More glimpses into life at the ballpark.
What They Say:
To escape his tiring job, weary Murata finds escape at a nearby baseball stadium. While the games are thrilling, it’s Ruriko, the gyaru as cold as the beer she serves but secretly a sweetheart, who keeps him coming back. As her first regular, Murata discovers the warmth behind her frosty demeanor, and their hilarious, heartwarming encounters light up the ballpark and maybe even their hearts.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
During an unusually breezy day, Ruriko alters her pouring methods to make sure the beer she serves is still top-notch, but she is left frustrated when nobody can tell what she has done. Maybe Murata can save her wounded pride, but when a strong gust of wind catches her unaware, is it possible he notices something else instead? Murata is put further on the spot when Ruriko and a couple of the other beer vendors decide to take in a MotorSuns game on their day off, but when Ruriko tries to talk to her favorite regular customer, he seems not to recognize her out of uniform, much to her chagrin. In the final segment, a reporter named Iijima is up against it because his articles don’t generate clicks, so his editor encourages him to write a hit piece, and suggests diving into the “salacious” world of beer vendors and their working conditions, a task he is very excited to take on, but what angle can he possibly take when it seems that everybody in the MotorSuns organization loves their jobs?
I’ve said it enough in my reviews that I sound like a broken record, but I really do like it when Murata is more involved in this show. Ruriko is absolutely the engine of this—so much so that when the camera turns away from her for a bit, such as in the third segment of this episode, it feels a little weird—but Murata provides a great “straight man” for her antics, and for me at least, it’s a little more interesting when he is regularly involved. So this was a particularly fun episode for me, as he is featured pretty prominently. He seems constantly stuck between legitimately flustered by her attentions, while also inwardly acknowledging just how clumsy her attempts at flirting and being vivacious are. It’s fun to see him squirm and to see her be playful and embarrassed at the same time. Over the last few episodes, I really hope we get to see more of this.
In Summary:
With a Murata-heavy episode, I am very happy. I just love the interplay with him and Ruriko, and I want to keep seeing more of it. As we move into the final run of episodes, I hope the series gives the two of them more time to shine. Either way, this series continues to be a highlight of my week. Recommended.
Grade: B+
Streamed by: Crunchyroll
