Little Busters Refrain episode 3

YAWN!!! So sleepy. Why do I wait until the last minute to do everything? So behind in my life. The good news is (well for anime) that the next Disney trip isn't until after Thanksgiving. Disney World is tons of fun but really eats into blogging time as Orlando trips are an internet free zone. XD Gotta learn to balance work, fun,...and more fun?

My face the entire episode.

While I learn to do that here is another episode from Little Busters Refrain. Episode 3 and Riki has already lost his mind folks. Not a good sign for this season.

This is Riki's not fun face.

Episode Summary: Riki replays the last few minutes of episode 2 in his head. It is still June 20th. Masato and Kengo are looking at him like he has lost his mind. Riki is like no today is the 21st, think of all the stuff that happened yesterday. Everyone continues to look at him weird, then act like none of this matters. Riki takes off to find Yuiko who is playing her piano. She greets Riki the same way as yesterday and Riki tries piecing everything together, that it is repeating. He tries to verbalize what he is thinking without looking like a crazy person. Calmly. Yuiko faces away from him as she looks rather guilty. She does confess everything does look like it is repeating itself. She smiles sadly, saying she probably won't experience another night like again. Riki goes to say something, like there are more fun times ahead but Yuiko panics, dropping her cup. When Riki goes to pick up the pieces Yuiko flings herself on Riki, asking to staying like for a little while longer. As they sit there all sad like Kyousuke is sitting in the rain looking pensive. That night Riki thinks about how sad Yuiko was and how things aren't adding up. He falls asleep near his little make shift table. Riki seems to dream about the repeating timelines.....and wakes up on June 20th. This time everyone is getting ready to go to class as Riki freaks out on them. Rin comes in and says the only thing that is weird is Riki panicking. All the things Riki says happened yesterday or the 20th really happened a while ago. Rin especially shrugs off Riki's panicking. They hand him his notebook for the field trip and go to class. Everyone acts normal as Riki sits in class knowing this is all wrong. He knows it is June 20th but now things are slowly changing. He starts to snow outside and when Riki points out how insane this is no one cares.

This episode was apparently brought to you by a field trip...

Slowly the world starts losing it's edge? Like a water painting or something. Riki starts to lose his mind as the day keeps repeating and repeating, a little different each time. He feels as if he is slowly falling asleep and forgetting something really important. He tries to hold onto reality as Kengo and Masato seem less and less conscious with each timeline. Riki then remembers Kyousuke. Kyousuke is amazing! He surely can fix anything. Only he calls Kyousuke and gets no answer at all. Riki sorta runs around the school looking for him and finds Yuiko playing the piano again. The world really starts to get special, with the snow taking up reality. Riki wonders how long ago it was that he wished these days would last forever with Yuiko. He seems to think he is the cause of all this madness. Yuiko tells Riki that it is her that is causing the loop and that he can't blame himself. Riki is like what the heck is going on, I don't understand anything. Yuiko said this was her wish, her dream for this moment to last forever. She explains to Riki her sad childhood. She was a high achiever in everything in life. Yet she experienced no emotion at all. Kids thought she was weird and even her own mother cried over the idea of her kid being a robot. Nothing really effected Yuiko. That is until Riki came into her life. He interested her and she soon started to spy on the Little Busters, eventually joining them. This past month had brought out the emotion in Yuiko and she was truly touched. She got to experience new things and have friends. She wished this could last forever....this dream was her last wish. She says that when Riki wakes up he will forget this all. Riki gets upset, saying he doesn't want to forget. Yuiko gets a little weepy, saying she wished she could have experienced love but now she has to accept her fate and Riki must go on to protect Rin. Riki looks like he wants to ask more but it fades to happy times with the Little Busters with a TV screen looking like it is experiencing static. When the static ends Riki wakes up and appears to be happy, like nothing ever happened. THE END!

Poor poor brain.

What the hell is going on?! Do you see my confused face? So very, very confused. Is everyone else confused? Well anime only people. I think the way the episode ends it was suppose to be like TADA everything is fixed, nothing to worry about. Clearly that is not the case.

Answer: Too many.

It is undetermined how many times Riki experienced June 20th. In this episode alone it looked like 4 times but given how Riki was acting it might have been more. Sorta a cross between Endless Eight and Madoka. Only more like Madoka since Endless Eight showed every single timeline with the tiny variations. Having flashbacks, losing my mind. But this episode showed some repeats and some new material.

Your no eyes tell me differently.

Before the end of the episode I was going to question if Youko knew what was going on. I was always going to assume yes but now I am unable to determine how much she knows. She seems to think she is the cause of everything but we the viewers know it is really Kyousuke calling the shots. It has to be Kyousuke. Yet Yuiko claims it was her doing. Each timeline Yuiko was giving Riki more and more information. When Riki experienced the second June 20th (the one he was aware of that is) he questioned Yuiko if she knew what was going on. She had the no eyes on. No eyes means the character is so depressed their eyes sink into their skulls for the sadness/truth of the matter is overwhelming. Only we the viewers saw the no eye face. During the first repeat Yuiko claims (after Riki begged forever) that this day has repeated itself. But instead of making Riki feel better she was like forget about the fireworks. THANKS FOR THE HELP!

Oh Riki....me thinks more than just this arc is repeating...

And that was basically it. Like...what the hell is going on? See this is why I am assuming Kyousuke is the timeline resetter. Either way though I found it super odd. If Yuiko wanted these happy times to last forever....where was she? If she wanted to be with Riki and experience love and that was her wish why was it Riki seeking out Yuiko? Shouldn't she be taking advantage of this timeloop, whether she or Kyousuke caused it? Like look Riki let's do this and let's do that. Instead Riki spent the most time with the boys. How was this beneficial to Yuiko? Riki was just losing his mind. He and Yuiko weren't growing any closer and Riki wasn't enjoying this time of never ending FUN! So it all seems pointless. Yuiko wasted her wish and Kyousuke was giving Yuiko a chance to...have her love. So I have no idea what is going and even if I did it would make no sense.

