The title says it all for this episode as Mako Nakarai is the next pilot. Despite her quiet and solitary looks, she has somewhat of a suppressed history. Born by a mother who was noted to be a prostitute, she continued to live her life as a model student. Teased, ridiculed and often made fun of as a child, Nakarai is now the pilot that wielded the power of Zearth.
Will she kill everyone that she hated like what Honda did, or will she be on the path of redemption and forgiveness? I will be putting up the updated list of children alive right before the “Read more” section for those who wants to avoid too much spoilers on the summary and thoughts.
Updated list of children alive after Ep 10: Click here for the picture
Episode summary
As the chairs revolved around, it was Nakarai’s turn to be the pilot and she said that she would fulfill her duty. Back at school, Nakarai was hitting the dust off the board duster, when her “friends” were throwing cloths at her. She turned around to continue dusting after staring at them, but they continued to draw when she turned away. She then raised her ruler toward them, only to stop and told them to help in cleaning. They then cynically told her to find her father instead if she had time to talk about cleaning, and said that it was probably hard since finding the husband of a prostitute’s wife was embarrassing.
Nakarai ran home and her thoughts were of her trying to be a role model student. She remembered how she was teased by children because her mother was a prostitute and always thought how to do things in a proper way. She asked whether if her way of doing things was wrong, as she returned home to see the mark on her legs. She then remembered Daichii’s sacrifice for her family, before trying to find something to do in order to occupy her mind. Nakarai then went on to make a dress that was for the festival.
As her mother returned home, she quickly removed the dress when her mother came in to say that she would not eat dinner. Her mother then told her not to do too much sewing simply for money, if not her employer would ask her to do much more sewing. Nakarai said she understood. Her mother then told her to eat dinner properly, so that Nakarai would grow up beautiful. Nakarai said it would not happen, but her mother said that Nakarai was her proud daughter.
When the boss of her mother came in, Nakarai asked whether her mother was once a prostitute and he acknowledged it. Nakarai realized it was true and was starting to cry. The boss said that it was her younger days, and tried to alleviate the situation with no avail. Nakarai then asked the boss to find her a customer as she had no money to make the dresses and the fastest way was to be a prostitute. As Nakarai waited in the restaurant for her “customer”, a fat man, a heavily pierced man came in and she worried until a man in a suit came in to introduce himself as Souji. He seemed presentable as they ate dinner, and went to get his car.
Tanaka came over despite saying that she respected Nakarai’s privacy, but Nakarai said that she was not going to escape as she ran into Souji’s car. Souji asked why Nakarai was doing this, and Nakarai replied it was to soothe her mind. Souji asked if she would mind if he gave her the money without doing anything, but Nakarai said that she would not be able to forgive herself if she did things so haphazardly. Souji said that Nakarai was definitely born from her mother, as he was in fact an acquaintance.
Souji already knew Nakarai’s mother before she was born, and actually proposed when her mother was with child (Nakarai). However, her mother rejected the notion, doing the harsh path even though she could actually rely on him if she married Souji. Souji believed that she did not want to depend on anyone especially a guy on things she needed. Souji then brought Nakarai to the bar where her mother was working, as her mother was very surprised at her appearance and started to suspect Nakarai was selling her body. Souji tried to bluff his way through, and said that he was trying to hit on Nakarai as Nakarai looked so much like her mother.
The boss told Nakarai to come in, and told her mother to prepare fruit juice. Her mother asked whether Souji did anything to Nakarai, and he immediately said no. The customers told Nakarai to come over, and one of them was playing with her hair, eliciting a very fierce response from her mother. It seemed that the customer was not taking advantage of Nakarai at all, as he was one who was in love with her mother and wanted to take care of Nakarai as her daughter. It seemed that everyone was in love with her mother, and proposed before, as the boss said that her mother was well loved and one of the customers said that he was rejected as her mother insisted to raise her by her own strength.
Nakarai started to cry as she was touched, and they celebrated. The next day, Nakarai was busy sewing clothes, as she was transfered to the cockpit. Ano thought that it was cosplay but it was in fact an uniform. She had sewed four shirts/skirts as she gave three to Moji, Ano and Aiko as Aiko was touched by the gesture. Tanaka was also glad that Nakarai was in great spirits. As they fought, it was in a forest but it seemed that Zearth’s arms were too long to hit the enemy. With that, Nakarai realized that not everything required doing things the proper way, just as her mother had raised her up, as she released the arms and killed the enemy. At night, Kana asked Tanaka to find Jun’s real mother.
Thoughts
Nakarai and her story
This story to me is the best episode for Bokurano. Filled with warmth, Nakarai’s story brings about a sense of bittersweet happiness, with the story of a girl who is ostracized and how she has found true happiness with her mother. I was very close to tears at the end of the show, because I felt that the story was touched with a very delicate spirit, and if the manga is as what people said to be that impressive, I have no questions at all about the sheer quality of it.
