Asatte no Houkou ep.03

October 21, 2006 | 17 Comments

I'm sorry for the late entry but I had too much of a problem yesterday to be able to do any writing beyond the first 2 entries. To begin with, Nightmare host made it difficult for me to post anything and then I accidentally locked myself out of my house. At the end of that day, I was too tired to do anything else apart from finishing up Code Geass entry. Oh well, it's probably a good thing this way because I think I would have reacted to this new plot twist badly otherwise. I still have reservation about it and I hope the writers won't go there. Unfortunately, I think they will do this so I'll just have to see how they do it. As a side note, there is actually a Widescreen version of this series being aired 3 weeks later than the original version. This is similar to other TBS series like Rozen Maiden and xxxHOLiC. I've changed the screenshots in episode 1 and uploaded the Widescreen OP and ED in case you want to see the changes.

Opening Theme: 「光の季節」 (Hikari no Kisetsu) by Suara
Download: AVI Widescreen (25.5MB) | PSP Widescreen (14.2MB)
Ending Theme: 「スイートホームソング」 (Sweet Home Song) by Yuumao
Download: AVI Widescreen (21.5MB) | PSP Widescreen (9.9MB)

The episode begins with Karada and Shouko sitting inside a post office. Shouko tells Karada not to be nervous since this is not an interview. She also tries to encourage Karada using various method such as taking a big breath to calm herself. Karada then walks to the counter when her number is called but because she is not used to walking in a high-heeled shoes, she trips over on her way to the counter. After the opening credit, Shouko explains to Karada that Karada being a Nogami Shouko will allow the two of them to do many things. When Karada hesitates, Shouko asks her if she'd prefer to go back to Hiro's place. Shouko then points out to Karada that right now Karada is an adult and she is a child and neither of them know when they'll return to the way they were. Until then, they have no choice but to co-operate with each other. Shouko then pats Karada's hand with her small hands, causing Karada to laugh a little bit.

A few hours later, the two are inside department store to buy a new set of glasses for Shouko, bras for Karada, and various new clothes for each of them. Shouko doesn't seem to enjoy the kind of clothes that she gets to wear as a kid but eventually she finds one that she likes. She starts posing in front of the mirror and becomes embarassed when Karada sees her acting like a kid. After they finished clothes shopping, the two of them stop in front of a bed store. Karada tells Shouko that she likes a cute little bed but Shouko reminds her that it's too small for her current body. Shouko then starts choosing one and starts talking about it like an adult much to the surprise of the store clerk. When it's time to pay for the bed, Shouko has to tell Karada that they wish to pay by cash and want the bed to be delivered. This presents a new problem since Karada have to fill in the delivery form and she doesn't know Shouko's address.

When they return home, Shouko realises that Karada is good at doing household chores. It feels as if Karada has always been an adult. Karada tries to be modest but when Shouko tells her that she is still a child, Karada becomes unhappy as usual. Shouko then smiles, suggesting that she was just teasing her. While taking a bath, Shouko realises that her legs can't reach the end of the bathtub. She tries to stretch it out but ends up drowning into the bath when she hears Karada's voice. As it turns out, Karada simply wants to put Shouko's change of clothes outside the bathroom. Shouko, however, remembers something else and asks Karada if she can wear the white ribbon that Hiro bought for Karada. During dinner, Shouko praises Karada's cooking but this discussion turns sour when Karada inadvertently mentions Hiro's name. That night while they sleep on the same bed, Shouko notices that Karada is crying when she dreams about her brother.

Shouko wants to make a phone call to Hiro but as usual, she ends up deciding against it before she can even dial his number. The next day, a worried-looking Hiro is seen working inside a drug store. When he tells a mother and her boy to take care of themselves, a colleague tells him that the one who should be taking care of himself is Hiro. Another friend asks him if he has gone to the police but Hiro doesn't answer him and simply tells the two that he's going out for lunch. Inside Toukou's cafe, Toukou also asks Hiro if he has not heard from the police. Their conversation, however, is interrupted when Tetsu arrives and insists that Toukou cooks him Ebi Pilaf since he's been running around to find Karada and yet there are still places that he needs to look for. Upon hearing this, Hiro thanks Tetsu for his effort. Tetsu, on the other hand, doesn't return the favour. In fact, he blames Hiro for Karada's disappearance.

Tetsu believes that Hiro has said something cruel to Karada. This suddenly reminds Hiro of that Shouko were being cruel to Karada while they were on the beach. His thought got interrupted when a delivery man comes to the cafe because he can't find Shouko's place. The guy eventually delivered the furnitures that Shouko and Karada ordered. However, before Shouko can unpack the goods, she hears another doorbell. She recklessly open the door, thinking that it's Karada and is surprised when she realises that the person is none other than Hiro. Shouko inadvertently asks Hiro why he is here but when she realises her mistake, she quickly pretends that she doesn't know the guy. When Hiro asks her if this apartment is Shouko's residence, chibi Shouko confirms this. She, however, also claims that her 'sister' is out at the moment. Since Shouko also claims that she doesn't know when her 'sister' will be back, Hiro decides to leave the place.

Before he can go far, Shouko calls him back, asking him if he can help her with the newly arrived furnitures. When the two of them sit for a drink, Hiro notices that Shouko wears Karada's white ribbon. Because of this, Hiro asks Shouko where did her 'sister' go shopping. Shouko pretends that she doesn't know and instead brings out an ashtray since Hiro wants to smoke. While Hiro enjoys his cancer stick, Shouko wants to tell him the truth but she hesitates and ends up asking Hiro if he's hungry. She then goes over to the kitchen to fetch leftovers from last night. Hiro who's been left alone in the living room notices that the place is neat and tidy. Even the stack of clothes have been piled carefully on top of one another. This makes Hiro wonders if Shouko and her 'sister' are the only two people living in this apartment. Shouko confirms this but she wonders why Hiro asked. Hiro explains that the reason is because he didn't know that Shouko can be this neat and tidy.

