This Ugly and Beautiful World ep.4

April 28, 2004 | 1 Comments

In some ways this episode reminds me a lot of episode 2 except with Akari as the center of the attention instead of Hikari. Having said that, this episode is not as embarrassing as the second episode fanservice-wise and it actually has some hints of plot as well. The episode introduces the viewers to a new character called Kimi and I'm glad to know that she's actually an interesting supporting character unlike Mari. The series also starts to hint that things are not what they appeared to be. Hikari may appear all innocent, normal, and boring right now but I think these are all just a front to fool everyone around her. This episode seems to suggest that Hikari wants to tighten her claws around Takeru. It also appears that she dislikes either Akari or Ryo for some reasons.

The episode starts with Ryo taking the now unconscious Akari back to his house. He is immediately greeted by his sister, Kimi, who's been waiting at home to have dinner with him. Imagine her shock when her brother comes home carrying an unconscious girl. She immediately thinks that all of the pent up frustration of being surrounded by many girls finally get to her brother. Anyway, Kimi at first dislike the idea of having Akari around but quickly warms up to her due to the fact that Akari does seem sincere about the things that she says. We then get the obligatory bathing scene where Akari, of course, is naked so Kimi can clean up her body. Seeing how the rain is pouring on the outside, Akari wonders if the rain will stop tomorrow and strangely Ryo is very sure that it will be even though he knows that the forecasts predicted that it will rain for the entire week. As the camera pans into Ryo, we see that he has some strange looking circular pattern on his hand that he looks at with great interest.

Anyway, once the fanservice is over, Akari and Kimi ends up sleeping in the same room. The two girls then bond about the importance of family. Kimi tells Akari how angry she is that people sometimes think that she and Ryo are pitiful because they don't have father and mother anymore. Akari understands what Kimi says and tells her that even if there are only the two of them, Kimi and Ryo are still a family, much to Kimi's surprise and agreement. As the two about to drift into sleep, however, Kimi feels that there is something inside the blanket and immediately screams at the top of her lung when she finds out that it's actually a beetle. Akari is happy to see the beetle but for everyone's sake, Ryo decide to keep it inside a container for now. As Akari and Kimi fall into sleep, however, some sort of energy seems to be emanating from Akari to Kimi or possibly, the other way around. The next day, all three proceeds to have breakfast together but Kimi soon realises that Akari has a big appetite and she feels that she and Ryo can't possibly afford another person living in the house.

The solution to this problem is, of course, to bring Akari to Takeru's house so that she can meet Hikari. Unfortunately, neither Hikari nor Akari recognises the other. Jennifer comes up with the theory that the two girls were at one point was one entity that somehow got split up once they reach the Earth and each eventually takes a form of a human girl. This makes Hikari wonders if she and Akari are some kind of sisters. On the other hand, Mari, being the annoying twat that she is, of course whines about the fact that the two alien life forms chose the form of human girls instead of animals like fish once they arrived on Earth. Despite all of the confusions, Akari immediately warms up to Hikari although I think Hikari doesn't feel the same way but puts on a very good act of looking like she enjoys the company of another alien girl. Anyway, Takeru's female friends immediately decides that they'll create new costume for Akari as well and proceed to disrobe her and measure her breast et all.

While the girls are busy measuring Akari, Kimi decides to drag Ryo away telling him that it's about time they go home. Akari, however, feels that Ryo is about to leave her and immediately runs out of the room and asks both Ryo and Kimi that she'll be allowed to stay with them because she really likes the two. Kimi eventually softened to Akari's request and think that if she becomes apart of their family then maybe it's okay for her to stay with her and Ryo. Seeing the closeness between Ryo, Akari, and Kimi seems to have triggered something inside Hikari. She definitely looks unhappy and her expression becomes cold as she immediately clutches Takeru's hand for some unknown reason. Akari then ends up going back home with both Ryo and Akari as Takeru and Hikari waves goodbye. Once Mari goes inside, Hikari then proceeds to throw herself into Takeru, looking as if she wants him to protect her. Jennifer, however, interrupts them and tells the two to just be more honest like Ryo and Akari.

Back at Ryo's home, Ryo and Kimi decides to give Akari the rooftop room. Akari then releases the beetle into the open air, telling Ryo and Kimi that it's okay that the beetle left because she's sure that it'll enjoy the bigger world much better than his confinement in the lid. I think that statement from Akari pretty much describes of what she feels about the world. I also noticed that there are multi-threaded themes in this series. The first one is obviously bugs and how both Hikari and Akari seem to relate to these creatures. Hikari seems to be associated with Butterfly especially with her coming out of a cocoon and all. Akari, on the other hand, seems to have some association with beetles since all sorts of beetles seem to be drawn to her presence. There also seems to be discussions about freedom and separation of one form into two separate forms as in the case of Hikari and Akari.

There are also many questions that are now posed by the series. The first one is of course about the nature of Hikari's intention. She seems to be benevolent right now but she does have this one or two strange 'squint and you'll miss it' body language. Her clutching and then hugging Takeru all of a sudden as she sees the closeness between Ryo, Akari, and Kimi is mind-boggling. My guess is that either she really is an evil entity that hides behind an innocent mask or she is genuinely scared of either Ryo or Akari. Hey, maybe Akari turns out to be the evil one later on in the series and that's why Hikari looks so afraid. But right now I still think that Hikari hides something evil beneath her blank-looking expressions. I also wonder how and when did Ryo obtain that blue-coloured spiral prints on his hand. And I also want to know why Jennifer seems to know a lot about Hikari and Akari. With all of these in mind, I think the show is on its way to finally tell some good story. Or at least I hope so.

© memento 2003