“You’re gonna need more of that Kazuki”

I’ve already read the little synopsis for this episode in Newtype a few days ago, so I was really happy to know that Kazuki and Asuka kissed and made up. I salute Kazuki for swallowing his pride and admitting that he was such a pathetic loser, and of course for vowing to change his ways. Looks like Asuka’s words made such an impact on him that it seems to be what drives him in his decisions now, particularly in his dealings with Eriko, like when he was having second thoughts on whether he was going to invite her in their group study.

“I am stupid” –I second the motion.

Nevertheless, I still think that Kazuki was stupid for chasing Eriko just to say… he’s sorry after that incident in the library. I mean, Eriko insulted him (or rather, all of them!), and yet he returns the insult with an apology. If he was apologizing for what Asuka did, that’s meh, because I’m totally with what Asuka said that time, even without my bias for her. I personally believe Eriko deserves that reprimanding, because she just doesn’t know how sharp, cold and painfully blunt her words are. This apathy is what makes people distance them from her. It just so happens that Kazuki is the only one brave enough, or stupid enough, to not give up and still chase after her after being stabbed for a number of times now.

It seems that Eriko agreed to restart the experiment, as we see her with Kazuki in their experimental session. After what seemed to be such an outrageous outburst of declaration in the last episode, Kazuki came back to being the lovestruck guy that he was, who loses all his faculty of judgment whenever he’s with her. I mean, he just sat there riding along with Eriko’s experiments, while she was uttering all those mumble jumble about why her experiment kept failing. Oh, and he blushed when Eriko mentioned of the option of having the kiss again. I know it’s normal for a guy like him to want to experience that kiss again, considering how he is quite infatuated with Eriko ever since that little incident they had. BUT, I am hoping that he’ll snap away from his thoughts about the kiss event, get himself back to reality and knock some sense into Eriko, then finally tell her “I am not your guinea pig!!”. Seeing Kazuki lose his own sense is so not gonna help make Eriko become any more normal.

Eriko thinks that everything can be explained in terms of reason, which isn’t quite possible with her construed logic, and the ever-present inexplicable things in this world, like feelings. While Eriko had too much of this, Kazuki certainly lacks it. The one who has the most chance of transforming Eriko at this point is Asuka, whose powerful words can really get through people. I’m looking forward to more Eriko x Asuka confrontations, not for the catfight, but for the sake of seeing them become closer and have Eriko change through that friendship (if Kazuki won’t prove to be enough to change her). Then again we see a little development in Eriko as she took the exam seriously this time, and aced it of course, partly due to Kazuki’s influence?

This is coffee for eriko… and you call her a genius

On a side note, seeing Eriko so immersed in her experiments for data-gathering and her invention of some weird juice (or coffee as she claims it) reminds me so much of Inui from Prince of Tennis

With that said, I continue to like Asuka’s character, as she remains to be one of the most well-rounded people in this series. Out of all the characters in KimiKiss, I’d say she’s the one who’s got the most balls (pun intended). She’s quick to forgive and doesn’t hold any grudge against people, as we have seen when Kazuki apologized to her Seeing her turning a little tsuntsun when Kazuki first apologized was really cute, and it just shows that she’s not dumb enough to just accept an apology right away. She was checking on Kazuki’s sincerity first :3

We also see Asuka in her unusual depressed state in this episode because of her weakness in academics. It was fun seeing her little panic mode for the exams, and I really admire her determination in just about everything, even in studies which she’s not good at. She does her best in everything and she’s well aware of her abilities and limitations, and she’s humble enough to seek help when she needs it. She might ask Mao to be her love coach next time :3 Asuka showed how level-headed she can be in how she dealt with Eriko. I actually thought she was going to snap at her insult, but she remained calm and civil, and replied in such a way that Eriko will be able to empathize with their situation. Though I have to admit I sometimes think the same way as Eriko (in that library scene in particular), proud as I am able to do things by myself (like projects in college). But then I don’t go about insulting people for their incompetence simply because they can’t achieve the same feat. And I wonder if that’s any better >.>’’’

