True Tears 4: Splashy Splashy is Fun

Sorry Noe but you have to share the spotlight…though you still look darling while pouting.

Damn you PA works for dividing my loyalties! I mentioned before how I hoped that Hiromi and Aiko will rise to the occasion and prove themselves as worthy adversaries for Noe, and yes Hiromi and Aiko have risen to the occasion admirably. However now that they have I am not sure which pairing I would like to see. It also helps that other than the Nakagami wife every one is a decent enough bloke.

Trying to steal a kiss eh?

Poor girl, so this is what it looks like to see a hear breaking, so very sad.

I really came to sympathize with Hiromi during her conversations with Shinichiro with every line I could feel that they were driving knife into their hearts to try and conceal their affections toward the other. For Shinichiro his image of Hiromi as a lonely girl plagued with sorrow was utterly crushed. While there was more to Hiromi than basketball and Mrs. Nakagami oppression it does highlight how far Shinichiro has grown from Hiromi. It is a testament to how in the days since her moving in time has not been kind to them. Sure they share many memories, but none of them recent or pleasant ones are of significant import. Shinichiro’s talk of trying to set her up with no. 4 left her on the verge of tears and did much to devastate her heart. Shinichiro also shot himself in the foot and despite what brave face he puts up his feelings for Hiromi betray him. Whatever happens I dearly wish to see them both reconcile and be able to talk candidly again instead of like near strangers.

Yes, Noe you are bold, but are you daring?

Aiko gets to have a little dayto with Shinichiro though it seems that barring the trampling of Nobuse’s heart this pairing can never be. I am opposed to Aiko and Shinichiro hooking up since they most definitely lack chemistry. Aiko love for Shinichiro is pretty much unrequited for the foreseeable future unless Nobuse is getting the shaft that he did not deserve. I sympathize with Aiko’s plight since Shinichiro will never look her way and that when her chance came for what ever reason she ended up with Nobuse. Her dayto turned out to be nothing short of an egregious waste of money in treating Shinichiro. While it may have brought her a measure of happiness it made clear that her chance had long since come and passed given how Shinichiro is willing to confide in her about Hiromi. Aiko walked away with false hope after hearing that Hiromi was interested in Isurugi nii, but then devastated when she encountered Noe. Aiko’s happy genki personality has much more in common with Nobuse than the dour Shinichiro.

Yes, take her hand and never ever let go, for you are about to embark upon a great journey. May you never tire of each other’s company.

Noe is my kind of cupid!

I suspect that there is more to Nobuse than his demeanor implies. I am certain that he has his suspicions about how Aiko feels, but I don’t begrudge him for sticking with Aiko. Perhaps it is in vain for Nobuse but the lad does try his best to woo Aiko. Right now they get along and he is most definitely head over heels in love with her, if the man has his suspicions he doesn’t show it nor is he pressuring Aiko for greater commitment. I hope Aiko realizes how much Nobuse loves her unconditionally. The lad even took a job so that he could treat her instead of being a leech. His going for Aiko’s hand after seeing Noe and Shiniichiro in my opinion was Nobuse trying to comfort her. I hope that Nobuse stays with Aiko through thick and thin even if its going to be a while before the reality of the situation makes itself apparent enough to break any illusions Aiko may still have. Besides as a man Nobuse ought to have enough manliness reserves to see this through to its conclusion. I hope that Aiko realizes that no matter what passing infatuation she may ever have Nobuse’s unconditional love and determination to be at her side is what counts in the end. He is her Nobuse and the only way she can drive him off is to rip out his heart and crush it mercilessly, though with any luck that will not come to pass.

Yes, you are indeed daring.

Noe is being genki and darling as always what with giving Shinichiro his daily rations and tackling him to the ground to see her reflection…Her quip about suspense and tears were eloquently rude and was more the better for it. Okay Splashy Splashy should be the CIA’s euphemism for water boarding because it sounds so cute that it tastefully conceals the horror of it. Noe is far more intelligent that her eccentric manners imply since the bacteria in your mouth are indeed some of the nastiest bacteria around able to crush any bacterial invader that seeks to use the mouth as an invasion route. The same can be said of tear ducts, but mostly because tears are for the most part inhospitable places for bacteria. Noe was also able to discern the true cause of Shinichiro’s puke tears and has agreed to try and bring the two closer together. Sure this is the mark of a angel, and her wings were of the purest white. Her story about the loss of her tears was somewhat touching and her utter faith in her grandmother taking her tears away only shows how much the dauntless Noe loved and trusted her dear grandma. Her insistence that the tears that she recovers are to be of the highest quality merely demonstrates how much Noe honors the memory of her beloved Ba-chan.

