If you really loved me you’d be a creepy stalker!
Oh those two crazy kids! The final chapter in the Haruka arc ends in a manner most befitting the two characters. While not quite the epic kinky of last week, Haruka and Junichi come together in that crazy, but adorable, but crazy, but adorable, but crazy manner that has been the hallmark of their relationship thus far. The day starts off fairly normally, with Junichi summoning some of Patrick Colasour’s luck in running into Haruka near an arcade, then talking in the park where Junichi was stood up. But on Christmas Eve, Haruka pulls off a brilliant total victory, a setup so transparent that she had to have been using it to tease Junichi.
My, what a great pun there Junichi. にしし。
More roleplay already, Haruka?
Lovely? Seriously? You sure you’re not 1/4 Engrish, not English?
She even named you, Junichi, how do you feel about that? And she compares him again to a dog, this time to her deceased pet. That aside, it was kind of a nice setup that had them talking at the park and remembering what happened a year ago. I’m thinking that in each arc it will be each girl the same day at the same location, but they would have said different things to Junichi and thus shaped his reaction so that we have a different ‘What If?’ version of Junichi each arc.
At the end of their talk at the park Junichi asks Haruka out for a Christmas Eve date, and he’s turned down. But fear not, as it is only because Haruka’s grandparents will be visiting Japan, so instead he is invited along to their get-together. This would all become a pretense when Haruka’s grandparents cancel their trip, but like the playfully manipulative girl she is Haruka seizes the opportunity to play with Junichi for awhile first. Since he ran to meet her she wants him to clean himself up before meeting her grandparents…by taking a swim in a hotel pool and riding the waterslides with her. After she’s had her fun with him there she tells him that they’re an hour late for their plans, and then disregards it to Junichi’s shock. And then she tells him that it would be a shame to waste the room that was already reserved. Not only that, she announces her intention to stay in the room and goes right to taking a bath while Junichi is left bewildered by the pace of things out in the living room.
Oh there’s just so much to work with here. Perhaps “you’ve been a bad boy Junichi, you need to be punished.” Nah, something else. How about “bad dog! Roll over like the lowly animal you are!” Yes, that’s the ticket!
Oh this isn’t more roleplaying, Haruka has moved on to LARPing.
Oh jeez, this episode just laid it on thick with the flag tripping. But it all proceeded according to Haruka’s design.
Waste not, want not, Junichi.
Meanwhile the rest of the characters are at the school festival, including my dear Ayatsuji Tsukasa. If the panning from one girl to another at the start of the OP is indicative of the order (so far it is), it looks like I’ll have to wait until the end of the series for her arc.
Junichi waits outside while Haruka bathes wondering how to act when she comes out in a towel upset that he didn’t peak at her. That he DID NOT try to peak at her. Oh Haruka, you so crazy. Apparently she wanted him to as a sign that he likes her and thinks a relationship with her can work, and she breaks down into her weaker, confidence-lacking self in front of him. While Haruka has been taking the initiative for most of this episode, leading Junichi into her high class love nest, now it’s his turn to act boldly. They really are just perfect for each other, one rising to the occasion when the other slips, and Junichi confesses all his feelings over again and with more strength. Embracing her he tells her that he wants to be with her forever, and how the rest of the night goes is left to our imaginations. And then we get a brief Amagami: After Story set 10 years later. Now married, we see Hibiki talking to Haruka in her kitchen while Junichi makes his cheesy entrance brandishing his police badge for what’s implied to be the millionth time. And Haruka eats it up still, laughing and holding hands and obviously still madly (emphasis on the mad, for the both of them) in love. They’ve become an adorably mushy couple ten years after, even if it might be a bit too sugary sweet for Hibiki to watch.
Jeez, Junichi why can’t you be a creep?!
Junichi looks more like he’s taken a powerful attack in Yugioh than someone in a romance series. He should have screwed the rules, he’s got Haruka!
DDDAAAAWWWW crazy, crazy love!
Hibiki knew from the start and offered the counsel and solutions to help them along from the shadows. I hearby award her the Oberstein Order of the Velvet Glove for her efforts in supporting Junichi X Haruka.
