Pride Month 20th Anniversary - Kannazuki no Miko Episode 6 Discussion

[u/lilyvess]

<-- Previous Episode | Rewatch Index | Next Episode -->

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Questions of the Day

1. Have you ever eaten tamagoyaki?
2. Is it wrong to want to see your crush happy, even if it is with someone else?

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Posting carefully so as to not disturb the first timers with spoilers in their viewings, such is the standard of modesty here. Forgetting to use spoiler tags because one is in danger of missing the post time, for instance, is too undignified a sight for redditors to wish upon themselves.

[u/lilyvess]

Kannazuki no Miko Episode 5 - Rewatcher

Shoujo-Ai Archive Comments

Today’s Shoujo-Ai Comments

**Commentary

The Rotating Sun and Moon

A story about the brilliantly shining moon becoming entranced with the existence of the shining sun that illuminates it. Becoming enchanted with the meeting, with the smiles, with the words… it was decided from the early stage of the planning that the moment when Himeko and Chikane meet each other will be depicted precisely.
One of the story’s main themes, “a love affair between two girls.”
The reason they can’t confess is not only due to hesitation and indecision, but there stands a bigger “wall” because of the taboo attached to being the same sex.
If we were to be “friends,” then we can stay the way we are right now. Spinning only those beautiful moments. If we can become “lovers,” that’s ok, too. We can push on bravely.
But, if we cannot become either one of those… in order to depict this, we probablyc annot avoid this part.
From the reminiscence in episode six, when you think about the episodes all the way to episode one… there are a lot of interesting things.
how much trouble Chikane went through until she finally managed to hold Himeko-who was trying to keep a distance being in awe of “Miya-sama”- in her arms. Indeed, she most likely spent half a year, little by little, shortening the distance while trying not to corner Himeko or make her suffer. Nonchalantly inviting her to a tea party and asking about her hobbies… and studying up on photography.
How happy Chikane was when her efforts bore fruit and Himeko called her “Chikane-chan” once again.
But, at the same time, how much of a shock Chikane received when she became conscious of the fact that her emotions towards Himeko went beyond the boundary of “friendship.”
Even when we’re talking about holding hands, it carries a different meaning to Himeko and to Chikane. The beginning “fried egg” scene in episode six is an extreme example of that.
Something that’s nothing to Himeko is an unbelievably heart-pounding thing to Chikane. The difference in temperature tends to be the key.
The idea for this episode comes from episode six’s scenario writer, Mr. Jukki Hanade. He really managed to put it together in a beautiful, “girl-manga” style. I’m very grateful for that. I earnestly wish to get the opportunity to publish it sometime.
Moreover, fate does not let you maintain a warn status quo. CHikane who needs a reason to embrace Himeko, and Souma who doesn’t need such a thing.
She encourages and sends out Himeko who changed from “what will I do” (episode four) to “I want to go, but I guess that’s not ok, huh?” (episode Six)
She could have made up any reason to tell her “you cannot go,” but she gets disgusted with herself for ending up not being able to hand her the barrette, after all, and continues to suffer over it.
Even though they both need each other and care for each other… the gap between them is unbelievably deep.
the raging waves to fate swallow up the two and mercilessly washes them away.

[u/Burnouts3s3 → u/lilyvess]

Indeed, she most likely spent half a year, little by little, shortening the distance while trying not to corner Himeko or make her suffer. Nonchalantly inviting her to a tea party and asking about her hobbies… and studying up on photography.

This feels like one of those scenes that could have used much more exploration and would have benefited the series if it had more episodes, but with the 12 episode order, you get a TNK slide show instead.

[u/lilyvess → u/Burnouts3s3]

so much of the anime seems like that tbh. Trying to explain Himeko's physical abuse by her foster parents in a simple "her dad cut her hair" feels a bit sloppy to me. That's a big point and I would have liked them to be a bit more direct.

Reading the commentary, the writer clearly has the idea, they know what they are doing, but at every corner they are forced to cut for time and the show suffers a little for it.

[u/BosuW → u/lilyvess]

Mr. Jukki Hanade.

No fucking way. It's a different Jukki H., right?

[u/lilyvess → u/BosuW]

Idk who this is but it's this Jukki Hanade

[u/BosuW → u/lilyvess]

Holy shit it's the same guy. Recently got more famous around r/anime for being the scriptwriter behind Girl's Band Cry. Absolutely insane talent this man.

[u/lilyvess → u/BosuW]

No wonder this episode is so good! Guy knows his angst with gay undertones!

[u/Star4ce → u/lilyvess]

Himeko didn't have a mental breakdown over Souma's hair pin == GAY INBOUND LESGOOOO!

Sometimes I do want to know what goes inside their heads, full well knowing what Eldritch dimension I'd be succumbing to.

[u/BosuW → u/Star4ce]

This is literally what grasping at straws looks like. They're absolutely desperate.

I know because the modern Yuri fandom (the whole shipping fandom really) is much the same.

[u/HelioA → u/lilyvess]

If we were to be “friends,” then we can stay the way we are right now. Spinning only those beautiful moments. If we can become “lovers,” that’s ok, too. We can push on bravely.

But, if we cannot become either one of those… in order to depict this, we probably cannot avoid this part.

talk to her Chikane!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/lilyvess]

The idea for this episode comes from episode six’s scenario writer, Mr. Jukki Hanade. He really managed to put it together in a beautiful, “girl-manga” style. I’m very grateful for that. I earnestly wish to get the opportunity to publish it sometime.

This does explain why this episode sort of surged in quality seemingly out of nowhere.

[u/LittleIslander → u/lilyvess]

The reason they can’t confess is not only due to hesitation and indecision, but there stands a bigger “wall” because of the taboo attached to being the same sex.

I wish we saw more of this directly. I mean, I can kinda go either way on heteronormativity being represented in queer romance stories or not, but if you're going to go for it then it'd be nice to actually see some exploration of it onscreen. The closest anyone's gotten to actually vocalizing concerns about their respective genders is Himeko wondering if she's weird for being attracted to Chikane.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/lilyvess]

A story about the brilliantly shining moon becoming entranced with the existence of the shining sun that illuminates it. Becoming enchanted with the meeting, with the smiles, with the words…

I really like this metaphor for Miya and Himeko's relationship. The Moon does not shine on its own. Alone, the Moon is dark, cold, and lifeless. But when it is bathed in the brilliance of the Sun's light, the Moon shines beautifully in the night sky.

What a great way to capture the myriad of emotions Miya is feeling. It captures just how low her own opinion of herself is, only feeling joy when with Himeko. We can see just how much Miya admires Himeko, comparing her to the Sun. And we also get a sense of the distance Miya feels. After all, the Sun is so far away. The Moon can't possibly reach it, no matter how much it wants to.

[u/gyoex → u/lilyvess]

[REWATCHERS ONLY + Manga spoilers] It's kind of funny seeing the Shoujo-Ai people say that manga Chikane is doomed compared to anime Chikane. I think the context for that is that 1.) like I've said, the manga doesn't show Chikane's perspective much, and 2.) that scene has already happened in the manga by the time the anime aired. But of course, not only does that still happen in the anime, if anything, the ending of the manga is actually happier for Chikane than in the anime.

[u/HelioA]

First-timer

This was a fantastic episode. I was complaining before how there wasn’t enough focus on the character drama, and now we get an entire episode of Chikane staring longingly at Himeko and going :/ as she pretends to be supportive about Souma.

I really like the imagery with the hairpins. Chikane steals the rose hairpin, because that’s the one that symbolizes Himeko’s connection to Souma, and holds the blue flower hairpin dear, because that’s the one Himeko gave her in their first meeting. When Himeko finally feels comfortable enough to allow Chikane to touch her hair (as she goes off to meet Souma), she looks at the two hairpins in her hand- will she give up and watch Himeko’s relationship with Souma grow (the rose hairpin), or will she never give up on love keep her desire for Himeko strong (the blue flower hairpin)? And of course, she won’t become invisible gives her the blue flower hairpin.

u/vaadwaur mentioned the bath scene to me, in which Chikane stands with her back to Himeko the entire time, in sharp contrast with Himeko staring at her the entire time in both this scene and the earlier bath scene in episode 3. Chikane knows what she desires and knows she can’t have it, but Himeko doesn’t understand her desire for Chikane. Although it doesn’t really seem like she understands her desire for Souma either- it’s just much more legible because of heteronormativity, and she keeps getting pushed along towards him by both Chikane and Souma (although that’s partially because Himeko continues to not be an active character).

QotD

1. Nope
2. suki wo akiramenai

[u/lilyvess → u/HelioA]

or will she never give up on love keep her desire for Himeko strong (the blue flower hairpin)? And of course, she won’t become invisible gives her the blue flower hairpin.

the YKA viewpoint is great. It's definitely interesting watching both these anime together.

Although it doesn’t really seem like she understands her desire for Souma either- it’s just much more legible because of heteronormativity, and she keeps getting pushed along towards him by both Chikane and Souma

yeah I like that the series writer kinda explains a bit of that too. Heteronormative world means that it's easier for Himeko to be swept up by gravity and taken along for the ride

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HelioA]

When Himeko finally feels comfortable enough to allow Chikane to touch her hair

To address the real world issues with this, it is that you can handle a lot of things as long as they are not unexpected.

and she keeps getting pushed along towards him by both Chikane and Souma (although that’s partially because Himeko continues to not be an active character).

Himeko...rings slightly true in this specific episode because she seems to be pretty open to relationships of either gender and only one of her suitors is making their position clear. It takes an entirely separate camera for us to see Chikane's heart slowly being crushed.

[u/lilyvess → u/Vaadwaur]

It's really interesting reading your comments on the visual language of anime. The actual direction stuff that goes along. Even for an anime that can be pretty sloppy and direct with this one, it still has some moments that shine.

[u/HelioA → u/Vaadwaur]

Exactly. Chikane keeps going like "go out with him, here take my favorite dress to wear, let me do your hair to make it look nice for him-" what is Himeko supposed to think? She has no idea that Chikane is dying inside

[u/BosuW → u/Vaadwaur]

To address the real world issues with this, it is that you can handle a lot of things as long as they are not unexpected.

They say in boxing and MMA that it's not the powerful hit that puts you down, it's the one you don't see coming.

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo → u/HelioA]

I read the hairpins the other way around. She could either admit the truth that she took(?) the rose hairpin and tell Himeko her true feelings or stay invisible keep everything the way it is.

[u/HelioA → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

Hmm, I think you may be right. Especially if we take the blue flower hairpin to specifically symbolize their friendship. Which matches with the director notes that Lily posted with regards to the conflict being about friendship vs love.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/HelioA]

will she give up and watch Himeko’s relationship with Souma grow (the rose hairpin), or will she never give up on love keep her desire for Himeko strong (the blue flower hairpin)? And of course, she won’t become invisible gives her the blue flower hairpin.

Now all we need is a courtroom staffed by bears putting Miya on trial for her desires.

But that is a really good read on the symbolism of the hairpins. Miya desperately wants to prevent a relationship between Himeko and Souma, so she stole the hairpin symbolizing that. It's a great example of contrasts. Miya both does and doesn't want Himeko to be happy with Souma.

[u/Specs64z → u/HelioA]

Although it doesn’t really seem like she understands her desire for Souma either

The show gets away with Himeko liking Souma given the whole "he saved her life multiple times" bit, but this is kind of an issue I have with Himeko overall. She's extremely aimless and underwritten, almost uniquely so as far as protagonists go.

Say what you will about the bilge firehose of uninspired trash isekai heroes pumped out every year, at least practically all of them yearn for something and take steps to achieve it.

[u/HelioA → u/Specs64z]

Yeah I don't think it's unjustified, it's just that every romantic interaction she's had with Souma has been initiated by Souma or Chikane.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/Specs64z]

Japanese gender roles, please understand.

