Subculture Anime Blog

This show is sooooooo shallow. If anyone thinks this is actually an artsy show full of influential themes of friendship and life, then they are totally mistaken. OMIGAWD YOSHINOYA-SENSEI IS HAWT.

Summary:

Waking on a beautiful morning, Yuno receives a mail from Chika about her visiting. When Chika meets the girls at the Hidamari apartments, she presents various items of food and gifts to them. The girls sit down to eat dumplings after reacquainting with each other, as Chika expresses her amazement towards how much Hiro can do. The conversation soon moves to Sae’s inability to cook extravagant dishes, but this is credited to her being busy with her work. With this, Chika reminds Sae that their mother would like to speak with her every once in awhile. When Chika expresses how interesting of a place the Hidamari apartments are, the girls agree in that its being close to the school has certain effects on them. As this especially deals with their laziness, Miyako and Yuno recall their sleeping in class as well. Chika is amazed with this high school life, but Sae quickly warns her not to follow their example. Chika then expresses that Sae is no different, in that she has always decided things on her own when dealing with things about her life. Chika is reminded of her own inability to realize what she would like to do with her life, but Yuno and Hiro quickly make her realize that there are certainly some things that only she can do. Seeing Chika’s expression, the girls easily see a resemblance to her older sister.

Chika reminds the girls that she would like to go to a karaoke bar, making the group realize that it has been awhile since they have been to one. They decide to go, but when they reach the shop, they are disappointed to see that it is closed at the moment. As the girls head back, they run into the Landlady. Although she is off that day, it seems like she it is still business as usual when it comes to the apartments. After a short encounter with the Headmaster, the girls find that Yoshinoya-sensei is troubled as usual. Although they are ready to refuse her requests for help as usual, the girls are surprised when Chika is willing to do so. The girls have a meal at the apartments afterwards, as Miyako shares the crab she had been saving to eat with everyone. While enjoying themselves at the table, the girls recall their singing experience at the bath house. Miyako had amazed Chika with her very good singing, and Yuno was forced to do her best when the girls cheered her on. Ironically, this was the type of help Yoshinoya had requested. Finding that Yoshinoya is always such a cheerful character, Chika expresses how nice it would be to have such a person at her middle school.

When Hiro announces deserts, Chika is quickly surprised to find that a cake has been prepared to congratulate her graduation. When Chika is given a gift by all the girls as well, she is overcome with happiness. When the conversation moves on to snacks, the girls bring up some of the unusual ones they have seen on TV. Chika mentions that she has had one, but when he states that it wasn’t good, the girls are quickly disappointed. When the girls ask if Chika has decided to join any clubs at her school, she states that she is unsure because of various elements. The girls again compare Chika to her older sister Sae, then bringing up that Sae isn’t actually bad at physical activities. She was also particularly popular with other girls around her, making Sae recall the embarrassing moments the had in the past.

When Chika leaves the girls with Sae to her room, she expresses how fast the day had passed. Sae reminds Chika that she would have to be more serious upon going to school, but after mentioning her envy of living alone, Chika believes it is slightly unfair that Sae can tell her things in the perspective of being the one to have left home first. When Chika asks if everyone had picked out the present she received earlier in the day, Sae states that only the three others did. Sae surprises Chika by presenting her with her own gift, and Chika is overjoyed to find that it is a beautiful necklace. After listening to the CD Chika gave her, Yuno takes her usual bath. She wonders if Chika is still awake, but she is assured that she is probably alright with her older sister.

Preview: Awesome drawing alert!

Impression:

Fanservice anime! *cough* So, um, this episode continued from a few episodes ago by having Chika visit the girls at the apartments. I’ve already mentioned this, but I really love the theme of siblings they use with Chika and Sae. Some scenes in this episode, especially the separation they had in conversation with the rest of the girls early in the episode, really connected with me. It’s obvious that there are some things that only siblings can relate to, which this episode really played off of. The ending was especially touching, especially with Sae breaking from her dishonest nature. It constantly impresses me how much the girls think about their future goals and dreams in this show too, since they are actually suppose to be in high school. I’ve honestly always seen the girls’ mindsets to be a bit higher than imaginable, but I will acknowledge that the Japanese school system is quite different from the States’. For one, it would kind of be out of the question to live alone at such a young age here. Of course, this is also a work of fiction.

The constant scenes with the girls eating in this episode made me really hungry, and I actually stopped mid episode to eat breakfast because of it. I think I might take eating dumplings on a regular basis for granted after watching this episode, since the girls made it seem really interesting to remember how poorly an experienced cook can form them. Even I can remember the first time I tired to make one, and it was definitely pretty embarrassing. The theme of gathering when the girls went out was really great too, and when they stopped by the closed bar, I somehow felt really nostalgic. I couldn’t stop laughing while watching all of the girls sing in the bath house with Yoshinoya-sensei, and I think I will laugh even more when they come out with the singles on character albums or otherwise. Those facial expressions are just classic, and so is Yoshinoya’s “NE, NE, ONEGAI! ~kira~”.

But yea, having long work hours on Thursdays makes me a sad panda. I’ll try to get these posts out faster in the following weeks, but this is one of those shows that I just don’t feel like writing about when I’m not in the mood. No need to rush slice of life…or life in general?