When Nozomi sees Himeno on a fashion magazine’s cover, she wonders if it’s actually her.
In a book shop, Nozomi comes across a magazine of a centaur girl that looks like Himeno. She doesn’t think it’s her because the girl in the magazine is too attractive. Akechi comes up to Nozomi and she said it’s Himeno. Of course, this worries Nozomi that the school might expel Himeno for having a part-time job. In the student handbook, the school doesn’t allow it.
With that, it comes as no surprise that Akechi becomes worried. In short, she tricks Nozomi in trying on some cosplay. I have to admit that Nozomi looks good in the Gothic Lolita cosplay. From this, Nozomi will eventually find out that Akechi works at a maid café as a part-time job. It’s not surprising since Akechi owns cosplay outfits.
The next day, Himeno finally reveals the reason for appearing on the magazine cover. She did it to help out her mother’s friend. It’s obvious that she wouldn’t want to do it as a career since she would have to maintain her weight. In fact, she wants to have a career in medical research or as a veterinarian. From this, it’s obvious she wants to make a good living in the future.
In the second half, it seems that the cold weather came in. While Himeno, Nozomi and Kyoko leaves the station, Akechi warms herself with the student council president’s wings. When the student council president hits Akechi, we find out that Inukai is Akechi’s girlfriend. This can explain why she was there when Akechi dresses up Nozomi. This is not surprising since Inukai knows everything about Akechi, including her part-time job.
While Nozomi and Kyoko warms up on Himeno’s body, they recall their experience visiting the 14th High School. It’s obvious that their class visited that school so the students can acquaint themselves with the merfolk. I find it hilarious that one of the female students think that Nozomi is a boy that dresses like a girl. It’s clear that the student is a fujoshi since she is a yaoi fangirl and into shotacon. Still, it’s a funny scene.
Talking about diversity, it seems that a wolf boy is into a mermaid, who is his childhood friend. No matter what, he is willing to carry her. Of course, after the mermaid saw Himeno’s four legs, she wished she had them. She finds out that there is a contraption that can do this, but it’s too expensive. It’s better to do without as it would throw away one of the things that makes merfolk unique. Merfolks can swim and live underwater.
In short, while the show is mostly light-hearted, it shows that it’s not a perfect world despite being a utopia. While society in the show strives to embrace total diversity and equality, there is some discrimination. As shown with the school girls making fun of the boy carrying his mermaid friend, it shows the dark side. Given how toxic the political climate currently is, it’s bound to happen. This aspect might turn some people off, but for me, we’ll see how it goes.
This was the point where the show made clear what kind it would be and viewers would decide whether they could handle it or not.