天下制覇

I wanna play hide and seek…

The Isley Brothers know what I’m talking about.

Impressions:

Way to blow your chance for some make-out time, Kouichi and Mao. Even Kazuki was smart enough to turn the back to back situation around and get some lipservice. Kouichi and Mao have absolutely no excuse for not getting a taste of emotionally vulnerable Yumi and totally naive Mitsuki. I had thought through it that Yumi was just plague-ridden, like Kouichi was during the previous episode, but apparently there’s something a bit deeper than that. Probably the death of a family member or her family’s moving or something. I can’t imagine her leaving the show though, so who knows. It was a little nice to see Mao apparently make her decision and give up on Kouichi to pursue a life of lusting after musicians, but I’m not convinced it’ll last, especially since now that Kouichi has got Mao in mind.

Satsuki and Hiiragi remain the most level headed of the lot. About the only way you’re going to avoid turning a "guy and girl in a sleeping bag" scenario into something juicy for the gossip columns is to set yourselves up head to foot. Believe me, I have slept in that fashion with many a person. It’s amazing what you will do when your choices are limited to "gym mat with 5 other people" or "20 degree wood floor." My lord, am I really fondly reminiscing about awful school overnight band trips? Clearly the frogs have poisoned my brain. Or perhaps there was just almost nothing else to talk about for this episode either aside from the last 30 seconds.

Mitsuki takes her bath, thinking that the strawberry really does make a difference. She’s called out to go to school and thinks that she’ll do her best.

Yumi sits on the trai going to school, totally listless.

Mao and Kouichi walk to school, discussing their classmates. Kouichi remembers Mao kissing his forehead and wonders what that was all about. Mao sees him checking out her… lips… and the two blush at eachother.

Kazuki calls over to them, and Mao runs off to rendezvous. Yumi stares at Mao sadly.

Futami is also there. Unfortunately, so are the goddamned frogs. God, I hate those things. BUrn them with fire; the flames of righteous justice.

Everybody heads to Mitsuki’s mansion. When they get there, a limo pulls out and Mitsuki steps out to welcome them. Everybody is shocked. They’re shocked anew when they head inside and start touring around like slackjawed tourists. Kouichi apologizes to her for intruding, but she tells him that it’s fun, so it’s no bother. Mitsuki’s opulance puts them all to shame.

Hiiragi wants to go start taking pictures and Mao tags along. she spares a backwards look at Kouichi before the rest continue their tour. The other girls find themselves in the greenhouse, but Mao’s lost in thought about how she doesn’t really belong here. Satsuki wakes her up to identify a plant, but Futami effortlessly rattles it off. Mao idly wonders what happened to Hiiragi. He’s outside, looking at scenery… and trips on a sprinkler onto an angry guard dog.

Kouichi and crew have found the music room. Kazuki can’t resist poking at the cello. They start discussing girls. Both get all spazzed out about their lady issues and wander on.

The girls make their way to the library. Sacchin is overwhelmed, especially when she sees Futami reading up on astrophysics. Mao tries to bond with Yumi, but she’s zonked.

The frog wenches and Mitsuki make it to the kitchen, where an entire battery of chefs work on food. The head chef has Mitsuki taste something and the frog brats go nuts over how cool it all is.

Lunch is served and Mitsuki’s willingness to create a pile of cash and then set fire to it overwhelms them again. Everybody digs in. Futami thinks that it’s pretty unimpressive. Narumi takes notes. Hiiragi films them. You can cut the excitement with a spork.

Hiiragi notices that Yumi is lost in thought and not eating. Kouichi finally gets a clue that something might be bothering his waif.

Lunch finished, they all retire for tea in the sitting room. The guys look over the images they’ve got so far and wonder what to do next. Futami suggests Hide and Seek. You have got to be kidding me. Mitsuki, simple child that she is, leads the charge and the frog girls follow suit.

Everybody draws lots. The pairs are Satsuki/Hiiragi, Frog Brat #1/Frog Brat #2, Kazuki/Futami, and Mao/Kouichi (leaving Mitsuki/Yumi).

Before Kouichi realizes it, Mao sees that she’s with Kouichi and stealthily trades her lot for Yumi’s and gives her a push, straight into Kouichi’s shoulder.

Apparently the frog brats are the first seekers. Everybody hides, mostly in enclosed spaces. Let me tell you, the only thing that happens when a male and female spend a prolonged time in a very tight space ends up being biological and usually messy. The count finishes and the frogs head out.

Mao and Mitsuki bond while hiding in the kitchen. Mao talks to her about Kouichi and life in general. Mitsuki’s total naive and innocent nature forces Mao to glomp her.

The conversation turns back to Mitsuki asking about relationships and Mao remembers Kai kissing her with a blush.

Behind the curtain, Kouichi and Yumi bond as well. He’s worried since she didn’t eat much. She thanks him. He finally figures out how close they’re standing and they blush. She says that she wants to stay like this and he looks at her in surprise.

The frog brats wander right past the open doorway where Satsuki and Hiiragi are just laying on the floor (foot to head, if you’re curious). They’re smart in their mutual non-attraction. They stretch in safety and Satsuki asks Hiiragi for any information he may have on Kazuki and Futami. He doesn’t know, which is disappointing for her, but she stays upbeat. Hiiragi takes the chance to compliment/flirt with her, and she admits that Futami is a pretty interesting person too.

Kazuki and Futami have their own conversation in a closet while sitting back to back. He asks about the experiments, but she tells him it’s just to stave off boredom. Kazuki doesn’t really get it, but he’s glad that she’s around. She thinks it’s a bit strange, but he explains that it’s not. He gets a little hot around the gills, so she pokes fun at him.

He turns around and gets even more spazzed. Futami puts her hand on his face and kisses him. She tells him that it’s an experiment again, but they’re both blushing. The frog girls bust in, but Futami’s standing with her back to the door and Kazuki is still sitting like a stunned dog.

Everybody says goodbye to Mitsuki and takes off. Mao excuses herself as they’re walking home and runs off.

Kai is setting up the bar. He’s surprised by Mao walking up. She tells him that she just wanted to see him.

Yumi and Kouichi bid their farewells to eachother at the train station. He invites her to be with him tomorrow, if that’s okay. She says she’d love to. He looks over, and tears are pouring down her face. She tells him that it’s nothing. Kouichi can’t believe it, but she walks off and onto the train before he can catch her.