Clannad After Story – 11
Use the force?
Summary:
Tomoya has started getting more used to his job, but the days are still fairly tough for him. Nagisa always waits for him at home, providing meals and various other preparations for him to return to. Because of this, Tomoya has something to try hard for. While he continues to work, Yoshino eventually notices Tomoya’s odd movement while operating on things. He asks why he does not use his right arm more often, but Tomoya does not give him a true answer. Nagisa has trouble getting Tomoya’s attention that night, but when she does, she apologizes for talking so much despite his hard time at work. Tomoya replies in response that it is because of her conversation that he is able to feel better, however. Before parting with Tomoya for the night, Nagisa wonders if he isn’t lonely when alone at the house. She even suggests that she wishes to cry when she thinks about this. Stating that he simply goes to sleep when this happens, Tomoya tells Nagisa not to worry as she goes home. As she leaves though, Tomoya cannot help but put on a face of worry.
While working on a later day, Tomoya is met by one of his acquaintances who would often visit his father’s home. While he looks through the pictures Yoshino has taken afterwards, Tomoya takes note of how much the town has been changing recently. As Yoshino mentions how this would continue to happen, Tomoya implies that he would not like for it to happen too quickly. Upon reaching home, Tomoya wonders if Nagisa could spend time with him during the weekend. Despite her not needing to though, Nagisa states that she has things to do at school. Nagisa apologizes, but Tomoya genuinely wishes her the best. Tomoya is instead forced to spend time with Akio, who wishes to show him forms of adult play. After meeting a certain vendor, Akio receives a strange toy from him in order to surprise Sanae. Tomoya is dragged into his act, and when Sanae is shocked by what seems to be her most feared creature on her back, Akio chases her all throughout the neighborhood. Tomoya apologizes to a usual customer when she shows up among the chaos, but she actually expresses how fun it is around because of the Furukawas.
Nagisa mentions the upcoming festival to Tomoya during the night, which Tomoya enthusiastically agrees to go to with her. While helping an acquaintance with papers at work later though, Tomoya is told how much of a help he is because of the amount of work that would be coming to the electrical company soon. Tomoya apologizes to Nagisa when he returns to her that night, suggesting that he may not be able to go to the festival with her after all, but Nagisa tells him not to worry about it. Tomoya starts doing a lot better at work in the following days, but Yoshino continues to observe the actions dealing with his right arm. Yoshino finally brings up his knowledge about this, having figured out Tomoya’s situation simply from watching, then suggesting that he will do anything that he cannot. Yoshino denies that this is a trouble to him, having Tomoya do what he cannot in return, then only suggesting that he do his best to make Nagisa happy in the following weekend. To Tomoya’s relief, he would be free during the day of the festival.
As Tomoya finishes up at the company, a last minute job is brought up to him. Tomoya agrees to do the job, as it is within his ability, allowing his coworker leave ahead of him. Yoshino meets Tomoya as he is finishes repairing a broken light, then confirming that he has done everything correctly. With a pat on the shoulder, Yoshino tells Tomoya to go home. On the day of the festival, Tomoya is called by his employer with news that Yoshino had gone to fix a certain problem. This causes Tomoya to rush to the scene, seeing that Yoshino is working on the light that he had worked on the previous night. Unable to let Yoshino take care of this himself, Tomoya begs to let him work as well. Tomoya rushes to the school in the afternoon, meeting Nagisa at the gates. Nagisa had guessed that Tomoya was caught up in work, then offering him one of the snacks she bought during the day as they walk home.
When Tomoya returns to work the next day, his fellow employees apologize for making him miss his date. Tomoya is surprised, since he thought that everyone would be angry with him, but Yoshino appears to state that everyone makes mistakes once in awhile. He simply tells Tomoya not to make the mistake again, and to point out mistakes to his junior if he ever received one. This would be his job. Before leaving for work as usual, Tomoya is officially given a nameplate to use.
Preview: More Tomoya x Nagisa.
