Subculture Anime Blog

Bras and maid cafes.

Summary:

Tsugumi is surprised to get a call from Jin, and when he asks to meet her for some shopping, she delightfully agrees. When Tsugumi arrives at their meeting location, however, she is disappointed to meet Nagi instead. Nagi explains that Jin had actually left her up to Tsugumi, then describing all of the things she would like to buy. Nagi believes she has been given a lot of money from Jin, but after seeing how expensive things are in the nearby stores, she realizes that she was mistaken. Tsugumi soon takes Nagi to buy some underwear, and after seeing the many types that are in the store, Nagi quickly becomes excited. When she sees that the bra that she has chosen is far too big for her though, she asks Tsugumi what her cup size is. Having her usual internal struggle, Tsugumi pridefully describes what is the norm for Japanese women. This makes Nagi panic even more, but when the two see another girl having to get a larger bra than she expected, Nagi finally makes an irrational purchase. Stopping at a restaurant afterwards, Nagi wonders if she should get a job.

In the art room the next day, Takako brings up her interest in visiting a maid cafe to Jin and the others. Although Jin believes that this is a place that only guys usually go to, Takako obviously has her own interests in seeing the girls there. After asking Akiba for more detailed information on the subject, the usual group decides to make a visit to a cafe. Jin and the others meet at a nearby maid cafe a bit later, and although Takako learns that the girls inside are cosplaying rather than dressing as maids, she decides that this is just as good. While everyone makes their orders, Jin is shocked to see that Nagi is their waitress. Nagi tries to avoid Jin by running in the back, and Tsugumi panics just as much. Tsugumi worries about the coincidence that Nagi took the initiative to find a job at this location, and her incorrect belief that nobody that she knew would come, while Nagi worries about her taking of a job without Jin’s knowledge.

Tsugumi and Nagi are forced to get back to the front by their manager, and when Tsugumi brings out the art club’s order, she notices that Jin is continually looking at Nagi. Jin and the others see that Nagi is very popular with the customers at the cafe, and although with a bit of clumsiness, she is actually performing her job quite well. When Nagi is brought to the table by Takako, however, she and Jin both panic. As he tells her to stay away when she approaches, Nagi believes that Jin is mad at her for taking a job in secret. Jin admits that he does not want Nagi to come closer to him because she is too cute in her current outfit, however, letting out an embarrassing yell in the cafe. When Nagi catches up to Jin after getting off work, she continues to ask him if he is angry. Jin denies that he is, but he does admit that he is a bit uncomfortable with all of the people taking pictures of her. With this, Nagi decides to quit the job. Zange, having seen a message about Nagi working at the cafe, takes a job at the cafe as well. By the time she gets there, however, she learns that Nagi has quit. When she tries to leave as well, she finds that the manager will absolutely not allow her to do this.

Impression:

MOE! Oh god, I can’t believe how hard I laughed throughout this entire episode. I’m really going to have to applaud the director and production team for their perfectly timed shots and punch lines. Things like the rotating shots of Jin and Nagi’s expressions in the cafe were comedic genius, with Tsugumi’s usual internal struggle just added to the hilarity, and I think the expressions on the characters’ faces alone are enough to make me laugh out loud every time. There were a lot of otaku inside jokes in this episode, such as those dealing with fujoshi and obviously maid/cosplay cafes, making me feel almost awkward for understanding all of them. (Have I been watching too much anime!?) This could easily be considered the most plotless episode so far, but given the general feel of the series in general, it certainly wasn’t out of place. The peak of the episode for me definitely had to be Jin’s sort of confession to Nagi towards the end. Even I felt like I was going to explode while watching those two. I’m really not sure if this series is suppose to be going in the “goddess falls in love with human” direction, but I’m very interesting to see how everything develops by the end. LOVE POWER.

Notes:

• Nagi’s “desuwa” to “kawaii no~” switches are like a killer combination of internal head explosions.
• Do I see Haruhi?
• Girls and their frilly bras…..pah!
• Looking a little busty there, Nagi…
• I love how the stereotypical otaku is always represented in anime. Hilarious.
• I still want to know how Shino sees with her eyes shut like that all the time.
• SM FANTASY.
• Tsugumi is a fan of head banging! \o/
• I like how the hair floats up when they are flustered!
• Poor Zange.