@CCY: I honestly don’t want the kiss to affect Kazuki all that much, or else that’ll seem as if the physical attraction is what makes up his “love”.

Eriko has the potential to become the character who has undergone the most development in the series, and I just want to see this tackled well. I’m not closing my doors for Eriko x Kazuki, but I want to see a solid development, make us see Kazuki’s deep reasons for wanting to love Eriko. Without that, I won’t approve of this pair.

and don’t worry, Mentar filled in the Eriko defense line for you, firing it to me at full blast

@Mentar: wow, that was an EPIC comment ^:)^

Despite how I initially abhored how Kazuki x Eriko’s relationship started with a kiss, seeing how most of his actions seemed to have been driven by that incident, I have come into terms with the possibility that his love or attraction towards her isn’t all based on that physical aspect. It started with a kiss, but in the process, he became interested in what drove her to do such a thing, and thus resorted to restarting the experiment to get to know her better.

In a way, I’ve seen how he wants ease Eriko of her loneliness and solitude, and I hope this is indeed his reason for wanting to pursue this love. I just wasn’t able to take back all that I said against Kazuki before, especially with the kiss and how he kept on remembering that incident, so it might have seemed as if I still view his love as nothing but physical attraction, or shallow.

…yet you comment on the two of them as if they were a couple of young folks in heat.

Do refresh my memory about this, because from what I can remember, not once did I diss Eriko for her intentions with the kiss, as far as the anime is concerned. The closest I can think of with regards to this comment is my sentiments regarding what happened in the novel, which is completely not the case with the anime. I found it completely understandable for her to explore this “experience”, naive as she is when it comes to these things. All of my complaints were targetted at Kazuki and his reaction to the kiss.

I also disagree with your notion that a relationship should only happen between two people of the same “experience” or “maturity”. If that were truly the case, Asuka x Kazuki couldn’t happen either, because Kazuki certainly doesn’t match Asuka in this aspect.

I think you misunderstood me on this. I wasn’t pointing out that the two people in the relationship should be at par in terms of experience and maturity (i.e. Kazuma x Ayano, which I am also supporting with all my heart). What I was saying is how the two individuals should be in a stable state, who is well aware their identity, their strengths and weaknesses, enough to know that their desire to be in the relationship isn’t simply driven by wanting to find themselves “complete”. One way or another, someone in the relationship will be more superior than the other, in terms of one or more aspects, but what matters most is that they know this well, accept this fact, embrace each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This way, so there would be no sense of inferiority or superiority between the two, despite their disparity.

In the case of Kazuki x Eriko, the latter still needs something to come into terms with the jealousy she’s feeling, do something to make her lose this sense of inferiority towards Asuka (or so that’s how I saw it in episode 14). Once she learns to embrace all the emotions welling-up in her, her capabilities and limitations (which can driver her to either accept these limitations, or do something to overcome them), only then will she be able to develop in a holistic sense.

Now that you mention about the selfishness angle, I actually think the three people involved in the triangle has traces of this (though “selfishness” is subjective, and I don’t think we can question the characters’ motives based on simple deductions from what we’ve seen).

In Asuka’s case however, shouldn’t her current unrequited love situation show how her actions are more of the unselfish nature? She wants Kazuki to become a better man, despite how there might not be any returns on her part.

Asuka and Kazuki’s interests actually coincide in some ways. Kazuki (and any other man for that matter) wants to overcome his pathetic and halfhearted self, a wish that Asuka also has for him. Asuka’s words is what made him come into his senses and realize this, which in the end, allowed him to gain the resolve to confront Eriko again and restart the experiment. Kazuki’s _interest_ for Eriko never wavered, but his motivation did. Just when he thought of turning his back from pursuing this, Asuka rid him of his doubts (she made an impact on him, indirectly).

While the change in Kazuki’s character was instigated by Asuka, it was all for his betterment. There are times when people won’t change for the better, unless he gets this pat in the back from someone. She just became an instrument to his change, and I see nothing wrong with that.

Lastly, with regards to volition of action, both Asuka and Eriko can qualify with regards to this. Choosing Asuka doesn’t mean that Kazuki is choosing to be dragged into the relationship, so long as he makes the decision on his own, by weighing his feelings, especially after she looks at Asuka in another light.

@FlareKnight: I agree with how Asuka made an impact both in Kazuki’s life (directly), and his dealings with Eriko (indirectly). Although I’ve been stressing how a “friends” ending will be more beneficial for Eriko, I’m also open to the possibility that a love ending will work out great for her. It all boils down to how they’re going to develop their triangle from here on.

Being able to like all the characters in the triangle has its ups and downs. On one side, this means that the characters have become endearing enough for you to grow and like them, and this makes you all the more excited to see how things will turn out in the end. But of course, it also makes you all the more torn apart, since one of them will have the shorter end of the stick when it boils down to the final decision.

Do think a big thing is how solid a character Asuka has been the whole way through. A strong character who gives what she can to her goals. Has played a major role in helping not just Kazuki but Eriko to grow as characters.

On one side she did get Kazuki to step up and stop not putting all he has into things. Of course that had an impact on his relationship with Eriko. Also her standing up to Eriko and showing her what people can do if they give what they have helped.