Nakarai had a very beautiful character and I felt that the episode really gave her quite a bit of justice as she had little show time prior to the episode that concentrated on her. To be honest, I really cannot tell much from the various things she had said, which is just as well because she is portraying the type of character that tries to be normal, quiet and a role model for everyone to follow. I felt that the lack of exposure helped me to understand her much more, and I am so impressed that her attempt to be overly responsible is portrayed nicely.
It now shines light in her story, as we realized why she is so quiet and so distant. I always felt that I know little of her, and I am so glad that she was finally understood by the friends in Bokurano. I really felt that she represents the combative spirit of a indomitable soul, one that continues on her fight against people who were definitely wrong toward her. Nevertheless, I am impressed by her resilience, despite the bullying she had all the time.
When she decided to prostitute herself, I seriously went wtf. It’s a good thing that the “pimp” for her mother or more like the boss is smart and kind enough to choose the path to protect her daughter. It is a world with some warmth in the harshest conditions after all.
Nakarai’s mother
Her mother was really impressive. I felt that the story delicately showed the heart of a mother that would do absolutely anything to make sure that her daughter was happy, and fiercely protected her independence in most ways. It is to me, the pride of a woman that is powerful rather than a stubborn woman who refused to get help. I respected her for choosing the way that was honorable, and it is a very tough decision to make to rely on oneself rather than others.
It is also good that her mother and Nakarai finally got into a consensus, even though the family itself is never in any form of true trouble. Her mother clearly loved Nakarai a lot, and Nakarai too loved her mother despite all the ridicule and criticism that she received from everyone. It is definitely impressive that her mother loved her the way she did, and I guess it is somewhat understandable that the guys there are also in love with her.
Kana
They are not blood siblings? What the $^$#@^#$^$@?
11 Comments
But she died. The beauty of Bokurano is that after all that, there lies the empty sense of futility because… she’s dead.
mm..one thing that is sad is to see each of these children die whenever the pilot the robot ._.
i hope that there is way for them to escape from this contract they didnt knw what kind of hell it is .
The only hope we have in Bokurano right now is that we know that one kid besides Kana will live. We don’t know who that is (it was recently revealed in the manga but it might change in the anime).
I like the shoe is being made with respect to the manga (with more screen time dealing with the characters emotions), but I wonder if the show will ever touch on an aspect of Zeaeth that has been seemingly glossed over, and a particular story relevant event.
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I wonder how/if they will introduce these events in the future.
^^^^^ D: I put spoilers tags around some of the text but they didn’t seem to work. My sincerest apologies.
@Tj_han: it is the huge irony of Bokurano, the very fact that despite all the curses/redemption/pain/happiness of discovering things they want, they still die. It seems somewhat of the process of life, where death is not important but the life we spent in between from life to death was the most important.
@Mia: I am actually feeling the pains of sorts to Mako who died without being able to extend her new life. It feel incomplete, and painful compared to the other deaths. It just feels empty.
@Diedrupo: yes, I do wonder who the person is. It better not be that *censored* Jun because I will hope that they throw him in as one of the pilots and I can curse and swear at him. He always seems alone though, and I somehow wish there is a better redemption of thoughts for him, particularly with Kana.
The problematic situation with such a hot tempered person is intriguing and I want to see how it is played out, the relationship with Kana and Jun.
@Shiney: no problem, I added spoilers for you since you have noted them and thanks for trying nevertheless. To be honest, I have never read the manga (except the first 3 chapters). Hmm, the true nature of the game. It feels that there is somewhat just more to it than huge giant aliens coming over to invade. There is something….
I cannot describe, my brain isn’t functioning.
Chizu found Hatagai with Zearth in the anime, so this element still exists, whether the anime producers will take advantage of it remains to be seen (I can tell you now it has critical use in at least one kid’s upcoming story)
I also have read the manga edition, it seems that the anime is more brighter and warmer, which deviates from the dark and gloomy manga……in this episode, it’s abnormal to see the reflection of Nakarai’mother when she saw her daughter in the pub(She should be supposed to feel ambivalent and ashamed,instead of so calm as she is in the anime) The director might want to express the love between the two, but the love in fact is twisty,not the warm kind in the anime.
@Diedrupo: Hmm, I wonder who Hatagai is. My memory does not serve me well enough for this name @_@
@Pony mark: It seems as such. There is an earlier statement that the director of the anime version of Bokurano did not really like the original work of the mangaka, and considered it to be a little too dark for his liking. Nevertheless, the thing is that she probably is in too much of a shock with her daughter in the pub to have any reaction @_@;;;
Hatagai is Chizu’s teacher. Sorry, they probably did not mention his name often enough for it to stick…
@Diedrupo: Not that at all, it’s more like the fact that I have a terrible memory and I cannot remember names easily. O_O
Well, it seems that Zearth allows the pilot to see whatever he or she wants, and where to find it.