From the last episode, the Kissuisou Inn had a sudden surge of customers. With Ohana’s grandmother in the hospital after collapsing, things got stressful rather quickly. After Ohana fetched the notebook with all the customers out and called Nako for help, Ohana sets out to find Tooru.
There isn’t too much to say about this episode as Ohana has finally found Tooru after being encouraged by her best friend, Ko and saved the day. However, there is something about the relationship between Ohana and Ko that I noticed. While they have contact with each other through their mobile phones, it evident that Ko’s romantic feeling towards her is starting to become distant as he questions himself on visiting. This feeling reminds me of 5 Centimeter per Second, but the only difference is that their relationship remained unrequited, never acknowledged by Ohana on the day before she left. While it’s too early to say whether or not Ko will ever get together with her, it’s definitely going to be an uphill battle since distanced relationships are difficult to maintain despite the use of technology.
On the other hand, it’s becoming more evident that Tooru is developing a romantic interest towards Ohana. While she may be naïve, her cheerful personality and willpower has caught his attention that he might have ignored before. While she doesn’t have interest for boys at first, she is starting to take notice and it might eventually develop in a relationship, probably an indication that she is moving on. If this were to happen, it won’t be a good ending for Ko and Minko. This makes me concerned because Minko’s desire to be with Tooru feels more like a dream that might not happen since she doesn’t have the courage to confess to him. Either way, time will only tell until the day it happens.
As for the next episode, it seems that Ohana came down an illness with Tooru coming in the room, watching her with a strawberry… I know previews can be misleading, but this certainly looked interesting.
On the contrary, Ohana doesn’t seem to be noticing Tohru at all. Sure she went to great lengths to get him back from the wedding, but it wasn’t because she liked him or anything. She simply wanted to have the whole inn in working order so that they could treat all their customers equally.
I was kind of disappointed that the flood of customers was addressed so well, but that’s the price I pay for unrequited romantic tension between two characters, and a likely rivalry between two characters… again unrequited.
Still, underneath the after school special shell sits a gelatinous mass of ooey gooey delicious drama, ripe for the contemplative chewing.
I really shouldn’t have written that with an upset stomach.