Honey and Clover Drama ep.02

January 22, 2008 | 24 Comments

Well, I'm back. MacWorld 2008 was quite exciting and I had a good time in San Francisco. I haven't gotten over the jetlag though and that's probably why I didn't enjoy this episode. But then again, this episode also takes way too much liberty with the original material. I get the impression that the story flows really fast here, which I don't get. Are they really going to show Takemoto going on his journey for a good number of the episodes? Will they really show the second half of the story as well? Even if that's the case, the pace is still too fast. As a result, they're missing the little moments in the series which make the story great, like Shuuji telling everyone about the tragic story of Rika and Harada. And how about that beautiful moment of the group riding a Ferris Wheel while the first snow starts to fall? Instead, we have a bunch of meaningless scenes like Morita trying to scam the shop owners from the Hamadayama shopping district.

Takemoto holds lottery tickets that he obtains from Hamadayama shopping district, hoping to win a flat-screen TV. He, however, immediately hides the tickets when Morita appears. Takemoto is then forced by Morita and Mayama to sneak into a nude sketch class wearing a medieval armor as a guise. Inside, Takemoto grumbles that the iron armor is heavy and moreover, he can only see the back of the female model. Upon seeing Hagu in the class, he mentions how it's been a week since Hagu comes to the school and slowly she's become accustomed to it. After 30 minutes, Morita and Mayama decide that they need to make things more fun by setting off the fire alarm. This causes everyone to rush out of the room. Takemoto also tries to run away and in the process, scares the students and the teacher, Shouda-sensei.

In the aftermath, Takemoto is being scolded by Shouda-sensei because the later thinks Takemoto is a pervert. If that's not bad enough, Mayama tells Hagu that the reason Takemoto was wearing the medieval armor is because it's his hobby. Talk about an out-of-character moment for Mayama. A gullible Hagumi also believes Morita when he tells her that people in Tokyo makes a silly pose while saying "Comenich" if they want to be healthy. Later on that day, Takemoto finds out that Morita has stolen and used the lottery tickets he hid inside his bag. However, instead of winning anything good, Morita only gets tissues. Morita suggests that they try again which causes Takemoto to wonder if Morita has some more tickets left. Unfortunately what Morita has in mind is actually making counterfeit tickets.

Poor Takemoto becomes even more upset when Shuuji tells them that he's made it into the headline of the school newspaper. Poor Takemoto decides to go home but before he can do so, Shuuji asks him if he can accompany Hagu to "Home Centre" (a shop specializing in home appliances). When they get there, Takemoto thinks that the reason Hagu is staring at a piece of rock carving is because she's interested in sculpture. As it turns out, she's just wondering if the rock can be used to make pickles (in Japan, some pickles are made by pressing vegetables with a heavy stone for several hours/days). While this happens, Morita has produced a perfect counterfeit lottery ticket. Yamada, however, thinks it's a poor imitation and claims that in order to stop counterfeit, she has designed a stamp to distinguish the real tickets.

This, however, just causes Morita to make his own fake stamp. In an attempt to stop Morita, Yamada push the guy, causing a picture frame to fall from the table. In the picture are Shuuji, Rika, and an unknown man. Back at the shop, Takemoto asks the sales guy where he can find rock to make pickles but the store doesn't sell any. When he returns to Hagu, he finds her trying to cheer up a kid using the stupid move that Morita taught her. She explains that Morita taught her to cheer someone up by doing the "Comenich" move. Meanwhile at Harada design, Rika asks Mayama to bring a design folio back to the Fujiwara design office. Mayama, however, becomes upset when she tells him that he doesn't have to come and help her anymore. Because of this, he asks her if he's not good and if he can't win against 'that man'.

Somewhere, Shuuji is seen buying a wine and when the store assistant asks him about the occasion, he tells her that tomorrow is someone's birthday. On their way back from "Home Centre", Takemoto points out at an Imagawayaki (stuffed Japanese pancake) stall, famous for its cream pancake. Takemoto suggests that they buy some but when they get there, the ones with cream fillings are sold-out, leaving only the chocolate, the white bean and black bean. In the end, they have no choice but to buy the white bean ones. At the same time, Mayama recalls how Rika simply apologized in response to his question. An upset Mayama had no choice but to return the key to Rika's office back to its owner. Meanwhile, Takemoto tries his hand at a crane game because Hagu is interested in one of the prize items.

Unfortunately, even after wasting his money and putting a lot of efforts on the machine, Takemoto doesn't get the item that Hagu wants. Despite this, Hagu is quite pleased with the blue ring that he got. As they walk home together, Hagu tells Takemoto that she thinks the game was a bit cruel because it places something that a person wants in front of him/her but even if one stretches out a hand, it's still unreachable. Because of this, she believes that the item that they got is a prize from God. A little present that comes for doing one's best even when they are not good at it. Takemoto agrees and tells her that in this world, it's impossible for everyone to obtain everything that they want. Hagu confirms this by saying that there are limits in things that people want, just like the cream fillings in Imagayaki.