Ya think? Kengo and Masato are passed out in the background.

How did everyone else fare in this repeating timeline? Well....interesting. The other girls didn't act any different. Just life as usual for them. Even Noumi which I think is weird as she should know something after that conversation with Kyousuke....Rin seemed better as most of the conversation about Youko never took place. If that was the point of the repeats, to make Riki forget about his happy moments with Yuiko, it didn't really make Rin closer to Riki. But she isn't angry now and Yuiko did say take care of Rin so........Masato and Kengo seem to have fared....not so well. This might have happened to everyone and we just saw Kengo and Masato more. Like maybe the others were acting tired and drained too. But Masato and Kengo looked tore up. Like they weren't aware of what the time loop but the toll was still being taken on their bodies. Like too tired to do this again....

Not weird enough for Rin to care that much of course.

This is all confusing. Why weren't the kids more concerned about Riki?! They have no idea about the loops. So they were lalalaing like normal. But Riki was acting insane. Like distressed and upset and all the other words for that. So people brushing Riki off when he was acting this way was...surprising. The rest of the time anyone is the tiniest bit upset everyone is like ARE YOU OKAY?! You aren't?! Riki got fix them!!! But since Riki does the saving no one is there for him? It just felt sad. Like everyone is on drugs. Like what, Riki is upset? I can't see anything wrong with this. Snow is normal in July ya'll.

Where you be Kyousuke?

Oh and where is Kyousuke? Kyousuke where are you? Does anyone care about him either? Riki almost forgot too. Which would be easy to do if all Riki was doing was losing his mind and staying his room/classroom the whole time. Kyousuke usually bursts in with some crazy idea. Which is slightly confusing. If the 20th is pancake day we should have seen Kyousuke. That wasn't Kyousuke's idea. Kyousuke's idea was the fireworks to thank the girls/get Riki with Yuiko. Unless Kyousuke planted the ideas in the girl's heads...So each timeline is super different apparently. Super different. So...there was no Kyousuke. Riki thinks a lot of Kyousuke, saying that Kyousuke knows everything. Oh how close Riki is to the truth. Maybe Kyousuke wasn't around because he wasn't up to seeing people. Like Mason and Kengo bad. Passed out from all this mayhem. But why would a timeline that was about forgetting Yuiko involve Kyousuke being forgotten as well?

In class instead of being at the pancake party? Also SNOW!!!

I guess I should talk about that more. How the timelines were different. Because they were super different and it doesn't really make much sense. What was the change that caused everything to be...well random? This was after the baseball game. This is a fact. There should have been a celebration of some sort. Even if it changed day to day. Like cupcake party, pizza party. Because I was in disbelief that all this happened on the same day. Like the Noumi and Komari bullying happening THE NEXT DAY would make more sense. But I don't think I am wrong. I think it was all in the same day. So when none of these things happened I was confused. Still am. Like everything is so beyond different. Just another day at school. No fireworks. No party. No bullying. The only thing consistent was Masato spilling soda on the notebook for the field trip. What was up with all that? Field trip on the board, on the notebook. Is this a hint or something?

Riki is at his breaking point.

Well after Riki panicked and couldn't find Kyousuke (although he wasn't looking very hard) he went to Yuiko again. Even though he really had no reason to as the bullying didn't happen. Good thing he went there too as the entire....timeline was falling apart. Maybe I would have found this all more believable if Riki had asked all the other girls if they thought the timeline was repeating and only then would he go back to Yuiko. But what can you do?

Wha....what about Kyousuke?

Coming back to the beginning of my blog post....Yuiko claims this all was her doing. Her dream when in reality Kyousuke is the one resetting the timeline. Maybe he let her have her moment though? It's very confusing. Because at the end of the fireworks things were going well. Even if Yuiko didn't get what she wanted. Riki was her friend. She was with him. By resetting each day I don't see how she got closer to Riki. Only...only if this was a messed up timeline. Maybe Kyousuke set up this whole day in episode 1 and 2 so Yuiko could have Riki for herself. But the cost would be having Riki forget this all. Which...seems rather complicated. Was resetting the day a million times the only way to do it? Like we have to make Riki so confused that taking out this firework memory will become easy? I don't know...this is all so confusing (for the 943 time). Why if Kyousuke knew how things were going to work out would he allow this to happen if it just made Yuiko upset?

No trauma to explain this?

This seems to be Yuiko's whole arc though. This is how Riki is going to save her. There shall be no more later. No seriously there might be no more Yuiko later. But for now she needs to explain to Riki why they are trapped in her dream and why Riki is okay with this. In case no one was paying attention Yuiko sorta...always hung back from the group. She participated sure. But often times she was the observer. There really isn't any real reason why Yuiko was...robotish. She was born with no emotions. I am glad that her mother wanted to see some expression and didn't focus on Yuiko being the best at everything. Also not explained was why Yuiko suddenly got better. Surely she must have seen other group of friends laughing and having a great time. But for some reason it was the Little Busters that broke through to her. Gave her the ability to use her facial muscles. To feel apart of a group. And that is all she wanted. No Riki healing required?

Err that doesn't sound positive....

What is up with this arc? Riki has to do something to make the girls better. But all Yuiko wanted....was Riki? Something has gone wrong though. Or right. It is really hard to tell with Yuiko. There were tears falling from her face and she said she wanted to fall in love with Riki. But then she said that she wanted him to forget it? Then what was the point of having this all happen? Why does Kyousuke have the ability to reset timelines? Because I believe that is still going on despite Yuiko trying to say this is all HER dream and that everything else in Riki's life is normal. This was just...the weirdest thing yet. You know, with Yuiko wanting to be with Riki and having him forget it later. This is all a dream. Thanks for the memories but I have to accept my fate now and I wish I could have experienced love even though I didn't put much effort into making these fun times last.

And then everything is okay?!