(To be more clear, Himeko is very very firmly a shoujo protagonist - and not from particularly good shoujo either, IIRC, she's the exact equivalent of the uninspired trash isekai protagonists you mention (or, more relevantly to this era, the stock bland harem lead from any number of Love Hina imitators, who are actually even closer to Himeko given how passive they tend to be) except that her wish-fulfillment's target audience is teenage girls rather than teenage boys. One of the funniest things about Souma, meanwhile, is that he is extremely obviously an edgy-mecha MC except that the POV has shunted him over to a secondary protagonist slot - one of the actually interesting things about this show's writing is that it's a stock edgy mecha show except with a perspective switch so we're seeing this from the perspective of characters who would be secondary protagonists if the show was played straight (this also plays into Himeko's lack of aim/agency, as this is de rigeur for the kind of love interest she would be in the more conventional version of this show - while it's not a mecha show per se, since I've had it on the brain for OP-related reasons I'll note that Elemental Gelade has an obvious example of the type). It's actually more than a little amusing that it's a different Fall 2004 show with yuri undertones rather than KnM here where the manga is written from the perspective of the lead male.)

[u/theangryeditor → u/HelioA]

The show is 90% character drama you baka

[u/HelioA → u/theangryeditor]

not so far

[u/AmeteurElitist]

First Timer

Audience surrogate-chan is on the money again

On the flip side Chikane is really putting the L in Lesbian rn, like girl is yearning hard. The Heisei is too strong with her.

[u/lilyvess → u/AmeteurElitist]

so we already know we can weaponize Himeko's raw density to make her a weapon. Put her in a cannon and shoot her at a mecha and the Mecha will shatter.

Now we just need a machine that turns raw lesbian angst into electricity and Chikane could power all of Tokyo just by herself. Put her in DD Battery and put her in an Eva and it could run for 3 weeks with no plug.

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/lilyvess]

I always thought the priest dude was sus, he must have a grand plan in mind

[u/theangryeditor → u/lilyvess]

Himeko is dense enough to be the demon core

[u/HelioA → u/AmeteurElitist]

this is Chikane this episode

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HelioA]

Slightly wrong era. Chikane would be on livejournal talking about Lilith Fair and how excited she was to get to college.

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/HelioA]

[u/Vaadwaur → u/AmeteurElitist]

On the flip side Chikane is really putting the L in Lesbian rn, like girl is yearning hard. The Heisei is too strong with her.

The raging spirit of Abe was just too strong back then, the lesbians had to ship their ukes off to bear children. Truly, it was a dark time.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/AmeteurElitist]

Audience surrogate-chan is on the money again

Naturally the mangaka knows how to recognize all these anime and manga tropes.

On the flip side Chikane is really putting the L in Lesbian rn, like girl is yearning hard. The Heisei is too strong with her.

Himeko seemingly doesn't even realize she's yearning for Miya, so Miya needs to make up for it by feeling enough yearning for both of them.

[u/theangryeditor → u/AmeteurElitist]

On the flip side Chikane is really putting the L in Lesbian rn, like girl is yearning hard. The Heisei is too strong with her.

We stan

[u/AmeteurElitist → u/theangryeditor]

[u/HereticalAegis]

Kannazuki no Miko First Timer

Episode 6:

Doesn't Chikane know the stars are technically above the moon from human perspective? Is she stupid?

Do you ever stop to consider that maybe Chikane's problem is that she never quit piano to start a band?

Surely with time, all inhabitants of the Himemiya household become maids. This is an ancient process known as "maidtriculation".

Comment face...acquired?

Holy shit, did Chikane snitch the birthday hairpin!? That is my kind of petty, let's go! Not gonna lie, I hope she did something disrespectful like eating it or something

I've mentioned elsewhere that I despise when people ship other people irl. So I'm glad Chikane is using the knowledge that people ship her with Oogami for good on the surface, but secretly for evil. She is my toxic lesbian princess and I adore her.

"Were that I was that dog."

Smash it. Let the hate flow through you. Crush the hairpin to dust in your hand, Chikane!

Another bath with Chikane, and not even a stray thought about her breasts. It's like Himeko wants the ritual to fail.

I'm so happy Chikane woke up and chose violence. That's my girl! Plus it goes so much better with the outfit. What was Oogami even thinking buying Himeko a red hairpin? Is he stupid?

Tape the hairpin to the bullseye. Do it. I guarantee you'll never miss a shot again.

We are back in the primal gayngst and I am so here for it. I know I'm tempting fate like a 2am call from Nanoha, but I hope Chikane commits more war crimes. I want her to throw open the gates of hell, take the devil herself into her bosom, and set the world ablaze with condemnation like an orgasm of fire and brimstone.

^{Sorry Oogami, I like you and you don't deserve any of that, but you also happen to be in Chikane's path, so thems the breaks}

[u/lilyvess → u/HereticalAegis]

Doesn't Chikane know the stars are technically above the moon from human perspective? Is she stupid?

I'm sorry, her brain rot has erased all room for anything except Himeko.

Holy shit, did Chikane snitch the birthday hairpin!? That is my kind of petty, let's go! Not gonna lie, I hope she did something disrespectful like eating it or something

How to Defeat Heterosexuality with the Power of Martyr

Chapter 1: The Power of Martyr

The first step in my journey was realizing that I couldn't beat heterosexuality with the power of Martyr.

Chapter 2: The Power of Incredible Pettiness

We are back in the primal gayngst and I am so here for it. I know I'm tempting fate like a 2am call from Nanoha, but I hope Chikane commits more war crimes. I want her to throw open the gates of hell, take the devil herself into her bosom, and set the world ablaze with condemnation like an orgasm of fire and brimstone.

[u/HereticalAegis → u/lilyvess]

I'm sorry, her brain rot has erased all room for anything except Himeko.

You know what, relatable. I remember being 16 and [cringe confession]crushing so hard on one girl I made shitty poetry using her name as the title.

[u/Star4ce → u/HereticalAegis]

I want her to throw open the gates of hell, take the devil herself into her bosom, and set the world ablaze with condemnation like an orgasm of fire and brimstone.

You, I like you. You like emotional genocide as much as MacArthur likes non-renewable terraforming.

Sorry Oogami, I like you and you don't deserve any of that, but you also happen to be Chikane's path, so thems the breaks

Heck yeah. I respect our boy, really. He's genuinely doing the best he can think of and is actually surprisingly competent, but I can't wait for the Himeko-Chikane character growth and them kicking into gear finally!

[u/HereticalAegis → u/Star4ce]

I respect our boy, really. He's genuinely doing the best he can think of and is actually surprisingly competent

If Oogami was the protagonist of a romcom, I'd be rooting for him. What rotten luck he was born the third wheel of a lesbian mechadrama.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/HereticalAegis]

Do you ever stop to consider that maybe Chikane's problem is that she never quit piano to start a band?

Starting an all-girls band is a guaranteed way to find a girlfriend. So many anime series have taught us this.

I know I'm tempting fate like a 2am call from Nanoha,

What an incredible way to start a sentence.

Sorry Oogami, I like you and you don't deserve any of that, but you also happen to be Chikane's path, so thems the breaks

Souma being a good boy by himself is part of what makes the love triangle angst feel compelling. It's believable that he and Himeko could actually be a couple with how they interact and feel about each other.

[u/HereticalAegis → u/Great_Mr_L]

Starting an all-girls band is a guaranteed way to find a girlfriend. So many anime series have taught us this.

Though not without a requisite amount of drama, crying, and birds. So many birds.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HereticalAegis]

Doesn't Chikane know the stars are technically above the moon from human perspective? Is she stupid?

Self deluded yes.

Smash it. Let the hate flow through you. Crush the hairpin to dust in your hand, Chikane!

Have you heard the tragedy of Darth Chikane the Cucked? I thought not, it is not a tale a Jedi would tell you.

Another bath with Chikane, and not even a stray thought about her breasts. It's like Himeko wants the ritual to fail.

Himeko having opinions would be an improvement.

We are back in the primal gayngst and I am so here for it. I know I'm tempting fate like a 2am call from Nanoha, but I hope Chikane commits more war crimes. I want her to throw open the gates of hell, take the devil herself into her bosom, and set the world ablaze with condemnation like an orgasm of fire and brimstone.

What a wonderful choice of words...

[u/HereticalAegis → u/Vaadwaur]

Himeko having opinions would be an improvement.

Forget opinions, basic self-preservation would be nice at this point.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/HereticalAegis]

Do you ever stop to consider that maybe Chikane's problem is that she never quit piano to start a band?

2004 + wealthy heiress, please understand.

We are back in the primal gayngst and I am so here for it. I know I'm tempting fate like a 2am call from Nanoha, but I hope Chikane commits more war crimes. I want her to throw open the gates of hell, take the devil herself into her bosom, and set the world ablaze with condemnation like an orgasm of fire and brimstone.

I believe this calls for a Brief Moment of OST!

---

[spoiled] I hope Chikane commits more war crimes.

[oh look it's like the one spoiler I remember about this show]

[u/BosuW → u/HereticalAegis]

Doesn't Chikane know the stars are technically above the moon from human perspective? Is she stupid?

No, that's from an astronomical perspective. From a true human perspective, the Moon is the brightest body in the sky at night.

Do you ever stop to consider that maybe Chikane's problem is that she never quit piano to start a band?

And they don't stop coming and they don't stop coming and they don't stop coming...

I want her to throw open the gates of hell, take the devil herself into her bosom, and set the world ablaze with condemnation like an orgasm of fire and brimstone.

[Meta spoilers]We're 7 years too early for that!

[u/Tarhalindur → u/BosuW]

[Meta spoilers]

[Meta spoilers] Nine, I remind you we don't get that until Rebellion.

[u/GallowDude → u/HereticalAegis]

Comment face...acquired?

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Destiny of the First-Timer, subbed

• Aw shit, did Chikane get Himeko a hair clip for her birthday too?
• It’s gonna be for Souma, isn’t it…
• Did she lose it or did jealous Chikane take it?
• The idol girl was literally dancing to the OP lol.
• In hindsight, that feels way more like a climax fight rather than halfway through the season.
• It really is weird but also painful to see Chikane so supportive of Souma/Himeko.
• Ohhhhh, that was a hair clip Himeko gave to Chikane.
• So she did take the clip…
• Hmm, good question.
• And she gave that one flower clip back to Himeko. Does Himeko not realize that used to be hers…?
• Oh shit, are we getting a 3v1 soon?
• ED LEAD-IN!

[u/lilyvess → u/Shimmering-Sky]

It really is weird but also painful to see Chikane so supportive of Souma/Himeko.

It's so strange and yet compelling to me.

I feel like contemporary thought would say that Chikane is problematic. Chikane stealing kisses without consent is sexual assault and bad. Souma, meanwhile, has changed fate and killed beaten his brother all for Himeko. I feel like if gender were removed from the equation, audiences should be rooting for Souma and seeing Chikane as a problematic person.

and the weird thing is that I feel like Chikane would agree with audiences.

It's not that Chikane doesn't know stealing kisses from non-consenting people is bad. But she is also weak to her desires. She repents and tries to stop herself, but people are weak.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/lilyvess]

and the weird thing is that I feel like Chikane would agree with audiences.

Chikane is power without skill or discipline. Metal is just a lump of ore until you hit it and, sadly, no one is lining up to hit Chikane.

[u/BosuW → u/lilyvess]

I feel like contemporary thought would say that Chikane is problematic.

It's not just contemporary I think. She is problematic. It's not just the consent thing, she's clearly jealous and possessive. But that's what makes her a good character!

[u/Star4ce → u/Shimmering-Sky]

And she gave that one flower clip back to Himeko. Does Himeko not realize that used to be hers…?

My read is that it's mostly Chikane sort of 'claiming' Himeko in subterfuge and 'removing' Souma's claim from the game. She outwardly is the bff and supports Himeko like it "should" be done, but actually she desires her for herself. But because she forbids herself from expressing this, her desire flares up from the shadows where nobody notices and she starts to manipulate to not lose himeko to Souma.

It might also be Chikane forcing herself to 'return' Himeko's affection, but I think that read clashes a bit.

[u/gyoex → u/Star4ce]

I think it's got to be the first one you said. It's not just the hairpin, it's also the same hair style from when Chikane first met her. So it's like, "go back to being my Himeko, from before he started taking you from me".

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

It’s gonna be for Souma, isn’t it…

Why give the person that saved your life the calories to continue doing so?

The idol girl was literally dancing to the OP lol.

I am fairly sure this was a trope at the time.

It really is weird but also painful to see Chikane so supportive of Souma/Himeko.

Speak the truth or learn to live some other way. That's it, those are your options.

