expensive and not guaranteed to work. Takumi is losing the will to live, and while he loves seeing his sister happy, it’s a burden on him. Akira tells him that that is a bunch of BS and says that Takumi should really be thinking about how he is going to have the operation right away and then bust his rear to work off the debt (after all, it’s not that different from getting a college loan). Akira hears a rustle from the bushes, and summons her element, but it appears to just be a cat. However, from this incident Mai and Mikoto learn that Akira is a HiME and a female. Then everything goes downhill for Mai. She depressed about what Takumi said and so takes it out on Mikoto, snapping at Mikoto to shut up and leave. Mikoto is sad about this, but Reito comforts her and says to just do what she thinks is best, and Mai will understand. Mikoto is back to her genki self, and remarks that Reito sure is like her Ani-ue. As Mikoto is scampering off, we notice that Reito can also see the Red Star. Switching back to the school buildings, we see Shizuru entering a classroom to find Natsuki sleeping at the desk. Shizuru’s slightly creepy crush on Natsuki gets the best of her, and Shizuru can’t resist the urge to get all close to Natsuki while stroking Natsuki’s hair. Natsuki doesn’t like having a stalker, and so tells Shizuru not to get too close.
Later, as Takumi is fiddling with his medicine box, he finds Akira’s hidden sketchpad. Akira is terrible embarrassed, as the pad is full of very nice sketches of Takumi, but then Takumi collapses and the book is forgotten. While this is going on, Mai is standing at the shoreline and feeling depressed about what Takumi said. Moreover, she’s worried about Akira, because Akira is doubling Takumi’s risk of being “Kazu-kun-ized”. As Mai broods, we see Yukino about to launch a sneak attack on Mai. At the last moment, Mikoto slashes Diana, and Ishigami’s hopes for some hot tentacle action are foiled. Mikoto’s amulet is glowing purple again, and she’s in a battle rage as she remembers her Ani-ue’s words. Before she can eliminate Yukino, however, Mai intervenes. Yukino sobs pitifully that she’s sorry, but she was just responding to death threats. Ishigami has been sending her hate mail and Yukino is afraid that Haruka would disappear if Diana didn’t attack Mai. Mai doesn’t really care, and instead verbally lashes Mikoto for fighting. After unloading some more verbal diarrhea on Mikoto, Mai goes off to see how Takumi is doing. Takumi’s decided he wants to live, and he tells Mai to be true to her own feelings. Furthermore, he’s going to have the operation, but he’s going to go to America alone. Although Mai should be happy, she’s completely confused. While rocking on a swing alone, she realizes that she’s based her entire identity and self-worth on being a good cook, a part-time worker, and Takumi’s onee-chan. Just when she thinks it can’t get any worse, she see’s Tate wheeling Shiho around. Tate is being all nice to Shiho for once, and she’s happy until she spies Mai down below. Shiho gets Tate to lie that he’s not just being nice to her out of guilt, and he has to give her a guilt kiss to prove it. Mai sees this all and runs away, and she then spends the rest of the night alone in silence. Before falling asleep, she whispers to herself that she’s lost everything, but she doesn’t realize that Nao is lurking in Takumi’s hospital room.
Too bad we didn’t get to see Midori get owned by Fumi, from last episode. Although this episode was trying to juggle too many character storylines at one time, a lot of really powerful stuff happened. I don’t like Mikoto, but she got totally dumped on in this episode. I really think that the writers are going to make every annoying character either die or become evil… and that’s a good solution in my opinion. Meanwhile, Mai’s conflicting emotions were very nicely done. You can’t blame Takumi for laying it down like it is, and at least he’s being honest. Mai meanwhile is caught in that horrible depressing spiral where you think you want to be alone, but really that’s the worst thing for you. Tate’s past with Shiho was really shoddily explained, but I can understand the decision not to go with the manga explanation. It’s like a really depressing KimiNozo arc, right down to Miyaka Shiho sticking with Tate through his depression. Things look to continue their fast pace, as Nagi’s clock has struck and everyone is feeling really lousy (except for maybe Shizuru and all the bad guys). This depressing mood did not stop the following hilarious preview from occurring, however:
Takumi: Onee-chan, you’re a burden on me…
Mai: What?! Have I gained weight?!
Takumi: What do you truly want?
Mai: CASH MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Akira: Mai… I understand your feelings, but listening to your speech is painful…
Mai: [howling] AAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Awesome! BTW, is egg-topped hahbahgah like some uber-yummy dish that everyone in Japan loves? Or has Mai just been watching too much Rozen Maiden? With meals like that, no wonder Takumi is always having heart problems!
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>>With meals like that, no wonder Takumi is always having heart problems!
*snort* Kabitzin, didn’t I tell you to lay off the crack and the pun? :P
I can quit anytime ^^.
…and start again anytime, I suppose o.o
Do you have an explanation for his awful voice as well?
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