Minami-ke Okaeri – 06
Episode full of melons.
Summary:
While at the Minami household, the sisters and their usual friends recall events that had happened previously during a beach trip. Chiaki eventually appears wondering if Kana had hidden her stuffed bear again, but since she had not, Kana wonders if Chiaki did not leave it at the beach. Fujioka relieves Chiaki by arriving with the bear, but this leads the group to wonder how it ended up in his belongings. A chain of events had led to this, and when Kana remembers that she was the one who had put it in Fujioka’s bag, she fears admitting it to a soon to be angry Chiaki. The group notices that Kana has remembered something though, so Kana distracts them by saying that she loves them. Of course, this only causes more awkwardness.
Maki visits the Minami household to get help on her summer work from Haruka. When Fujioka arrives with a gift of watermelon for the family, Maki quickly guesses that this was for Kana. When the group starts eating, Maki further makes Fujioka uncomfortable by telling him that the spoon he plans on using is one that Kana always uses. This has him avoiding the use of it, getting into an eating competition with Touma instead. The group has curry made by Kana that night, and though Maki teases Fujioka yet again, Kana presents him with a guest spoon to his relief.
Makoto visits the Minami household in his usual disguise, finding Uchida working on homework. Uchida explains that she had forgotten about her summer homework, and both Chiaki and Touma had refused to help her. As Makoto had forgotten about his work as well, he attempts to get Chiaki to help Uchida. Chiaki refuses, however, as Uchida had only caused trouble for her each time she visited during the summer. Chiaki eventually does let Uchida borrow the work though, as she isn’t that unkind. Touma wakes to see Uchida working hard, then taking the chance to ask Makoto to let her borrow his summer work when he is done. As Uchida will not currently help him though, Makoto refuses to help Touma too.
Kana expresses her disappointment that summer is ending, having Chiaki come with her to wear swimsuits in the bath. Hearing Kana talk makes Chiaki remember all the terrible things she did to her during the summer, causing her to express that her summer was the worst. The Minamis’ usual friends show up with gifts of autumn-like foods later though, giving Haruka and the others happiness towards the season. Everyone enjoys the grand dinner that night but Kana, as Chiaki makes most of her food disappear as payback.
Preview: Autumn school days.
Impression:
Oh man. As simple as it was, this episode brought all kinds of humorous slice of life greatness to the table. Missing stuffed animals, watermelon attacks, and copying homework had me remembering my old childhood. Even Chiaki’s remembering Kana’s pranks on her made me recall things I typically did with my own siblings. Nostalgia factor aside, the episode was also solid in presentation on its own. The misleading shots towards the beginning caused some really funny misunderstandings, and Uchida’s laughing at the possibility of Fujioka becoming Chiaki’s sibling had to be some of the best form of irony ever. (Don’t forget the premonition from episode 301.)
Gonna have to pull another one from speedy Aroduc again too though. Spoons are washed. They really don’t count for indirect kisses or anything like that! And though Mako-chan is reappearing quite often again recently, he’s really just not as funny as he was before. Maybe we’ve been jaded by having too much of him in season two?
Some of the art was really dodgy in this episode as well. For example, Haruka’s proportions being way off towards the end. Eh, can asread only redeem itself so much?
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No. Turning. Back. For Makoto. Well, until he hits puberty that is, and I seriously doubt that he can continue living his double-life as Mako-chan. Yes, Otoboku and Mariaholic aren’t possible, darn it!
What did Chiaki do to Mako-chan? She looked flustered there after being whispered too.
Mako-chan has multiple clips to accessorize with his outfits… no, there’s no going back, Myssa. Not now, not ever – the only question is whether he becomes the next Mariya (Maria+holic) or Jun Watarase (Happiness) with regards to his cross-dressing. And it’s possible if he takes extreme measures…
ithekro: No clue, but that’s an excellent screencap to take out of context with, especially with that aftermath.
Kana distracts them by saying that she loves them
That was pretty random… I would have thought she could come up with something better than that. She’s usually the culprit for many things, notably pudding theft, so I’d expect her to have the best alibi hehehe.
Yea, some disproportions in the art, but still good enjoyment… Chiaki trying to hide the carrots was cute.
Kana might have had an alibi had she actually thought she’d done something. She hadn’t remembered nor planned this particular event…so she’s at a loss for once.
I’ll need to go back and watch again to get the background jokes (such as the attempted hiding of the carrots). Also will need to wait for subtitles to get some scenes in the middle.
Traps exist. There was this jp television program about most convincing thai cross-dressers/trannies/traps, or whatever, and the traps were pretty much at the level where they’d pass for women; hell, even good looking women. So yeah, it is actually feasible. I just assume it’d take a shitload of a. make-up b. estrogen c. surgery. genetic defect?
On another note, Mako-chan will probably cease to exist eventually. Not because Makoto can’t keep up the appearance, but most likely, he’ll lose the reason to. I mean, I don’t see why the ban Chiaki put on him would last for years, so if he can come as a normal male visitor like Fujioka, Mako-chan’s reason for being would lose its meaning. Also, if he stops having an interest in Haruka, who is WAY older than he is, he’ll also stop having a reason to go there.
fujioka is a fukkin lucky bastard, at least from the pics.
Rawr: Unless Chiaki likes him better this way, then he’ll stay trappy. Or he gets twisted by Kana… or gets completely confused regarding his gender. Or else he decides to follow someone into an all-girls’ school. Or it turns out Haruka likes women, and he sticks with the disguise as his own infatuation remains strong.
MATSUTAKE-TOUMA-SAMA!!!
I only guessed half correctly that it was going to be a Suika epi. Hosaka, where art thou?
Mako-cakes looks like he’ll cross the gender-bender bridge to be FRIENDLY in the next epi. Also, the last screencap of him posing reminded me of Ayu in Hyakko.
What did you think Chiaki did with those leftover fish bones? No wonder she has a bulging gut. >_<
I’m glad the epi. centered on mostly Fujioka. I seriously thought he would grab Haruka’s goodies. That whole ’spooning’ thing had too many (indecent) meanings…in my mind anyways.
P.S. – Choujikuu Hanten Nyan Nyan CM needs a singer and Kana, we would be delighted if you came and bring your carrots too.