One has to wonder if he got into police work because Haruka wanted some handcuffs and a police uniform. Though I suppose all the roleplaying helped him with undercover work. Also, as a trenchcoat wearing detective does this mean the puppy was trying to emulate Jett ‘The Black Dog’ Black?
DDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW! BEST END!
Happily ever after.
Final Thoughts: - Well that was a fun time. Junichi and Haruka really went well together with their quirks and odd habits, and it wasn’t just that they fell into their interactions. Both of them, and especially Junichi, put in a lot of effort to make things work. Plus they had Hibiki to help things along at just the right moments as well. It could be downright hilarious to watch them, but it somehow never really felt outside the realm of reality. You really could imagine people like them interacting like they did. Surely odd, but not beyond reason.
- The ending was certainly cute, and I really enjoyed the ten years later part at the end. Hopefully each arc will have such a denouement. Overall the last episode didn’t have the impact of the previous one, but it would be hard to top that and have an ending to the story at the same time. I wasn’t blown away, but I came out of the experience feeling satisfied with how it ended.
- Next arc is Kaoru ‘Sex Hair’ Tanamachi, a character who I know has been eagerly awaited by many viewers. It’ll be interesting to see how the reset is set up, and I’ve mentioned at least twice now in my posts that I’m speculating that Junichi reacts differently to being stood up, drawing different lessons and becoming a somewhat different person because of this. I can’t really see it being done all that differently without the show getting repetitive. How exactly would puppy dog Junichi manage to suit all six girls?
23 Comments
Hibiki is the best. That is all.
She’s a great character, I’d love to have a sidestory special episode or DVD extra about her and whoever she ends up with by the 10 years later point.
I freely admit to being rather disappointed that we do not get a Hibiki arc. She does pretty much own.
hmmm highschool romances that lead to marriage check. seemingly loser male lead getting girls out of his league… check. i do not see what you see in this show.
He sees beyond the veil of pigeonholing something based on generalizations…
and what he sees is awesome!
AMAGAMI FTWWWW
Haha, thanks. While I came into this show thinking that it would be more along the lines of KimiKiss: Pure Rouge, it’s very fun in its own right. And who knows, there’s five more arcs so maybe one will be more of the more drama-focused or love triangle variety.
The high school romance leading to marriage thing is pretty far from realistic, but if you can look beyond that one fact there’s a lot here to like. For one Junichi is far from the typical loser harem animu lead. He’s had moments of self-doubt and borderline emo-ness, but it was always followed up quickly by a redoubling of his efforts and motivation. Such determination is definitely commendable and something that I’d like to see in more romance leads. Haruka and this arc’s version of Junichi are a great match for each other too, they’re both so weird that it’s perfect as a couple. They play their respective vulnerable and confident sides off each other with great synergy.
Well that’s my case for why this show is worth watching. Hoping that the next arc does something as interesting and unconventional as well.
hmmm well the whole reset and him going for a different girl thing is kinda the biggest turn off for me… but after watching interception im more open to the idea. i guess i could pretend its its like the movie but instead of implanting ideas hes trying to date everyone on his team in different dreams… lol
inception not interception…
Just like junichi said i should have peek… XD Hahaha I’m gonna miss haruka and her kinky roleplay, huh… I guess hinagiku turn was over so next week we have energetic biri-biri arc.
Oh Haruka, she has already earned her place as one of this season’s most memorable characters. I can’t wait to see more of Kaoru, and to see what the next arc’s Junichi is like.
I HATED the end. I think it may have more to do with the fact that I don’t want the Haruka arc to be over than it does with the episode being bad (b/c it wasn’t so bad). And after the mind blowing episode last week, this one was just womp womp. My husband doesn’t even watch this show and he’s STILL trying to surprise me around the house with a behind the knee kiss. I’m sad it’s over, but I can’t wait to see if the other arcs will be as delightful as this one.
It’d be pretty hard to surprise someone with a kiss behind the knee. Better move on to the ramen.
He got me once. He snuck up behind me on all fours while I was folding or something and scared the crap out of me. He’s such a weirdo. Actually, I think I like Haruka and Junichi so much because I see a lot of my relationship in theirs.
Amagami SS: spicing up anime fans relationships since 2010.