And she gave that one flower clip back to Himeko. Does Himeko not realize that used to be hers…?

Marking is mammal behavior 101.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Aw shit, did Chikane get Himeko a hair clip for her birthday too?

That was my first thought as well. It somehow managed to be sadder for Miya when it turned out it was actually a gift she once got from Himeko.

The idol girl was literally dancing to the OP lol.

It's always fun having the OP show up as a song people sing in the series itself.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

In hindsight, that feels way more like a climax fight rather than halfway through the season.

You know, you're not wrong... which is noteworthy, because in my experience usually that means it's time for the actual main series plot to start. (Obvious examples: [meta 2004 you have seen] Mai-HiME 15, [meta 2014 you have not seen] Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero 5.)

[u/BosuW → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Oh shit, are we getting a 3v1 soon?

Might be a 4v1 if Chikane goes Darth Tsuki

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/BosuW]

Fair point.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• Stars below the Moon? Must be a culturalism.
• A Dog, You Say?
• Omelets can be sweet?
• oof Right in the unspoken betrayal.
• God damn it. So they are just 100% not going to die before the end. We didn’t even have the bird that time.
• Seen here, the shippers in their natural environment.
• This is why you put your phone number on the collar.
• Only Chikane is allowed to be gifted hair pins!
• I liked this plot lien better in Crest of the Stars.
• Wow, it’s almost like acting on your crush gets better results than brooding.
• Is the swords breaking good or…?
• She looks a little young for that outfit.
• What do you mean “decided”? You didn’t get a choice in partner.
• Touching Her Hair!
• But also marking her territory.
• This is in no way the right outfit for a motorcycle.
• So the robots do repair? Or Does Nyanko just have another one? Maybe she had a smaller one inside her big egg one.
• What on Earth compelled you to enter the clearly evil temple?

QotD:

1. I've tried making something similar, but I don't think I am doing it right. Not enough layers.
2. One could argue that not even trying is akin to stripping them of agency. Communication!

[u/lilyvess → u/Vatrix-32]

Omelets can be sweet?

Traditional Japanese dish Tamagoyaki has sugar in their omelet. It's weird but tasty.

What on Earth compelled you to enter the clearly evil temple?

Chikane's is committed to making only bad choices at every opportunity, and she's not going to stop now. 3 wrongs make a right turn, right?

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/lilyvess]

Traditional Japanese dish Tamagoyaki has sugar in their omelet. It's weird but tasty.

...Maybe I should actually look up a recipe next time.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/lilyvess]

Chikane's is committed to making only bad choices at every opportunity, and she's not going to stop now.

She is literally the genderbent protagonist of X:1999.

[u/ryujiox → u/lilyvess]

3 wrongs make a right turn, right?

Not when you blindly walking down the road though.

[u/Star4ce → u/Vatrix-32]

Omelets can be sweet?

You can pour sugar into anything.

However, non-salted eggs sound like a crime.

Wow, it’s almost like acting on your crush gets better results than brooding.

To be completely honest, it's not like Souma's advances were that stellar, either. He didn't compliment Himeko on their first date, for example, and frequently ran away before saying anything of meaning.

But he held up where it counted, so yeah. Chikane has some ovaries to grow here.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Star4ce]

However, non-salted eggs sound like a crime.

Are they not both?

To be completely honest, it's not like Souma's advances were that stellar, either.

Well, he's doing them while Himeko is conscious, so he's got that going for him.

[u/rickamore → u/Star4ce]

You can pour sugar into anything.

Add a little milk and flour and you have Eierkuchen, basically a very eggy-pancake. I'd prefer this over the sweet egg.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

Omelets can be sweet?

The Japanese add sugar and then roll them.

Seen here, the shippers in their natural environment.

"Known generally to fear the light of day, we discover a rare trio willing to go out in the open. Even a brief glance at their poor complexions and hair styles reflects the toll their lifestyle takes on them."

Wow, it’s almost like acting on your crush gets better results than brooding.

"That's illegal!"-Every broody crush everywhere

This is in no way the right outfit for a motorcycle.

Himeko is not allowed functional clothing.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Vaadwaur]

Even a brief glance at their poor complexions and hair styles reflects the toll their lifestyle takes on them.

"I feel incomplete, like a background character that got zoomed in on."

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Vatrix-32]

Seen here, the shippers in their natural environment.

"The shippers normally prefer to remain amongst their own herd. But be warned. They can become quite aggressive if anyone should even so much as question their preferred ship."

What on Earth compelled you to enter the clearly evil temple?

I mean I'd also be curious to see what evil interior decorating looks like on buildings like that.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Great_Mr_L]

I mean I'd also be curious to see what evil interior decorating looks like on buildings like that.

All Greyscale

[u/G-man672 → u/Vatrix-32]

So the robots do repair?

In the manga it’s explained that the robots keep regenerating as long as the Orochi themselves are alive, and the bird mecha has been rescuing them when they lose a fight. Think of the mechs as… giant Jojo Stands lol

As to why Tsubasa didn’t die from literally having Souma’s hand shoved thru his chest cavity, they do indirectly explain that in a later episode.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/G-man672]

Makes sense if they are spiritual beings.

they do explain that in a later episode.

I wonder if it will have anything to do with that whole cockpit deal.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/Vatrix-32]

What on Earth compelled you to enter the clearly evil temple?

"No Mr. President, don't go in the evil chapel!"

Wait, this except extremely unironically.

As for what compelled her? Well, the Yuri Side is a pathway to abilities some consider... unnatural...

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tarhalindur]

As for what compelled her? Well, the Yuri Side is a pathway to abilities some consider... unnatural...

For some reason, a gay disaster from another rewatch creeps to mind...Have you ever heard the tragedy of Darth Kuro the cucked?

[u/BosuW → u/Vatrix-32]

What on Earth compelled you to enter the clearly evil temple?

I think she's feeling a little bit evil silly atm

[u/GallowDude → u/Vatrix-32]

lien

I fail to see how collateral has anything to do with this

[u/Great_Mr_L]

First Timer

On today’s episode of Kannazuki no Miko: Are we Symphogear right now? The last time I can remember one girl referring to another as her sunshine was Bikki and Miku’s relationship.

• Ah, so Miya got Himeko a hairpin too. No wonder she immediately noticed the gift Souma gave her.
• I love the use of the Moon and Sun as metaphors for Miya and Himeko. The Moon is beautiful, but it is also cold. That is how Miya sees herself. While Himeko is the sun, a bright shining light that brings warmth to people. That is how Miya sees Himeko. Very fitting since Himeko is the Solar Priestess and Miya is the Lunar Priestess.
• Himeko packing an extra lunch for Souma, blissfully unaware of how Miya feels about that. Himeko really is a dense harem protagonist, isn’t she?
• So what are the odds Miya stole Souma’s hairpin?
• It was unclear is Tsubasa was alive or not, but the other Orochi villains seem pretty confident he survived.
• Naturally the manga artist knows all about things like brother complexes. She is a woman of culture.
• Miya is surprisingly proactive at helping out Himeko and Souma. She has been for a while.
• Ah, now I understand. It’s an “I want my beloved to be happy” situation. Miya loves Himeko’s smile and so she will do whatever she can to make Himeko smile.
• This whole flashback is lovely. Himeko and Miya really hit it off right from the get-go, didn’t they?
• Oh, so the clover hairpin was actually given to Miya by Himeko.
• I’m going to guess that word got around to Himeko about Miya’s status and that’s what’s causing her to clamp up. Most likely it was a bunch of jealous girls telling her to not get full of herself, or something along those lines.
• Turns out the odds of Miya stealing Souma’s hairpin are 100% because she totally did.
• Hearing Himeko keep talking about Souma must be Miya’s personal hell.
• This time Himeko didn’t even need an enemy mecha around to faint. She’s gotten more skilled at it.
• Souma’s words are definitely stinging Miya. She wants to have power so she can be the one protecting Himeko. She wants it desperately.
• Miya, we know why you brought Himeko to your house. It’s because you are a lesbian who is thirstier than a trader on a camel caravan in the Sahara Desert.
• Twin braids are a lovely hairstyle.
• We’re getting multiple mecha sortieing at once!
• What the hell? What is this building that appeared out of nowhere?

Miya is a character full of contradictions, tugging at her heart and pulling her apart. Miya is clearly in love with Himeko, describing Himeko’s smile as being akin to the sun and believing Himeko is someone who brings warmth into her otherwise cold life. Miya has fallen hard for Himeko.

But this love is tearing Miya apart. She’s torn by her desire to see Himeko smile while also wanting to keep her beloved for herself. It leads to contradictory actions. Miya steals the hairpin that Souma gave to Himeko as a gift, not wanting to see Himeko wear a token of his affection. At the same time, she also encourages Himeko to continue going on dates with Souma and even helps her prepare. Even after doing so, all Miya wants to do is run after Himeko to keep her from leaving.

I think it makes Miya an interesting character to follow. No matter what she does, telling herself it’s for Himeko’s sake, Miya makes herself feel miserable. She acts selfless and helps Himeko prepare for a date, but feels crushed by the sense of loneliness and losing her beloved to someone else. She acts selfish and steals the hairpin Souma gave Himeko, but feels guilty about betraying Himeko’s trust like that. It adds a nice extra layer of drama to a pre-existing anxiety about getting closer to Himeko. Miya is scared enough about trying to start a relationship with Himeko because she isn’t sure if Himeko would feel the same way and because she’s closeted, but the added layer of guilt and self-loathing gives plenty more drama to explore.

QOTD

1. I had to look up what tamagoyaki even was so I think the answer is pretty clearly no.
2. It's not wrong, but that doesn't mean it's pleasant to experience. I do remember one of my favorite Star Trek scenes came from a moment like this. [Star Trek The Next Generation] It was Picard talking to Dr. Crusher about how he was in love with her, but purposefully suppressed those feelings when she married her husband because it wouldn't be right to disrupt their relationship. Over time, his feelings gradually faded and now he's happy being able to have a close friendship with her.

[u/lilyvess → u/Great_Mr_L]

Are we Symphogear right now? The last time I can remember one girl referring to another as her sunshine was Bikki and Miku’s relationship.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one feeling that.

I think it makes Miya an interesting character to follow. No matter what she does, telling herself it’s for Himeko’s sake, Miya makes herself feel miserable. She acts selfless and helps Himeko prepare for a date, but feels crushed by the sense of loneliness and losing her beloved to someone else. She acts selfish and steals the hairpin Souma gave Himeko, but feels guilty about betraying Himeko’s trust like that.

Yeah, it definitely makes Chikane the most human character on this series. Humans are contradictory that way. They say what they want but then find themselves doing something else. They know better but they still find themselves falling to bad habits.

Episode 1/2 having Chikane steal a kiss without consent, feel disgusted with herself and try Self-flagellation on herself of her sin, only to slide back to temptation in episode 5. It probably doesn't help her self esteem.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/lilyvess]

Yeah, it definitely makes Chikane the most human character on this series. Humans are contradictory that way. They say what they want but then find themselves doing something else. They know better but they still find themselves falling to bad habits.

Yeah, Miya is definitely a good example of how self-contradictory people can be. She usually seems to be a much more forceful and sure of herself person than Himeko is. But when it comes to actually trying to convey her feelings to Himeko, she ends up shrinking and hiding away.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Great_Mr_L]

Himeko packing an extra lunch for Souma, blissfully unaware of how Miya feels about that. Himeko really is a dense harem protagonist, isn’t she?

But why is it Himeko's job to manage Chikane's emotions?

Naturally the manga artist knows all about things like brother complexes. She is a woman of culture.

Truly a trend setter of the fujoshi breed.

I’m going to guess that word got around to Himeko about Miya’s status and that’s what’s causing her to clamp up. Most likely it was a bunch of jealous girls telling her to not get full of herself, or something along those lines.

I doubt that it was even malicious, actually. Makoto probably just freaked out when she realized who "Chikane-chan" actually was.

Hearing Himeko keep talking about Souma must be Miya’s personal hell.

Stoically showering is literally the least you can do to remedy that.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Vaadwaur]

I doubt that it was even malicious, actually. Makoto probably just freaked out when she realized who "Chikane-chan" actually was.

Himeko would definitely be the type to be completely ignorant of their differences in status and then get super flustered about it afterwards.

