Kobato 04: From Heaven, With Love

Honestly if it’s a futon it can’t be THAT nice.

This post is a bit late but I’ve decided that’s okay since I won Nanowrimo meaning I’ve finished the first draft of my fifth book! I promise from now on to attempt more than one update per week. In the words of Kobato, Mabdese will do her best!

This episode was too fun. It features Kohaku and Shuichiro from Wish (a lesser loved CLAMP mini-series). This episode made me gush over all these characters again and I had to stop what I was doing, run into the other room, find my Wish manga, and read the manga to the end before I could write this. In this episode Kobato cheers herself on with more “ganbare!” then ever, condones child labor, nurtures her stalking fetish, learns a little bit about love and is given a time limit to collect “candy” by the scariest bunny ever.

Trees make me sad too, or something.

Kobato starts off her morning with a walk around the neighborhood. She does all the stereotypical things one should do including smelling the roses. She stops when she sees a woman in the distance starring at a tree with tears running down her face.

Are you really asking your stuffed animal that?

Ioryogi starts talking to the woman when Kobato approaches her and and Kobato tells him he has to act like a stuffed animal. But this isn’t just any woman, it’s Kohaku – an angel from heaven. Ioryogi tries to show off by asking Kohaku if she knows him.

“Uh, Spot?”

Turns out that Kohaku kind of knows him, but really only his name and really actually only his other name, Iorogi. Kohaku has to run off and water the flowers and Kobato has to get to her job so they part ways.

That’s probably a good sign.

Kobato is her usual space cadet self and spends probably most of the morning starring at this tree in different ways trying to make herself cry like Kohaku.

He’s just sad he can’t explode her with mind lasers.

Kobato: Child Labor Supporter!

Since she hasn’t done a lick of work all the children come and help Kobato clean up the leaves while no doubt she ponders how to heal Kohaku’s broken heart. After work she does the thing she loves to do most…

Secret Agent Kobato doesn’t actually know how to conceal herself!

She goes spying. Is there going to be an episode where she doesn’t sneak around and spy on people? It’s kind of a dubious way to heal hearts. I’m sure even I could figure out your innermost secrets by stalking you for two days.

The happy couple <3

Not only is she spying on them but she also follows them back to their house. While that shows a certain degree of dedication it also falls in the “things my creepy ex did” category. Kohaku is watering the plants when Kobato walks into her yard. Which is creepier still!

This is my favorite moment. It’s the way he just SAYS it.

Kohaku not only forgives Kobato for wandering into her house and spying on her but also apologies for getting them wet like it’s her fault. Angels are way too nice! She apologies so much they have a big long girl talk about Kohaku’s boyfriend, Shuichiro. Kohaku explains that anytime she is happy and thinking about him she cries. I think that’s a red flag in relationships…

+10 points for best explanation to Ioroyogi!

Kobato wants to heal Kohaku’s heart. Kohaku mentions that Shuichiro doesn’t have time to go on dates in amusement parks and Kobato take this a sign of how to fix their love.

Impossible! No one reads newspapers!

Kobato goes and consults said newspaper for more information.

$30 is not that much money.

Luckily after leaving the store she sees a place where they’re raffling off amusement park tickets (it’s the third place prize) but Kobato doesn’t have a lotto ticket to enter the raffle. When she walks away one flies by and she reaches out to grab it…

♪ I believe I can fly ♪

With the ticket in hand (and a complimentary swim in the river) Kobato is ready to play the raffle game. She spins the wheel and out pops a red ball! A winner is her!

I was not aware there were prizes this crappy.

Bummed out Kobato heads home but bumps into Fujimoto-san on the way who is delivering newspapers. Kobato asks him if he works in the pizza place too and he says he does.

Thank you Captain Obvious.

Kobato notices that Fujimoto-san was carrying some amusement park tickets and she kind of freaks out.

“Uh, dude, that’s mine” says Fujimoto.

This is not an equivalent exchange.

Fujimoto lets her deliver all the papers for the amusement park tickets since she really seems to want them and he doesn’t care. I wonder if he also took the crocodile since it doesn’t appear Kobato’s room later.

Stop being polite and take the damn ticket!

Kohaku apologizes and keeps saying she can’t take the ticket even though Kobato is delivering papers for her to have the tickets. Luckily our hero steps in.

This is possibly THE MOST Japanese sentiment ever.

And they lived happily ever after!

Kobato is still spying on them after they get their tickets and go to the amusement park. One of these days someone is going to arrest her. As she leave the bunny from the eyecatch floats down from the sky.

Usagi-san speaks in pink bubbles of psychic energy and GIGGLES the whole time. I’m a little freaked out.

Usagi-san reveals that Kobato only has four seasons (one year for those of you who were having trouble at home) to fill her bottle or her wish won’t be granted! Then he floats into the sky giggling like the Mad Hatter.

You ain’t never gettin’ that wish sister.

Kobato is surprised to see there isn’t a new “candy” in the jar but she didn’t heal Kohaku’s heart she just helped her go on a date. Kohaku was already happy which does not qualify for heart healing status apparently.

Today’s grade: MINUS 100 points!

He might as well add “also you suck at this!” after everything he says.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this episode because I loved Wish and I don’t remember them showing up in Tsubasa. I’m starting to think either Kobato doesn’t need to eat OR she’s just been eating out of trash cans since she doesn’t get paid. I’m also going to be angry if that giant stuffed crocodile doesn’t show up in subsequent episodes. Speaking of that I learned a new word today! わに (wani) means crocodile. I guess I somehow missed that when we were doing our animal unit.

Now that Kobato only has a year to fill up her bottle I’m hoping she can heal multipule hearts at once in the next episode. Or perhaps the size of the candy can be bigger if the person is really broken hearted! Also of note Kobato has a habit of saying “Kobato will do her best!” at an alarming rate. She said it at least five time in this episode I feel like she’s beginning to suffer from self-esteem issues.

Keep on fighting Kobato, I’m cheering for you!