Inside Fujiwara design, Miwako asks Mayama if he can deliver something back to Rika but he tells her that today is his last day working for Rika. Miwako is surprised to hear this but asks Mayama if he'd like to work for them instead. Nomiya, however, being his usual ass self and asks Mayama if he's really interested in being architect instead of just being close to Rika. An upset Mayama decides to leave the office but after he left, Miwako tells Nomiya that he's actually quite similar to Mayama. At the same time, in an attempt to cheer up Yamada, Morita makes a "Mayama no AHO" (Mayama is an idiot) stamp. They are then joined by Takemoto and Hagu, who are shocked when they sees Morita eating Shuuji's bread. Morita simply tells Hagu that if one is spaced out in Tokyo, one's food might get taken by someone else.

Across the city, Shuuji comes to give Rika the wine that he purchase. Rika, who feels guilty about Mayama, tells Shuuji that she said something horrible to the boy today. At the uni, Yamada comes over to Hagu's room and asks the girl to confirm that she never entertains the idea of wanting to stop painting. Yamada believes that if one likes something, one wants to continue doing it even if it's tiring. Hagu confirms that wanting to stop never crossed her mind once. Upon hearing this, Yamada concludes that being in love is like that. Meanwhile, Takemoto is happy when he finds a pickle stone inside the box of goods from his mother. His excitement is interrupted when Morita tells him that Lohmeyer is back so they go to his room to see photos of the guy in Hawaii. It appears Hawaii was the main prize of last year's Hamadayama lottery.

Lohmeyer also waxes stupid poem about they gather there because the room is clean and that they're there to meet his pure heart. This causes Mayama to ask him if it's okay if he cries. Anyway, Morita asks for a tip to win the lottery so Lohmeyer tells them that he didn't do anything special. He just spin the lottery box and imagines that it's a red Ferris Wheel that slowly turns in his hand. The next day, Morita goes to Hamadayama shopping district to use his counterfeit tickets. Unfortunately for him, Yamada's father knows that his lottery tickets are fake. He explains that the real tickets don't have the 'authenticity' stamp Yamada was talking about. Ha ha! At the same time, Takemoto comes to bring Hagu his pickle stone. Before he can give it to Hagu, however, Shuuji already comes out with another stone that Hagu can use.

Yamada asks Takemoto if Mayama goes to his part-time job again and is surprised when she finds out that Mayama has stopped working for Rika. Later on, Shuuji tells his students that Rika was once married to a guy called Harada. Today is actually Harada's birthday, if he's still alive. Yamada then finds Mayama laying on a bench so she begs him to give up on Rika. Mayama responds that he understands it's futile but no matter what, he doesn't know how to give up on her. Because of this, he asks her to forget about him. Takemoto who sees this tells himself that even if they exist in front of one's eyes, there are things that one can't reach. Things that one can never touch even if one stretches out a hand. If one can't grasp something, is there a light at the end of the path? This causes Takemoto to consider what Hagu said earlier. If one's wish does not come to fruition, would there still be other small happiness waiting somewhere?

Later on, Takemoto meets Morita's client who have purchased some fruit baskets. Upon seeing the basket, Takemoto asks the guy where he bought them. When he finds out that they're from Hamadayama shopping district, he asks the guy if he got the lottery tickets. Much to Takemoto's delight, the guy gives him the lottery tickets. Unfortunately for Takemoto, Morita then appears and snatches the tickets away from him. Morita then visits Ayu, who's in the middle of sobbing her heart out. He tells her that as a punishment for crying, she now must go together with him and the others to the lottery drawing. Because of this, all 5 go together to the Hamadayama shopping district. Much to their surprise, Lohmeyer-senpai already won the car. Because there are 5 lottery tickets, Takemoto suggests that each person takes a chance at spinning the lottery box. Unfortunately for him, the guys inform him that Morita already used up 4 of the lottery tickets.

This would have been fine if Morita has some good luck but he never gets any draw. Morita thinks the game is rigged causing him to argue with Yamada's father again. Yamada tries to separate the two by pointing out that they're scaring the children. Cue in crying children who appear out of nowhere. In the midst of commotion, the group doesn't realize that Hagu is about to spin the last and final lottery. Much to their surprise, however, Hagu gets a golden marble. Much to the group's disappointment, however, the color simply represents the color of the present that they'll win as opposed to the value of the present. So in this case, Hagumi wins golden-colored items like golden floater, golden snorkel, etc. Yamada's father also tells them that in the car's case, the color of the marble is blue and for the meat, the marble's color is red/white. Morita is, of course, pissed off upon hearing this and tries to strangle Yamada's father.