Impression:
Poor Nagisa….poor Tomoya………poor Sanae!!! Keyani pretty much returned to what they do best in this episode, by making REALLY SAD ANIME. Watching Tomoya and Nagisa continue to smile for the other despite their difficulties was really touching, and I could totally feel for Tomoya feeling guilty for both his work mistakes and missing his date with Nagisa. Seeing the support he got from everyone was nice too, representing the fact that most people really do have a lot of good in them. Even the end sequence with Tomoya gaining a proper place in the company seemed to reinforce that he has been gaining a lot more trust for people since the time he spent with his father. I can’t help but feel like After Story is moving quite slow at this point though, and it only makes me wonder if episodes like this are being focused on because of the double season length we’re getting again for the sequel. Either way, like Yoshino, I will believe that the power of love will overcome all!
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LOL, what the hell? It’s was originally a simple teddy bear that they stuff down Sanae’s shirt.
Akio is practically Sunohara’s replacement (as Tomoya’s playmate) in After Story.
Aren’t Bengal monitors like three feet long? I guess it must be a baby monitor, if that makes it any less creepy.
Ugh. I’m having some serious problems with how the story is developing. I’ve really loved the series so far, but Tomoya and Nagisa’s relationship seem so stiff, traditional and boring. Do they even touch? They don’t even seem like a couple. It’s more like this stupid schoolgirl attending to the lazy slob who comes home late every night.
Why Tomoya is so tired after doing some manual labour is totally lost on me. This development seems overly “japanese” (hey it’s a japanese show), but I really can’t stand it because they’re trying to throw in drama where there’s no drama to be found. It’s like having a ball roll down a slope and having a bunch of people running after it screaming “AAAAAAHHHH THERE’S A ROLLING BALL RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!”. People wouldn’t care because it’s just a fucking ball. It’s nothing dangerous.
The same thing can be said about this story arc. There’s no drama to Tomoya’s work, and for someone who really can’t get into how the Japanese “thinking” concerning how to do a “proper” job, it’s just frustrating and aggrevating to watch the episode progress, because it only reminds me that the average japanese worker is suppose to take any amount of bullshit, and in the end apologize for doing a poor job, because no one else would be arsed to do it.
Watching Tomoya cry over being allowed to stay at work despite having a crippling injury was another WTF moment, and just shows how badly key is trying to add drama to something that’s not really dramatic. He’s just working for gods sake, it’s nothing to cry about!
“While working on a later day, Tomoya is met by one of his acquaintances who would often visit his father’s home. Looking at the pictures Yoshino has taken afterwards, Tomoya express his belief that his world has seemed to have gotten bigger recently. Yoshino suggests that his life would change even more shortly, making Tomoya wish that it wouldn’t happen too quickly”
I think you got this part wrong. They are talking about how the TOWN is changing, and talking about how the construction of a new highway will bring more companies shops and that they also are planning to construct a new hospital in town. Tomoya expresses how he likes that the town is changing, but he has a feeling that he wouldn’t like it if it happened to fast.
That’s more of a wording problem, since I tend to paraphrase quite a bit. I can change it when I get some free time though, if it’s really that bothersome.
Yeah, I suppose it is.
You’re posts are quite detailed so I take it you got a pretty good grasp of the Japanese language. I’m by no means fluent myself, but If I see something that looks odd I try to comment and help out.
meh, this was the slow part of the pc game too…it felt like reading a whole book for these past two episodes, Tomoya gets a job…woooo…when the hell is nagisa going to move in!
She’ll move in, but somehow they’ll find a way to get separate bedrooms.
It will be like when Kira and Lacus were separated because of all the orphans. Man, I bet he was pissed. Then there will be a gundam in the basement.
just noticed, this is the 1st time we see Nagisa in gym clothes lol
well, if key/kyoto-ani are cool about it they will sleep side by side just like the pc version~
If any of you watched the movie, have you noticed that he is staying at the same apartment complex he does in the movie (OVA’s.) This might get sad, quick..
^
Maybe, I already know the ending…and its like a 50/50 chance if we get a good ending or a bad ending, maybe they will do both (extra episode) since the pc game’s good ending was not as long as the bad endings were~
@aegd: Sorry. I kind of disagree with almost every point you have made.