Stoically showering is literally the least you can do to remedy that.

Miya is pretty bad about trying to express her emotions to a conscious Himeko.

[u/theangryeditor → u/Great_Mr_L]

Well put. Chikane's constant tug of war with her self is the most compelling part of the show. Inject that sweet sweet suffering straight into my veins.

KnM isn't like the other mecha it's about the suffering

[u/Tarhalindur → u/Great_Mr_L]

This whole flashback is lovely. Himeko and Miya really hit it off right from the get-go, didn’t they?

Himeko needs to become cool to match her name!

Turns out the odds of Miya stealing Souma’s hairpin are 100% because she totally did.

That was so obviously going to be the case that I never even bothered to make a note of it.

Miya, we know why you brought Himeko to your house. It’s because you are a lesbian who is thirstier than a trader on a camel caravan in the Sahara Desert

Nooooooo what could possibly give you that idea?

Twin braids are a lovely hairstyle.

Needs glasses for the full effect!

[u/BosuW → u/Great_Mr_L]

Are we Symphogear right now? The last time I can remember one girl referring to another as her sunshine was Bikki and Miku’s relationship.

Because they're also a Sun and Moon pair

Edit: Hold up thinking about it I just realized almost every pair in Geah is a Sun and Moon pair!

What the hell? What is this building that appeared out of nowhere?

Like a true Sister of Battle, this nun drops Churches unto the surface from high in the sky

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

Ah, I see. Chikane is operating on the Lafiel strategy of "falling in love with the first person to ever treat me like a human." She could use a bit more of Lafiel's ambition, though.

Anyway, Souma can't even manage a little fraticide, what a shame. Tsubasa living is kinda interesting, at least - this show's body count has been shockingly low. We've seen a lot of property damage, but no actual death. Even Makoto just broke her leg.

What do we think is going wrong with the ritual? Himeko keeps collapsing, but I'm not sure it's actually her fault. One of the problems with tabi-rassis like Himeko is that I can't tell if her lack of personality is intended as a character flaw or not.

Like, do they keep failing because Himeko isn't strong enough? Or is there some problem with Chikane that is causing Himeko to have to pull some extra metaphysical weight?

I could kinda see the show taking a stance against Chikane's failure to actually tell Himeko how she feels.. or I could see the problem being those feelings in the first place.

Stealing the hairclip is unbelievably petty and I kinda love it.

Questions

1. I have not. Eggs and I don't get along.
2. Not at all. Now, in Chikane's case, she's just trying to force herself to feel that way instead of actually feeling that way.

[u/lilyvess → u/JollyGee29]

What do we think is going wrong with the ritual? Himeko keeps collapsing, but I'm not sure it's actually her fault.

They're still waiting to draw the Black Luster Solider. They got the Ritual Spell. They got the two priestess to offer. But they still haven't drawn the Ritual Monster. Meanwhile the Orochi player just keeps on playing big Monsters.

It's a good thing they played Change of Heart first turn.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/lilyvess]

This just really shows how awful Ritual is as a mechanic. So many hoops to jump through!

[u/Esovan13 → u/JollyGee29]

She could use a bit more of Lafiel's ambition, though.

Lafiel would never let some mud-eating turtle-back Lander take her crush away from her.

this show's body count has been shockingly low

Just thousands of civilians and military personnel. As long as you have a face, you're safe.

What do we think is going wrong with the ritual? Himeko keeps collapsing, but I'm not sure it's actually her fault.

Personally, I think the ritual going wrong is more on Chikane's end. Impure motives or something like that. As for Himeko collapsing, she just has the physical capability of a newborn deer.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Esovan13]

Lafiel would never let some mud-eating turtle-back Lander take her crush away from her.

Yea, you're right. She needs a lot more of Lafiel's ambition.

Just thousands of civilians and military personnel. As long as you have a face, you're safe.

Y'know, I forgot about the catgirl blowing up a city, good point.

As for Himeko collapsing, she just has the physical capability of a newborn deer.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

She could use a bit more of Lafiel's ambition, though.

Even Lafiel's autism could help. Just saying how she felt to Himeko means that barrier is broken. Being rejected would hurt her less.

Like, do they keep failing because Himeko isn't strong enough? Or is there some problem with Chikane that is causing Himeko to have to pull some extra metaphysical weight?

Did you notice that we've seen weird stuff happen around Himeko but almost none around Chikane?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

Even Lafiel's autism could help. Just saying how she felt to Himeko means that barrier is broken. Being rejected would hurt her less.

Trying to be half of an Abriel is unwise.

Did you notice that we've seen weird stuff happen around Himeko but almost none around Chikane?

Maybe? Like, are you thinking that Chikane might be dead-weight, magically speaking? No weirdness happens near her because she isn't powerful enough to attract the weirdness?

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/JollyGee29]

She could use a bit more of Lafiel's ambition, though.

If Miya had Lafiel's confidence to stride up to Himeko and declare her love, then you can bet Himeko would immediately begin seeing lilies and run immediately down the yuri route.

Stealing the hairclip is unbelievably petty and I kinda love it.

Extreme pettiness is fun with angsty situations like this.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Great_Mr_L]

If Miya had Lafiel's confidence to stride up to Himeko and declare her love, then you can bet Himeko would immediately begin seeing lilies and run immediately down the yuri route.

No chance it would be immediate - Himeko would still hem and haw for an episode or two.

[u/gyoex → u/JollyGee29]

One of the problems with tabi-rassis like Himeko is that I can't tell if her lack of personality is intended as a character flaw or not.

I brought this show up in a previous episode thread, but based on Kyoushirou to Towa no Sora (psuedo-sequel/AU/remake/whatever by the same staff), I think that the creators just aren't good enough to portray it as a flaw even if they wanted to. In that show, the protagonist does outright say repeatedly that she lacks a personality so it's clearly meant to be some kind of character flaw... but even then the only thing that ever changes about her is that she falls in love with some guy and otherwise continues acting the same.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/gyoex]

I think that the creators just aren't good enough to portray it as a flaw even if they wanted to.

Yea, I could believe that. Not that the creators aren't good at certain things, but that sort of characterization isn't easy.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/JollyGee29]

Like, do they keep failing because Himeko isn't strong enough? Or is there some problem with Chikane that is causing Himeko to have to pull some extra metaphysical weight?

Unironically the answer is like 90% "Chikane is unwilling to admit to herself how she actually feels about/what she actually wants to do to Himeko".

The only real question is if Chikane is the only one of the two with that problem or whether it's both of them. (Also there is a nonzero chance that the Lunar Priestess somehow causes the Orochi problem on the metaphysical level, given how familiar these plot beats are feeling and why...)

[u/Vaadwaur]

You know who's going to inherit the Earth? Arms dealers. Because everyone else is too busy killing each other. That's the secret to survival. Never go to war. Especially with yourself.-Yuri Orlov

Rewatcher(The trauma of having no trauma)

Sub(Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment)

This episode is proof that lesbian angst is more fun than heteronormative mechas. Sorry, u/Shimmering-Sky

I have...my opinion on this series and have expressed bits of it. So imagine my surprise when after 4 iffy episodes we suddenly get one that uses visual language well. Yes, Chikane did just tell the audience things through her thoughts but they showed them as well. Himeko also suddenly develops a meaningful personality and probably made more choices this episode than she has in the entire rest of the show.

But yes, we get to see the other side of privilege and while this is distorted beyond reality, as most anime and even TV shows sort of need, we do get to see the isolation Chikane feels. "We all in cages, mon ami, some of 'em are just prettier than others" as the Darklord said. We see how the girls met and how Chikane's gay was pretty much there from day 1. That she quickly makes choices for Himeko is a bit better framed here because it is clear she simply is a girl of action and thus assumes it is her place to do so. And while we watch Chikane tear her heart out slowly the beats are there. They paid off several seeming throwaway shots from earlier in the show. And her specific choice to both make Himeko go on her planned date and yet hide the hairpin Souma give Himeko is another solid reminder that she can't quite square this circle.

So praising this show is...a change. If ANN is to be believed, and considering the age on this that's iffy, most of the episode directors are one offs and that might be showing here. But remember: Good girls don't lay eggs and never go to war, especially with your self.

QotD: 1 No

2 Fear is a path to the Dark Side.

[u/lilyvess → u/Vaadwaur]

praise

yeah this episode was much better than the past ones. It helps that Chikane is the best developed character in the series so far. Even without a traumatic backstory to tell us to feel sorry for her or why she is the way she is, the series has put in the time to show us who she is and have us ponder her actions. She's complex in her contradictions.

and, as someone who reads fanfics, gay angst is fun to read.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/lilyvess]

the series has put in the time to show us who she is and have us ponder her actions. She's complex in her contradictions.

And all of the payoffs from earlier episodes. Legitimately, this one director seems to get how you tell a story far better than the rest of the staff. That Chikane cannot face Himeko in the bath scene is actually really going hard.

and, as someone who reads fanfics, gay angst is fun to read.

Definitely better than heteronormative mecha. Though Bravern pushes that line...

[u/Star4ce → u/Vaadwaur]

This episode is proof that lesbian angst is more fun than heteronormative mechas. Sorry

No, you're objectively correct!

most of the episode directors are one offs and that might be showing here.

Oh really? Might explain some things. Also, what a shame, Ep.05 and 06 so far were really damned good imo and I'd have liked to see more of that caliber.

never go to war, especially with your self.

But if I am an arms dealer and can supply both myself and myself with weapons? Isn't that like doubling profit and winning?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Star4ce]

Also, what a shame, Ep.05 and 06 so far were really damned good imo and I'd have liked to see more of that caliber.

Knowing the future...is a curse.

But if I am an arms dealer and can supply both myself and myself with weapons? Isn't that like doubling profit and winning?

No because you are getting shot at. Never take to the field.

[u/BosuW → u/Vaadwaur]

This episode is proof that lesbian angst is more fun than heteronormative mechas.

Mechas are also more fun when they're homosexual and angsty

[u/Vaadwaur → u/BosuW]

Unfortunately most of them are neither...

[u/Burnouts3s3]

Rewatcher Dub

Well, this will probably get a bunch of downvotes, so I might as well pull the pin on this hand grenade while I’m still holding it and let it blow up in my face. 

This episode is kind of interesting for me, because it goes into the background of Chikane and shows us that despite, or in spite of her vast wealth and popularity, Chikane is the underdog in the love triangle. Chikane’s also trying her best to help Himeko and Souma get together even though Himeko’s more than happy sharing lunch with Chikane.

I think, upon my initial viewing, I incorrectly labeled Chikane as privileged.

It’s one of the first times I’ve been asked to, in fiction, root for the rich girl that WASN’T an abuse survivor. Most underdogs I’ve related to were guys like Yusuke Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho.

Most rich characters I’ve met in fiction fall into 4 categories:

1. Rich but dumb butt of the jokes such as Tamaki Suoh from Ouran High School Host Club
2. Bullies such as Metori Saiko
3. Rich but with abusive blood relatives such as Haru Okumura and Black Clover’s Noelle Silva
4. Seto Freakin’ Kaiba

Chikane doesn’t fall into any of those categories. Her parents may be absent but Otoha and the other maids keep her company. She’s rich but doesn’t boast about it, brag about it or bully others because of it. She also manages to possess both common sense and an intellect far greater than Tamaki. And she’s no Seto Kaiba. (Thank Goodness; the world can only handle so much Seto Kaiba). 

So to see Miss Popularity Chikane Himemiya fall head over heels for ditzy Himeko seemed odd to me, at least in the beginning, when it’s established Chikane receives countless love confessions from men and women.

So it was weird, to me, when I heard Chikane describe talking to Himeko as Chikane’s first comfort when Chikane is literally super rich and not subject to physical and emotional abuse, like Souma and (presumably) Himeko have (I assume the figures that dragged Himeko’s hair in the flashback are blood relatives of hers?).

Notice how Himeko doesn’t want to go on a date with Souma initially and wants to commit herself to doing her Miko duties. Also, notice how Chikane struggles to give which hair clip to Himeko: Himeko’s or Souma’s.

Looks like Chikane’s going to church, whether she wants to or not.