Haruka’s arc was a great time, but who knows what fun stuff may lie ahead. Onwards!
awww… the 4-episode Haruka-arc is just the best. can’t agree more.
and hey, Kaoru ‘S3x Hair’ Tanamachi is next? what!? S3x Hair? oohhhh…. kinky! XD
Yeah, that’s what everyone seems to be referring to her as. I guess I can see how it looks like messy ‘after sex hair’, but myself I just think she has nice, wavy hair. It’s not that uncommon with Japanese people, but for whatever reason ‘sex hair’ is what everyone seized on when they first saw her character design.
I just call her Sex hair because her hair is sexy as hell. Plus she’s a Tomboy and a Childhood Friend. With all 3 of those triggers, if anyone can outshine Haruka, I figure it has to be her. Gonna be hard tho, Haruka’s arc really bought the pain.
oohh…. so that’s all about s3x hair…
ええ、しまったっ。僕覗きにかなか行かなったのか〜 絶望した〜
I should have taken a peek!? Zetsuboushita! (The first part was painful to transcribe. I really do hate past tense forms of adjectivic stuff in Japanese (eg あたたかかった); hope I got it right.)
Going all srz-business: When Haruka told Junnichi he should have peeked, I thought, well, maybe he actually respects you. Now that’s something we don’t see too often. Also, ten years of marriage and no kids (to be seen)? Well, I suppose it’s probably best for them. Kids tend to reduce the romance in a relationship, and cause midlife crises. Damn, now I’m getting depressed.
I disagree with your theory that each girl will say something to him at the park a year ago. That would become far to formulaic, even if handled well. Plus, it doesn’t make sense seeing the source material. Usually in a VN galge, the main chara starts out surrounded by girls, and has an equal chance with all of them.Scratch that, you might be right. Notice how they only bring up the connection once Junnichi’s relationship with the girl is pretty much guaranteed. Thus, it can be matched to whichever girl he gets that arc/path. Dirty cheaters. I still say it’s formulaic, tho.Interesting you think there’ll be a ‘different’ Junnichi each arc. Did Various Heroines do this? I don’t know, since I only read Eriko’s chapters.
I think there was some error there, shouldn’t it be 覗かなかったいけないのか？though it translates a little different, it feels more appropriate than a past tense ending to me. Then again I am a bit rusty since it’s been two years without language classes every day.
Haha, I thought the same thing about Haruka’s response to Junichi not peeking. I salute Junichi and Haruka’s decision in the afterstory, for it is my plan for life as well. Kids seem to ruin everyone’s fun (as well as drain their time and money. I also just have no desire to raise one.)
The past connection thing has been established in the first episode of Kaoru’s arc, though they put it at the front instead of the end like with Haruka. Which I think is a better choice since it immediately shows us what Junichi took away from that Christmas instead of the viewer finding out at the end when it has almost no impact on how we take in the narrative. It’s a formula that Junichi will meet each of the girls on that Christmas, but I think it works well as a branching off point for the different timelines and seeing what might have been.
It sure sounded like のぞく, although with the negation it doesn’t make sense. The rest was too damn fast for me to follow, so you’re probably right. 覗きにかなか行かなったのか (に-form of 覗く?) does make some sense, except for the errant か just before 行. So it’s more likely 覗かなかった.
Then again, I could’ve sworn it ended in ‘…たのか’. Wonder if we can get the transcript from the subbers.
Well, I haven’t watched ep 5 yet, so I guess I’ll have to go and do that. For some reason, I’m surprised they’re doing Kaoru’s arc so early. But since they only have 6 to work with, I guess someone had to go second. *shrugs at not making sense*
I didn’t realize you were quoting the show, I though you had written it to go with the SZS exclamation at the end, heh. Wasn’t paying close enough attention to the phrasing Junichi used in that scene. I’ll have to go back and listen.
As for Kaoru being second up, I don’t know but I would venture a guess that her ‘sex hair’ hasn’t caused the near hysteria in Japanese fans as it has in foreign ones. Ayatsuji Tsukasa is the ‘mascot’ girl for the original game, so I’m guessing that she’s the most popular one in the domestic market.
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