Hagu, on the other hand, looks disappointed with the result. Takemoto decides to speak up and ask his friend if they feel like going to the beach since Hagu mentioned beforehand that she has never seen the sea before. To go there, Morita decides to borrow the car that Lohmeyer-senpai won. Mayama is embarrassed about this since the car still has all sorts of frilly decoration on it. Meanwhile, Takemoto is happy when he finds out that Hagu is wearing the plastic ring that he got from the arcade. Much to Yamada's horror, Morita forces her to sit in the front seat, next to Mayama, who'll drive the car. In retaliation, Yamada tells Takemoto to sit between Morita and Hagu. Once they arrive at the beach, Takemoto tells himself how the sea during off-season is very quiet. No matter how much noise they make, the sea maintains a gentle and silent expression. Having said that, he has nothing that he desperately want to obtain.

During BBQ time, everyone is shocked upon seeing Yamada drinking beer from one big jug. Not surprisingly, she ends up getting drunk later on. Meanwhile, Takemoto is in the middle of cleaning up the area when Hagu tells her that she just lost the plastic ring he gave her. Because of this, Takemoto asks Morita to help them looking for the ring. At the same time, Mayama wakes Yamada up and offers to take her on his back since she's drunk. Yamada warns him that she's heavy but Mayama doesn't seem to mind. As they walk a few feet, Yamada tells Mayama that he must be thinking that she's kind of heavy now. Mayama admits that she's heavier than he originally expected. Ouch. Yamada is unhappy to hear this so she calls him an idiot and beat him up. Eventually, however, Yamada ends up crying and telling Mayama that she likes him. Despite being surprised with the sudden revelation, Mayama confirms that he understands.

On the other side of the beach, Takemoto, Morita, and Hagu are still looking for the plastic ring.
In the middle of the search, however, Morita waves at Hagu, inviting her to come closer to the sea. Apparently he has something he'd like to show her and that something is the tip of a broken bottle. The top area looks a bit similar to ring so he puts the ring in her hand. Morita then uses the reminder of the broken bottle and fill it up with water. He then holds the broken bottle against the moonlight so that it illuminates the blue color of the bottle into Hagu's ring. At the same time, Takemoto manages to find the ring and looks very happy about it. His happiness, however, disappears immediately when he sees Morita kissing Hagu near the beach. Hagu herself looks shocked but Morita simply shrugs the kiss off by claiming that this is what happens when one is space-out in Tokyo. Not far from them, Takemoto looks dejected.

Impression:

Since when Takemoto become more interested in flat-screen TV than that piece of delicious steak? What an out-of-character moment. He can't even feed himself, why would he want a TV as opposed to juicy steak? Even more out-of-character is Takemoto wanting to see a naked model. Sure, it's realistic for a guy of his age but it just unnecessary for the story. In addition to this, why does he become the character that Morita constantly bullies? Okay, sure he gets bullied by Morita sometimes but Hagu is usually Morita's main target not Takemoto. And why does Mayama become someone who enjoys torturing Takemoto? It's just out-of-character. I don't mind if the writers change the mini-storylines but for them to change the basic personality/behaviour of the characters is a bit too much for me. In the original, Morita and Mayama usually have minor quarrel due to their differing personality. In here, they're partners-in-crime.

As for the changed storyline, I didn't really enjoy the whole lottery ticket shenanigans thing. I prefer the low-key story of Takemoto visiting his sick mother and stepfather which they clearly won't touch here. I also miss Shuuji's heartfelt narration about his life with Harada and Rika. That was one of the highlight of the manga/anime for me. The rest remains the same albeit in brief form, like Nomiya's dislike for Mayama even though as Miyako puts it, they're kind of similar. Well, I guess it's some kind of character continuity that Nomiya, no matter which version you see, is still an asshole. Did I ever mention that I dislike his character? Finally, I hate that ending where Morita kiss Hagu. Sure he kiss Hagu in the original version but not at the beach and Takemoto is not supposed to be there in the first place. The beauty of the original story is that Takemoto can guess from Hagu's strange behavior that something happened between her and Morita.

On a more positive note, Takemoto's narration continues to be as good and heartfelt as the original version. Due to the speed of the drama, he ends up asking questions that he actually asked in the second half of the series but that's okay. His question about wanting to grasp things that are out of his reach is something that I'm sure most people can relate to. And while it's not as deep as the one in the anime, I like the fact that they touch upon the idea that someone can't always get what they want because there is a limit to things that people want. I do hope that this is not just a reference to Takemoto's love life but to his life in general. I also like the famous scene between Mayama and Yamada. I did wish that they had used the full dialogue though. I think this version focuses too much on Yamada's pain and not enough on the fact that Mayama understands what Yamada goes through because he's just been rejected by Rika but can't get over her.

© memento 2003