Subculture Anime Blog

Nothing says tsundere more than twintails.

Episode 22 Summary:

Recalling his falling with Taiga on their previous trip, Ryuji wakes in class while yelling out her name. This causes him some embarrassment in the classroom, but behind him, Minori expresses a bit of worry. Taiga had gone to visit her mother in the present, leaving Ryuji without any way to contact her. Meeting Yusaku on the rooftop some time later, Ryuji requests that he act as if it was he who saved Taiga during the trip. Confirming that this has something to do with the time Taiga met him previously, Yusaku promises to do so. Ryuji leaves with Hisamitsu and Koji after school, as the three discuss their future aspirations. When they stop by a particular shop, they notice that Minori has started working yet another new job. The three notice that she has not changed much as they leave, but this truly isn’t the case. Ryuji continues to talk about his future goals with Yasuko that night, as she insists that he continue going to school. As she assures him that things would work out financially, Ryuji is reminded of the same assurances Yasuko gave him when he worried about his lost father in the past.

At school the next day, Minori assures Ryuji that Taiga is okay with her mother who is on good terms with her. When Yusaku passes, Ryuji further learns that Minori had taken up more responsibilities at school as the coach for two softball teams. He worries about her doing this and taking up another job, but Minori expresses that she is doing her best because she does not want to fall into a slump. Ami gives Ryuji a rude greeting when she passes, but Minori follows her as classes start. Finding her at the vending machines, Minori eventually starts a conversation about ghosts with Ami. She goes on to state that she wishes to pursue what is in front of her, and despite the efforts she expresses, Ami simply leaves her in annoyance.

Even Yuri worries about Ryuji’s potential and future after school hours, and when Ryuji finds that Yasuko has taken up more hours after reaching home, he starts to think more about his decisions as well. The sight of the hair pin in Ryuji’s room causes him to think about the first time he met Taiga, and becoming flustered over expressing love, he further panics when he actually meets Taiga at his door. After confirming that she has been fine, Taiga makes her way through Ryuji’s house to access her room without a key. Ryuji makes several attempts to have her stay for a bit though, and Taiga eventually notices the open box and hairpin in Ryuji’s room.

Taiga continues to wonder if Ryuji was able to get on good terms with Minori, only causing Ryuji to wonder how she can still be worried about him. As Taiga prepares to enter her room, she brings up her memories of seemingly rambling something while she was being saved during the trip. Ryuji hesitantly convinces her that this was a dream, however, then restating his fib about Yusaku not hearing anything from Taiga while carrying her. Taiga expresses her relief about this, but Ryuji on the other hand, expresses a bit of worry.

Episode 23 Summary:

With Valentine’s Day approaching soon, Yuri calls for Ryuji and Taiga to meet her after class. She wonders what they both plan to do about their future aspiration sheets, but she gets expected answers; Ryuji worries about going to school because of his financial situation, and Taiga does not believe she needs goals as a rich girl. Taiga further takes her sheet and throws it out of the window as a paper airplane after Yuri leaves, eventually deciding that she wants to have a normal love life. She decides that this is impossible, however, as she is not normal. This only adds to Taiga’s further non-acceptance of her current self.

Ryuji eventually meets Ami exiting the teacher’s office, and after catching up with her, he learns that she had turned down a request for a modeling job for the school. Ryuji wonders about her actions, so she admits that she had actually planned on quitting school earlier. She had decided to stay multiple times, and the ultimate reason for her staying, was that she believed that she realized Taiga’s inner feelings. Ami thought she could save her, but she decides now that Taiga would have been fine with or without her staying. Ami gets the chance to leave when Ryuji receives a call from Taiga, alerting him of Yasuko’s current condition.

When Ryuji sees Yasuko sick in bed, he rushes out of the house in guilt. Taiga catches up to Ryuji only to see how frustrated he is about himself, but she finally convinces him that things would be alright. With these words in mind, Ryuji meets Yasuko’s second employer. Both Taiga and Ryuji offer to work in Yasuko’s place for her sake, causing Yasuko a lot of happiness at home despite her being laid off. At the job later, Ryuji and Taiga meet Koji with his new girlfriend. They are surprised by this, but they are not as panicked as Hisamitsu who follows. With the need to draw in more business, Taiga asks for help from Ami.

Though initially hesitant, Ami certainly does help Taiga draw in a large crowd of customers. Before Ami can leave though, Ryuji chases after her to express that he had never thought it would be better if she were not around. As he mentions “everyone” though, Ami once again sees that Ryuji does not realize her true feelings. Ryuji returns to Taiga to finish the job afterwards, and the two walk home with gifts of chocolate for everyone that afternoon. Taiga even suggests that she may give chocolate to Ryuji, though she is unsure that he would appreciate it. That night, Taiga secretly makes her own chocolate.

Taiga presents her concoction to everyone at school later, but when she gives her “best” to Yusaku for saving her, Minori and Ami realize that Ryuji had tried to hide the fact that he himself saved Taiga. This angers Minori extremely, especially when Taiga refuses to say what she wished to say. With the help of Yusaku and Ami, Taiga is trapped in the room to confront Minori. Taiga expresses that she only wished for Minori’s happiness, but of course, Minori suggests otherwise. As this was all they could do from this point, Yusaku and Ami allow Taiga to escape. This leaves the only person who can chase after her, Ryuji, with a very important choice.

Preview: Two more episodes, and a big leap to make!

Impression:

I mean, really. Did you see those twintails? I wanted to pull on one of them. These two episodes were both excellent, but in different ways. 22 was more of a transition episode, but there were several great shots and pieces of dialog throughout it. This scene in particular had me reminiscing about Takemoto in Honey and Clover (yes, I went there again). The theme of future goals, and the worries everyone has about them, is a theme that I’m beginning to connect with more and more these days too; adding more to my appreciation to the oh so well written story. Taiga’s reappearance made for a nice “oshi-” moment, but this didn’t even compare to what happened in the next episode….

…..Which was absolutely fantastic. I was giggling pretty hard at the few terrible moments of art early in the episode, but the last half made up for all of this. Building on the themes from the last episode, those of family and others had me appreciating the original author’s insight once again. Paper airplanes always provide for nice imagery as well. And of course, the climax of this arc broke out in perfect sequence with Minori challenging both Ryuji and Taiga with the help of their smiling friends. Fighting with friends because you care about them. – that’s definitely something I like to see. And I’m digging those nice boat eyes, Minori.