As Asuka started to recognize her feelings that was nice to see. Even though it may be tough she is still willing to not give up. With similar interests like in soccer it wouldn’t be hard to see those two together. They have some fun dynamics and are interesting to watch.

Now it wouldn’t be fair to not talk about Eriko. She started as a different kind of character all together. More isolated, intelligence that put her apart, no friends, and a taste that would make most wonder. She is the one who has needed a lot of development and still has a way to go. Kazuki has helped her grow as a character and she has been a goal for him. Their meeting has helped in their growing as people though alone it wouldn’t have been enough.

They certainly are different people though that isn’t a bad thing. Eriko is still at a point where she is trying to figure out feelings that hadn’t been a big part of her life. The challenge of Asuka has put her into a tough place. She has already corrupted his taste a bit so who knows where it will go :). If they care about each other that may be enough to overcome the different worlds they are in.

Honestly I have no clue how things will turn out. All three are good people. Intertwined feelings and uncertainties make them who they are. Will Kazuki be able to accept Asuka as more than a friend or will that be something he can’t cross? Will Eriko figure out her feelings and reach out for Kazuki in time? Will Asuka be able to tell Kazuki how she feels and be accepted? Far be it from me to be able to predict all of that.

This triangle is hard because I like everyone involved. Oh the good old days when one was clearly more likable for me than the other and I could be solid on it.

There are two possible ways to argue pro-Eriko: The first one is purely personal. As an anime viewer, I’ve seen the “Asuka type romance” time and time again. It’s nothing new and refreshing, and while it’s generally enjoyable (I tend to like the Asuka type alot), it’s a clear case of “been there, done that”.

In contrast to that, I can’t think of many examples of the “Eriko type romance”. In which a lonely-isolated genius cutie with alot of interpersonal issues is being pursued by a guy and gradually “thawed”. It’s about as new a field to me as an anime viewer, and I appreciate the freshness of it. Therefore, I’m much more interested in progress here than on the Asuka side (and nevermind the intolerably boring Yuumi x Kouichi x Mao storyline).

However, there’s an easy case to be made for Eriko x Kazuki purely on the storyline basis aswell, without consideration for anime viewer preferences: In a nutshell, in pursuing Eriko we see what Kazuki wants to do himself, out of his own volition. With Asuka, we see Kazuki doing what Asuka wants him to do. Not saying that trying to altering his attitude towards soccer is a bad thing, but this change is instigated by someone else. A change which he initially grudgingly and later more willingly accepts. Compare this to his own continuous interest to spend time with Eriko, which never wavered. It’s clear that this is his OWN priority. Why disregard that? Asuka x Kazuki is _Asuka’s_ project, Eriko x Kazuki is _Kazuki’s_. And I prefer to let the guy choose here

You say you don’t have anything against “it started with a kiss”, but that’s not true, usagijen: You do. It’s been seeping through your comments since the beginning of the show. And I think you’re misrepresenting its significance. Their romance is NOT based on the mere physical/sexual aspect at all – at least, Kazuki never tries to pursue this angle, in fact he seems genuinely frightened by it when it becomes an issue – yet you comment on the two of them as if they were a couple of young folks in heat.
In fact, the kiss was about as pure and innocent in the truest meaning of the words. They didn’t understand, and now they’re trying to do.

I also disagree with your notion that a relationship should only happen between two people of the same “experience” or “maturity”. If that were truly the case, Asuka x Kazuki couldn’t happen either, because Kazuki certainly doesn’t match Asuka in this aspect. He’s completely inexperienced, contrary to what you wrote. He also had no “ego crushed” by Eriko, he simply needed some time to adjust to her way of communication.

What we have here is a simple case in which BOTH sides of a budding relationship try to proceed in each others’ direction. Both fail and succeed over time, and both get their bruises, yet continue to try. It will be interesting to see how Eriko will react now that her emotions pull her out of her purely-rational shell she’s been hiding behind in the past. That’s a major feat which Kazuki accomplished already, and I have to admire his genuine honesty throughout the show.

My final reason to list: True love (which we’re not even close to, don’t worry) prioritizes the well-being of the other one over your own. In other words, to care for the other more than for yourself. In this aspect, it’s natural that Asuka has a significant love potential in shaping up Kazuki, but it’s also a trace selfish in nature: He wants him to do what SHE wants to do herself. However, Kazuki has no such potential towards Asuka. His interests and REAL wishes don’t seem to coincide with hers all that much, and there’s not really anything which he can do for her (other than humor her soccer infatuation). Or, condensing it to a slightly unfair degree: “Kazuki, I want you to do what I’m interesting in. It’s good for you.”

On the other hand, his project to retrieve Eriko out of her shell isn’t inherently selfish in nature. It doesn’t yield immediate benefits for himself. But here, he has the opportunity to do _someone else_ a good deed. And it seems obvious to me that this is what he wants to do. Of course there’s a remaining selfish interest, BECAUSE HE IS INTERESTED IN HER. But he’s not trying to convert Eriko into “Kazuki light”. Which is a more healthy setup in my eyes.

What it boils down to is that it’s Kazuki’s choice to make what to do, as it should be. And I think the anime dropped enough hints that his own interest – not what he allows himself to be dragged into, but what he wants to pursue out of his own volition – lies with Eriko.