天下制覇

I guess I’m trying to find a borrowed dream or a superstar.

Impressions:

katto katto kattokattoKATTOKATTOKATTOKATTO!

*ahem* Sorry, couldn’t help myself. The addition of the Sliding Cut to Kazuki’s lady-getting repertoire is just too wonderful for words. Kazuki is actually Walachia… it finally makes sense.

The Futami thing seems really really trivial and silly to me, but it is a step in the direction of her realizing that Kazuki’s a jock, and if Hollywood has taught me anything, it’s that jocks and brains don’t mix until there’s drama and then they realize that hormones love conquers all. I’m still rooting for Sakino, so I’m all for whatever pushes her forward, but I kind of already miss the happier Futami, even if she was only around for an episode or two.

Mao unfortunately seems to have not fully given up on Kouichi, though I could just be reading a little too much into her grabbing onto the bedsheets. Oh well, so long as she cheerfully keeps throwing herself into Kai’s arms, I’m fine with it. Yumi and Kouichi seem to be progressing as well, though they’re still at that elementary school level where they just blush and hold hands. At least they’re doing that without freaking out… it’s only a matter of time before they kiss… though I really am expecting Mao to screw things up between them somehow.

Another fun episode all around though, and I loved Hiiragi shooting the frogs down the moment they appeared. The animation really has taken a step or two upward in the past three or four episodes… not that it was stellar before, but it’s been pretty noticable recently.

 We get to relive the last 30 seconds or so of the previous episode to start this one. Kouichi and Yumi hug and then apparently just wander away from eachother.

The next day, summer vacation is underway. Mao and Kouichi’s mother watch TV while eating breakfast. They make small talk about Mao’s plans for the summer, hang out with Kouichi and Kazuki, catch up with her parents, etc. They yell upstairs at lazy Kouichi who is looking through magazines for ways to be with Yumi. His available cash is… not encouraging.

Mao finally comes up and he asks for her advice, telling her that Yumi is moving. Mao figures things out and he tells her that he’s looking for a job to earn money to visit her. She’s happy and tells him that it’s the first time she’s seen this side of Kouichi, the manly side.

She makes a decision… summers mean the ocean, so they’re going to the beach. Kouichi is skeptical, but Mao tells him there’s plenty of work at the beach and reassures him that this will fulfill all his desires to be with Yumi. As she leaves, Kouichi remembers back to Yumi confessing that her time with him was running out. Kouichi agrees with Mao’s plan and she happily closes the door and walks off with a smile.

On the soccer field, Sakino yells out advice to Kazuki ("Aihara-kun! Sliding cutto cutto cutto CUTTOCUTTOCUTTO!" Sorry Sakino… couldn’t help myself). Aihara obeys her, slide tackles… but misses and the other team scores. He slams his hand down angrily.

He gets into an argument with Sakino on the sidelines for a little bit before the coach calls them over to divide them up for another scrimmage.

Kai’s sweeping in front of the bar as usual. Mao comes up and flusters her way through trying to talk to him. He’s glad she stopped by though, and gives her a ticket to a live band. She’s happy to go with him… but he says that he can’t… since he’s a member of the band. Mao is ecstatic and is going to love to attend the concert.

Sakino and Kazuki hobble/walk home together. They reconcile pretty quickly and Sakino is all fired up. She tells him to not worry about her and enjoy himself. She’s all smiles too.

At her home, Futami watches scenes of summer vacation on TV. Her phone rings. She answers in as few words as possible, then hangs up. She looks down at her phone again.

Kazuki’s phone rings… it’s Futami. He’s shocked, but answers. The two make small talk, Kazuki is really happy that she called.

She wants to do something tomorrow, but Kazuki’s got soccer practice. She presses him a little more and he says that he wants to change and asks if there’s anything in particular… but she doesn’t answer at all. He thinks that she hung up, but she finally responds, saying that it can wait before brusquely hanging up. During the whole thing, Kazuki’s sister was lurking behind him, watching suspiciously.

The next day at the soccer game, the other team’s ace is chewing through their team easily. The frog girls (minus frogs) are watching and want Kazuki in, but he’s keeping Sakino company on the bench. He gets up and starts warming up. Sakino happily watches him stretch.

Futami looks at her cell phone, remembering Kazuki’s words.

Back on the soccer field, someone slide tackles one of Kazuki’s teammates and injures them. Kazuki gets subbed in. Sakino yells encouragement to him as he runs to his position.

Futami comes to the school gates… but turns away. Just as she does, a cheer from the soccer crowd goes up and she looks back.

On the field, Kazuki gets beat by the ace of the other team, but Sakino and the frog girls keep cheering him on. Futami walks up behind them to watch. She notices the injured Sakino on the bench. The ace takes a shot on Kazuki’s goal. The goalie saves, but is out of position and the rebound looks to be easily kicked in until Kazuki saves it at the last second. Sakino gives him the thumbs up. Futami keeps watching.

The soccer game ends… as a rout… 10-0 against Kazuki’s team. Sakino has nothing but praise for him, though they laugh over how the game went. The coach comes up and thanks Kazuki for how well he did.

Sakino’s happy too and Kazuki thanks her for all the help she gave him. She blushes and tells him that he can thank her with expensive chocolates. He’d rather give her ramen, which starts her attacking him with her crutches. Futami watches their little scene for a moment, then leaves to walk through the town alone.

Kouichi gets a call from Yumi at home. She asks him what he was doing… he says nothing, but the magazine full of beach jobs is open at his feet. They make plans to meet up the next day.

Mao lies in bed, giggling at her ticket. Kouichi knocks and then comes in. He’s found some promising beach stuff. He notices the ticket, and asks if she’s going with Kai.

She corrects him with a laugh and tells him it’s to see Kai perform. Kouichi’s suspicious of her overly upbeat attitude, but Mao diverts it back to Kouichi and Yumi. She thinks to herself that Kouichi really does love Yumi and clenches the bedsheet.

At the udon place, the theater troupe ponders the menu. The frog girls try to whip out their infernal beasts, but Hiiragi immediately stops them. You are my hero, Hiiragi. He announces the casting… Kouichi and Yumi will be the lovers. They’re both shocked, but Yumi accepts the role.

Hiiragi is actually surprised. With that… Kouichi also agrees to it. He hands out the rest of the materials to them and people head off.

On their ways home, Kouichi tells Yumi about his plans to work at the beach. She thinks it’ll be fun too as they walk hand in hand.

Kazuki and Hiiragi talk about Yumi and Kouichi’s relationship. Hiiragi asks Kazuki how he’s doing with the genius girl, but Kazuki gets defensive. Hiiragi does tell him to be a little more aware of the girls around him and then excuses himself. Kazuki reaches for his cell.

Futami’s phone rings… she picks it up and looks at who the call is from, but doesn’t answer.

Preview:
A sexy lady in a two piece and lots and lots of Mao.