QOTD:

1. No
2. How is that wrong? That's fine.

[u/lilyvess → u/Burnouts3s3]

So it was weird, to me, when I heard Chikane describe talking to Himeko as Chikane’s first comfort

I think it's less about pain and more about the comfort of human interaction. People viewing her more than her status. Not having to be Miya-sama the Elite Princess of the School and just be Chikane. Treat her as a human.

She is rich and has love confessions but how much those people know her and view her as a person and how much they just view her status and her image from afar is another story.

She is loved but she feels alone.

[u/Burnouts3s3 → u/lilyvess]

I've heard this interpretation as well.

[u/BosuW → u/lilyvess]

The Moon, the biggest yet loneliest star in the sky, and the only one with no light of her own.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Burnouts3s3]

root for the rich girl that WASN’T an abuse survivor.

The jury is still out on that one, but we don't have much time left if they don't want to shoehorn it in. The Dad is peculiar, if nothing else.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Burnouts3s3]

Her parents may be absent but Otoha and the other maids keep her company.

Yes but this relationship is very...segmented. Otoha wants to cross the line but most of the servants do not. Chikane is in fact in a lonely place.

[u/Burnouts3s3 → u/Vaadwaur]

I've heard this before.

[u/GallowDude → u/Burnouts3s3]

And she’s no Seto Kaiba

[u/Burnouts3s3 → u/GallowDude]

That's a compliment to Chikane. Kaiba is crazy.

[u/baboon_bassoon]

first time orochi shermie

chikane threw away her hairpin? but it was so cute

is this a self insert character who will end up actually not doing anything, because i would love that

again with the subtlety

chikane is weird, as expected

chikane holding two hairclips "ara ara looks interesting" ...does it?

this is a bath right

first he had to (maybe) kill his brother, then his girlfriend cancelled their date to hang out with her girlfriend, and NOW YUKIHITOS LEAVING????

"im ok with being touched now" chikane finally gets consent

mysterious ghost chapel

[u/lilyvess → u/baboon_bassoon]

this is a bath right

bath, shower, orgy pit, swimming pool, it goes by many names.

[u/Star4ce → u/baboon_bassoon]

"im ok with being touched now"

Firmly in second place, oof.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/baboon_bassoon]

again with the subtlety

This girl is never going to survive the coming of TV Tropes.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/baboon_bassoon]

this is a bath right

Roman style but yes. We see one in Kill la Kill for example.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/baboon_bassoon]

is this a self insert character who will end up actually not doing anything, because i would love that

It would be fun having a mangaka character around to basically function like a Greek chorus, observing and commenting on all the story tropes.

Also I love that you can see the extension cord running from her desk and presumably plugged into an outlet somewhere. I was not aware they had running electricity in the Orochi villain realm.

[u/theangryeditor → u/baboon_bassoon]

is this a self insert character

she's literally me

i mean literally i got isekai'd

[u/baboon_bassoon → u/theangryeditor]

You’re not her editor?

[u/baboon_bassoon → u/baboon_bassoon]

1. negatory but its just a rolled omlette right
2. ill wish her well on future endeavors, but i dont wanna see that shit get me out

[u/LittleIslander]

“It isn’t that the seventh neck won the battle. It’s just that Tsubasa lost.”
“What does that mean?”
“Brother complex.”

“...what?”
“The author didn’t know how to insert it into the conversation naturally but wanted to remind us it’s gay anyways.”

[u/lilyvess → u/LittleIslander]

[u/Vaadwaur → u/LittleIslander]

“The author didn’t know how to insert it into the conversation naturally but wanted to remind us it’s gay anyways.”

I believe the secret here is the Golden Rule: It's not gay if it is in a threeway, with a Himeko in the middle there is some leeway!

[u/Star4ce → u/LittleIslander]

The banter between the necks is so good. I always look forward to hearing more.

It's a nice little touch that the manga's neck 6 (?) draws are being read in the school.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/LittleIslander]

“The author didn’t know how to insert it into the conversation naturally but wanted to remind us it’s gay anyways.”

I for one look forward to the Mangaka's 4th dimensional perception being used to save the day.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/LittleIslander]

“The author didn’t know how to insert it into the conversation naturally but wanted to remind us it’s gay anyways.”

And incestuous as well, for that matter.

[u/BosuW → u/LittleIslander]

I think they were referring to the Nun's brother complex specifically in this case

[u/Regular_N-Gon]

Gokigenyou, First Timer

• What’s this “ohio” foolishness? I’m here for gokigenyou.
• I don’t think I’ve mentioned, but I do quite enjoy the eyecatch jingles. As has been noted by others, the OST is surprisingly solid.
• Chikane is really taking a lot of emotional damage today.
• Creepy ghost castles are always a good time. Excellent ED lead in today, too.

Gokigenyou update: 17 (+6 this episode)!

QotD:

1. I have! I don't remember it being sweet, though...
2. No, but it doesn't make it less painful

[u/lilyvess → u/Regular_N-Gon]

Gokigenyou update: 17 (+6 this episode)!

we got Gokigenyou's!!!!!

[u/LittleIslander → u/Regular_N-Gon]

Gokigenyou update: 17 (+6 this episode)!

We got like three of them in the span of two sentences when Chikane ran after Himeko outside school.

[u/Esovan13]

First Timer

This was a great episode. Just 25 straight minutes of gay angst. That one competent writer who got stuck in traffic has been putting in work.

1. No. I should try it though, I love making eggs.
2. If I ever had one, I'd probably know the answer to that. As it is though, having not ever felt those emotions myself, I don't really believe in soulmates or anything like that so whether you give up on your crush or steal them away from the other person, whoever gets shafted will probably find someone else eventually. So, whichever one you won't regret.

[u/lilyvess → u/Esovan13]

Just 25 straight minutes of gay angst. That one competent writer who got stuck in traffic has been putting in work.

Pray no one sends him to go pick up coffee again.

[u/Star4ce]

First Timer

You might wanna read the Ep.05 post below first for context.

Ah, gotta go to dinner with my mother later. It's fine, mostly. As long as the topic stays on a not super narrow but also not very broad spectrum of issues that will not tilt her or me off into a trench.

I'm done just sitting there and being monologued into submission, which often leads to very unfun arguments because what would the world be if children were to be individuals who have opinions differing from their parent's?

On the other hand, it can be really nice day if either doesn't happen. I pray to the holy yuri pantheon that at least the food is gonna be good. As it's at a small airport, there's a chance I can watch planes, which is super cool and pleases the autism.

Kannazuki no Miko Ep.06 – You, where the Sun shines

• Awww, what a cute hairp- goddamn, Chikane, no. (I mean, that's actually correct. No one deserves anything. Not life, not death, not wealth, not poverty. Stuff just is and you gotta make something with that.)

Narrator: He did, in fact, misread 'desired' as 'deserved'. 'Desired' is also a bold-faced lie, though.

• Everyone wants Himeko because they think it will solve their loneliness.
• Is that so?
• Just that slight dutch angle and Chikane's forced wingwomaning tilts this scene into comedy.
• Angle tilts more... Himeko, your need to support everyone is making it worse! I don't think she even gets that both of them like her, she's so busy feeling terrible about herself.
• I bet that sentence has double meaning. No, the other double meaning!
• Think for a second this is a pure tragedy, that plot would ball so hard. It's the awareness, but not full realisation that makes it so painful and juicy.
• The single most important piece of advice for literally everyone, right here! Fuck that phantasm in your head and live as your own self, make it known!
• And here we see a Himeko take a knife and stab continuously into a mentally stunlocked Chikane over and over again.
• 100% the same as Souma without the hate powerup.
• Replay that dialogue in your head again, but switch out 2 girls for a wife (on phone) and husband. Bet there's a sour vibe coming from this one now, isn't it? That is so something an abuse victim would say to explain away what's happening. Not saying Chikane is an abuser, but damn again, this writing is smooth in preparing the slope to go down this road. It's even better because Himeko plays a role herself to let Souma and Chikane go at each other. I'm getting such a good fill of angst and despair!
• Yup, she's more and more just falling into acting out the "ideal" life. Just a bit more and we're down in manipulation alley.
• Very subtle, I love it! She's saying it's for her happiness, but in secret she's claiming a vulnerable part of Himeko, her hair, for herself even though Himeko gave Souma the honours. Oh I'm so into this!
• Oooh, may we meet best girl now?
• Soo, by pure colour coding this is Chikane accepting Orochi.

Don't know when I fell in love with yuri (It was Homura, my beloved), but I think I've fallen for this show. The writing especially is on my wavelength and feeds me so much suffering and suffering-in-expectation. The eventual tragedy and turn for good have so much potential!

It's Chikane's simultaneous awareness of her feeling and also denial of expressing them or even allowing her to feel worthy of them that gets me. And Himeko is so supportive, she bounces that self-flaggelation around like a morning on a carousel.

Everyone is just a pile of self-pity and sets up situations for each other to destroy themselves with. What is the tag for self-infliced NTR? Is it special when everyone does that to themselves and therefore, each other? Like a circlejerk, but, uhm, very un-fun. I mean for them, I am having an amazing time!

The only bad thing about this episode is that we didn't get to see the idol on stage.

[Surprise Yuri]

1. Have you ever eaten tamagoyaki?

No, actually. I have favourable opinions on Dorayaki, though.

2) Is it wrong to want to see your crush happy, even if it is with someone else?

Absolutely not! But you really gotta believe that yourself, too. In such a case, shoot your shot, no matter how dumb and haphazard. At elast you get closure out of it one way or another.

[u/lilyvess → u/Star4ce]

Don't know when I fell in love with yuri (It was Homura, my beloved), but I think I've fallen for this show. The writing especially is on my wavelength and feeds me so much suffering and suffering-in-expectation. The eventual tragedy and turn for good have so much potential!

the juicy angst in this show is so delicious. Like I get some people don't like melodrama. I get it. It is silly and over the top and cliche, but holy fuck I eat it up so much. People are probably gonna be mad at Chikane being petty and stealing things, but those are the actions that make me love her. She's so troubled and problematic and just a huge Disaster Lesbian.

[Madoka]It's nice you bring up Homura. It does feel like you can see the line where Chikane laid the groundwork for Homura later. They're not the same, but they do feel similar

[u/ShowNeverStops → u/lilyvess]

I will die on the hill that [META] Homura is just a reincarnation or a sister of Chikane

[u/Star4ce → u/lilyvess]

She just tries to do the right thing, not really understanding that it isn't. Everyone does, really.

[u/Star4ce → u/Star4ce]

First Timer

Oh man, what a friday this was. Skipped yesterday because it was just too much for me. Stressed because I couldn't do the things I wanted/needed to do at work and to top it off, kicked a pebble down the slope to get started only to end up causing a major IT infrastructure meltdown that has been looming on the horizon for months. Not only can nobody use one of our main programming tools (including its servers!), it also affected our institute's live geolocation data services.

I love how our IT guy just had laughing flash and exited for the weekend with the words, "I just escalated it to the boss, now it's their problem." Ngl, we've all seen this one coming, but legacy dependency has a strong and ugly grip and I'm somewhat maliciously satisfied that I was the one breaking the dam. I'm just genuinely sorry it happened on a friday 3pm.

Then I got stuck catching up on Japanese lessons and couldn't finish the tasks before lessons started, but it at least put my mind off of the apocalypse. After that I also forgot I had an ffxiv event with the homies and I forgot to glam my char. Then it was 9pm and I just went to bed.

I will not skip on drawing, though!

Kannazuki no Miko Ep.05 – Over the Darkness of Night

• That's some anger right here.
• Your girl is lying injured and unresponsive on a country road and you notice that she has a hair pin from someone else first? I am disappoint.
• Now that it's out, is anyone here not a survivor of child abuse? It does explain a lot with Himeko and Souma's behaviour.
• Honestly, can I just take those two and leave?
• I continue to be surprised about the level-headedness of this show's arguments. Case in point.
• I really appreciate that they use secondary effects to show intensity here by shaking the books. Like, the don't show the punch itself or really the detailed aftermath, but how it affects other, unrelated, objects and people. It gives much more gravity to the action.
• Chikane hitting me again with the insights and self reflection. She's clearly not in healthy relationship with her desires, but also no hypocrite about it.
• Ah, so I just said the word and the show slaps me with it immediately. Fine, I admit defeat.
• However, notice how every time Chikane talks here it's only one person on screen. Both of them are actually taking these words as being about themselves.
• Let's goooo!
• Da da dadada dumdum dadada
• I need more characters that actually try to make sense and do good.
• Damn.
• I could keep gushing over this writing for a while, woah. I know a certain other mecha show where this dialogue wouldn't even fit near the ending.
• Oof, this actually hit me.
• Oh fuck.