This is how the episode ends. With Yuiko saying a tearful goodbye to Riki and making him promise to take care of Rin. X____X Like the entire screen was being erased by a kid, that Yuiko was going to be gone forever. Accept her fate? What is going on here? Given what kind of anime this is, based off a game with sad girls having sad things happen to them...it could be a lot of things. But the way Yuiko was talking this was her last day on Earth. That the reason June 20th is so important is that Yuiko DIES the next day. What the hell. Does the bully girl kill her or something? If Yuiko DOES die how can Riki possibly save her if she doesn't explain the problem or spend the repeating timeline WITH him?! How does this make sense? Accept her fate? Riki wakes up all smiling because it is the 21st. Does that mean he has forgotten Yuiko or just the fireworks? Was Yuiko being dramatic and was giving Riki to Rin? Is that what she meant and she was having her one moment of teenage girlness? I mean...could Yuiko be dead? Dead people dreams are obviously strong......so I guess we need to stay tuned to episode 4 to see what is going on with Yuiko? NO IDEA FOLKS. X_X Did I mention I was confused enough times?

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Little Busters Refrain episode 2

Apparently I can't count. I only have 4 more anime posts ready to go. XD I posted the new series about the ships before I went out of town go me!!! I do have another halfway done and maybe I can get another one started at work? BOO 6 day work weeks not helping me get anything done. Working at work? Insanity.

Poor poor Riki....

For now there are more things to post a barely any time before bed. Up now is Little Busters Refrain 2. Spoilers for Riki.....well being tongue tied and confused.

Have you Kyousuke? So much so you would change the world?

Episode Summary: Riki slowly starts waking up. Everything is very fuzzy to him, like he is watching a movie and not really there. Yuiko smiles at him, asking him why he looks like he thinks he is in a dream? Riki sits up and apologizes for his narcolepsy. Yuiko said she took off his jacket and wiped him down. Yuiko then says she could have done naughty things to him but she didn't. Riki starts to blush but then the conversation turns serious. Riki mentions that it is June 20th, that Yuiko joined the Little Busters a month ago, and he wants these happy times to last forever. Yuiko is like (serious face) forever? But she agrees she is happy with friends. Riki's eyes almost glaze over, but he fights through it. He says this conversation has happened before. Yuiko asks why Riki has attacks. He answers when he gets nervous or scared. Before Riki can put it together Yuiko pretends to be hurt that Riki isn't more turned on about being alone with her. Yay for being creepy. Later the main Little Busters are playing a card game but Riki keeps spacing out. Kyousuke concludes Riki and Yuiko are in love. Riki is still X__X from earlier and doesn't protest enough. Kengo enters some insane state of shock, Rin is like what is love, and Masato thinks Yuiko is a poor choice. Kengo eventually wakes up and gives his blessing. Kyousuke goes on and on about this will make Riki grow as a man. Riki says he doesn't like Yuiko but when question on who he does like he looks at Rin and gets confused. Rin eventually leaves in a quiet upset way. Kengo decides it would be more logical if Riki liked Kyousuke which sends Masato into a jealous tail spin. Riki tries to calm the crazies down but all three guys eventually conclude Riki is in love with Yuiko. Kyousuke and his crazy names decide to form a group to help Riki confess. This eventually leads to all the boys revealing their favorite types....of females.

Well...way to go Kyousuke?

Riki doesn't run away so Kyousuke explains his plan to a tearful Kengo, eager Masato, and what the hell Riki. Kengo and Masato are to go buy little fireworks while Kyousuke supplies a giant firework (left over from an odd job), and Riki will gather Yuiko so he can watch the fireworks alone in a classroom. It will be romantic and Riki can confess then. The plan slightly changes so Riki can gather all the girls together as thanks for the pancake party. The boys set to work at their task. Riki doesn't tell the girls it is fireworks. Rin still looks -_____-. But Yuiko steps up and is like OH Riki is trying to seduce us all which further makes Rin upset. The boys start setting up the fireworks as it has magically stopped raining like Kyousuke said it would. Riki tries to get the girls to a classroom when Mio starts to tel la horror story/rumor Haruka started. Everyone but Mio and Yuiko run away in fear. Mio goes to find the other girls (locating Haruka, Noumi, and Komari at the staircase) which leaves Yuiko and Riki alone. They end up watching the fireworks in the classroom as Kyousuke was able to light the match with the game in his heart. Yuiko notes how romantic all this is. Kyousuke (or one of the boys) sends Riki a text telling him to confess and Yuiko accidentally sees it. Yuiko waits but the conversation just leads to them talking about liking a person. Riki doesn't tell Yuiko anything. Rin has also watched the fireworks but alone and outside. She walks away sadly. Riki wakes up to Kengo and Masato in his room. He notes the calender is wrong, the 20th was yesterday. Both boys say its the 20th today. Riki tries to list things that happen on the 20th, like the pancake party and fireworks but the two boys look at him like he is crazy. Masato then spills soda on Riki's notebook like he did yesterday. Riki runs off and finds Yuiko in the PA room again, saying the exact same things as yesterday. What is going on? And why is time repeating itself? THE END!!

What day IS it?

Well then...that was super...interesting. Not what I was expecting at all. Again why am I expecting things? Just which the show you know. But I guess when you are watching something you assume it is going to go in one direction an when it does the exact opposite it's shocking.

Sitting...in a chair?

First things first. Yuiko is weird. Or Riki being in the chair is weird. I know this narcolepsy thing is probably a hoax or a red herring. Like when his eyes glazed over and he fought through it. That's probably how it usually happens. Or not. Either way I was amused that Riki woke up in a chair, like he didn't pass out on the ground. Like yes Riki I posed you in the chair and took off your jacket and wiped you down. Smile smile. Good thing I am pretty and have big boobies because I am creepy yes?

And then you do!

The entire interaction between Riki and Yuiko was very...odd. It was super serious at times and then BAM playful. I started to think that Yuiko knew/knows about the timelines restarting. Eye narrowing and asking Riki why he has narcolepsy/why the attacks happen. But before Riki could figure out anything she would tease him again. Like why aren't you more turned on that you are alone with me?! Want me to wipe down other things? Poor Riki. So does Yuiko know what is going on? I think it was being portrayed that she might know but in reality she doesn't. The “forever” and this seems all too familiar was just for the audience to know Riki wasn't going crazy. No no, Kyousuke is driving the crazy train, Yuiko and the other girls are just along for the ride.

