On to Episode 7, and we’ve passed the half-way point of the series. What will Kotonoha do now that she’s seen that Makoto and Sekai are fooling around behind her back? What will happen now that word has leaked out that Makoto has “broken up” with Kotonoha, even though he hasn’t officially done so yet?
Also, a huge Setsuna episode. Anyone who loves her will probably love this episode.
 |
|
 |
 |
This episode starts on the eve of the school festival. Makoto and Sekai are hanging out the roof, and Sekai ponders why Kotonoha hasn’t shown up in three days, and Makoto just says that she’s busy with committee work because of the festival. Sekai once again asks Makoto if what they’re doing is OK, and Makoto reassures her, saying that he wants to be with her more anyway. The two then kiss, and we break away and see Kotonoha once again looking through the window on the door to the roof, watching Makoto and Sekai.
Back at her house, Kotonoha ponders to herself why Sekai and Makoto were kissing on the roof (um, duh?), and is worried that Makoto has lost interest in her. She becomes even more concerned that Makoto has drifted away because she wasn’t willing to be more physical with her.
In class the next day, Taisuke runs in saying that one of the class representative is out of commission due to an injury. The group decides to appoint Makoto to the festival committee in his stead, since he isn’t in any clubs. Makoto tries to get out of it when Setsuna asks Makoto if Kotonoha being on the committee bothers him, telling the entire group that the two of them have broken up, a point which Makoto doesn’t really dispute.
Meanwhile, over in Kotonoha’s class, Otome and her gang are harassing Kotonoha about getting more supplies for the haunted house that they’re doing. Kotonoha tries telling them that all the supplies have already been allocated, but they bully her into trying to find some more. Meanwhile, Otome’s friends are also planning something involving a “lounge” and a video camera.
Once at the committee meeting, Kotonoha keeps looking back and smiling at Makoto, and Setsuna just flashes dirty looks back at her, believing that she’s trying to win Makoto back. Afterwards, Kotonoha tries to talk with Makoto, but Setsuna makes up an excuse and pulls Makoto away with her. Kotonoha tries text messaging Makoto, but Setsuna grabs his cell phone and puts Kotonoha on his block list. Makoto objects, but Setsuna says she’s doing it for Sekai.
The next day, Kotonoha tries text messaging Makoto, but gets an error message. She then tries calling him, and gets a message about how his number can’t be reached. Back in class, Otome and her friends are once again bullying Kotonoha about getting some sheets “sturdy enough for people to lay on.” Kotonoha once again gets bullying into trying to find them, and this victory just seems to give Otome and increased feeling of power over Kotonoha.
Once again, after school, Makoto runs into Kotonoha, who is on her way to find sheets. Makoto offers to help, but Setsuna initially stops him. However, Makoto says that it’s wrong to ignore her and, despite Setsuna’s best efforts, Makoto goes after Kotonoha. He suddenly sees Taisuke talking to Kotonoha, and he watches them through the doorway of the equipment room, Taisuke asks if Kotonoha will go to the festival dance with him now that she’s broken up with Makoto. However, Kotonoha goes off on Taisuke, saying that she hasn’t broken up with Makoto and runs out of the room. She immediately runs into Makoto who had been listening in, but one of Sekai’s friends (not sure of her name) goes off on Kotonoha for taking a pass on both Makoto and Taisuke. Kotonoha doesn’t know what to say, and I think expects Makoto to back her up, but he doesn’t say anything and Kotonoha runs away.
This act finally makes Makoto decide to unblock Kotonoha on his cell on his way home. Later that night, Sekai is once again at Makoto’s apartment and tells him that Setsuna told her about how he ran after Kotonoha. Sekai tries to explain himself, but the doorbell rings. Makoto answers and finds Kotonoha there. She tells Makoto that she wanted to visit and that her phone was “malfunctioning,” but Makoto tells her that no it was his phone, but it was fixed now. Sekai, who has now hidden behind a wall, hears this and knows that Makoto has unblocked Kotonoha.