1. “They don’t even seem like a couple.”
On the contrary, I thought they looked like a stereotypical Japanese ideal couple. The man works hard all day and the wife takes care of his domestic needs. The only thing they’re not doing is having sex.
2. “It’s more like this stupid schoolgirl attending to lazy slob who comes home late every night.”
Ironically, Tomoya USED TO BE a lazy slob, but now he’s working. He’s not home late because he’s out drinking or bumming around with Sunohara. He’s actually working. How does “come home late every night” because of work = lazy slob?
3. “Why Tomoya is so tired after doing some manual labour is totally lost on me.”
My first thought is, “because manual labor is tiring.” Add on to that the fact that we agree Tomoya is a “lazy slob.” Lazy slobs tend to get wiped out by a little manual labor. Secondly, Tomoya is starting work in the morning and working outdoors till “late every night.” Seriously.
4. I think you’ve already acknowledged the points of this arc which are dramatic. We are dealing with a delinquent (or lazy slob) being thrown into the real world (which you seem to think is a pretty undramatic place). On the contrary, the real world is full of drama for vulnerable people. Tomoya is very vulnerable. He’s a slob, bad academic record, doesn’t have a family, can’t rely financially on the Furukawas, has a fragile relationship with his fragile girlfriend, barely scraping by, stuck doing labor he’s unfit for. Any number of things could turn this story into a disaster… and moreover, it’s a situation that a lot of real life people are in. If that’s not dramatic, go watch a fantasy or scifi anime instead.
5. Why would Tomoya cry over keeping his job? Try asking someone who has lost their job and became homeless.
6. Look at all the story arcs prior to this one. They ALL make mountains out of molehills. Sunohara pretending to have a girlfriend so Mei won’t worry about him? Juvenile. Who actually thought that would work? Trying to get Sunohara back on the soccer team? That’s not really going to reform him. The soccer team’s a bunch of jerks. Pretending Yukine’s brother was still alive? How long is that going to last?
These are all juvenile charades trying to manipulate the other party into doing what you want. In comparison, keeping a job, being independent and self-sufficient. That’s something meaningful. You don’t change the world by trying to trick other people. You do it by changing yourself first. What Tomoya has in Nagisa may seem sterile, but it’s precious. Everyone needs a reason to fight for survival. Life doesn’t just happen easily for everyone. To survive, Tomoya has to outgrow the lazy slob. He has to stop the fist fights and fight for the future he wants, and right now that future is with Nagisa. That’s the drama of it. If one part of his life crumbles, everything goes down the tubes.
1. They’re not just not having sex. They’re hardly even touching or showing any kind of affection, have we even seen them kiss yet? Also, do you think that’s still the ideal couple in Japan? Maybe for the guys, but I’m pretty sure it’s the opposite for many girls. However seeing that the anime is based on one of those graphic-game novels and it’s probably aimed to please a certain group of people…
2. That was a poor choice of words on my part. I’ve never seen Tomoya as physically unfit, it’s his attitude and mentality that is that of a “lazy slob”.
3. I’m talking about lazy slob in a mental type of way. He seems to have a good enough physique besides his damaged shoulder. He’s to be able to beat up pretty much any guy his own age. If he can fight for a whole night he shouldn’t tire so easily from physical work. I’ve also happened to work with physical labor as a mover, industrial worker and so on, and I’ve still to see the day when I’m so tired after coming hom from work that I almost fall asleep while eating.
4. Sorry, but once again I don’t see the drama. I can relate to much of what he’s going through, because I had poor grades in school, problem finding a job and so on.
5. He wouldn’t become homeless. That’s the problem with your argument. He could move back to Nagisas house or he could find a new job before his savings run out. He could also talk to his father, because he HAS a family despite you saying the contrary. That’s another problem with the story. You make up with your family. When I was a kid I was in A similiar situation to Tomoya, but I made amends with my father. It’s what you do if you care about your family.
6. I’ve never said I watched this story for the drama. I mostly like the comedic elements and the interaction between the different characters (no not tomoya and nagisa).