Remember the magic Riki!

Before I go any further....REALLY?! REALLLY?! I mean obviously there is some magic afoot in this show. A wish. Something. But now days have more than 24 in them? I mean first off...it's only been a month from episode 1 season 1? Okay. Fun days last forever indeed. But now there are 52 hours in a day folks. The pancake party, the girls hurting Komari and Noumi, Yuiko threatening the girls/door, Riki and Yuiko having a heart to heart/floor to head moment, the card game/operation love Riki, and the fire works ALLL HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY! Like really....really? So....something magical is happening yes? Has to be. Unless this damn pancake party was at 6 am and no one else in this school...noticed....because where are all the other kids. Okay is any of this even happening?

What the hell is wrong with you Kengo?!

During the day of much longness the original Little Busters are playing card games when Riki's nonpaying attentiveness. Flagged something. Considering Noumi and Komari were just bullied and Yuiko defended them you would think that would be the logical conclusion to Riki being absent minded. Why aren't Kengo and Masato in detention? Anyway....it's love folks. Riki is in love with Yuiko which affects Kengo the most. Why? He really did hit his head hard didn't he?

Shouldn't your loyalty be to Rin?

I am not sure what Kyousuke was trying to do here. Since he knows about all the timelines he should know what happens yes? Does he really want Riki to end up with Yuiko? Putting the fact that Kyousuke IS the best match for Riki....I am not sure this makes Rin happy. It's almost like Kyousuke is playing a video game of Riki's life. Like okay lets go down this area with this girl now. Riki almost has no potential and every potential with all the girls. Yet Kyousuke is sending these notes to Riki and Rin, not the other girls. So he must want them together the most right? Maybe Kyousuke wants Riki to do this to gently let Yuiko down so this doesn't go all High School Days on us? Or to force Rin to say how she feels?

This was all for you Riki!

Either way it clearly didn't work. More on that later. After Rin leaves the room and no one really cares (Riki cares...a tiny bit) it's time for more Kyousuke plans!! It's like this guy can't sit still or has to accomplish everything at that exact moment or the universe/timeline will end. Since Kengo's tragic accident and inability to play his sport he is around more and he and Masato are dating as they are no longer fighting like they used to. Operation Make Riki confess to a girl he doesn't know that well commence. Well you know after the guys explain their preference in woman via manga. Really Kyousuke.....loli indeed. Would have been funnier if the girl looked like Riki. Kengo and Masato's types were expected and boring. Riki's type is everyone obviously.

Rin not really enjoying said fireworks.

So operation get Riki to confess was special. Again no teachers were around. No other students saw this. Not even the rule loving twin. Just Riki gathering up the girls and the boys setting up. At this point I was wondering about Yuiko again. Like...does she actually like Riki? Or was she stirring the pot? Rin is not very happy and it shows. One would think Yuiko would pick on this given she is smarter than half the girls. Most really. To Rin's credit she did tag along and didn't talk about why Riki was acting so weird. Like I will keep this a secret but you all still suck.

...How lovely is this?

Because Kyousuke sees all and knows all. Riki and Yuiko ended up watching the fireworks alone. I wonder if in each timeline it is different. Like this happens once, sometimes that. Mio and her ghost story of fakeness was special. Especially since Haruka started it. I do think it's weird that the other girls didn't ask where Rin was. But in the classroom Yuiko and Rin had some moments. Again it's hard to know what Yuiko is thinking. I am sure in the video game Riki has the ability to like them all. But in the anime I just don't see Riki and Yuiko together. Like yes you are pretty and you have giant boobies. But together I can't see it. Riki keeps blushing at what his friends suggested though. The idea makes him blush, I doubt there would be much execution. No confession despite meddling.

Is that a reason for a reset? Riki not saying anything?

And the POOF it's the 20th again. Riki wakes up from a “nap” and finds the day is repeating itself. Which means or suggests several things to me. Riki is slowly reaching his limit of how much he can take. That he won't be able to go through too many more timelines without really being sick or asleep all the time. Two...I guess this means timelines can reset anytime. That when Riki fails to do whatever Kyousuke wants him to do Kyousuke has the magical powers to restart it then and there, not waiting for it to get really bad. Three.....the others are all very unaware of what is going on or are the best actors and actresses ever. Will people start assuming Riki is crazy? Like are you okay young boy? Um it's the 20th why are you acting like this? So this isn't the first time this has happened but it's a big deal as Riki is now aware of it.

People keep saying that....

The real question I guess is....why a reset? Kyousuke seems to want to make all the girls happy or okay with the bad things that have happened to them. So it stands to reason that the reset can happen whenever Kyousuke feels thing haven't gone right. Like okay Komari kills herself in sadness or Mio's evil twin never goes away. However this reset seems different (like I know any better). Why a reset? Yuiko didn't SEEM that upset over Riki's nonconfession. Like well I like you, lets be friends anyway. So while things didn't seem to go perfectly it would probably be okay. Because if Yuiko goes crazy because Riki doesn't confess she is probably too insane to save. What else could it be? Well I am operating under the assumption Kyousuke is pulling the strings. Which I think he is. But with this reset I think Rin is super involved. I really don't think she knows what is going on with the resets but it just seems odd that a reset happens after she becomes upset. She was unhappy with how things were going and Kyousuke wouldn't want his sister sad. But considering Kyousuke lead the charge for Riki to confess....and Riki was pushed into thinking to confessing to Yuiko...how can Kyousuke be surprised with the results?

It is all a dream folks time to go home.

So now I am more confused that when I started writing. I was going to say OH SNAP Rin is the one doing the resetting. It's like that horrible Butterfly Effect Part 3 (I think) where both siblings are jumping. But now...I don't know. It has to be Kyousuke. I guess he assumed Riki would confess to Rin? I don't know. Is Yuiko going to get a “sad” arc or is this it? X___X Guess we will find out...when I catch up? GO ME!

