Subculture Anime Blog

PUHI PUHI.

Summary:

In the alternate world, the robot boy and young girl had begun to build a flying machine to travel. As the girl’s body would stop moving when the winter came, they had to hurry. While walking with Tomoya to school in the morning, Nagisa brings up the various things she has been doing to prepare for post-graduation. When she asks Tomoya what he plans on doing after graduating, however, he quickly changes the subject by asking if Nagisa would like a present. When the two decide that this will not suffice for several reasons, they decide on a date instead. By the time Nagisa realizes that Tomoya has dodged her question about his future plans, however, he has already separated from her to go to class.

When Tomoya meets Youhei in the classroom, he asks him if he has decided on what to do after graduating. This leads Youhei to give the ridiculous suggestion of becoming a model, which he is even more assured about after getting his fortune read by Ryou in the clubroom later. While they are together, the usual girls all discuss the universities they have chosen to go to. Kotomi’s situation is particularly impacting, as she plans on studying overseas in America. The group eventually gets around to asking Tomoya what he plans to do, even mentioning the care he would have to take for Nagisa, but this conversation is stopped when the group notices that Nagisa has developed a fever.

To avoid possible trouble, Tomoya spends his time in Youhei’s room after leaving Nagisa at her house. Youhei expresses his belief that Tomoya is worrying too much, as similar things have happened to Nagisa in the past, before being called by Misae to answer a phone call from Mei. When Misae hears about Nagisa’s collapsing, she gives her support to Tomoya as well. After parting from Nagisa the next morning, Tomoya notices Botan on the school grounds. He had come to see Kyou as usual, but when it appears as if neither of the Fujibayashi sisters can take care of him during school hours, Botan is left up to Tomoya for the day. Even when Botan uses his skill of acting like a stuffed animal, this leads to very curious eyes towards Tomoya throughout the day. Tomoya separates from the rest of his friends in the afternoon, as he goes to visit Nagisa at the clinic. As he leaves, his friends notice that he hasn’t been very energetic due to the recent events.

As time continues to pass, Nagisa’s health does not seem to get better. She had even attempted to go with Tomoya to school one day, but she had soon felt unsteady before even reaching the school. One day while with Nagisa, Tomoya brings up his wish to have a date alone with Nagisa where he could simply hold her hand. As the two were certainly alone in her room at the moment, the two take the chance to at least clasp their hands together. Tomoya spends the rest of the following days doing things like taking drama videos home to Nagisa for her to enjoy, while most of the student body has begun to study for their final tests. The Furukawas eventually bring up that Nagisa may have to repeat a year, and despite their hope that Tomoya would go on despite this, he claims that he simply wants to graduate with Nagisa. Akio calls Tomoya a child in response, making him realize that this would only make things harder for Nagisa.

Tomoya agrees that he certainly was a child, because despite feeling as if he had become stronger with the making of so many new friends, he did not know what to do simply because he may not be able to graduate with the person he likes. In the continuing days, Tomoya spends most of his school days alone. On xmas eve, Tomoya and the usual group of friends celebrate Nagisa’s birthday at her home. She is put to tears when she is given gifts, especially from Tomoya, but her parents soon appear while hoping that she would simply be happy so that they could be as well. Tomoya and Nagisa continue to spend their time together throughout the following days, until Tomoya finally graduates with the rest of his other friends.

After the graduation, Tomoya thanks Komura-sensei in belief that he had helped he and Youhei by making it so that they would not drop out of school. As Yukine and Tomoyo will be continuing for another year, he also leaves Nagisa in their hands. When Tomoya returns to the Furukawa bread shop, he finds that Nagisa is outside waiting for him. Tomoya is put to tears at the fact that he has graduated before her, then expressing how he was able to appreciate school simply because she was there with him, but Nagisa of course assures him that everything is alright. Nagisa requests to walk hand in hand with Tomoya once more, which the two certainly do through the sakura filled streets.

Preview: Tomoya dates a high school student.

Impression:

Not enough epic Botan adventure; too much EMO!!! …Of course, I’m joking. Is this really planned to go on for 24 episodes!? At this point, it already looks like we’re headed towards Nagisa’s tragic route. I’ve only watched the movie, but comparing the anime with it, I thought this played on the concept of time a lot better. I felt genuinely sad seeing how Tomoya was separated from Nagisa, and I won’t even lie about tearing up towards the end. Clannad’s major theme has always been that of family, and this series easily shows that even something so simple can be so touching. I can only wonder how much time After Story plans to spend on the post graduation portion of the series. The next episode’s preview certainly suggests that it is only getting started, but trying to wonder about anything else would only be full of spoilers.

Notes:

• Tomoya knows that girls like presents! Epic distraction.
• Holding hands FTW.
• Yea, Kotomi! You better go to America! No one wants to hear your violin anymore! Wait…
• Ryou wants to have Botan nabe… D:
• Just one of Botan’s amazing skills!
• A dango?? THIS IS THE BEST PRESENT EVAR.
• Happy Thanksgiving.