So you too have felt a disturbance in the Force?

I can’t believe how unscrupulous Shinichiro was for feeding Noe bird feed. After all that he mocks her…Well given that Noe is a flame that burns twice as bright, in the odd chance that she also burns twice as fast I hope she can bring Shinichiro and Hiromi a degree of happiness before leaving this world. Well at least Shinichiro shares my hatred of crows. Good to see that even if Mrs. Nakagami is a vindictive woman that Mr. Nakagami is a hard working bloke who loves both Hiromi and Shinichiro.

… … … …

Yeah especially sis-cons.

I must say Mrs. Nakagami better have a really good reason for hating Hiromi’s mom to continuously oppress Hiromi like that. Hiromi’s lot in the house is most definitely one of inferiority since I have yet to see Shinichiro do any chores. Mrs. Nakagami’s cutting remarks about Hiromi having her mother’s loathsome eyes coupled with the defaced photo in the preview indicate that whatever history Mrs. Nakagami and Mrs. Yuasa shared it ended on a bad note. I am very curious as to what precisely transpired between them since Hiromi’s father was a dear friend of Shinichiro. Given that Hiromi and Shinichiro shared their childhoods it seems likely that the falling out between head mistresses of the Yuasa and Nakagami happened shortly before the death of Hiromi’s father. If Hiromi is in fact the daughter of Mrs. Yuasa and Mr. Nakagami then I can see why Mrs. Nakagami has it out for Hiromi, but anything else (i.e. Mrs. Yuasa was Mr. Nakagami’s first love or only love, or Mrs. Yuasa and Mr. Nakagami had an affair after the birth of Hiromi) would make Mrs. Nakagami a vindictive bitch. Hopefully more clues will be spread along the way but this mystery is of great importance to the series as a whole.

Congratulations your are a Shounen Hero!

If the Hiromi does turn out to be the half sister of Shinichiro it would add a new layer to the tragedy that is about to unfold given how strongly they feel for one another. Speaking of sis-con Isurugi Jun a.k.a. Hotarugawa No. 4 clearly has a lot of affection for Noe. His first real showing demonstrated his wit and glorious ability to complement Noe and tease her with affection. Besides I like the way this man can label Shinichiro as “carry-on-back man.” The helmet scene definitely showed that this man really loves his sister, but while I suspect sis-con there is a chance that I got nothing. When he recoiled from embracing Noe’s face he was visibly hurt and ashamed. In this respect Jun and Hiromi have a lot more in common, they both love rather eccentric people, love basketball, may very well be in love with a sibling, and while they are physically close to their respective loves the emotional distance is staggering. Given the similarities I don’t think that it is too far fetched for these two to interact more.

Happy Hiromi is a lovely Hiromi.

Your reign as the undisputed male lead is at an end, Shin-chan. Isurugi nii will run you over with Kawasaki Ninja vroom vroom ah ah!

The last scene with Hiromi was a real treat. While intelligence makes a lady most alluring, a smile does make a lady much more radiant and Happy Hiromi was a radiant Hiromi. Still Shinichiro ought to call poison control after his facial cleanser incident. Good to see that Hiromi was not above taking a picture for posterity. If this is any indication then Noe should be more than able to bring about reconciliation between there two. Isuruji Jun however does not automatically take a liking to Shinichiro despite his request that Shin-chan date Noe. Then again the teasing might be a form of affection. In any case next time Noe gets to give Shin-chan a licking and perhaps even Jun and Hiromi will meet face to face for the first time, alone… Still the Nakagami wife had better reveal something to justify her oppression of Hiromi, otherwise may the ghost of Mrs. Yuasa haunt her every step!

She who dares, wins!

All in all a good episode that managed to incite a bit of emotion in this callous soldier. Best of luck to mein good otome Freifau Noe von Isurugi, Freifau Hiromi von Yuasa, and Freifau Aiko von Endo; may you all continue to shine. As for Isurugi nii, Nobuse and Shin-chan, no tears will I tolerate from the likes of any of you nor will I suffer your uncouth ignorance and stupidity! Still may you continue to support those you hold dear.