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Nagi no Asukara episode 2

What the heck is this? I haven't blogged in 10 days? 10?!??! What slackerness is this? Why it is like my husband got me the new Pokemon game and then I spent an entire weekend at Disney celebrating my birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME! But yeah I thought I had blogged two episodes last Thursday but clearly I didn't. Apologizes for keeping people hanging but I have lots of episodes on the way. Well 6 for now. Haven't picked the game up in 4 days to get caught up.

....Still very weird.

Up first in the catch up train is episode 2 of Nagi no Asukara. Spoilers for Manaka being slightly annoying. Also did I confuse Kaname and Chisaki's names in episode 1?

Banished folks!

Episode Summary: Manaka wakes up and checks her knee fish. It basically says goodbye and swims out of her knee. She thinks back to Tsumugu and how he complimented on her knee fish. She blushes and thinks....wait the thing that he liked about me is gone?! Manaka goes to see Uroko and throws food at him, saying she deserves to be cursed again. Uroko is like what are you talking about crazy girl? Manaka goes to school and thanks Tsumugu for saving her with the bath tube. He asks how the knee fish is doing and Manaka pretends to make it talk. Hikari walks up and thanks Tsumugu in his own way, saying that surface people need to back off. He walks away and Manaka runs after him, saying that Hikari was rude to Tsumugu. Hikari basically flips out that she is calling him by his first name. Manaka is like hello I don't know his last name but Hikari stomps off. Manaka starts crying and this alerts Chisaki to take care of the girl. Chisaki tries to explain that Hikari really isn't mad, this is just his way of caring...a lot. Chisaki looks sad about this while Manaka cries some more. Hikari is outside pouting when the two girls that were vandalizing his sister's stand see the boy. The girls act like brats for a while and run when Kaname shows up. Back in class the kid's teacher asks some of the kids to make the sacred doll. In times long ago the land people were punished for leaving the sea and they would sacrifice girls to appease the gods. Now they make dolls for the ceremony. Only none of the kids want to do this. Tsumugu is the only one who raises his hands which makes Manaka happy and raise hers. Soon all the sea kids raise their hands and off into the woods they go gathering the materials. Hikari grumbles the whole time while Tsumugu seems interested that Uroko really does exist. He explains on clear days he can see their village from his fishing boat. Before Part of Your World can break out the teacher dismisses the sea kids. Which is good as Hikari was seeing Manaka look at Tsumugu with stars in her eyes.

Um....that is nice and all in theory but banishment? How well did that turn out for Romeo and Juliet?

As the kids walk home they see Akari the sister being driven to the water's edge. She stops and kisses the driver which shocks everyone, mostly her brother. Kaname wonders if she plans on leaving the village. He explains one does not simple leave the village on their own. People who fall in love with someone on the surface are kicked out of the sea. Manaka is all like but what about love? Hikari wants to scream at Manaka some more and when the girl breaks into tears and goes into the ocean Hikari turns on Chisaki who thinks she knows best. Kaname tries to calm Hikari down. Kaname catches up to Chisaki who is swinging on the swing at their old school, looking at the salt. She is worried about people leaving her. But what if Manaka is the brave one, taking the first steps into a new world. The next day at class the kids work together to make the doll. Manaka has made the effort to learn Tsumugu's last name which just makes Hikari mad some more. Later Chisaki finds out that Tsumugu has been working on making them a water hole. How sweet. Tsumugu mentions Manaka and Chisaki asks him not to hurt the girl. Manaka ends up visiting Uroko again asking him to curse her. He asks why and she tries to explain. He tells her without knowing the details that if she feels this weak from a little lie how will she do things if she continues down this road. He tries to point out her friends are just trying to protect her. Manaka runs out of the temple just in time to see Hikari run up the road as there is a commotion. Akari has been manhandled by a bunch of villagers. They are taking her to see Uroko. She has been caught with the surface boy and that spells trouble. The father walks up and takes Akari into his custody. Hikari is very upset and Akari is barely moving on her own. Manaka sees for herself the future if she so chooses this path. THE END!

I see a liar face!

Episode 2 and we are already knee deep into drama. Oh I made funny. But seriously I can't tell if things are progressing at a normal pace or super fast pace. It seems fast to me since there are 26 episodes. Unless...some serious stuff is going to happen and we are just getting through all the fluff. No queer rats!!!!

But we were becoming friends!!

Speaking of the knee drama.....Manaka's knee has healed. I don't know if it was gross or amazing how it just swam out of her body. See ya and off it went. I guess since it was a magical curse it doesn't need to make sense with blood and tissue and stuff. Personally I would just carry around an accessory fish for Tsumugu to be impressed with. Maybe cursed knee fish look different. In any case Manaka was being a crazy girl. Oh a boy likes me for one reason? I must make that my most important feature. And when I lose said feature I will lie. Oh Manaka making that “fish talk”. And trying to get Uroko to curse her again. Impressing a boy who you have known for 5 seconds. Silly girl. Probably very accurate but...it's still a fish to the knee.

Manaka is good at pissing people off...

While most of Manaka's scenes with the knee were cute and WTF there was a serious moment at the end of the episode involving Uroko. As much as the man likes having free food thrown at him he wanted to know why Manaka was being so crazy. He really should be more concerned on how liquids can stay in containers unsealed under the sea but yeah. I have a feeling he already knew Manaka's problem. He just wanted her to say it. Like look you are lying about something dumb and you are this upset. What's going to happen if this continues? Ready to face the consequences of your maybe decision? This was going to foreshadow the end of the episode. Hopefully this got Manaka thinking that teenagers often do stupid things on impulse that might affect them their entire lives.

RICE DUMPLINGS!!!

