When it rains, it pours. But it ain’t all so bad.
What They Say:
“The Beach with Friends.”
Yuki Hase, a high school boy, is concerned about a girl of his classmate, Kaori Fujimiya. She always stays alone and never tries to become close friends with anyone. Given half a chance one day, it seems that Yuki and Kaori become to have a good relationship that they begin to eat lunch together. Although they enjoy having conversations, Kaori, strangely enough, keeps denying their friendship. On that Friday, she confesses, “I have memory disorder. My memories disappear within one week….”
The Review: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
This was very much a do-nothing episode that just kind of felt really nice. To see Hase and Fujimiya’s awkward hesitation toward each other is ever endearing as we wonder when, not if, they will say they love each other. Hase’s insistent “Let’s be friends” line is gone now, and that’s kind of a shame because it’s like he was confessing to Fujimiya at each episode. Bigger and better things have since come in the show, so I guess it’s ok.
Summer vacation is in full swing and here’s where the awkward hesitation comes in. Fujimiya and Hase have been hanging out with each other over the break, with Hase insisting that Shogo stays away so the two lovebirds can have quality time alone. It’s a little underhanded on the part of Hase, but he can have a mean streak in him, as we’ve learned when he was jealous of Fujimiya and Shogo’s relationship back in episode four.
Hase quickly changes his tune when Fujimiya says she’d be embarrassed to go to the beach with him alone. Shogo and Saki are roped into going and thus begins the episode.
Basically the only thing that really happens is Fujimiya realizes that she may or may not (she does) like Hase. Shogo’s quick on the draw, and already suspected her infatuation, but her trepidation confirms it. She’s jealous of Saki and Hase’s relationship, but she’s made no friendships since junior high. She doesn’t know anything about what she’s feeling right now. But she always wants to say she “likes” things, especially lately. Like Hase.
In Summary:
It’s summer vacation, so I guess that’s the epitome of doing nothing in real life. It doesn’t mean you have to do nothing in a story, though, and I could have done more with a little less meandering and a little more content. Fujimiya’s revelation and Hase’s little schemes were fun, but there has to be a lot more going on. Like, what about Saki’s friends? They could move Fujimiya forward in her confusion. Shogo did in his own way, but he can only go so far. Oh well.
Grade: B
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Equipment: Radeon 7850, 24” Dell UltraSharp U2410 set at 1920 x 1200, Creative GigaWorks T20 Series II
