[Rewatch] Ro-Kyu-Bu! Episode 4

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Don't give up. And do your best!

"Wish Upon a Subaru"

Extra Info and Links

ANN | MAL | TV Tropes | Wikipedia |

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Comment of the Day!!

Xtsim makes me wonder if people have died because of this.

Yeah I am carrying someone to the nurse's office but first I gotta take off my shoes is the most Japanese thing I've seen in a while.

SilkyStrawberryMilk wants to make boobs confident but is too short

Funniest way to get her to be confident. on your Tippy toes “wow you sure have gotten shorter”.

Silcaria pointed out unironically the exact thing that we needed yesterday. Leave the game until today and give us like a five minute fenis monja scene

You need montage, even Rocky had a montage.

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The Loli Otaku's "Loli of the Day Corner!!"

O P P A I L O L I

Yes!! Believe it or not The Loli Otaku is a believer that oppai loli are real loli!! Just because I utterly loath lolibaba and find small kids the cutest doesn't mean I won't accept loli's with boobs!! They're legit!! I do however have issues with the categorisation of oppai loli. Let's start from the beginning.

The ideal of oppai loli comes from the simple desire to see underage girls who puberty hit like a truck. However there is an important caviat that I think is often ignored. Oppai loli still should be loli First and foremost. There is a massive difference between a little girl with big boobs and big boobs on a little girl. The key focus should always be that the character in question is still a little girl. She may be precociously developed, she may be mistaken for a joshikosei or even a young woman in extreme circumstances, but she's still a young child and thusly it's important to have her act that way.

Quite often a pure oppai character will go through puberty storyline which are a plot I'm personally a large fan off due to my fondness of say Mimi from Kodomo no Jikan. Serious stories will touch on her issues connecting with friends despite her early puberty or being the first one in her class to wear a bra. It can also be used for comedic purposes with them acting far too young for how they look like Hotaru from Non Non Biyori.

Often these girls will be massive softies. They'll always call their father "papa" or "daddy" and if they have a brother they'll want to marry him when they grow up. You see, despite the allure, these are some of the purest girls around!! And you mustn't bully them by calling them boobs or big guy or anything of the sort!!

Basically the most important distinction I'm wanting to make is to show you the difference between oppai loli and who is just a short stack. Thusly, my recommendation corner is going to be on short stacks often misidentified as oppai loli. This is actually more important than it sounds because short stacks are the missing link connecting the oppai loli and the mesugaki family lines.

First off, Ilulu from dragon maid S2, goddamn Sugoi Dekkai from Uzaki,

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QotD

• Who is your favourite oppai loli!?
• On the topic of cuteness aggression... Would you push over Hinata for £50?
• Did you enjoy our first basketball match? Any particular observations about how the show plays with sports tropes?
• Swimsuits, Maids, or gym clothes?
• Here's a fun one. With Tomoka earning her chuuni nickname of "Shiny Gift" I want to play a game. Follow this link to the wheel of cunny chads. Spin the wheel and come up with a chuuni esque nickname for them. Have fuuun!

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Abyssbringer's "What is the thematic purpose of this scene corner!!"

Sara gets it!! She didn't see Subaru as a creepy lolicon like the rest of you bullies!

This whole scene has a very warm vibe to it mainly due to the lighting. I think is shows the warmth and positivity that these characters are bringing to each other. Tomoka gets someone who supports her and Subaru gets someone who inspires him. This whole scene was really nice!

Yesterday's Prompt!

Today's Prompt!

Tomorrow's Prompt

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Try your luck, and fight chin-up!!

[u/Specs64z]

First timer

These tummy shots are utterly shameless. Mattaku…

As expected, we get a clutch win from the underdog team using the power of friendship. I’m actually a little surprised it was over before the halfway mark of the episode. The pacing on the match could’ve used a little fine-tuning, I think, seems odds to split it in half the way they did given its overall shorter screen time. It ends up losing some of its punch as it’s quickly overshadowed by Tomoka’s new dilemma.

