Subculture Anime Blog

I like how the dress blows in the wind.

Summary:

Kyosuke has the film club’s president help him edit material that he has shot of Kei, suggesting that he would like to have the most capable person work on it. While speaking with him, the president also notices the key that Kyosuke has in his possession. Kyosuke received this from Miyako earlier, though he does not believe he really needs it to find happiness. While going for a run outside, Kei runs into Yuuko who wonders if she is already well enough to walk. In response, Kei suggests that she would rather be running at her fullest while she is able. Yuuko quickly guesses that this is because of her sister, so Kei confirms that she must look like the respectable older sister she is meant to be. When Kei mentions the unrecoverable wounds that she and her sister have developed, Yuuko can only wonder if this is truly the case before disappearing.

Kei then takes the chance to send her usual text messages to Chihiro, eventually expressing her interest to meet Renji and to see her again. When Chihiro agrees that she would like to see her as well, Kei expresses a bit of relief. While she discusses the far distance she would have to travel to see her sister with him later, Kyosuke easily sees that Kei is a bit scared to meet Chihiro after so long. When Kei expresses that she does not know what kind of face she should put on, Kyosuke only suggests that she simply decide this when she gets there. When Kyosuke tells Kei that he is there for her, she decides that she is no longer afraid. To the two’s surprise, Nagi also appears to reveal that she will be headed to Australia as well. After confirming that Kei has a passport, she decides that they will all leave together.

Recalling the time that Yuu had denied his need for her to be his sister, Yuuko wakes from a painful dream. When Yuu reaches school, he sees that Nagi is still annoyed with him. Kuze soon meets the two, however, changing the mood by giving them both flyers to see a violin performance that he will be doing. When he suggests to Yuu that he would like Yuuko to come as well, the awkward situation from before returns. While Yuu denies Kuze’s suggestions that Yuuko is compatible with him, Nagi continues to be annoyed. At the sound of broken glass, the three see Yuuko walking out of a classroom. Yuu is quickly angered after confirming that she has been bullied again, opening the room’s doors in an attempt to find the culprit.

Yuu next enters the art room to complain to Akira, but he is baffled to find that he already knows about Yuuko’s bullying. Akira’s story is a bit different, however, as he states that it seems like it was Yuuko who started the fight. When he suggests that she went home without a scratch, Yuu can only correct him by saying that there were certainly injuries close to her neck. Akira goes on to call the problems trivial, as they are Yuuko’s problems, causing Yuu to leave in anger. Yuu finds that Yuuko is actually on the rooftop, and while he questions her condition, Yuuko can only see that Yuu is truly a kind person. While the two walk home together, Yuu learns that a student had tampered with Yuuko’s bag. Though she had decided to act happy no matter what happened to her, Yuuko suggests that she may have simply wanted to try a different reaction this time. The conversation changes to Yuuko’s constant wonder about what had happened to the boy she once knew in the past, but when Yuu asks what she expected of him, Yuuko keeps this a secret.

After marking off another date on his calendar, Kuze sees that Nagi is behind him in the empty living room. Walking away from Kuze after his wish of parting, Mizuki is surprised to find Kei at Chihiro’s usual spot at the abandoned train tracks. Kei finds it interesting that Australia’s surroundings are quite similar to Japan’s, but Mizuki believes her meeting of Kei is even more surprising. Mizuki expresses the happiness she has to see her, but when she gets closer, Kei sees that Mizuki is troubled by something. When Kei mentions the business she had in the country, Chihiro appears to embrace her sister. Chihiro tells Kei of her recollection of the events until her injury, and the two can only apologize to each other in tears and happiness. Nagi meanwhile takes the chance to show up and tell Mizuki about the sisters’ situation, where they would continually be hurt because of Chihiro’s disorder. Of course, this is no longer a problem.

Seeing that they have both experienced many things while they were apart, Chihiro finds it funny that neither of them were chosen by Hiro in the end. When the two sisters ask each other if they are happy, they both confirm that they are. While watching this from a distance, Nagi sees that both of the girls have reached the point where they can stand on their own feet. Recalling the similar situation she has with Kuze, Mizuki then wonders how she would be able to obtain the same happiness. When Nagi realizes that it is Mizuki who has approached Kuze, however, she only tells her to leave him be. With this, Nagi states that it is her who is dating Kuze.

Impression:

ONEECHAN!!!! F YEA!!! This episode was great. Don’t hate! Some may be put off by the constant reappearances of the previous season’s characters, but I can only see this as their gaining of true endings. When -a tale of memories- ended, I thought there was far too much left out despite how much I enjoyed myself. Since ef has so many stories that all tie into each other, it was obvious that one season wouldn’t be able to do the series justice (heck, I don’t even know if this will be the last season). Seeing Kei and Chihiro finally reunite was spectacular, if not simply overdramatic in a pleasing way, so I didn’t have any complaints about that. The themes played on certainly add to Mizuki’s story as well, as the sisters’ stories prove that life’s path is not so clear cut from the beginning.

Of course, Nagi revealing that it was her who had a relationship with Kuze at the end was probably the biggest shocker of the episode. And since it was confirmed pretty early in the series that she was not the one to end up with Yuu, I can only wonder how Yuu and Yuuko’s story develops until the point where we see them as characters who simply overlook the rest of the cast. I’m still really loving the play on time that -a tale of melodies- is pulling off so well, and I can’t wait to see everyone’s arcs develop further. Even seeing more Kyosuke would be nice, since I considered his story from the first season to be the one with the most untapped potential.