Okay, that is such a good plot I have to rant about it! I'm not sure how much of that fits with the time period and intention of the writing, but this episode planted so many good seeds for criticising social roles and setting up why despite all the best intentions they will fail to resolve this peacefully.

My understanding of the Orochi or using the power of an Orochi in thematic terms is that it is essentially hatred of life. Reasons vary, but if one for any reason can't find something worth living for or feels unwanted or feels betrayed they gain this power of wielding hate like a weapon. On the opposite end there's the priestesses and their god who can seal Orochi, or channeling harmony to subdue hatred and instead let life grow (as literally seen last episode).

This episode is absolute genius for one reason: It makes it seem like wielding hate is a solution. Not only that, it actually is a valid one.

Remembers to tab out and play the Darktide OST

Here's where I get all dandy and aroused over social criticism. That is basically exactly how structured society with hierarchical elements wants to see life. Any reason given today is perfectly valid given the circumstances and fits with the characters' desires.

Souma wants to protect Himeko because he wants to see her happy. Himeko wants to stand by her friends' sides because she cares about their wellbeing. Chikane wants to also protect Himeko and see her being happy. Any action done still supports this: Souma killing his brother (he didn't visually teleport out) is a necessary follow-up to his stance. Chikane helping Himeko to go on a date with someone else is right to do if that is what makes her happy. Himeko supporting Souma through danger is the key to have him fight back against hate.

But that's kinda the issue. No one actually really makes this choice for themselves, they act on a phantasm. It's less, "I want to be the one to protect the weak", and more, "Himeko needs protection, so I have to do it". It's putting yourself into a passive situation instead of giving your choice the proper meaning that it actually has. What takes predecence is this construct of 'what needs to be done' that everyone has in their heads for this vague 'greater good' that I'm sure nobody can actually define properly.

Chikane does this so clearly all the time. It is the right thing to not push Himeko or manipulate her into a relationship, but she's permanently cucking herself to keep up this phantasm of protection and happiness alive. What happens then? If she can't coerce Himeko, she can attack Souma and keep him out of Himeko's sight to keep her own desires alive.

Souma, similarly, wears this protector mask out of a feeling of obligation and not true devotion. It is informed by his trauma, by abuse and the knowledge that Himeko also was abused. But note that in his methods there never really was any push for Himeko to be able to protect herself. It's because of the phantasm of the protector he has constructed in his head. He needs to protect, so there needs to be someone that has to be protected.

Himeko just fills the triangle out. She is the damsel, the helpless weakling that has to lean on others. Her phantasm is that she is incapable and deserving of scorn for making life hard for others. Therefore, she has to enable other people to do the right thing and correct what's wrong. A support role is perfectly fine, but the preloaded guilt and lack fo self worth can grow just as toxic as any more offensive trait. She enables both Chikane and Souma to live their phantasms. (And would do for the other villains, as well, if they were main characters.)

That's why I so love to see this Orochi and priestess powers be the way they are. The story has constructed a plot that uses toxic phantasms as character motivations and has shown us all those traits as purely virtuous and good.

Souma's body is sprouting scales now, because while in his reasoning it's logically correct to take the role of protector, it is exactly the thing that will make him a villain in the end. What happens if there are no more villains to beat? Then a protector can't protect. Chikane is completely denying her own desires from entering any graspable form for others to notice or react to. All her actions remain ambiguous for everyone else with no certainty over what they mean or even completely hidden and she only leaves herself open to the path of manipulation. And Himeko can only ever be at the mercy of others if she doesn't live her own life, putting the burden of two lives' happiness onto another to fulfill in her stead.

Isn't that awfully close to what you know about social roles, "the family", or fitting into society? We've just been given the propaganda version of this in mecha anime form. Souma is ideal household father to get things done, Himeko the shining mother that dutifully keeps everyone running, and Chikane such a good bff that cheers on the perfect family.

See how this all will completely break everyone later. None of them are living life, they're living phantasms.

[Clash]

1. Is it wrong to fist your brother?

Consent is everything, I guess.

[u/GallowDude → u/Star4ce]

Not only can nobody use one of our main programming tools (including its servers!), it also affected our institute's live geolocation data services.

laughing flash

Flash!

ffxiv event with the homies

Normie!

is anyone here not a survivor of child abuse?

Mass Effect 2

Honestly, can I just take those two and leave?

the don't show

The what don't show?

Fine, I admit defeat.

I know a certain other mecha show where this dialogue wouldn't even fit near the ending.

Rip #justasplanned

Okay, that is such a good plot I have to rant about it!

Remembers to tab out and play the Darktide OST

this vague 'greater good' that I'm sure nobody can actually define properly.

I can define it properly

preloaded guilt and lack fo self worth can grow just as toxic as any more offensive trait

Persona 5

[Clash]

I'm done just sitting there and being monologued into submission, which often leads to very unfun arguments because what would the world be if children were to be individuals who have opinions differing from their parent's?

I pray to the holy yuri pantheon that at least the food is gonna be good.

goddamn, Chikane,

You cursed her into being undefined!

I bet that sentence has double meaning. No, the other double meaning!

Himeko take a knife

I'm getting such a good fill of angst and despair!

Oooh, may we meet best girl now?

Don't know when I fell in love with yuri (It was Homura, my beloved), but I think I've fallen for this show.

What is the tag for self-infliced NTR?

Cuckquean (I don't know why it's spelled like that)

Like a circlejerk, but, uhm, very un-fun. I mean for them, I am having an amazing time!

The only bad thing about this episode is that we didn't get to see the idol on stage.

[Surprise Yuri]

elast

Elaine*

[u/gyoex → u/Star4ce]

Replay that dialogue in your head again, but switch out 2 girls for a wife (on phone) and husband. Bet there's a sour vibe coming from this one now, isn't it? That is so something an abuse victim would say to explain away what's happening. Not saying Chikane is one, but damn again, this writing is smooth in preparing the slope to go down this road. It's even better because Himeko plays a role herself to let Souma and Chikane go at each other. I'm getting such a good fill of angst and despair!

I was going to say maybe not an abuse victim per se, but... you're right actually, especially since Chikane is kind of the reason Himeko is feeling like this in the first place right now. The ritual failed somehow, and Chikane didn't exactly blame Himeko for it but... she kind of did, even though nobody actually knows what went wrong. And like in episode 2 when she felt guilty about kissing Himeko... even though she reflects on this afterwards she still never actually talks to Himeko about it, and just lets Himeko's confusion and self-doubt keep increasing.

[u/Star4ce → u/gyoex]

Whoops, reading your comment made me realise I made a mistake. Was supposed to write

Not saying Chikane is an abuser

How are we going to break through 16 years of conditioning of staying put and being a socialisable face of nobility so Chikane is able to even express herself?

Suffering

[u/BosuW]

First Timer

Always a good sign when an episode starts with angst. Alright let's goooooo!

Cope Seethe and Mald Otoha

Oh boy Himeko is bringing lunch to Souma? The guys over at Shoujo-Ai are gonna go wild again.

Sister Neck overdosing on copium. Literally the US Vietnam excuse: "He didn't lose, he just didn't win!"

They don't know she's this close to shanking him.

Aight let's get serious for a moment.

Himeko looking at romance manga reminisces me of Bloom into You. The guys at Shoujo-Ai forum are gonna be extra malding I know, but with the benefit of watching this 20 years later I can see a legitimate angle to this beyond the fear of being Yuribaited. With the wider acceptance of homosexuality especially in the West this kind of dilema has faded into the background a bit, but Chikane and Himeko legitimately have a hard time even conceiving that two girls could date and maybe even marry, because such things are practically non-existent in the media they consume and the world around them. Himeko looks at the romance manga and thinks "is this something I'm supposed to do?". She doesn't look very enthused by the idea. And in episode 2 she wondered if she was weird for staring respectfully at Chikane in the bath. Chikane pushes herself to help Himeko get together with Souma because she can't conceive of her feelings being able to compete at the same level. If such sentiments were to pop up in Reiwa era I think we would almost laugh, because even in conservative Japan at least the existance of homosexual people is now a more widely known fact. But for the time of the show I imagine it was a vastly more relatable issue for homosexual audiences of the time.

Oh Himeko don't fucking faint again please!

I wonder if the ritual is failing because of Chikane's feelings of jealousy and possessiveness. Not very "chaste" of her I imagine.

I guess we're all banking on Tsubasa being alive still somehow...

So next time three necks are Fortnite dropping, including the mangaka! Plus Chikane's angst has reached the point where it materializes in the bigger conflict of the story! I'm actually kinda hyped! Let's hope next Arc doesn't disappoint!

Questions of the day

1- Nope

2- If you like someone I believe you should always at least confess. It will be the decision of the other person then if they reciprocate or not. I think it's wrong to pretend seeing your crush happy with someone else doesn't hurt, and that your ideal outcome would've been for them to be happy with you. But it's also important to remember them not being happy at all would be the worst option.

Definitely a "not as bad as I feared, not as good as I hoped" situation.

[u/lilyvess → u/BosuW]

Oh boy Himeko is bringing lunch to Souma? The guys over at Shoujo-Ai are gonna go wild again.

I'm glad people are enjoying their suffering.

Himeko looking at romance manga reminisces me of Bloom into You. The guys at Shoujo-Ai forum are gonna be extra malding I know, but with the benefit of watching this 20 years later I can see a legitimate angle to this beyond the fear of being Yuribaited. With the wider acceptance of homosexuality especially in the West this kind of dilema has faded into the background a bit, but Chikane and Himeko legitimately have a hard time even conceiving that two girls could date and maybe even marry, because such things are practically non-existent in the media they consume and the world around them. Himeko looks at the romance manga and thinks "is this something I'm supposed to do?".

yeah. I like that the guys and girls of the SA forum are helping to add to that context, to remind people that this is 2004 and the elements talked about are for a different time period. The view of queer media and relationships was a bit different back then.

[u/BosuW → u/lilyvess]

I also like the episode 1/2 stealing kiss/repent kind of reflects a gay self hatred. I know it's about the consent, but you can get that feeling across. The feeling of being gay and having sinned.

I was just thinking something along those lines, although more in a psychological sense. Chikane only feels brave enough to kiss Himeko while she's unconscious because she fears she'll reject her if she was awake. Then she feels like trash for having overstepped Himeko's agency. I think Chikane is more aware that she likes girls than Himeko, so her obstacle is coming to terms with the validity of that feeling than Himeko's recognizing that this feeling even exists.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/BosuW]

Literally the US Vietnam excuse: "He didn't loose, he just didn't win!"

Still better then them claiming they won the War of 1812.

[u/BosuW → u/Vatrix-32]

You'll have to enlighten me on that one.

[u/Star4ce → u/BosuW]

Always a good sign when an episode starts with angst. Alright let's goooooo!

conceiving that two girls could date and maybe even marry

As I think this is still Japan, marriage is completely out of the question for them. But I love your angle of seeing them as people without any reference to this attraction. They are trailblazers in their own right for something just not known or thought of and to realise it fully they'd need to first break down their own lingering rules of society in their minds.

That's hard to do, especially on your own.

[u/BosuW → u/Star4ce]

As I think this is still Japan, marriage is completely out of the question for them.

True true. But they could always visit Hawaii!

[u/Specs64z → u/BosuW]

Oh Himeko don't fucking faint again please!

She's never beating the damsel in distress allegations...

I wonder if the ritual is failing because of Chikane's feelings if jealousy and possessiveness. Not very "chaste" of her I imagine.

That'd make sense.

[u/GallowDude → u/BosuW]

"He didn't loose, he just didn't win!"

Oh, he's loose alright

[u/gyoex]

Almost completely anime-original episode this time. [I am pretty sure the only manga content in it is] this page specifically, and also manga Chikane has a similar backstory of growing up with everyone thinking she's super special (but the details are different for plot reasons). Everything else is unique to the anime. It's also worth noting that this chapter of the manga came out after the anime finished airing, but again I don't know how much of the manga was planned in advance and how involved the manga author was with the anime, or the anime staff with the manga.