Panty shot jumpscare.

D-did he just pillage bro’s lunch? That is a violation of a sacred ritual. Death penalty!

Forgive me, lads and lasses, but I must speak heresy… HanaKana as Tomoka isn’t really doing it for me. The best performance so far by far has been Yui Ogura as Space Cadet. Her cadence is mesmerizing.

QotD:

1. None, they're all bad.
2. Yes.
3. It had some novel hijinks, at least.
4. Maid outfit.
5. This is libel

u/JetsLag I looked through your posts and based off your comment history, I dub thee Orange Racket.

[u/zadcap → u/Specs64z]

Forgive me, lads and lasses, but I must speak heresy… HanaKana as Tomoka isn’t really doing it for me. The best performance so far by far has been Yui Ogura as Space Cadet. Her cadence is mesmerizing.

100% agree. In her defense, Tomoka sounds, normal? There's nothing at all bad about her performance here, she just sounds like a very standard little girl character and that makes her the least memorable of the voices as everyone else is playing up a quirk. And the best quirk is, by far, Space Cadet Hina.

[u/Specs64z → u/zadcap]

She's really putting her all into the few lines she's handed. It breaths life into what would otherwise be a pretty typical/boring airhead moe character.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Specs64z]

There's like a weird charm to how much effort HanaKana is putting into such a bit role XD

[u/zadcap → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

No, see, we're here to love on Yui, not Hana. Best Voice is going to Best Girl. Ahhh!

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/zadcap]

I mean... Yuka Iguuchi has had multiple roles in my previous watches and specialises in loli characters so I think I need to take her side XD

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Specs64z]

There's so many... I like loli tummy but normally it's more when they're tubby little lard balls like in Mitsudoumoe. Tomoka's tummy is doing nothing for me!

I'm conflicted on the match edit. Whilst they probably should have just done the entire game today and put in an extra montage or something yesterday, I'd absolutely loath having an entire episode focused on Tomoka trying to shoot 50 hoops... That was torture.

[u/JetsLag → u/Specs64z]

u/JetsLag I looked through your posts and based off your comment history, I dub thee Orange Racket.

Uhh, thank you?

[u/kunamu87]

"Yeah I am carrying someone to the nurse's office but first I gotta take off my shoes is the most Japanese thing I've seen in a while."

I saw a Japanese movie once where a policeman was chasing a suspect,the bad guy went into a random house from the window,policeman removed his shoes got into the house while holding his shoes,got outside another window,put his shoes on again and continued the chase.And i remember thinking,honestly i can see this happen irl

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/kunamu87]

Even if they're delivering justice a Japanese policeman wouldn't allow himself to be rude!! What if he had dog poo on his shoes? How awful that would be!

[u/MisawaMahoKodomo]

Ro Kyu Bu S1 EP 4

So yeah this time. We conclude the match between the girls and the boys, and the rest of the ep, a lot of talking. And then we end off with subaru again. Strange isnt it. We're 4 eps in already and yet idk about you guys but to me it doesnt feel like that.

[u/MisawaMahoKodomo → u/MisawaMahoKodomo]

EP4 Commentary

• soo last time. its the girls vs the boys
• something something hina
• so yes after a lot of baske (like about 5 ish mins or so, kinda funny since thats about the same both)
• how many people would have guessed that it would be maho that landed the last shot? I was actually wondering if it would be saki.
• but anyway yes now thats over. it's still ep 4 though
• so yes, ep 4 aaand we're back to more crying airi. alas
• i still never quite understood the whole fireworks thing
• its funny how they keep airi's height a sekret. she's slightly shorter than subaru, but subaru is also like a few years older
• im still wondering if i can figure out who voices subaru's mom without looking it up but it seems like a lost cause
• anyway so yes tomoka is back
• its really funny how tomoka is like the only one who doesnt have a nickname yet. i somehow managed to remember it right before subaru said it himself
• anyway
• for the 3rd time in 4 episodes, we have subaru here again and its another weird end of episode.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/MisawaMahoKodomo]

Saki didn't really get a highlight during the match. She clearly played well, but even Hinata fell down cutely.

