天下制覇

A true staple of anime… the noble hot springs episode. Though in Airan’s case… probably the first of many.

The art quality in this animation was really funky. It would bounce between normal and pretty terrible with little to no warning. Don’t get me wrong, most of the episode was perfectly fine, and Suzu had some really adorable moments, but there were a few too many moments where the art broke down for my liking. This wasn’t just the weird faces either, people genuinely looked pained by what was happening to their features at points. Not as much straight up fanservice as you’d expect from a fanservice episode, but more or less in line with how the series has been progressing thus far.

Most of the episode centers around the collapse of the pipe that brings them hot water for their baths from an earthquake and them trying to find a new source of hot water or make due on their own. There was a long sequence where all the girls took their turns bathing in a tub and pretty much all performed their signature jokes; Machi harassed Ayane, Rin fended off her stalker, Suzu unintentionally nakedly traumatized Ikuto, the usual business.

Eventually, Suzu and Ikuto end up in the well, trying to dig for new water. Another earthquake causes the hole they’re in to collapse and they get lost in the mountain caverns with Suzu in “cheerleader pornstar” dress and injured to boot. They eventually find the hot water, and lacking anything better to do, start digging to get outside. Ikuto, being Ikuto, ends up causing a flood and Suzu gets pulled under. He rescues her as they’re fountained to the surface. She’s all blushes as she thanks him, and he tells her that it’s just what a guy should do.

The short post-ep sequence is just another attempt by Suzu to bathe with the ever-reluctant Ikuto. Seriously, dude. She’s after your body, not your brain. Let her have it.