Crusader approved!
Well this is supposed to be Haruka’s arc, but by that maybe that doesn’t necessarily mean that Junichi will be the other half of the relationship. Haruka stalking Miya, spying on the girls swim team, asking to borrow Miya’s school swimsuit, all the signs are pointing more to a YURI END than the expected GOOD END for Junichi. But my penchant for shipping and innuendo aside, there is progress on the Junichi front, though it is a slowly developing situation. Much like Haruka’s obsession with puppies, things progress in a rather cute and innocent manner. But Junichi’s deciding to summon up a bit of BURNING SHOUNEN SPIRIT in regards to his chances with Haruka does result in a small payoff and the promise of better to come.
High School of the Dead.
Ayatsuji is MAI WAIFU of the season. DO NOT CLAIM! Can’t wait for her arc, and for Kaoru’s.
I believe that the purpose of letting students rest in infirmaries in Japan is simple to trigger flags. And of course the nurse is always out. This must be instituted in the US educational system post haste! Want to increase school attendance and performance? Anime has shown us the way!
Haruka is with Team Coco.
This has been a public service announcement from Amagami SS. They’re looking right at the screen!
I salute your quick recovery from emo and insomnia!
With his renewed resolve, Junichi attempts to embark on some special training with Masayoshi, for some reason involving pro wrestling practice. Haruka then wants to join in, but it’s wingman vs wingman as Hibiki steps in and breaks things up before either guy and BE FRIENDLY with her on the gym mats. Things are looking up for Junichi as they walk home together, but now the yuri begins. Hibiki has to chastise Haruka again for peeking on the girls swim team while they practice; apparently this is a frequent appearance. But Masayoshi tries to be a good wingman and asks Haruka if other guys have asked her out and what she would do if someone confessed twice. While the answer is inconclusive, it is at least a spark of hope for Junichi. This is not the last word on yuri though, as the next day Junichi and Miya run into her and Miya goes full throttle tsun tsun at her before running off, jealous of how Junichi perks up as soon as she appeared. She even keeps her friend away from Junichi later in the episode. But how does Haruka respond? She goes on and on about how cute Miya is and how she wants to get closer to her. Point: yuri, advantage: yuri!
Meanwhile at the Tohno Mansion…
Serious Akiha vibes going on here. I think Haruka lives in the supernatural horror show across town from Amagami and commutes to school.
She wants to do a German Suplex.
Hibiki doesn’t want you looking at other girls. She is looking a bit MariMite in that outfit.
Haruka wants to do this and that with them.
Haruka wants to initiate Neko Mimi Mode on Miya. Neko Miya Mode? :3
The other characters continue to have short appearances and interactions, which is a nice way to keep them in the story even when it’s another girl’s arc. Also, I just needed an excuse for more Kaoru.
At the end of the school day Junichi is taking care of emptying the garbage when Haruka asks a most unusual question of him. She ask is he has a girl’s swimsuit on him, in particular Miya’s. Her yuilicious feelings towards Miya seem to have gone to new depths, or new heights depending on your interests. She says that she wants to go swimming and doesn’t have her own swimsuit, but given her recent remarks it’s likely to take in the ‘scenery’ while the team practices. Junichi is dragged along, wastebasket in hand when they run into Nanasaki Ai, a member of the team who’s not quite sure how to take this intrusion into her practice time but lends Haruka a swimsuit anyway. She also has a good bit of Ayanami Rei in her voice and appearance; no word on whether Haruka likes that archetype. Hibiki is pretty quick to break up Haruka’s fun when she finds them though, and both are ordered to leave the pool and let the team practice in peace.
Walking back Junichi asks as timid as the puppies in the photobooks, if Haruka would like to go to the library and indulge her appetite for cute little, Miya-like things. It’s pretty facepalm worthy and awkward of him, but to be honest it’s probably not all that out of character for a timid high school student who is desperate to find an excuse to spend more time with her. He searches the stacks and bumps into Rihoko, commenting about how she’s always looking at either cooking or diet books. Returning to the table, Junichi finds Haruka asleep and puts his jacket on her. She sleeps for some time, and apparently the librarian is fine with just leaving students in the school after everyone has left and the lights have been turned off. When she wakes up Junichi summons up his courage and confesses again, very straightforward and confident, saying that he’s most afraid of not giving it another try. Even if Junichi has moments of emo, he continues to show a commendable ability to rebound and move forward. Haruka is in fact more nervous despite being older than him, and seems afraid that she’ll lose control or something if she gets into a relationship. But Junichi’s second confession works, and in the slow, kind of innocent style of this arc so far, she moves quickly out of her seat and kisses him on the forehead.
Doesn’t everyone?
Doujinshi writers: on your mark, get set, GO!
Channeling the spirit of Kimura-sensei.
Yes, a coincidence…
Desperation in action. But hey, it worked.
DDAAAAAWWWWW.
Junichi’s headed for some Deep Love. But in seriousness, it will be interesting to find out what’s making her so apprehensive.
Puppy Love.
Final Thoughts: – Some serious obsession there with Haruka and Miya, perhaps she likes to collect cute things. As Kabitzin pointed out, maybe the real love triangle of this arc is Miya-Junichi-Haruka. Miya’s jealous, near-yandere bro-con, Junichi going timidly after Haruka, and Haruka stalking Miya. It certainly provided lots of entertainment along the way to Junichi’s second confession.