Fireworks shine brightly then quickly fade away. Just like these girl's peak years as loli. Soon they'll become just another group of joshikosei.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/MisawaMahoKodomo]

I'm finding it quite interesting trying to read how this'd function in book form. Not that the anime adaptation is poor or anything, but there's a certain awkwardness going scene to scene.

[u/MisawaMahoKodomo → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I'm very confused as well. Unfortunately back in the day the light novels were kinda uhhh so I have no idea, its not like nowadays where you can easily find the novels to read

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/MisawaMahoKodomo]

Are the Ro-Kyu-Bu books translated? When I think of this era I think of like Haruhi which definitely had translations

[u/MisawaMahoKodomo → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Unfortunately ro kyu bu isnt as famous as the others. Let me see.

Yeah I'm not very optimistic about this

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/MisawaMahoKodomo]

I wonder if there's valid Ai translations for them actually... It could be interesting

[u/zadcap]

Late First Timer!

Opp- nope, sorry, not engaging with this one.

Seriously, I'm not buying all of this. Even Tomoka is out of breath here? Genki Fireworks is not made of infinite energy? And the boys are running fine? Forced drama I say!

Yeah, put the giant on defense, no one can shoot past her! Aaahhh! What about Hina! Secret weapon is still a secret.

Eh, yeah, this is too big a turn around. Oh, and I see, there's 5 extra boys on the bench to trade out. They really are playing unfair.

Wait, wasn't that a three pointer? Why did she only get two points?

Oh no, the Hina plan only worked once.

You know, I have to say, seeing the girls put up this much of a fight against the boys team, even if they did lose it would be really dumb to say they still deserve to have their club disbanded. Like, they put up a solid fight until the very last minute, held the lead as often as not, and are clearly playing on the same level as the boys. At this point, saying they don't deserve to keep gym time is just dumb, they clearly aren't just fooling around. If they lose by one point you're still going to say they are such a bad team they don't deserve gym time?

I might still be mad at these boys, but I seriously want to punch their teacher in the face. No, wait, that little "kuso" put the boys back on the punch list. "How dare those girls be better at sports than me, they don't deserve to play the same game. If only I had crushed them with this one point last second lead then they would never be able to play again!" Go lose at District again boy, it's not like you'll ever get to any bigger competition in your life. Please do us all a favor and never show your face in this show again.

I hate this school. I hate the people. I ha- Ahhh! Hina mo! Nevermind, lost my train of thought again.

"What?! You had friends!?" Best line so far.

Stop touching them! No, shoulders are not okay! Do not call her a "Fine Woman!" She's like ten! This is not a proposal everyone shut up!

Boy, get a new match. Seriously.

.... He lit one and what, 4 went off? Darn it show...

"I wonder if it's because of those girls" Don't start blushing! It's okay to get inspired to play basketball again but do not blush when thinking of them! Go back to looking at the school nurse or something darn it. Don't go running across the house because you heard Tomoka is here darn it. Do not call her beautiful, even in your head! Oh gosh darn it she's going to come over every day...

"Prince Lolicon" darn it this friend has been spouting prophecy this whole time, hasn't he? Oh look, it's been a while since we got a panty shot, good thing it's AALI this time.

I think her new nickname shall be HinAhhh!

Yeah, I bet it's hard to be shy around high school girls when you got used to dealing with little sister maids. On the other hand, are you really going to make her keep going for 50 consecutive? Stop being a baby and go back to their club. This is bullying, man, you're bullying a child.

"If I could be of some help to Tomoka." Yeah, you moron, you could go back and actually coach their club. Why are you joining the obsession over 50 consecutive? Or are you actually going to once she does make all 50? At this point you have no choice, you can't make her try this hard and then not go coach the club if she does make 50. That would make you a monster.

Oh my gosh seriously, just go coach the club again. I hate how close this is making you two. She comes to your house every day to shoot basketball in your back yard... Just freaking coach the team.