Kotonoha starts talking like the wants to stay, but Makoto tries making the excuse that he’s not feeling well, but Kotonoha notices Sekai’s shoes inside the apartment. Kotonoha decides to ask Makoto out to the festival dance. Makoto hums and haws and says that he’ll “think about it,” which upsets Sekai further since he didn’t outright tell Kotonoha no.
After this, Kotonoha leaves, and Sekai, angry at Makoto for still acting like Kotonoha’s girlfriend, runs out as well. However, outside of Makoto’s apartment, Sekai runs into Kotonoha. There, Kotonoha approaches Sekai, tells Sekai that she has done a “despicable thing” and slaps her hard.
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
So, the drama has reached another milestone with this episode, with Kotonoha slapping Sekai at the end of the episode. Obviously the next episode will be interesting to watch to see how Sekai reacts. Will she take it for Makoto’s sake, or will she at least stand up for not being assaulted over this lie that has spread that Makoto and Kotonoha have officially broken up?
Also, because of this lie, everyone is blaming everyone but the person who deserves the blame. Setsuna and Sekai’s other friends are cold towards Kotonoha because they believe she’s just an ex who is trying to get back with her old boyfriend. Kotonoha thinks that it is Sekai that has lured Makoto towards the dark side, and while this is partially true, she was effective in doing so because Makoto had already shifted his eyes towards Sekai. The only person getting off scott free at this point is Makoto himself, even though this entire situation is almost entirely his fault. Say what you will about Sekai going with Makoto even though he was still officially a couple with Kotonoha. I view breaking it off Makoto’s responsibility, and he hasn’t, and he just perpetuated the myth that he had to all of Sekai’s friends.
And speaking of Setsuna, what’s up with her empty room? I don’t recall hearing about her recently moving. Has she been living in a room with nothing unpacked this entire time?
Also something to watch in the next episode is what actually happens during the school festival. In a sense, Makoto finally has to make a choice, or will he find a way to dance with both girls, or will he decline to dance or just not show up at all? It’s kind of hard to keep two-timing people when there is one event, and both girls expect you do spend your night with them during the event.
Speaking of Makoto, he definitely appears to be the “grass is greener” type of guy. While he was with Kotonoha, he had eyes for Sekai, but now that Sekai’s friends, especially Setsuna, are trying to isolate Makoto away from Kotonoha, he seems to be interested in her again. The more Sekai’s friends tried to get in the way, the more Makoto was determined to stay close to Kotonoha. This has already started making Sekai angry, but will be it enough? Sekai still hasn’t demanded that Makoto break up with Kotonoha, even though she’s made several feeble attempts suggesting that he should do so.
Also, what’s up with whatever Otome’s friends are planning. I’d guess that they are trying to hook Makoto and Otome up in this lounge they’re building, but then why have the camera, unless the want to tape it so they can publicize the tape to try to get Kotonoha to break up with Makoto.
In this episode, Kotonoha actually gets pretty close, if not right on, about why Makoto has left her: she’s not being physical enough with him. However, instead of saying “screw him if I’m going too slow,” I have the feeling that Kotonoha will decide to do a lot of things she’s not comfortable with just to get Makoto back.
On a side note, I went and watched the bad endings of the game on YouTube, and I can see how these endings are well known, especially given how graphic they are, especially Sekai and Kotonoha’s death scenes. However, another thing I noticed was just how many endings had either Sekai or Kotonoha or both being pregnant. I’m not an expert on these type games by any means, but it is my impression that getting the girl pregnant isn’t exactly a common occurance in these games, and if it does happen, it’s usually as part of a happy ending.
So these thoughts bring up two questions: First, is the anime going to have either girl become pregnant? It would raise the dramatic level of the series a couple levels. Second, and I think I’ve talked about this before, if we have a bad ending, which ending will we have, or will we have a new one? Will Kotonoha knock off Makoto instead of Sekai, for example?
