Subculture Anime Blog

Kuze poses like a little girl.

Summary:

When Nagi meets Yuu in the art room, she is told to cry in his place. Yuu hands Nagi the key he was given by Yuuko as he passes her, telling her that it would lead to the place where everything started.

Arguing with himself after receiving a letter containing a rooftop key from her, Kuze finally confirms to himself that he wishes to see Mizuki. With this, he destroys all of the masks in his room. Mizuki welcomes Kuze back when he meets her on the school rooftop, but soon kicks him in the stomach before he can reply. Mizuki claims that this is like Kuze has died once, then introducing herself again to who she suggests is a new Kuze Shuichi. Mizuki goes on to express her belief that love does not operate on his ideas of winning and losing, because simply having the feeling of love is like winning.

Mizuki continues by giving her answer to Kuze’s questions of why she had appeared before him among other things. In the end, Mizuki continually answers all of his questions by stating that she loves him. Kuze reminds Mizuki that he will die, guessing that she would not be happy because of this, but she suggests otherwise. Kuze finally asks why she has chosen him, so Mizuki simply replies that it is because he is himself. Kuze finally accepts Mizuki, but as he attempts to hold her, he collapses from a pain in his heart.

At the hospital later, Mizuki learns from Yuu and Nagi that Kuze is in critical condition. Further more, there is only a 50 percent chance he would survive through his upcoming operation. At the abandoned train tracks afterwards, Mizuki tries not to cry because of her promise to Yuuko. She soon gets a call from Hiro, who gives his support for both she and the hospitalized Kuze. Kei and Chihiro soon appear to do the same, bringing Kei to mention the support she got from Yuuko whenever she was having a hard time. This was the case for several other people as well, including Kyosuke, Miyako, and Hiro.

Mizuki later spends her time with Kuze in the hospital, as he wonders how long they will be able to stay together like this. Kuze finally apologizes for all he had done to Mizuki, then admitting that his ideas about winning and losing were mistaken. Remembering the words that Yuuko gave to her, Mizuki tells Kuze that a dream cannot be achieved without first having a dream. Of course, Kuze agrees to keep this idea in his mind. Meanwhile, Hiro and Miyako meet Yuuko at the church. They finally introduce themselves to each other, as Hiro and Miyako wonder if there is anything they can do to help Yuuko meet the person she wishes to.

As all of Kuze’s friends gather in support for his operation, he recalls Yuu’s belief that there are no miracles in the world. As there are only coincidence and fate, he suggests that he will do his best to affect his future. Various preparations are made in hopes for Kuze’s operation to be successful, and as Mizuki sings the song she learned from Yuuko, various memories of the past are remembered. Just before the end of Kuze’s operation, something of a miracle seems to happen.

OP: “euphoric field (Japanese ver.)” by Tenmon feat. ELISA – The first season’s OP with a few changes. I was really pumped when it appeared half way through the episode.

ED: “Egao no Chikara” by Mai Goto – The usual ED, but with Kuze playing a larger role. Obviously, it is also revealed that it was Yuu and Yuuko in the picture with Mizuki.

Impression:

Haha, I know what you’re thinking. “They didn’t have enough content for this episode, so they inserted an extra OP, ED, and a montage to make up for it!” Well, I’ve got news for you, buddy. I love random OPs, EDs, and montages. That’s right. SHAFT FOLEVA. No, but seriously, this episode was just as visually aesthetic as the last, and I really love how everything is coming together. The use of color was really strong this week, with the dream-like palette during Kuze’s reuniting with Mizuki being the one that set off my artsy-fartsy senses the most. I also loved Hiro’s support for Mizuki, as this reflected his sister’s support for Kuze. It’s pretty obvious at this point that Kuze will have a happy ending with Mizuki, and it’s implied that Yuuko will be able to see Yuu again by the last episode as well. That is, unless this season is really going for the bittersweet ending rather than the shocking happy ending that the first did. That’s all to come though, and I really don’t feel like coming up with predictions for something that will be upon us in only a week.

Notes:

• Kuze obviously would have avoided all of this if he just watched Shugo Chara.
• Mizuki is so ready to hurricane kick Kuze off the roof.
• What’s with Chihiro and her china dress-ish clothing?
• SEMPAI GATTA.
• Mizuki and Kuze running together in the ED was pretty cheesy.
• If this post comes off as very lazy, it is because I am busy reading Street Fighter. Hadouken.