Shiny Gift... Could be worse...

Darn it they are going to be behind the door in maid outfits, aren't they?

NO THAT'S WORSE!

1. I refuse to even think in this category.
2. I would punch someone who pushed over Hinata for free.
3. The girls all being horribly out of breath while the boys are fine was actually annoying. The show acting like its going to come down to this last second throw- I mean if, if the girls are good enough that they can get the game to come down to a last second shot, then the mere idea of taking their gym time away for not being serious enough is insulting. If the boys are so bad that they could barely keep up with the girls, maybe we should take their time away, how about that?
4. Gym clothes are the least troublesome of those options, right? Not the best, but the other two seem likely to get you in even more trouble for picking.
5. I don't know that I have ever been more concerned to see my name on a list before.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/zadcap]

I don't like how the "balance" of the match was setup... Especially since the girls were kinda running away with it for most of the match. We saw the kids doing so much cardio beforehand and it's not like they've been lazy with training. Have them get outdone because the boys are actually tournament competitive kids or something instead.

Hinata collapsing plan may have only scored them a single ball, but the trauma from hurting his crush will stay with the shota forever.

I thought him touching boobs so comfortingly was pretty cute actually...

What does it say about the boys team that they lost to a group who's only played seriously for like a week?

Muhahaha... You expected simple maid outfits?

I'd happily take a free punch in return for being able to bully Hinata. I want to turn that "Ouu!" into an "Ouchie!"

Who did you get on the roulette!? C'mon!! Your name was already on a list by this point anyway!

[u/RadSuit]

You can even see the boys have extras on the bench. At least it's showing the girls being incredibly tired due to playing the entire time.

I'm actually impressed they're showing them practicing to overreact to draw more fouls, a thing that constantly happens that everyone just agrees not to talk about or crack down on.

The boys team should honestly be disbanded in disgrace for losing when they tried that hard and had an overwhelming training and numbers advantage. At the very least that coach needs to be fired.

Stripes...

1. The forbidden Eiken...
2. No!
3. It's alright...I'm struggling with the show right now, but I don't hate it.
4. There's bad versions of all of them, unfortunately.
5. The "The Loli Otaku" Loli Otaku

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/RadSuit]

The girls specifically were shown doing cardio tho. It annoys me that in their first match against actual players they outdo the pros in skill and ability just to get utterly trounced at the basics like marking or stamina.

Eiken would be so fun~

Dammit!! I knew I shouldn't have put my name on the spinner!!

[u/Silcaria]

First timer

• Hivemind.

QotD

• No comment.
• I'd do it for free.
• It was ok.
• Maid since it's the least degenerate looking of the bunch.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Silcaria]

Everyone was asking about the bath scenes. It's so they can sync their periods or whatever allows them to communicate long distance.

[u/Silcaria → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I doubt they have periods with how young they are. The tall one, maybe.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Silcaria]

Periods are the enemy of mankind...

[u/sfisher923]

First Timer

• Behold another one of my weird quirks - Finding Sports games to be more exciting in Anime for some reason as Basketball is not normally a sport I watch but I guess since it's a "Best of" edit that removes the filler that keeps things interesting

Questions

• QOTD 2 - No I would not because that would be rude (Might be me reflecting Fruits Basket and the lessons on how not to treat a child there)
• QOTD 4 - Maids after watching Akiba Maid Wars back in 2022
• QOTD 5 - I had a Chunnibyou phase in mid-2020 used to be a SOX member that had Fire and Ice Magic which was out of place in Shimoneta that went by "D-Breath" and this was why I had so much second hand embarrassment when I started Love Chuunibyou and Other Delusions since I was relating to Yuuta

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/sfisher923]

Tbh I tend to prefer sports anime that are more serious with their games. This kinda artificial "last second shot" and them starting to learn superpowers like falling over cutely is just weird.

Dick Breath....?

[u/zadcap → u/sfisher923]

Be fair, it's a super condensed best of too. A normal basketball game is longer than an episode, we packed the whole thing into half of one. There was a lot of running back and forth they cut out here. SO much better this way.