But at the beginning of the episode Manaka was doing an excellent job in pissing Hikari off. I really can see both points of view and how each one is a jerk to the other. There is clearly a divide between land people and water people despite almost being identical. But there is some hatred and Hikari has probably been hurt by words in the past. Growing up with racism. And besides Tsumugu I don't see anyone really trying to spend time with the sea kids. So he's weary of the situation. A lot of it is fueled by jealously but I can see Hikari being upset outside of that. Like really Manaka, a guy compliments your fishy skin and everything is amazing? I might be pissed too. However even if Manaka wasn't...well dense as hell I can still see her side. The cycle of hatred will never stop if the kids keep it going. Just like in real life. It's 2013 and while racism is not okay it's really surprising to hear young people talk a certain way. Like can't you think beyond the awful words of your parents. So Manaka is trying to be open minded and Hikari is being cautious . At the same time Manaka is basically thinking dangerous thoughts about a person she's known for 5 minutes and Hikari is being a hater.

Last names are serious business too!

This all spells for a mini fight later in the episode. Kaname is too busy being Mamoru but even worse in this love pentagon. Manaka broke social norms by calling Tsumugu by his first name which fueled Hikari's jealously/anger. I mean.....when the sister Akari was caught kissing a land boy (out in the open, come on now!) that was a serious moment. Kaname explains just how serious it can be. I mean....the sea village might be a little dramatic with kicking out the member who falls in love. Wouldn't that be obvious? The land person couldn't go to the ocean. Unless the sea people wanted to live there and the sea at the same time. Either way this was a moment for Manaka to get it through her head that this is serious. Instead she was acting like a love sick fool. Like hello even if Hikari didn't love her they and the others are still friends. Why are you acting so casual. So you and Chisaki go swim in the ocean all mad. Because Hikari is a meanie. How dare he hurt a girl's feelings! And Chisaki loves you Hikari you best appreciate.

Tsumugu is just lalalaing.

Tsumugu is unaware of this or if he doesn't know something is going on he isn't letting on. Which is off because Hikari is very hostile in front of Tsumugu. Almost like Tsumugu is so...removed from the situation. Above the situation? Emotional not clocked in? Duck? Something. I wonder if Manaka is going to get her heart hurt. For now it seems that Tsumugu has given Manaka attention because she is a sea person. That he finds THOSE people interesting, not just Manaka. This would be awful in many situations. I hope Hikari isn't too hurt about being second choice. Or realizes he was first choice for Chisaki...who shouldn't settle for being second pick either. And then there is Kaname who I am sure is in love with someone and is the third choice....what a mess!!!

But I want to hate you!

Either way one surface kid (Tsumugu) volunteers to make the doll for the festival. Which is sad. All the sea kids followed Manaka's lead but that was still sad. It was the surface people's responsibility to do this task. They apparently angered the sea gods by leaving. How does it work if sea people are making the doll for them? XO Isn't that totally not the point? Also isn't this Japan, home of old people fighting to keep traditions alive? Just felt weird since it doesn't look too hard or expensive to make. Just an excuse to throw these kids together. No one else. Because Tsumugu is special. Well some of the land adults are okay with the sea kids. But almost all children in this series has been punks. Even the little ones messing with Akari and later Hikari. Is there a reason for it? Something more to the legend of how humans came to be or just bitter racist feelings? Stop the hatred!!

A lot of people aren't cool with this apparently.

If the little girls are related to whoever Akari is dating that might give some insight on why they are acting like that? Or at least one is the little sister as neither look alike. But Akari....well she has fallen in love with someone on land. Hopefully it isn't like Manaka and she fell in love in 5 minutes. Because I can accept Akari having that stand and a customer coming by day after day and they gradually fell in love. Real love, not puppy love. If one of the girls is related to the boy then it's understandable. Akari probably shouldn't be doing things like that in public though....and if that is the sister she needs a spanking.

Super serious business I see.

Despite Hikari being a hot head about other things he kept his sister's secret....a secret. And when she was getting manhandled by the men in the village he was quick to attempt to help her. But...it seems that Kaname wasn't being dramatic. There are real consequences to falling in love with someone on the surface. I almost compare it to some religions. They are super, super against marrying out of your religion. The other individual has to convert or there are problems. That is how I think the situation is anyway. Surely there must be more to the situation. Because the surface village isn't that far and some citizens already work there. Visiting seems easy. Okay banish me, that is what I was going to do anyway? The sea people will always lose though. It doesn't appear that surface people can come back to the sea. Being manhandled like that wouldn't make me want to stay though....

Welcome to your future.

And that is how the episode ends. Two episodes into this series and we already see things aren't picture perfect in swimmy town. A lot of rarw going on. Superstition. Well why the hell are they allowing people work on the surface? Letting kids go to school? If there is that much mistrust and anger why all the intermingling when there doesn't need to be. I know some interaction is necessary but the school? Are they really that low on kids? Where are the other kids attending the land school? If this is it...the sea people might be dying out, all going above water thus the anger. So....this series is going to be full of drama yes? And magical people who can drink from open containers under water of course. Duh.

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New Anime Series: Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova episode 1

Hello there my lovely readers!!! Taking a break from Pokemon hijacking to blog another anime post. The game was a complete surprise to me. X___X Why do they make new game systems so expensive? But yes I have been very appreciative of my gift. More so today when work was beyond slow because of the holiday and I had nothing to do for hours.

Squish squish.

Since I did a lot of Pokemoning at work I had to do some animing when I got home. Just today was an off day and I had a hard time focusing on the task at hand. Sorry if that makes this post seem a bit off. Here is another new anime for the Fall 2013 season, Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova. It seems pretty good but I guess I will let you be the judge. Spoilers for episode 1 include....well....killer ships?

Err...what is this?