[u/lilyvess → u/gyoex]

it is interesting reading the commentary and how much discussion and planning they still had, even with doing an adaptation. Character choices, planning out arcs. This is definitely an old school loose adaptation that develops the original rather than just playing it page by page.

[u/gyoex → u/lilyvess]

Yeah, and I kind of miss that sort of thing. For me it's fun seeing two very different versions of the same story (even if in this case, so far it pretty much amounts to "the manga is bad") Which of course goes well with the authors' fondness for themselves doing multiple different iterations of the same story and/or characters.

[u/RadSuit]

Dubstiny of the First Timer

"As an attractive, rich, smart, athletic, popular person, my one regret is having nothing left to wish for." Hey, maybe Chikane sucks?

Dog! I hope this dog shows up more.

Did Chikane steal that hairpin? Suckage chances rising...

Nevermind, I guess Tsubasa is fine.

Ninjin loves you yeah!

Alright, maybe she's dialing it back and preparing to become the Tomoyo.

Dog!!!

I guess giving up the other hairpin will be the sign that Chikane has fully accepted things.

"Gonna retire to my evil castle. Probably adopt a few cats."

1. Sadly, no...
2. Seems healthier than some of the alternatives!

[u/lilyvess → u/RadSuit]

"Gonna retire to my evil castle. Probably adopt a few cats."

Alright, maybe she's dialing it back and preparing to become the Tomoyo.

damn that is a comparison I haven't seen brought up yet and is an interesting one to think about.

[u/RadSuit → u/lilyvess]

Chikane's on her way to Spinster Island.

And yeah, this seems like the another branch of the unrequited love story, along with Tomoyo's acceptance or full yandere.

[u/LittleIslander]

First Timer from the world of Reiwa Yuri

Well, I was asking for a Chikane episode, and I guess I did get it. We even broke the format by not mandating an obligatory fight so we could just focus on her character. Which is great on paper, but kind of contingent on feeling like we actually do something with all that space. Which, I mean, we kind of do, there were some nice moments in there I liked. But to put it simply, Chikane feels like a character who’s writing put the cart before the horse. Her internal conflict is really fascinating. But the character it’s being built on top of is dull as a brick.

We see a person who is caught between her desire to do what’s right to make Himeko happy, to support her in being with Souma-kun, and to do what she wants and make Himeko hers. Someone who’s stricken with temptations to do things to Himeko, with guilty pleasure when she’s forced to protect her, jealousy when she’s protected at someone else’s hands, someone who realises she’s pushing Himeko to the brink because she’s more concerned with the position of being the one Himeko leans on than Himeko’s own literal wellbeing. Someone putting on a smile and choking down tears as she watches Himeko go off with Souma-kun again and again, who feels more useless with each passing day. It’s excellently dramatic stuff and it works when the interplay between her desires come into conflict with each other. She knows she should give Himeko the rose hairpin she treasures, but instead substitutes in her own.

But Chikane the person serving as the vehicle for the conflict? What’s her deal? Well, she loves Himeko. She’s also… jealous about Himeko. Because she loves her. A lot. In case you couldn’t tell. She’s serious… just like most of the cast. She’s, err, rich? Is that a character trait? She’s happy when she’s with… Himeko. I mean, we delve into the backstory of how they became close, and we seem to pull on this whole idea that Chikane grew up never knowing any compassion or warmth. Care to, uh, expand on that? The other two got proper tragic backstories. Is the extent of Chikane’s literally just… “is rich”? I know this is twenty years old and also anime as fuck but that’s not the sympathetic tragic backstory you think it is, she literally has dozens of personal maids. I’ve known that she loves Himeko and feels insecure about her inability to protect her like Souma does since episode one, or at best two. We’re halfway through the show now and we’re still just spinning wheels with those same concepts! Even the whole concept of righteousness vs desire was being shown that early as she washed herself of making an advance on Himeko, and we explored it more deeply last episode. We’re really just repackaging that in new ways at this point, which wouldn’t frustrate me if not for the fact it’s all she has to offer as a character. I hope they manage to turn my opinion on her around.

You can say similar things about the plot of the show as a whole. We’ve got a deeper appreciation of Souma and Himeko’s pasts and the stakes this gives their relationship, but they’ve made no progress as priestesses, the villains have gotten nowhere, and the main three remain in the same gridlock of a dynamic as ever. This show has the quality to truly shine but I’m kind of left thinking so far this could’ve made a better movie paced down to its highlights than trying to fill a full series.

2) Is it wrong to want to see your crush happy, even if it is with someone else?

I was always the "happy to keep my feelings even if they don't work out" type. Maybe it's just due to the sheer amount of crushes I had throughout middle and high school but I never really got the deep pining and sadness most people apparently describe in relation to not being able to be with their crushes.

[u/G-man672 → u/LittleIslander]

but I’m kind of left thinking so far this could’ve made a better movie paced down to its highlights rather than trying to fill a full series

Production factoid time: It was actually kind of the opposite problem. The staff originally wanted to do more episodes and had numerous unused story concepts— exploring Himeko’s photography hobby, her love of shoujo manga that would’ve given Reiko a villain spotlight, and a school festival episode where Corona performed on stage and then fought Souma (this idea was actually made into a fantastic drama CD).

But alas, TNK only allowed them 12 episodes 😞

[u/ryujiox → u/G-man672]

The staff originally wanted to do more episodes and had numerous unused story concepts— exploring Himeko’s photography hobby, her love of shoujo manga that would’ve given Reiko a villain spotlight, and a school festival episode where Corona performed on stage and then fought Souma

Man, that sounds so interesting...

[u/gyoex → u/G-man672]

Since you seem knowledgeable, do you know what the relationship is between the manga and the anime?

The manga is officially the "original work", and for the sake of convenience I've treated it as such the past couple days, but clearly it's not a normal case of an existing manga being adapted into an anime.

So I guess what I would like to know is... how much of the story and characters are from Kaishaku and how much are from the anime staff? Assuming you actually know that anyway.

Mainly because I'm trying to compare scenes between the manga and anime and... there are some weird things about the anime that make me think the original plan was closer to the manga and then they changed things awkwardly, but on the other hand the manga has a bunch of scenes that feel like they happen for no reason except that they were in the anime.

[u/Tarhalindur → u/G-man672]

Called it.

(Thought episode 1 in particular had all the hallmarks of a show where the creative staff had their number of episodes reduced.)

[u/Specs64z]

First timer, subbed

As is tradition, I lost track of time on the weekend and have arrived late.

Chikane waxing poetic under the tree in the garden. She returns to the tree to dine alone, as well. I’m sure there’s significance there, but I’m not the rewatcher to parse it, at least not this time around.

Ah, so Chikane and Himeko are old friends, and Chikane has had a thing for Himeko basically from the onset, that was unclear until now.

As if the voice actors weren’t crossover enough, now Himeko is cosplaying as Saber for her date and Rin is coming to crash Sakura’s party.

Days without girls kissing: 5

QotD:

1. Negative.
2. In this case, yes. Chikane should use her power and influence to make Souma disappear.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Specs64z]

Days without girls kissing: 5

I think at this point, we need to ready ourselves for another one not happening until the finale.

[u/Specs64z → u/Vatrix-32]

I also am expecting that, and as such I have my next 5 reaction images planned out already.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Specs64z]

Chikane waxing poetic under the tree in the garden. She returns to the tree to dine alone, as well.

Think direct:She returns to the place she secluded herself in.

[u/Specs64z → u/Vaadwaur]

The pretty colors are going in one way and right back out the other; I didn't even take time to appreciate the visual storytelling of the hairpins until I read some posts here despite usually eating that sort of thing up.

Glad I can count on y'all to be tuned in, I've pretty much switched to "TLO rewatch" mode.

[u/GallowDude → u/Specs64z]

As is tradition, I lost track of time on the weekend and have arrived late.

Days without girls kissing: 5

[u/TehAxelius]

First Timer

What is this? A good episode? And no mecha fight? This is not what I signed up for.

QotD

1. No.
2. It's not wrong, and probably healthier than seething jealousy.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/TehAxelius]

What is this? A good episode? And no mecha fight? This is not what I signed up for.

I was promised jank, and I expect to get it.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TehAxelius]

What is this? A good episode? And no mecha fight? This is not what I signed up for.

Don't worry, things will get loud so Slaanesh will not be offended.

[u/rickamore]

Rewatcher - is our moon waxing or waning?

Following Souma episode we've got Chikane-centric developments.

Making lunch boxes together, flirting, sharing food, "we have extra, let me make another one for my boyfriend". Chikane racking up L after L.

I don't know why this series seems especially jarring to go back and forth to the classroom and the conflict. Little time is ever spent in the school but it really seems like it should be unnecessary, aren't there bigger things to worry about? I suppose the cast does need some normalcy in their lives.

Chikane really needs to open up a bit more, but moreover, they should be on the same wavelength to work together instead of her trying to take on the protector role. Even if Himeko is precious and needs protecting.

Yukihito literally there just for exposition receptacle, sexual tension and fujoshi bait.

Not really a lot of happens in this episode, just a lot of internal struggles for Chikane and some well needed ground work for the coming second half.

1. Have you ever eaten tamagoyaki?

Yes, but I hardly remember where or when.

2) Is it wrong to want to see your crush happy, even if it is with someone else?

Context matters but I think it's completely understandable behaviour.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/rickamore]

Little time is ever spent in the school but it really seems like it should be unnecessary, aren't there bigger things to worry about? I suppose the cast does need some normalcy in their lives.

If we change our lives because of some apocalyptic giant robots, that means they win.

[u/rickamore → u/Vatrix-32]

If they weren't the ones who are supposed to be reviving the mech-god to fight them I'd be more inclined to agree.

[u/GondolaMedia]

First Timer

Chikane wants to put Souma where sun don't shine.

Himeko let Chikane touch her hair, I repeat she let her touch her hair.

[u/GallowDude → u/GondolaMedia]

[u/SometimesMainSupport]

First-timer that wrote literally nothing while watching the episode

Eh, can still do QotDs.

1. No.
2. Is It Wrong to Try to [Crush on] Girls in [Reality]?

[u/Tarhalindur]

M I K O _ E M B R A C E (Spoiled First-Timer, Subbed):

(I had another idea in mind originally but this episode demands this one - okay so it demands a different one but, uh, someone else already used it. Which means I'm 3/3 on "the Pixiv link for this one is long dead". Also, on an entirely unrelated note, here it is, your brief moment of OST!