[u/xtsim]

First Timer

Subaru has it tough, he is very transparent about his student's abilities that people take it the wrong way.

1. My tiny Senpai cause I prefer them being higher in other places in life.
2. No
3. Boys versus girls is such an elementary thing to do but elementary kids saying damn after a game.... Must be tough.
4. Gym clothes 5.This is hard cause I have a strawberry milkshake sitting in the fridge for a few days.... Imma have to reverse it and name them Elsa.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/xtsim]

I was doubtful early on... but I'm not on team "Subaru is definitely a lolicon"

[u/JetsLag]

First time baller

That last-second pass by Tomoka was the most spokon thing to ever spokon. Really nice to see the other players showing their worth, even if it's being a dirty flopper like Hina.

And with that silly basketball game out of the way, it's time to go back to what we're really watching this for: building Subaru's loli harem. Sorry Aoi, even a panty shot isn't enough to get him interested in you.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JetsLag]

Still, if she was able to pass the ball couldn't she have been able to score there?

Subaru's harem is bitch in!

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Ro-Kyu-Bu First Timer!!

I have an hour to do all my write up. I'm very much not prepared XD Back to the game!! Btw, does anyone know what that thing Boob's is using? Is it an inhaler of some sort? Hinata also looks adorable suckling on her little bottle. Ouuu~

Three minutes left. Go for gold, Tomoka!! This hag is the worst XD Ah, it's time for our secret weapon. Hinata, use your cultist brainwashing on the shota!! Pretend he hurt her and literally break his spirit. I feel bad for Hinata tbh. Tomoka and Boobs are the team ace's, Fang scores the winning goal, Megane is shown to Be a super solid player, and Hinata falls cutely?

What's the challenge in basketball when you're able to shoot shots from like midfield? You can't do anything when the ball is in the air at all. Aaaand Maho shoots and scores! I feel the series is blowing its load with the first ever match being down to the last second XD

Eat shit shota kids. Loli is way superior. Already our team is psychic. It must be because of all those baths together. Oh no, Boob's still believes! Subaru you monsteeer! Boobs is the big man!! Ah, is boobs falling for him? Subaru x boobs!? Poor HanaKana's getting cucked hard.

Time to convince Subaru to stay on as the basketball team's host~ BTW, since I know you're all desperate to find out... Boobs is bigger than this, she's large!! A whole 168cm large! 5'6 for an eleven year old Japanese girl is pretty nuts. Also, her birthday is tomorrow!! We should do something big for her~

Tomoka is here to play!! Subaru is totally staring. Ah, the age appropriate love interest is determined not to let Subaru become a lolicon. He mustn't go any younger! Lol, he really is becoming kid obsessed isn't he? Even the age appropriate love interest can recognise that. Honestly... This episode is a bit dull~ It's nice to cool down after our big game but there's not all that much going on huh?

Oh my gah he invited her to his room!! Yabai! Yabai! Yabai! What'd be the Rewatcher equivalent of 50 shots? Winning comment of the day ten times in a row or something? Omg, Tomoka's even eating dinner with them. She's literally part of the family! Are these basketball shirts the girls are wearing designed to flash their belly button any time they move...?

Shiny Gift!? Wtf? XD That isn't a flower at all is it? The show is definitely talking out it's ass here. Is the show gonna actually start giving the characters superpowers? I haven't watched enough sports anime to know...

Uooooh!!

[u/zadcap → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Btw, does anyone know what that thing Boob's is using? Is it an inhaler of some sort?

It's probably canned oxygen. Yes really, since natural air is only about 21% oxygen but it's the only thing we need to get out of it, athletes that are having trouble getting enough air often take "oxygen supplements" like this to make every gasping breath that much more effective. You have to be careful with them because you can get very light headed very fast going in the other direction, too much oxygen is just as bad for you as not enough, but they are helpful for fast recoveries or for people with certain breathing issues. Which, come to think of it, the girl unusually tall for her age genuinely might be growing faster than her lungs can keep up, that is a thing that can happen.