In contrast to Asuka, I’d say I was pretty disappointed with the little bit of info we learned about Mao in this episode. I know it was discouraging that all her efforts were wasted because she ended up failing in the exams, but seeing her abandon her studies after that is not what I’d call admirable. Flunking because of the flu does not prove anything, but only that fate was against her. She needed to rise above that and try again, if only to satisfy her curiosity in knowing her true abilities. Perhaps if Asuka was with her that time, she would also tell her the very same thing she told Kazuki. That she has the intelligence, the capability to study in a good school and all (unlike her), and yet she’s just putting all those opportunities to waste. Or in Seleria’s words, “she’d slap some sense into Mao too, the same way she slapped some balls into kazuki” And Mao most likely took the entrance exam to other schools for her 2nd or 3rd choice… or not? o__O Though I’d have to admit, seeing the geeky Mao is her tormented state (especially when she failed) was really hilarious Gotta love Mao’s SD faces! :3

Eriko’s negligence of her exams is even more justifiable than what Mao did, if I might say, given her abnormality. But like Eriko, I also think that Mao is a lost kid at this point. If I were to think about her actions, I’d say what drove her to do that is the lack of a sense of purpose, because she wouldn’t have been able to abandon her studies that easily otherwise. Obviously, she wasn’t thinking about her own future and I don’t think she still is thinking about it much up until this time. She envies Kai and perhaps Asuka, who are filled with dreams and are set on their goals, while she doesn’t seem to know what she wants to do with her life. She has a certain passion of being a love doctor, it seems… or being the big sister who takes care of her little brothers. I think that’s going to be one major development in the series, how Mao will be able to discover herself and her own ambitions. This episode was a good start, as we see her undergo the studying rehabilitation.

Now regarding Mao and Kai, I previously mentioned that some musical ripples might just ruin their relationship, but I don’t think that’s much of an issue now. At least at this point where Kai is not yet confiding much about his musical sentiments and dreams, and Mitsuki is still nowhere to be seen. It seems that Mao has come to appreciate music more because of Kai, and I believe he enjoys her company as well. Their relationship is just quite bumpy right now because they’re still in the process of getting to know each other, that’s why it was great to see that Kai is starting to open up to Mao in this episode. Kai was pouting :3 Kai was hurt by the fact that Mao decided to keep her studying dilemma from him, as she made it seem like everything was all fine and dandy~ I understand that Mao’s hesitation stemmed from her uncertainties as to whether he’d welcome the idea. But as we’ve seen, Kai’s little angry pout is enough proof that he wants her to entrust him with her problems, and be involved with her life :3

I believe confiding a certain someone with your problems make them feel special. That’s certainly how I feel about it, as the person being confided with. It marks a significant level in your relationship, may it be in terms of friendship or something more. It not only allows the person to see more of you (it’s even more special if the certain someone is the first one or the only one you’ve told about that problem), it also means that you’re trusting the person, enough for you to open up your heart to him/her about this.

If Kai and Mao won’t be able to work things out and gain each other’s trust, their relationship will be doomed. I still am hoping that they’ll be able to get past this hurdle, and finally see them… click and get back the chemistry they supposedly had in the first few episodes. I still think the fate of this couple is uncertain at this point, until Mitsuki finally shows up make us see what role she’ll play in the life of Kai or Mao (or the other characters for that matter).

As for Kouichi and Yuumi’s relationship, I think they have it slow and steady. They have become good companions now. Yuumi seems a little surprised when Kouichi mentioned that Mao is staying at their house, but he certainly assured her that their relationship is nothing else but brother and sister I believe Yuumi is pretty secure about their relationship, seeing how she can actually tease Kouichi with Mao. I really find them a cute couple, more so because of the trust I see in them. Nevertheless, I still can’t help but wish for a little spicing up in their romance. If the anime will follow after the novel, it’ll have a little melodramatic twist.

I believe the look on Mao’s face at the end of the episode was just her contemplating on how successful she is in making other people’s relationship work out (like Kouichi and Yuumi’s) while she can’t quite patch things up in her own love life.

Yuumi-sensei’s Studying 101

On a side note, Yuumi’s studying technique is what we refer to as association, which is proven to be an effective method for memorizing stuff. I certainly find it useful for retaining more Nihongo vocabularies and grammar patterns, being able to associate it with a certain anime, character, game, manga, jdrama, song, and the like.

Like Totali, I enjoyed seeing Kouchi refer to himself as the “cute little brother”. That was priceless.

the cursed frogs.

As for Nana and Narumi, I actually thought they’re going to pass the exams because they were so inspired. The frogs just proved how it’s such an unhealthy distraction, even to the girls who so love them

Oh, and guess who else at the of the 2nd year class? Yamada Tarou at 2nd place! There’s also Hanako at 3rd. How creative of a name.

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