Subculture Anime Blog

Mikawa Kirameki

Summary:

A woman stands on the ledge of a tall building in the city. In her hands is the book with the name Mikawa Kirameki on its cover. Two women discuss a recent marriage while going through files. One of them suggests to the woman named Kasai Haruno that she should get a boyfriend, but Haruno expresses that she is having more fun reading books right now. Haruno is called to by her superior, who recalls that she enjoyed the book Mikawa Kirameki. To her surprise, Haruno is put in charge of the book’s author. Haruno returns home to her younger sister Natsuki, who she guesses is becoming interested in having a boyfriend. Haruno further learns that Natsuka is also interested in the book Mikawa Kirameki, so she surprises her with her new position. The girls’ excitement is soon interrupted, however, when Natsuka gets a call from Kaname.

Chiaki sees Fumika in the Shigo world, but finds that she is not paying attention to her call. Fumika is more worried about the letter she is now sending to a person named Mikawa Kirameki. When Kanaka asks about this, Fumika reveals that this is the person she shot while she was still living. Natsuka nervously prepares for a visit from Kaname, but finds her sister having trouble down the stairs. On her way out to work, Haruno playfully greets Kaname who has just arrived. Natsuka invites Kaname in after apologizing for this, but he can only be concerned about the piece of bread that Haruno dropped on the ground.

Kanaka wonders why Fumika is headed to the hospital, so Fumika states that it is an important stop. Inside her house, Kaname asks for a favor from Natsuka. Natsuka finds that it is about Mikawa, however, making her mention the two’s earlier break up. Kaname denies that this is what it is about, telling Natsuka that he met Mikawa despite the fact that he shouldn’t have been able to. Meanwhile, Fumika stands in front of her other self, who has continued to rest. Kanaka wonders how the girl in bed looks exactly like Fumika, so Fumika mentions the relation of “Fumi-chan”. Kaname wonders why Mikawa shot her father, and why she can no longer open her eyes. Natsuka is interrupted by her older sister, however, who calls for help regarding the map she has left at home.

After helping Natsuka deliver the map to her sister, Kaname learns about their connection to Kirameki. Kaname prints a copy of the map to Kirameki’s residence for himself, suggesting that he would be the only one who knows the reason that Mikawa will not open her eyes. When Haruno finally reaches Kirameki’s estate, she finds that it is a very unique building which mirrors the sky. Elsewhere, two talk of the recent failures and progress of the book Mikawa Kirameki. Haruno meanwhile meets Kirameki at the door. Fumika states that she will soon be meeting Mikawa Kirameki, and that she wanted to see the girl in bed before then. Pulling out her gun, she apologizes to Fumi-chan.

Kirameki leads Haruno inside his building, showing her the many beautiful glass things he has. Haruko and Kirameki finally begin talking, but not before Kirameki panics at the sight of Haruno’s wrist. He quickly takes a pen to write things on it, to Haruno’s confusion. As Kirameki leaves the room, Haruno can only wonder about what has just happened. Outside, Kirameki believes that something is not right. While on the bus with Kaname, Natsuka begins revealing how she met and began talking to Mikawa. She does not recall much about her, but she does remember her asking one thing. Mikawa one day asked what Natsuka’s father was like.

Haruno asks about Kirameki’s work, but he denies to let her see them out of embarrassment. When the two notice rain starting to pour outside, Kirameki excitedly runs out to view it. He even pulls Haruno out with her when she tries to call out to him, surprising her even more. Kaname and Natsuka also become stuck in the rain, attempting to decipher the map that Haruno has written out. Taking a shower later, Haruno wonders about the things her friend talked to her about earlier about relationships. Kaname and Natsuka meanwhile find the silver colored road leading to Kirameki’s estate.

Haruno wonders whose clothes it is that she is borrowing when she steps out to meet Kirameki again, guessing that it may belong to a daughter. Her thoughts are interrupted, however, when Fumika appears behind her. Kirameki wonders who Fumika is, but correctly guesses that she has come to deliver a letter. While Kirameki excitedly opens the Shigofumi, Haruno talks about the time she sent a fan letter to him. Kirameki leaves the room after dropping the letter to the floor, however, making Haruno wish to read it. The letter is from a young girl, who has read through all of Kirameki’s story. The book described the world of Shigo, which she thought was wonderful. However, this lead to the girl’s suicide.

Fumika takes the chance to explain what the Shigofumi is to Haruno, before Kirameki returns with a lighter. He states that he will burn the letter with his flame, though Haruno attempts to convince him not to. Fumika states that Kirameki has not changed at all, unable to think about others’ feelings. She blames her for what has happened to his wife and daughter, but Kirameki only becomes excited after realizing who Fumika is. He explains to Haruno that she is his daughter, when Fumika again aims her gun at her father. Kaname and Natsuka appear to yell out for Fumika to stop, but this causes her to lose her gun. Now having the gun in his possession, Kirameki fires at his own daughter.

Preview: Beginning….a look into Fumika’s past!

Impression:

NOOOOOOOOOOO! MY BOKU GODDESS!!! She’s not dead though…thanks preview! But wow, Kirameki is a freak! He must have done pretty well to have such an awesome daughter thou-…Okay I need to stop that. This episode actually wasn’t that strong when compared to the rest of the ones we have been getting. I can’t say that I didn’t like it though. I think episodes like this one help to separate this show from its most similar comparison, Jigoku Shoujo. By stringing the plot together, it doesn’t just stay as an episodic show. I’m sure it helps with rating too, because it seems like most fans are the most interested in Fumika’s back story. I’m definitely not going to deny that I am. I’m actually kind of surprised that Natsuka and her sister are becoming so involved in all of this, though I’m not really shocked after Natsuka’s interaction from Kaname in earlier episodes.

I thought finally seeing a bit of the Shigo world was really cool, and we even got just a bit more information from the connections the book has with it. I also payed closer to the seiyu work in this episode, since it was just easier to with all the dialog. Ueda Kana (Koyomi in Zombie Loan, Rin in Fate/stay night) has of course been doing a great job with Fumika, and Matsuoka Yuki (Inoue in Bleach, Evangeline in Negima) plays the ecstatic Kanaka. I also took more notice to Chiba Saeko as Natsuka since her voice started coming through in this episode more similarly to her roles like Ayane in Nagasarete Ariantou or Nadeshiko in Shugo Chara. I’m pretty sure I heard a bit of Fujiwara Keiji too, who I haven’t been appreciating as much as I used to. Go back to E7 man! I guess his role in Baccano wasn’t bad though…the other actors just haven’t played many roles that I’ve been really into. I also loved some of the shots in this episode, especially while on Kirameki. I am very excited about seeing the next episode, since it looks like we will be learning in depth about Fumika’s past.