As Miyako tracks down the identity of Masochist Uta, we learn more about Niina’s backstory, which is dark.
It’s obvious from last time that Niina wasn’t happy that Uta sneaked out. Of course, it was the last straw as she Niina has her eyes on Mio, which she refers to as sister. The funny thing is that she doesn’t even know Mio’s actual name or that it’s Hiori’s older sister.
Still, when Niina thinks that Uta is average, it’s obvious that Uta’s sadistic/masochistic gig is up. Her personality changes after Niina shares her intentions. After all, Niina feels that she is not compatible with Uta. Yes, it took her this long to realize this. Still, this is probably a sign that perhaps Uta’s psychopathic personality isn’t hers. More on that later.
Aside from that, as Ruka and Hiori work on helping her class with the Tanabata festival, she finds out what Miyako found. As we find out later, Hiori can’t cut the strips of paper straight. I guess it’s her personality as Ruka points out.
Before helping with the festival, Miyako finds out who is the actual identity of the real Princess Yuki. Her name is Sugira Kana, who had a Kana tag on her bag. She hasn’t shown up to school for a long time.
From this, this makes me wonder if Kanna is Uta. After all, she disappeared, which makes me wonder if she took on a different identity. This is what Miyako believes after Momo’s fruitless search and Ruka recalling Niina saying Uta’s name. This makes me wonder if Kanna used a fragment that causes her to act like she did. After all, her personality changes after Niina rejects her and locks her in the room.
With that, most of the episode was about Niina’s back story. Yes, Niina as that little child who wanted to create a wish for her mother during Tanabata. Sadly, her mother finds Nina and takes her before she finished writing her wish. Then, her mother slaps Niina on the cheeks for wasting money. Apparently, Niina’s mother packed up her belongings to run away with her childf rom her abusive husband. I won’t be surprised that her mother dyed Niina’s hair as later, her hair became her natural color.
Of course, given that her mother Is a victim of domestic violence, she can’t help herself but to abuse her daughter. Yep, we see some instances of this of not providing food and punishing her by soaking her when a lady saw that Niina’s bruised right cheek. I can see why Niina’s past is dark. Eventually, Niina’s father or someone eventually killed her mother. This is when Niina ran away from home.
Thankfully, a stranger named Nozomi takes Niina in. She provides her with a new phone, clothes, shelter and food. Of course, Niina comes across a book titled “The Works of Byron.” Yep, it plays into Niina’s dark moments of life. While she developed a relationship with Nozomi, she says something before she left.
Nina panicked when Nozomi didn’t show up that night. A stranger, whom her name is also Nozomi doesn’t know what Niina is talking about. Not to mention, she doesn’t recognize her. Niina freaks out after realizing the book that the other Nozomi said wasn’t hers.
With that, she ran out without taking her luggage and had a switchblade. She wants to kill the perpetrator until she saw a girl her age. Yes, it’s Mio and she recognizes her pain and despair. What is interesting is as she recites a line from one of Bryon’s poems, she wipes away Niina’s tear. She said that she wants her despair. I can see why Niina develops feelings for Mio, despite not knowing her name.
As Momo listens to Hiori complaining that she can’t cut paper strips straight, Momo admits her search for Kana was fruitless. As Miyako shared information, Momo had a strange sensation. Yes, this is from Niina creating a connection with Mio.
From this, Momo remembers more of that memory when she faced off a monster. Yes, Momo’s partner was Mio, and she was acting funny, as if she is in despair. I wondered if Mio created an alternative timeline that erased what happened that day. Not only that, she created the red team, which is the despair team. Still, we don’t know what Mio is planning by taking away fragments of despair from other girls. All we know that Momo becomes deeply disturbed and that’s all.
Either way, I think things are about to get interesting from here. I wonder how Momo, Ruka, and Hiori will deal with the new Mio and Niina duo. Also, how Hiori will react when she finds out that Mio is cooking up this plan and she must fight against her older sister? I guess it’s only a matter of time until that happens.
This was a heavy one. Poor Niina suffered a lot. No wonder she’s usually in a bad mood. Don’t think Mio’s the angel she’s looking for but we’ll see what happens next time. I have a feeling something big will go down.
Yes, I think Nina’s backstory is a rather unfortunate one and she probably experienced the most suffering. Still, I am highly suspicious about Mio as we still don’t know why she went to the other side and erased Momo’s memory of that day. Either way, things are about to become more fierce, or rather, interesting.