In retaliation, chibi Shouko tells Hiro that the reason is because Shouko has a new boyfriend. This is why Shouko has been learning how to cook and to clean things up. She also tells Hiro that her 'sister' previous boyfriend was a 'good for nothing' bum. Ouch. All of a sudden, however, Shouko's cellphone starts to ring so she runs over to grab it and goes back to the kitchen to answer it. After the conversation ends, Shouko pretends that her sister will be a bit 'late'. Hiro, on the other hand, wants to know which boyfriend the girl was talking about when she mentioned her sister's 'good for nothing boyfriend'. XD Anyway, Shouko eventually brings out the leftover foods and when Hiro eats a croquet, he tells her that the food reminds him of his sister's cooking. Hiro also tells Shouko that he's worried about Karada since she's his precious sister. This makes Shouko wonders if Karada is more important than a promise or a lover.

Upon hearing this, Hiro wonders if the girl has heard from her 'sister' but Shouko pretends that she didn't hear anything except that her sister feels better after she broke up with her 'good for nothing' boyfriend. Hiro laughs and tells the girl that as he thought, it was him that the girl was talking about. Shouko pouts upon hearing this so Hiro tells her that she sure looks a lot like her sister. Having said that, he didn't know that Shouko has a sister. Shouko becomes angry upon hearing this and tells Hiro that she also didn't know anything about Karada. After calling Hiro "idiot", Shouko runs out of the apartment, confusing Hiro in the process. Hiro, however, manages to catch up to her just as they are reach the little Shrine. When Hiro tries to apologise to her, Shouko recites him the letter that he once wrote to her. Apparently in that letter Hiro told Shouko that he could no longer return to America and didn't want Shouko to come to Japan.

Because Shouko was still a student, Hiro believes that there are things that she wants to achieve. This is why Hiro didn't want Shouko to make a sacrifice for him. The letter then ended with Hiro telling Shouko that from now on, they should live a seperate life. Chibi Shouko cries after reciting the letter and remembers a flashback to the time when she and Hiro first met in the US. Back then her bookmarker was blown by the wind and Hiro was the one who picked it up. Soon, the two ended up becoming close with each other. One day, however, Hiro received a phone call which caused him to return to Japan. Back then Hiro promised Shouko that he'll return soon. One year later, however, she received a letter from him and the content is basically what Chibi Shouko recited to Hiro. In the present day, Hiro asks Chibi Shouko if it's Shouko who told her this. He tells her if Shouko want revenge, she should direct it to him and not Karada.

Chibi Shouko asks Hiro if Karada really is that important to Hiro. She also reveals that Karada made a wish to become an adult. On the other hand, she didn't wish to have this child body. Hiro, however, doesn't understand this and demands to see her 'sister'. Shouko becomes angry and tries to slap Hiro. But since she can't reach that far, she's quite content with hitting Hiro's stomach and calling him all names. She asks Hiro why he doesn't understand that she's Shouko and why all he can think about is his sister. Hiro reveals that Karada is actually not really his sister. She's just a relative that he ends up taking care of after her mother passed away. The truth is, Karada has no idea that she and him are not related by blood. This is why Hiro couldn't tell Shouko about it. Meanwhile Karada is in the middle of preparing foods when Shouko returns to the apartment with Hiro. Shouko tells Hiro that grown up Karada is his sister.

Impression:

The revelation that Hiro is not Karada's real brother is an element of the story that I wish didn't happen but now that it is here, I guess I have no choice but to accept it. Thankfully the rest of the episodes are pretty good, so it's hard to dislike the series just because it features this kind of revelation. If anything, I actually like this episode better than the first and the second one because the characters are a lot more developed at this stage of the story. I also enjoyed the various BGM that Mitsumune Shinkichi composed for the series. I remember being impressed with his work in Rozen Maiden series and was surprised to know that he's also the composer for this series. One of the tracks that I like is the one used during Karada and Shouko's conversation inside the train station. The music in question has a laidback summer feel which I think is very fitting for this series. The OST for this series will definitely be one of my must-purchase items.

One concern that I have with the series is Shouko and her hostility. I get the impression that viewers are meant to sympathise with her but so far I've been having problem doing this. I mean there are times when I do feel sorry for her but in general I actually think Hiro got off lucky when he broke up with her. ^^ I think it's pathetic that she gets jealous of a little girl like Karada. Kudos to Itou Shizuka for bringing out this part of Shouko's characteristic though. It's hard to believe that this is the same VA who voiced the naive and eager Alice in Pumpkin Scissors. Anyway, I guess everything depends on Hiro and who he wants to be with now. I personally think that Touko is a better choice for him in comparison to Shouko but by this point, I think the writers are not going to focus on her character especially with Karada's and Shouko's transformation taking the centre stage of the story. It's a shame because I think Toukou is good for Hiro.

Speaking of Hiro, it's obvious that he's clearly unhappy of his current life because judging from this episode, he's actually quite a humorous person but has slowly lost that side of him lately. His haircut is probably the clearest indication of this. I'm surprised that he ditched his relationship with Shouko to help Karada though. Most people will rather be with their loved ones than with a relative they barely know. The problem with Hiro's character is that we don't really know much what he's thinking. At time like this, I wish the writers use an internal monologue similar to the one used in Honey and Clover. Because at the moment it's hard to know what he thinks about her seperation from Shouko and if he takes care of Karada because he wants to or because he feels responsible for her. I think just by knowing this answer, it'll be easy to know which direction each character should take and where to move from here on.

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