Midori no Hibi ep.4

April 25, 2004 | 5 Comments

Just like other previous episodes, this one combines three chapters from the manga (Days 5, 18, and 35) and adds some extra scenes to make the anime flows better. This time around the anime introduces Takamizawa Shuichi, a hardcore otaku with a scary fetish for dolls and their accessories. And in my opinion he's even scarier in the anime. There's some kind of creepiness about him now that he has that sleazy voice. In general, however, this is another enjoyable episode and on top of things, there is no overt fanservice to be found anywhere in the episode. So that should alleviate the worry that some people have about the anime looking like a version that is created only to fan service the viewers with nudity.

Anyway, the episode starts by showing Midori and Seiji sitting on a grassy area enjoying ice creams of their choice. Midori looks so happy because she really likes Choco-Banana ice cream and also because she gets to have that said ice cream while sitting down with Seiji. Seiji immediately blushes upon hearing Midori's confession and pretends as if he's not keen to hear such romantic words from her. Midori's happiness, however, is cut short when her ice cream melts and falls on top of her body. This incident makes Seiji realised that Midori only has one type of clothing all of this time (her "I Love Seiji" t-shirt).

Because of this, Seiji decides to take Midori to a doll accessory shop so that she can pick a new clothing for herself. Unfortunately for Seiji, the shop seems to be crowded by a bunch of scary-looking Otaku guys. It doesn't help that Midori seems to be very happy about the shop that she ends up trying some of the role-playing costumes that are available in the store. While Seiji tells Midori to keep it down, a guy with glasses approaches Seiji and tells him that he's glad to see Seiji there. Seiji, however, doesn't recognise the guy much to the guy's chagrin. It turns out his name is Takamizawa Shuichi and he's actually a classmate of Seiji.

Seiji is horrified when he finds out that Takamizawa is actually his classmate but he's even more scared of the guy when he realises that Takamizawa is a wee bit obsessed about his doll, Marine-chan. A 'wee' was actually an understatement there. Seiji's mind immediately imagines various horror scenarios playing out as if they're a ToHo studio films. Although come to think of it, I don't think I want to see "Takamizawa no Hibi". I think he's scary enough as supporting character. Anyway, Seiji lets his imagination takes him away and as a result becomes paranoid and ends up knocking Takamizawa cold and leaves him unconscious in the store while Seiji runs around chasing other otakus who saw the incident.

Unfortunately the incident means that Midori still hasn't got a new clothes. So she ends up having to fix her own clothes once they both arrived at Seiji's house. Midori then explains to Seiji that Makie, her maid, teaches her how to fix her own clothes. Meanwhile, back in Midori's own house, Makie brings some tea to Midori's mother who is apparently engaged in some conversation with Kouta Shingyouji, Midori's school friend. Midori's mother tells Kouta what has happened to Midori and Kouta still can't believe that Midori is lying in a coma like a doll. The show then reveals that Kouta has at one point noticed Midori's longing for Seiji so there's another person now who knows Midori's crush on Seiji.

The next day at the school, Seiji encounters Takamizawa again but strangely, he seems to be ignoring Seiji. As the class progress, Seiji receives an unexpected help from Ayase when the teacher asks him a question that he can't answer. Midori then finds out that someone has slipped in a doll collector�s magazine as well as a small note inside of the book. Seiji immediately guess that the magazine came from Takamizawa. Anyway, the note basically tells Seiji to meet Takamizawa in the rooftop. Meanwhile, Ayase seems to be daydreaming of giving her lunch to Seiji and getting a praise from Seiji. Unfortunately for her, in reality, Seiji has left before she even managed to give her lunch to him.

At the rooftop, Seiji decides to confront Takamizawa. Takamizawa basically wants to see the 'doll' that Seiji has in his right hand. Seiji is about to refuse the order but Midori suggests that maybe she can pretend to be a doll for a while. Takamizawa is happy to see Midori since he thinks she looks real. Midori, however, ended up sneezing while Takamizawa inspect her. Horrified by this latest development, Seiji tries to cover things up and when that also fails, he decides that the best course of action is to flee away from Takamizawa. Takamizawa, however, refuses to give up and he decides to send Midori a present in the form of a new costume. But the truth is, he simply wants Midori to take off her clothes so he can see who manufactured Midori.

Unfortunately for Takamizawa, Midori asks Seiji to close the curtains while she changes her clothes so Takamizawa decides to use plan B, which more or less translates into stalking. And no, this is not the creepiest thing that Takamizawa does in this episode. Anyway, after stalking Seiji and observing Midori from afar, Takamizawa becomes suspicious of Midori. Seiji eventually bumps into Takamizawa and unfortunately for him, Midori screams aloud, revealing the fact that she's not a doll. Takamizawa, who's keen on checking Midori out decides to pull up Midori's shirt much to Midori's distress and Seiji's anger. There is, however, nothing that Seiji can do since Takamizawa blackmails him. He threatens to spill the bean unless Seiji agrees to bring Midori to a photo shoot in a park.

Seiji reluctantly agrees to it and Midori ends up having her pictures taken while wearing a maid costume. Seeing Midori looking happy wearing her new clothes, Takamizawa offers her to be with him so he can give her some more stuff to her. Midori, however, refuses and tells him that she knows that he likes her but she's not a doll and she likes Seiji not him. Hearing this, Takamizawa looks depressed. Seiji decides to cheer him up by telling Takamizawa that he can still be a friend with Midori. Upon hearing this, Takamizawa perks up again and produces an underwear and asks Midori to wear them in the name of 'friendship'. Seiji is obviously angry with the suggestion and proceeds to lock-wrestled him backwards, leaving Takamizawa unconscious and later on, suffering from a minor amnesia.

All in all, this is one fun episode that has a rather darker message about being obsessed with something. Takamizawa never really creeps me out in the manga but for some reason, the anime really shows how terrifying someone like him can be. I was especially icked out with his last request to see Midori in nothing but an underwear. And his ventriloquist act through Marine and his use of the doll in that last part really reminds me of this creepy older guy character in Battle Royale who was interested in young Mitsuko Souma. But I supposed this incident allows Seiji to show his protective side towards Midori. I also like the imaginary vision that Ayase has about Seiji and herself. I can't wait until she starts her rather amusing attempts to attract Seiji.

© memento 2003