Episode Summary: 17 years ago terrible things happen. Humans were doing a great job of wrecking their own planet. But then one day...from the fog....Fog appeared. Meaning tons of ships named Fog POOFED and started taking over all the water ways. Various countries tried to fight back but Fog was way more powerful than anything humans could create. The ships GLOW different colors okay. Soon most of the waterways were lost to the Fog ships, ships that seem to have no passengers in them. Tons of casualties on the human side of things, including Gunzo's father who was high up in the military. Years later humans are still trying to fight back despite being cut off from from one another as many forms of communication have been taken out. In Japan what is left of the military is attempting to launch what appears to be a satellite into the sky. It is very important but the launch site is very close to a water source. A Fog ship appears and starts to attack the military boats that are trying to protect said launch. A lot of dramatic conversations and attacks are taking place. The Japanese military seems to be losing when all of a sudden they see that 1-401 is on it's way. This Fog ship starts attacking the enemy one. Inside 1-401 is a human crew and the humanized program for the ship, Iona. The ….crew seems colorful and young. The captain is Gunzo as he interacts with Iona. She gives the stats on the enemy ship and they start launching a counter attack. More lovely explosions and prettiness. The enemy tries to protect itself with its super shield but 1-401 ends up winning. Instead of the military thanking Gunzo and his ship off they go, away from both sides. The satellite is launched successfully into the sky. Later Iona the avatar looks at the broken down Fog ship. She thinks to herself how it was just following orders when Gunzo joins her. They talk a bit and he says the only reason she is with him is because of orders. She agrees and it is time for a flashback, a walk down memory lane.

We aren't in love yet?!

About 2 years ago Gunzo was a ordinary high school kid. He appears to be top of his class which causes whispers among the other students, that maybe he doesn't deserve that. Only because his father was a military legend is this kid so high up. Gunzo ignores it all and takes part on a school trip to some secret...military area. Because they are top students and one day will work there. They are shown the last hope of humanity, a captured Fog Ship 1-401. As all the other students just look at the ship Gunzo touches the side of said ship. This activates the avatar Iona. Her memory has been wiped out and all that is left inside of her is the command follow Gunzo. The ship itself starts to act weird so everyone is evacuated. Later at school Gunzo is hanging out with his weird friends. Iona is seen walking to the school and everyone wants to know who she is. She walks up to Gunzo and says she needs to talk to him. When Iona is around the electronics near her don't seem to work. Gunzo has no idea what Iona is going on about and doesn't want to spend time with a prank. Still he agrees to meet with Iona later. She passes the time by “touching” things, star fishes. Gunzo shows up and Iona explains who she is. Gunzo is like.....what? Iona explains that she was reprogrammed by his father and all she has left is the words follow Gunzo. Since Daddy is dead this is a big deal to Gunzo. He agrees to take on this mission, for killed in action Dad and committed suicide Mom. Iona breaks herself out of the hanger she is which causes a lot of damage and mayhem. It takes a lot of energy for Iona to use her shields but eventually they escape and now Gunzo is on the run with...most of his high school friends as the crew mates. Back in the present Gunzo thinks about their current situation, almost turning against humans and Fog. Gunzo meets with the man who did hire them to protect the satellite. It turns out to have the weaponry needed to get rid of Fog and it was destroyed in the atmosphere. Now the man who hired Gunzo wants him and 1-401 to go to America and deliver the plans, as that country is the best to mass produce these weapons. Gunzo wants to know why the military can't do this and the man is like well we have our reasons. The crew discusses this as they will be in Fog territory when this all goes down. They decide to proceed anyway. Out in the water many Fog ships gather with all their female avatars talking to each other, eager to show off their....personalities. The lead ship eventually tells a particular Fog ship to go after the traitor 1-401 and take them out. THE END!

Just following orders ya'll.

Okay. So that went differently than I thought it was going to. I am not sure why I assume anything from shows I haven't watched before. XD As if a brief PV and synopsis could tell me all. But first impressions could count for a lot. Let's just say I am slightly....better now that I have seen the first episode. Or rather I thought something was going to happen that would make me MEH but now I think it will go in a different direction so it's more like OH?

I want to draw you...I mean destroy you!

I assumed going by the limited information that these new ships were going to be alien or from the ocean. I think I thought it was more so the alien until I researched this more. Then I thought we were dealing with some environmental anime. Like humans messed up so bad the fail safes at the bottom of the ocean were activated and took out the pollutants. That these ships were somehow here to get rid of those hurting the planet. Which could still be happening. Like Prometheus without Aliens. XD But yeah these things probably came from space or were made by those from space. Or course...they are rather large. How did they get here?

Look we are in danger again!

I don't think that will be answered for a while. And at the time of the attacks humans weren't caring either. All they knew was giant ships were in the water and were blowing them up. I wonder how long it took the humans to figure out that no one was piloting these vessels. Given how much ass kicking took place when Fog first arrived it might have been awhile. Join together forces of Earth. This planet is made up of 75 percent water (perhaps more in this timeline given the damage by humans).. That is a lot of places Fog is, can be, and will be. The Fog: Coming to get you.

Things have not been going well lately..

I don't think humans were going to be that cut off from each other. However in my mind there was more devastation. I don't know why I thought that. I guess if they are super ships they can fire into the middle of continents right? But I didn't think satellites would be gone in the sky. Underground cables gone yes. But um I am pretty sure in Independence Day they were using Morse code. So...you know...The ships from Fog are in the water. Not in the sky. How did this all happen? It appeared the students were on the internet in the lunchroom so yeah. I can see how nations like Japan would be totally screwed. Island Nation. America might have places of screwed. Or at least I would be in Florida. All the crops and cows in Idaho are safe ya'll.

Woohoo for hope?

So why is this anime even happening? It has been several years since The Fog and their different colored ships appeared. Japan is attempting to launch something into space. At first it is believed to be a normal satellite but it's not exactly. I was going to snark them for launching it so close to the ocean but it's not like you can literally rebuild a structure of that size, especially in the Fog Apocalypse. Things are not going well with this launch. These Fog ships don't play around. Like BAM die. Won't anyone save us?!

We are here to save the day!

Enter 1-401. This Fog Ship has quite a reputation....and a young crew. At the helm is Gunzo. Please forgive me if I accidentally say Gonzo from time to time. Yes folks this Fog Ship is with the humans. The ship is named Iona and she has a real body? Iona able to detect all about the enemy Fog ship. (because only one was doing all of this destruction) and the rest of the young crew was doing amazing. 1-401 manages to take down the Fog Ship before there are any more causalities and the satellite does launch.

