Kimi ni Todoke episode 10 – The Brink of War

SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT – RESTRICTED DISSEMINATION

SUBJECT: 1. NEW DISINFORMATION TACTICS ENCOUNTERED AND SUCCESSFULLY COUNTERED.

…………….2. NEW INTEL ON PAST KURUMI OPERATIONS.

…………….3. IMMEDIATE THREAT OF OPEN CONFLICT.

DATE: EARLY DECEMBER 2009

SOURCE: A PROVEN SOURCE WITH DIRECT ACCESS

1. KURUMI (FULL NAME FOUND TO BE KURUMIZAWA UME) HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY SPOTTED CONDUCTING OVERT OBSERVATIONS AGAINST ALLIED ASSETS. IN TWO MEETINGS WITH SAWAKO SHE ATTEMPTED TO SPREAD FALSE INTELLIGENCE THROUGH CLAIMING KNOWLEDGE OF KAZEHAYA THAT WAS INTENDED TO DISCOURAGE FUTURE OPERATIONS. THIS WAS SUCCESSFULLY COUNTERED AND TURNED INTO ENCOURAGEMENT. ENEMY WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN BY INEFFECTIVENESS OF HER ACTIONS.

2. ALLIED OPERATIVE ‘NARROW EYES’ HAS BROUGHT FORTH INTEL ON PAST KURUMI DECEPTION OPERATIONS, CONFIRMING MUCH OF WHAT WAS SUSPECTED FROM RECENT INTEL.

3. KURUMI HAS STATED INTENTIONS TO UNDERTAKE DIRECT ACTION AGAINST ALLIED ASSETS. HOSTILITIES MAY HAVE ALREADY COMMENCED BY THE TIME THIS CABLE REACHES YOU. WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INTEL AND AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

There was much to celebrate this episode, as well as much to fear. Sawako has been followed around a lot lately by Kurumi, attempting to unnerve her, but aside from some nervous waving back has impacted things little. Chizu and Ayane observe this the whole time and don’t like it one bit, especially Chizu. Still somewhat nervous about talking to Kazehaya now that she’s starting to realize her feelings, Sawako is wishing that she could be more open and natural like she imagines Vichy-tan to be when, speak of the devil, she shows up and offers to listen to anything Sawako has to say. This is a most wonderful scene as it goes far from keikaku doori for Vichy-tan. Sawako explains to her about how she’s been feeling nervous talking to Kazehaya, and Kurumi, the manipulative, self-serving, lower than pond scum deceiver that she is uses this conversation to try and tell Sawako that she and Kazehaya are just too different, that she shouldn’t consider Kazehaya talking with her to be anything meaningful,  and that she would  be more comfortable talking to someone else. But her treacherous ways have no effect on Sawako, who decides to reject Kurumi’s real intent and substitute her own interpretation, simultaneously taking Vichy-tan’s suggests as pointers on how to speak to Kazehaya more and putting the sting to Vichy-tan by calling her normal and plain repeatedly. Vichy-tan again tries to undermine true love when she runs into Sawako in the hallway later in the day, only to have Sawako thank her for the inspiration on how to be more open to Kazehaya. The shock on Kurumi’s face was delightful, and I savored ever second of it, cheering and laughing as I watched (and rewatched).

We also get evidence of Kurumi’s past duplicity, which just further confirms what we’ve suspected all along. Chizu’s particular hatred of The Enemy is explained by her having gone to middle school with the conniving little rat. This incident has come to be known as the Middle School Kazehaya Putsch. When one girl liked Kazehaya, Kurumi approached Chizu asking her to introduce the two. The girl was rejected, but Kurumi kept bringing more lovestruck girls to Chizu for introductions who were also refused. This was Phase 1 of her plan. Eventually Chizu got so sick of having to introduce every single girl who had a little middle school crush on Kazehaya that she refused to keep doing the introductions. This was Phase 2, for it both marginalized Chizu (the one person who might have an in with Kazehaya that stronger rivals could utilize) and frustrated a sufficient amount of girls. Phase 3 was Kurumi suggesting to everyone not to ask Kazehaya out under the pretense of the collective good, and the girls were all too willing, in their state of emotional distress, to agree to this. Many dictators have used such manufactured states of crisis to assume power or implement their policies, and Kurumi seems to at least have paid attention to that part of history class. Chizu has written this into her Book of Grudges and warns Ayane of this, however Ayane has a keen mind and needed no outside information to develop her threat analysis of Vichy-tan.