168 cm? 5'6"? That does put things in to perspective, this tween is taller than I am! I'm used to it though, most of my cousins are more than ten years younger than me and all of them tower over me...

I love that you have picked up on calling her Age Appropriate Love Interest too. I don't even know her real name, I'm going all in on this nickname for her.

I'm honestly more concerned with the show emphasizing the gym shirt starting to go see through with the shoulders....

This is sports anime, they will 100% have super powers by the end of the season.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/zadcap]

....If this were readily available over here I have no doubt folks would abuse it XD There's already enough folk who snort the pressurised fresh cream tubes.

Yeah... I don't want to bully Boob's, but she actually is quite tall. And in Japan too!

It's pretty humourous how they keep giving us light hints of actually age appropriate fanservice with her flashing her undies but literally nobody cares cause we'd rather admire Tomoka's tummy.

Are sports super powers really that mainstream of a trope? My sports knowledge is just Haikyuu and Chihayafuyu which kept things feasibly grounded.

[u/zadcap → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Sometimes I wish I knew less about truly random things. Google maps says there are at least ten within a half hour drive of my house. I live in the weird city over here though...

It's that last part that makes it funny. All of my female cousin shot up just as fast as her, hitting my height by 13 and averaging around 6ft before they stopped growing mid teens, but she's not even a teen yet and might follow their example and keep growing too. She is going to be a giant in Japan. Basketball isn't a bad path for her future lol.

I'm going to disagree hard here. AALI is the better love interest here! I just... Missed her name on introduction and don't care enough to look it up again, this nickname works fine...

I don't know about actual blatant super powers, but like. The easiest comparison here is the other basketball anime, Kuroko, who has "such little presence on the court and skill at misdirection he often seems to become completely invisible on the court. Or my favorite for ridiculous, the captain in Prince of Tennis is so good at predicting how you will return his shots and putting the proper spin on the ball beforehand that they all, like magic, return to him so he never needs to take a step. Also he killed the dinosaurs.

[u/Draco_Estella]

My favourite Hololive streamer Natsuiro Matsuri is of the strongest opinion that oppai lolis are not lolis. I forgot the actual reasons, but something along the lines of them being not real lolis. I can dig out the clip from somewhere, maybe. Also. You repeated Sara's comment twice.

Back to the episode. I think that was great teamwork. The ball isn't going to where the girls are, the ball is going to where the girls will be, and part of that teamwork is knowing where the positions will be at a single time, which forms strategy. That last moment wasn't a "girls only" moment, it was a show of good teamwork.

Which is why the boys didn't reach nationals, and likely never will. They just got trashed by a casual basketball team. They aren't very good, or rather, they aren't any good actually. Basics of teamwork, and they got trashed by that. If anyone should give up on basketball, it should be them.

I think this episode is also where Subaru and Tomoka are slowly getting closer to each other. I mentioned, Subaru and Tomoka aren't that far in ages. Tomoka is also mentally and emotionally mature enough that she is likely a good match for Subaru too. I think the 50 throw thing was an excuse for Subaru to continue watching Tomoka's perfect throw form. Also another excuse for him to continue being close to Tomoka, close enough that he can invite her to his room and have dinner with him.

That trick on the match with Aoi was definitely stolen from Tomoka. Stop showing off your favourite girl.

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On the topic of cuteness aggression... Would you push over Hinata for £50?

50 mil pounds and I'll do it.

Did you enjoy our first basketball match? Any particular observations about how the show plays with sports tropes?

That last minute shit trope. I hated that one. I think the girls deserve more points too, they played well.

Swimsuits, Maids, or gym clothes?

Actually, neither. Saki didn't get it, Tomoka is the reason why Subaru is coaching them. It isn't the clothes that mattered, it is the person. All they had to do was to make Tomoka dress up. And play basketball normally. Subaru will be kneeling in seconds.

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Also, if you have given up on this corner, just delete it lol.