So who is the real enemy?

But all is not well. I mean....1-401 did just kick some ass. But the military wasn't expecting them. Nor was it WOOHOO we won!!! More like oh look who is here, the legendary 1-401. Tension. Why is there tension? After 1-401 gets...well away from the military. Iona goes on deck to look at the destroyed Fog Ship. Which means she actually has a real body and isn't a hologram. I wouldn't call what she did as mourning. More like...this is happens, no one is at fault. The Fog Ship was following orders and course humans fought back.

Look at me...Captain Gunzo.

Mr. Gunzo is the captain of this defected Fog Ship. He isn't old enough to be the shift leader at Starbucks. But this is how anime rolls. You better be amazing before 20 or else. He looks at the wreckage too and asks Iona a question that will allow us to have a flashback. To explain why this is all going on. Iona was talking about how the ship they destroyed was just following orders. Gunzo confirms that Iona herself is just following his orders. Iona confirms this. So right away I am like okay so this isn't ship meets boy, love at first sight. There will be more to this story yes? Flashback time.

I didn't want to explode my computer again with awesome graphics so...here is your purple ship.

Oh so I should talk about how awesome the battle was? I guess I am always impressed with how anime works verses other types of animation. Really American cartoons are based for kids. Or are stupid as hell. So when it comes to their battle scenes something everything gets done on the cheap. All things that are technical are glossed over. I am sure there is some scientific backing to it. Just when I watch anime it makes more sense. Well not much sense in my head but I can see how it could be possible. Like they put effort into creating something that could be real. Not just trying to sound scientific and hope no one really notices. Because anime is made for people with deep pockets. You make those battles dramatic and fleshed out. You use language that applies to this made up universe AND could make sense. Needs more explosions. But beautiful explosions. Glide ship glide. So yeah...the art was pretty and impressive for the battle. Some of the nonimportant students at school? Not so...err...fleshed out.

Can I play the part of the jerk?! Because life isn't hard enough you know.

Back to the flashback though. In this war torn world kids are still going to school. But it is probably more important than ever they get a good education. We don't know how many were lost during the initial Fog attack but the kids we got left need to learn how to be useful. Behold the young minds that might get to work on battle ships and new weapons. But since kids are still kids and have to be rude or hateful to someone there had to be talk about whether or not Gunzo deserves to be one of the top kids. His father apparently was a hot shot in the military before he was blown to pieces. Because that is who we should pick on folks. I mean.....is nepotism ever fair? No but I might not be bringing up this when the parent is DEAD.

More important things to do folks!

Gunzo don't care though. Like um I got better things to do. Like kill all the Titans. Oppies I mean giant ships. He and the other classmates deemed special enough to go into the secret area got to see the captured Fog ship 1-401. The ones who had no real faces of course. It was sorta like the scene from Independence Day. Gunzo touches the ship and POOF things start to happen. The artificial intelligence on board starts to react despite being inactive for so many years. People are panicking. No one is noticing with all their buttons and cameras that Gunzo TOUCHED the ship. What will happen now? 

Well Gunzo will go back to school like nothing happened okay. To hang out with his....amazing friends. All of his friends eventually join the crew. I am not sure if it was out of loyalty to him or because they were good at what they did. Because you know...Gunzo is a wanted person. But before the wanting happened Fog ship 1-401 woke up. Or was rather waiting for Gunzo. This is the part of the episode I was happy with. That Iona didn't fall in love with Gunzo. She is a ship after all. The ship's programming. A computer system if you would. So it wouldn't make sense for her to randomly fall in love with him. It makes more sense that Gunzo's father was able to crack the code and force her to wait for Gunzo. Instructions would be nice but yeah. Or you know....capture the ship and give to an adult you trust. I mean how did Gunzo's father know that Gunzo would follow in his footsteps? I know you can't trust people but yeah. Where am I going with this?

See? Real body.

Iona has a real body as I have already said. Which is odd. I am sure it will be explained later. This is a ship that is from outer space. And as Iona explains these ships are all following orders. From a different species? Alien? Different humans who hate Japan? Whatever/whoever the enemy is perhaps who Iona is based on. Like look we can make fake bodies. Go and find Gunzo. Make sure you name drop the father so you can get him on your side. This is YOUR SHIP!!! Come and take a ride...on me I suppose? I don't know. I am not very focused right now. X___X Too much medicine. The point is Gunzo was suspicious for good reason, Iona was vague for maybe good reason, and the military has no idea what is going so I can see how Gunzo is not really on their side or their enemy.

....Good thing that mission was a success.

In the present it seems that Iona and Gunzo are still in that stage of you are my captain and I will tell you what to do and together we fight Fog. But humans can't ban together and fight the enemy. No no because that would be too easy. Apparently there are different factions going on with the humans too. Which is why the dad couldn't leave the ship with just anyone.....anyway the military didn't ask for Gunzo's help. An outside source did. The dude was looking kinda sleezy. He wanted to help the military for his own reason. The satellite crashed or something. Or if there are aliens they blew it up. And it turns out the....plans or parts for some super weapon were in that satellite. Now Mr. Sleezy wants Gunzo to go ALL THE WAY to the United States as the cows and crops survived and they have the ability to mass produce these weapons. HMMMMM all the way to the United States. Isn't there a lot of water in between? This sounds like a bad idea Gunzo....so why are you doing it?

With very interesting fashion sense.....

The episode ends with a bunch of Fog Ships talking. I don't know how many of these ships there are. One of them can do a lot of damage. They have broken up into zones it seems. It kinda made me sad that a lot of them have personality. Like a lot of personality. I guess I want them to act more like programs and not individuals. One ship started to give out orders, to hunt down the defector. Who really hasn't defected per-say. Just got....reprogrammed. Again wish the things in charge of the ships were giving the orders but this is just episode 1. So run Iona and Gunzo. RUN! Or swim really fast. X___X Poor little review, all over the place. No concentration.

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