Near the end of the day Sawako is watering the flowers when Kazehaya runs into her on his way to buy some Powerthirst during a break in practice. Having gained a little confidence despite Kurumi’s efforts, Sawako also has a moment of realization, now understanding that Kazehaya is just as nervous as she is. They finally start having a very pleasant conversation, and Kazehaya remarks that it’s been too long since he last saw her smiling. He plans on building a dog house for Maru-chan soon, and as Sawako Sawayakyaaas in her mind about the puppy Kazehaya invites her to come and visit him. HOME INVITATION ACCOMPLISHED! With the prospect of Sawako getting to go over to Kazehaya’s house for some quality time together all seems right with the world. But Vichy-tan is spying once again, and Sawako’s impending victory is too much for her to stand. She calls out from the window on the upper level from which she was conducting surveillance and asks to talk to Sawako. As the two walk Vichy-tan, desperate now that all her covert means have failed her, asks for Sawako’s help with the guy she likes. It is likely part of the plan that Epi outlined in his episode 09 post, and she tells Sawako that Kazehaya is the one she likes. I can hope that Sawako will have the strength to put her foot down and oppose Vichy-tan, but given her overconcern for others she may be duped into backing off or even trying to help Kurumi out of feelings of inferiority. But if this is the case then at least Chizu and Ayane have a clear picture of the situation and can help set Sawako on the right track. I also foresee a possible role for Ryuu in all of this, coming out of the background at just the right moment to deliver an ultimate attack against Kurumi, revealing her ugly heart for all to see.

Crusader’s Record of Kazehaya War



Great minds do think alike…

I may have a cold, but my fury has reached new heights as the vile Vichy-tan reveals her true self and what a conniving harlot she is. Having failed to catch Kazehaya for so many years she tries to pull off her own twin tailed gambit but the end result is as revolting as her schemes. Not content with being a lowly copy cat Vichy-tan goes so far as to rudely interrupt any moments of friendship as well as Kazehaya’s attempts at conversation. Yoshida tells the tale of how Vichy-tan’s treachery all began in middle school as she led a parade of girls to the slaughter. This upon the broken hearts of many did Vichy-tan abuse Yoshida’s good will and institute Godless Communism over Kazehaya. Sure it may have been that it was “every one’s Kazehaya” but only the Supreme Soviet that was Ume that could initiate flirtation. Being born a lazy bitch she rested upon her laurels, Ume the Ugly tries to repeat her previous success at manipulation but due to Sawako’s Zeus given pure heart and ignorance of social norms it is an exercise in futility for that uncouth harlot.

Try as Ume the Ugly might, her attempts to break Sawako’s self confidence end in glorious failure. Unable to accept that Sawako has the blessings of Almighty Zeus Ume the Useless fumes and chaffs under the weight of her most deserved defeat and once again seeks to interrupt Kazehaya from following the tenents of courtship as Patrick had laid forth. However Zeus did not take kindly to Ume the Undignified’s interruptions and has Kazehaya speak the true name of the demon. Ume’s weakness is laid bare and I hope that the sting of it was amplified by the fact that the Kazehaya that she so covets had given Sawako her true name so hat the ritual of banishment might begin. Now at the end of her string of tricks the wicked Ume tells Sawako how she has always loved Kazehaya and has the audacity and arrogance to demand that Sawko help her achieve false love with her Fake Tears as I have forseen. Zeus willing her plans will be SMASHED INTO ATOMS and her fell heart shattered for all time as the just reward for her years of plotting and waging and unjust war on true love. I trust that Sawako will help but due to the hideousness of Ume the Unrepentant’s soul her ploy will fail regardless of any aid she gets from Sawako.