- The dynamic playing out between Junichi and Haruka is definitely a bit awkward and a bit sweet. Junichi really is acting like the younger party in some ways, kind of acting less confident and almost powerless, yet he is the one who takes the initiative. And while Haruka would seem to be the more confident one, she’s been backing off and becoming more nervous and almost like she should be the younger one. As the story progresses, the positions seem to be shifting from one character to the other as Junichi takes the initiative more and Haruka becomes the timid one.
- I like how the other girls are still getting moments in the show. As the arcs go on I really think that they’re going to benefit from how the show is laying the groundwork for future stories. Haruka’s arc has been going along well, but imagine how smoothly other arcs will start now that so much is being introduced here that they can build off of. Take the encounter with Rihoko in the library. It would feel unnatural if Junichi didn’t run into his other classmates from time to time in another girl’s arc, and it establishes a bit of her personality ahead of time. Now when we move on to her arc, this bit of character setup will already be established, leaving more room for a more in-depth exploration of her character and her relationship with Junichi.
18 Comments
YURI END is GOOD END
I would agree, just not for Junichi
Junichi has been FRIENDZONED…
Also looking at Morishima in the sickroom, CHANCE!!!
Hehe, he should have pulled an intentional version of Chiri in the infirmary from Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and pushed the beds close then rolled over ‘in his sleep’ into the other. Keikaku doori.
There can never be enough Kaoru.
Indeed, though Ayatsuji is still my girl this season. Gotta love the class rep character.
I’m enjoying the show thus far. It’s the kind of fun where I can just turn off my brain and sit back and enjoy the ride. The cliches in this show are a little annoying, but I’m not really watching this show for realism or anything, so keep at it Amagami SS!
Yeah, so far it’s got a good bit of cliches but is still fun. Given its connection with KimiKiss though I’m expecting some great stuff in later arcs.
Cliches are annoying, but they are done in a way that they don’t scream at me. Not to mention, even if the cliche’s are blatant, I am entranced at a male lead with initiative. He isnt afraid of his feelings, he is acting on them, trying to make what he wants happen. It isnt a bumbling stupid service-type show where he goes around oblivious and getting in a million ‘misunderstanding’ situations.
All in all, I agree that the best left turn in the arch would be a yuri win, I think it needs to happen. The above stated triangle with each character chasing someone else would be refreshing, especially since there is yuri. Yuri is king.
It is nice that Junichi has confidence, even if it’s shaken at times, and now that you mention it the show has avoided the usually endless ‘misunderstandings’ thing. Thank god.
YURI END would be a pretty sweet, if unlikely, ending for one of the arcs. Though on that note given that the show has six arcs to play around with I’m hoping they have the balls to potentially upset fans of at least one of the girls and have something like a friendship ending or a BAD END or something unconventional.
I think they would almost have to do something different with at least one of the first three arcs to keep the excitement level up on the show. If Junichi is 3 for 3 on the start it would build drama for the last three to be really different or give that potential let down of him going perfect and the shows turns into basically just watching a guy have a successful relationship with 6 different girls in 6 different situations. I think that is almost impossible to happen, I agree that something different will happen, Im just not sure if the studio is ballsy enough to do it with the first arc.
True, if it happened in the first arc it might make fans of the original material raegquit, same with people who would be expecting a more formulaic format. As you say, arc 4 might be the critical point where something other than a GOOD END for Junichi would take place. There would be the prior buildup, but enough of the series left to absorb any shock caused by this turn of evens. Arc 5 could be another possible point.
Not being familiar with Amagami at all, I dismissed it as yet another romance adapted from a game. I didn’t realize it had a yuri end though. Now I’m seriously reconsidering picking this up.
I’m not familiar with the original game either or the manga adaptation, but I’m guessing that it doesn’t have an actual yuri end, just lots of yuri subtext in this arc with Haruka. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be hoping for the BEST YURI END to one of the arcs, hehe.
Hmm, I watched a different sub, so I got “There’s no way I can just say no” instead of “I won’t be able to leave you alone.” Apparently the latter’s more accurate (ほっとけないじゃない), so I guess I missed out. Which did you watch?
You know what would be awesome? If Junichi started confessing to her every day, and it became their ‘routine’ until she gives in. Well, I guess it only took twice, but it will be interesting to see how this turns out. Because…
Is it just me, or does Haruka seem to be mildly bipolar? Well, maybe not; maybe she’s just showing more depth of character than the typical female lead. She switches between the cute go-get-’em do-it-all (you know what I mean) and the subdued side she’s showed twice, at the end of each episode.
There’s definitely a reason, I just wonder if they’ll have time to satisfactorily explain it. I’m assuming each arc is going to be four episodes (24 episodes ÷ 6 girls = 4).
Anyways, just my disjointed thoughts. I shouldn’t try to say anything unless I have something to say; maybe wait for the end of each arc.
Speculation is more than welcome, it’s not going to stop me from throwing around theories mid-arc, hehe. As for the subs I went with the Eclipse subs since they’re a fansubbing group that I’ve known for a long time. If I recall correctly I was watching Eclipse stuff back in 2006 even.
Haruka does have that weird back and forth to her personality. For most of episode 01 she was pretty calm and seemed more mature, but in most of episode two she’s turned into a more energetic, almost immature character. Junichi has had to switch to being the more mature one, but it makes you wonder why Haruka switched.
Yuri? you mean Yuri Gagarin?
Well a YURI END would be out of this world *rimshot*. :3