I think this episode clears up any and all doubt as to what Ume the Ugly is up to and how foul her methods are. Just goes to show how the agents of evil can come to us in guises most pleasant, it must certainly suck to be one of those apologists who held out a fool’s hope as to Ume the Urchin’s good nature. I could see her for the foul creature that she truly was and am willing to overlook past foolish remarks about Ume’s innocence. I hope that those who dared to defend her reflect on how woefully off the mark they were. The enemy has been plotting long but her facade will not last against Sawako’s pure heart that shows only confusion over her pangs of heartache and affection.

Twin tail fail…



My niche is killing Jihad-kuns, but I’ll expand my horizons and make an exception for you Ume.

She cut her nose to spite her face…

Kill yourself for one, seeing as how you cannot repent…

Get in line bitch.

ExecutiveOtaku’s Unadulterated Adoration of Sawako and Current Intelligence Report

Chizu and Ayane do not appreciate all the stalking and interruptions. Not that Kurumi has managed to put Sawako off-balance anyway.

Ayane is right to be suspicious.

Sawako can’t sleep after being woken up by Kazehaya appearing in her dreams.

Sawako, heed the words of mai waifu and seize the initiative as Mayama did after his dream.

Vichy-tan’s GN Pixiedust Particles had no effect on Sawako or Kazehaya.

Deploying ‘nervous respect’ countermeasure system.

Sawako must develop better situational awareness. As Kurumi’s defeat becomes clear to her there’s no telling what she might try out of desperation.

Not sure why her imagination sounds like Americans with barely any Japanese language training, but it certainly was funny. I kind of like American Sawako.

Evil exists in this world and it’s name is Kurumi.

She’s getting desperate. Her carefully built up facade of innocence has collapsed and her true intent is written all over her face.

From you maybe.

A better translation for ‘futsuu’ would have been normal. Sawako uses the term to devastating effect, it clearly gets to Vichy-tan. Obligatory “futsuu tte iu na!”

YES! WITNESS YOUR FAILURE AND DESPAIR!!!!

OHHH, unintentional ICE BURN!

Kurumi in her true form.

Such is her sense of duty and honor. Unfortunately that’s what Vichy-tan used against her.

But they were all of them deceived.

CHIZU SMASH! Throwing a desk, a nonviolent variant of the Steel Chair Effect.

Kurumi’s plotting is impressive to behold, even if it is in service to an evil will.

Chizu won’t be burned twice.

Ayane is a skilled analyst. Together with Chizu’s muscle the Sawako Alliance will have no problem dealing with their enemies.

Not if these two have anything to say about it. You’re not the only one who can work from behind the scenes Kurumi!

We get some Kazehaya internal monologue for the first time in a while. He’s clearly been feeling the same way as Sawako and this just confirms the development of mutual feelings.

A moment of clarity. Knowing later that all this happened as Kurumi watched made it even better.

Surely a milestone in their relationship.

Awww. How nice of Kazehaya to be so direct. He just needed a moment without Kurumi’s meddling interruptions.

EO’s DAAAWWW of the Week: kyaaa’ing over Maru-chan.

Things are going splendidly.

MUAHAHAHAHAHA! Take a good long look Kurumi!

We have her full name. Quick, get the Death Note!

All her false claims to being close to Kazehaya are now revealed for the lies that they are.

Sawako is still looking up to Kurumi, but Kazehaya looks less than thrilled by both her interruption and the thought of Sawako spending time with her.

Calling her Ume seems to hit a nerve. Must be that thing about banishing a demon by speaking its true name. I hope this relates to some past trauma that can be used against her. UME UME UME!