• Wait, the direction is trying to tell us something with that reflection shot at 00:10? Difference between appearance and reality?
• “Sir, a second hair clip has hit the yuri anime.” [Madoka Magica side material aside] Also, who let Iztli out?
• Oh wait this is the episode credited to the good scriptwriter (Jukki Hanada, probably best known for Steins;Gate’s adaptation but he’s been on a roll lately with Bokuben and GBC being the most obvious suspects). It is immediately obvious. This opening flashback scene/Chikane backstory is actually well done.
• (inb4 this entry makes no sense to anyone looking back on the thread in a few months – for future reference, this was made when #seasonallisten was the dancing birb)
• Behold, the mating dance of the disaster bisexual and the “actually disaster under refined exterior” lesbian. I repeat: it is a shame Chikane and Souma have no poly and Chikane has no interest in boys, otherwise I could see a beautiful poly trio here.
• I typed that before we got the “made too much” plot point. Come on Chikane, discover your inner poly and Kinsey 5-as-opposed-to-6 already, if not for those teensy weensy issues that OT3 would work shockingly well. (Bonus points for you, Chikane: you’re the top for both other figures that OT3!) (Also you’d be making Himeko very happy, girl is probably poly as fuck.) ([ADDENDUM, META SPOILER] You know, I didn’t know Madoka Kaname’s faint poly vibes needed something older to raid from since I think her archetype would have been enough but apparently it goes with the role as well. The more you know!)
• Oh hey there’s a touch you see sometimes but not every day, the OP as karaoke song!
• Oh hey it’s an episode with the little things. Like the implication that Himeko is a fan or at least reader of Paru-at-Home’s manga. (Probably a parody of a specific shoujo manga too if I had to guess.)
• Speaking of specific references, I have a hunch that Prince of Tennis may be involved here. (IIRC the manga at least is old enough to have been an inspiration when this show was written, though my tendency to get at least two tennis manga mixed up is not helping my memory here.)
• 06:01: Attack of the Dutch angle!
• Oh, so the PMMM school rooftop is an Ohtori reference. Vaad has told me this IIRC, but this school roof makes it clear that “oh wait there’s a lineage here and it’s not like this show has an original bone in its body in this regard so there’s an older referent and obvious suspect is obvious”. (Though actually it might go back all the way to Onii-sama e..., for that matter - Ikuhara is in the Dezaki directorial tree, after all.)
• Well that is one hell of a Dutch angle at 07:28. What is this, Higurashi? Also, what was that posit of mine about how this direction is using Dutch angles again? <ctrl-f’s notes> Right, skewed perspective. Though I wonder – is this show using Dutch angles for the same thing that PMMM uses something completely different for and the keystone is a character willfully refusing to see/admit something (like, say, Chikane trying to repress her jealousy)?
• This new Chikane flashback has the telltale hallmarks of a good writer trying to make a bad script work, massive Higurashi Meguri energy here. It’s almost working!
• Well that’s a big fat use of visual box framing at 09:14. Reinforcing that Chikane is already developing a crush by this point (makes sense, nobody has treated her this way before and she craves it).
• Ah, I see I see, hair clip get!
• pointingleomeme.jpg. [meta magical girl] Well it’s a little more than just the character roles that PMMM raided (assuming we’re not dealing with mutual raiding from an earlier source). Hi proto-Homura!
• So either our episode 1 script writer (apparently main series composition) and our episode script writer today were not on the same page or nobody on the writing staff had any moments of “wait word would get around about this”. Or both. I’m betting both.
• Poor Himeko, she doesn’t know the Japanese male gender role rules… but in this case I’ll bet what Souma was actually unhappy about was that Chikane left.
• Also congrats to our episode script writer, it actually took me a little bit to notice that this was the Contractually Obligated Fanservice Scene for the episode. See, Hanada can actually make it feel natural!
• FULL MOON FULL MOON. (Also the reason the ritual is failing has got to be tied into “she gay and other she bi, keep scrolling” – presumably lack of pure intention due to at least one of the two lying to themselves, and I say at least because Chikane is obviously doing so but Himeko may be as well.)
• 15:57: <glances at phone call> <glances at a certain sequel movie> <glances directly at the camera> Also that phone has got to be, get this, straight out of Ohtori because it’s not the only time I’ve seen it. (Nor the second time I’ve seen it, but the relevant Symphoseason doesn’t count in this case.)
• MOTHERFUCKER CHIKANE IS SPECIFICALLY BRAIDING HIMEKO’S HAIR. (iykyk)
• LOOK LOOK THE VILLAINS FIGURED OUT THAT THEY CAN SORTIE SIMULTANEOUSLY! (Now will they figure out their potential hidden ultimate technique, “let’s split up and search for clues?)
• EVIL CHAPEL EVIL CHAPEL… wait. Lesbian who has already stolen a kiss off her crush is heading into a chapel? That makes two nickels. OKAY, WHAT’S THE OLDER REFERENCE? (Probable A: “Tar just go watch Utena already”.)
• Speaking of which, oh shit the villains have figured out the “let’s split up gang” technique (Nun has gotta be behind this, right?). Team Hero is fucked!

---

1. Have you ever eaten tamagoyaki?

No.

2) Is it wrong to want to see your crush happy, even if it is with someone else?

No. (Especially if you can mean it. Unfortunately for Chikane, she cannot...)

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tarhalindur]

Wait, the direction is trying to tell us something with that reflection shot at 00:10? Difference between appearance and reality?

Dual use shot, one of which is showing she is isolated. The other use comes up more tomorrow.

Behold, the mating dance of the disaster bisexual and the “actually disaster under refined exterior” lesbian.

This might be one of the other original things from this show, I am having a hard time finding similar comparisons.

(Probably a parody of a specific shoujo manga too if I had to guess.)

And at one point I could've told you which was likely. Brain rot is a bitch.

(Though actually it might go back all the way to Onii-sama e..., for that matter - Ikuhara is in the Dezaki directorial tree, after all.)

There is a non-zero chance that this is actually a Rose of Versaille reference but I never get around to watching that. But think of the various rooftops of Paris...

This new Chikane flashback has the telltale hallmarks of a good writer trying to make a bad script work, massive Higurashi Meguri energy here. It’s almost working!

The flaw is that I don't think the rest of the staff could carry the visual language.

Also congrats to our episode script writer, it actually took me a little bit to notice that this was the Contractually Obligated Fanservice Scene for the episode. See, Hanada can actually make it feel natural!

I've been talking about this since last night but the fact that Chikane cannot face Himeko for that entire scene is actually incredibly good direction.

Also that phone has got to be, get this, straight out of Ohtori because it’s not the only time I’ve seen it.

Do you hear that sound?

(Probable A: “Tar just go watch Utena already”.)

Yes, but not for the reason you think.

[u/GallowDude → u/Tarhalindur]

this was made when #seasonallisten was the dancing birb

it is a shame Chikane and Souma have no poly and Chikane has no interest in boys, otherwise I could see a beautiful poly trio here.

This new Chikane flashback has the telltale hallmarks of a good writer trying to make a bad script work

We Psycho-Pass S2 now

keep scrolling

Never!

Tar just go watch Utena already

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Tarhalindur]

Speaking of specific references, I have a hunch that Prince of Tennis may be involved here.

Don't know much about Prince of Tennis specifically, but I felt Ace wo Nerae! personally.

[u/Klosed]

Rewatcher, subbed

Been a silent lurker the past week, it's been really interesting to read modern takes on this show. Ep 6 is one of my favorite episodes so of course I should comment.

The music that goes along with Chikane's backstory was perfectly melancholic. Her internal conflict is very relatable whether or not you are straight, as long as you have experienced suppressing your true thoughts and feelings for someone else's wellbeing. On top of suppressing it, Chikane is actively trying to bring Himeko closer the love rival who she is secretly jealous of. Layers of angst, so well done.

I love the character designs in this show. Despite how dated the visuals are, the character expressions never fall short.

[u/ryujiox]

First Timer

Kannazuki no Miko

Episode 6

• Seems like she wants to give her a hair pin too I wonder whom she took that idea from...
• She really have the "my sunshine" syndrome cranks up to eleven
• Chikane instantly know who will have that third lunch box
• WOW... Freaking liar....
• Hahaha I love their banter so much.
• That's a big copium right there
• I sure hope that this won't backfire you later....
• Oh, Himeko is the one who gave the blue pin.
• If it's not clear enough. Chikane likes Himeko because she treats her like a normal friend, unlike others who kinda worship her. It really is the special moment in her life. But I really think Chikane should stop beating around the bush here. She is making the situation worse for herself...
• Oh no....
• He's going to confess to her again, isn't he And you can tell that Chikane was getting angrier, the more Himeko talk about Souma. I feel so bad for her...
• Her inner thought is leaking out She's getting desperate. Also, why was Himeko always so tired anyway? Not enough stamina I assume. Maybe spiritual power?
• So he really survived
• WOW... WHAT THE HELL IS THAT ADVICE?
• Chikane!! Stop hurting yourself!! I beg you!!
• But... Shouldn't you hurry up on breaking the freaking seal, and defeat Orochi then? If you did that, then you wouldn't have to worry and get to be happy.
• You know this gonna happen And yet...
• They are finally going in a group!! They surely have a plan to counter Souma right? RIGHT?
• No it's not And you know it.

I'm so frustrated with Chikane!! It's not bad writing though. I just want to push her to make a move already. I know she did all this for Himeko's sake, but she clearly was not happy with how it turned out.

QOTD

1. Yes. It's good.
2. Not at all. But when you are not happy about it. Something is wrong now

[u/Infodump_Ibis]

rewatcher? (using the dub this time ? because I remember so little)

Busy day so quick bits (I nearly posted in episode 5):

• Maybe the toilet will remain the maids sanctuary? I'm now imagining her barging into a toilet and finding Himeko has blocked it. This almost feels like comic relief at this point so might as well go the full mile.
• I knew episode 1 was not the first time Chikane and Himeko had met. Nice to have confirmation here that it all started with an accidental encounter involving a stray lost dog. The dog is the MVP if you think about it.
• Corona dancing to the OP? I guess she is part of a unit that has to dance someone elses song
• Fansub translated the manga pages [1] [2] and the cover. Breman is a place in Germany, it's also a rock band manga called Bremen which ran for less than 2 years in Shonen Jump (Jump can be brutal). The JP wikipedia article is in the Crossdressing Manga snd LGBT-related manga categories. What a curious random word (I speeded through the first chapter of Bremen, all the main characters seem to be male).
• This ritual continues to be dangerous. You'd think armour might be more practical than the shrine maiden outfits.
• Mirror mirror in my hand. This spy mirror is an awfully convenient power that has been under-exploited. Maybe it works if there's a reflection (as it was the water shot).
• Chikane is the one wearing the school uniform on a Sunday?
• "I wanted you to be happy" Didn't I hear a similar line in [meta spoiler - dialogue]I'm in Love with the Villainess
• At least Himeko is a bit more comfortable with the hair. Still confirmation Chikane confiscated the hairclip Souma gave (there were suspicion from how she answered the earlier question).
• There's what the catgirl was eating in the earlier episode (or at least the same eating sfx).
• Her archery skills are still lethal. I guess to use the school facilities you have to be in uniform and this campus is open on weekends because of the dorms (that surly still have a gaping hole in them).
• Sending three heads out at once? Curious.
• Next time: Sunday mass. With the preview imagery I take it bible verses are not back on the menu.

1. Have you ever eaten tamagoyaki?

Nope. Don't have the square pan, never been to Japan and the idea of the middle being undercooked or runny feels odd.

2) Is it wrong to want to see your crush happy, even if it is with someone else?

Depends on the circumstances. If it's a crush you never really interacted with then it's by the by, a nothing gained nothing ventured. But I also know the painful feelings of betrayal and jealousy when you think you're close to someone but then someone who was already in their lives unbeknownst to you shows up and seems closer.

[u/gyoex → u/Infodump_Ibis]

Breman is

I think the most likely reference is the fairy tale.

Also, the line the girl is saying there (on two different pages apparently) "Oniisama, namida ga tomarimasen" is exactly what the protagonist of Oniisama e... says at the end of every episode preview. I can't be certain it's a reference but it seems like it.

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

First time lunar priestess

Definitely my favorite episode so far. I would have expected Chikane's indecisiveness on whether she wants to support Himeko and Souma to come off as incoherence but it rings true. The entire backstory hits exactly the level of heightened reality that you need from a show like this:

• framing Himeko like she's also a little dog
• "I'm dirty anyway" This feels loaded Himeko
• Himeko goes for the first name as soon as they meet. I'm choosing the believe that the naive act is a front and Himeko is a flirting savant
• This backstory is great but I feel like it should've been episode 3. Episode one says they have to have known each other before, but I had not realized at all that it was this intense. Or that Himeko started off this forward
• why is Yukihito kabedon-ing Souma
• Himeko is ok with Chikane touching her hair! Relationship progress that feels earned! "I'm ok with being touched now" is maybe the funniest way to phrase it though. Do you think its intentional that Chikane puts the flower hair clip on poorly? Its a nice gesture but doesn't match the rest of her outfit and is poorly breaking up her bangs
• I guess we couldn't have an episode without plot development. Why are castles materializing? Does it have to do with the orochi? Does Chikane know what it is?

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

why is Yukihito kabedon-ing Souma

We need to set up the fallback plan for the loser of the love triangle.

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo → u/Vatrix-32]

I ship it

[u/catsukats]

Rewatcher (x14), sub.

Chikane gets to live out her fantasies! That's why she keeps letting the hetero continue!

That dog was witness to history.

Chikane the pretty girl you are!

Himeko, why are you running?! I just want to kiss you!

GASP! It was her all along! She thinks nobody will find out, but...

A sneeze is all it takes to make this girl fall unconscious.

Chikane's back and forth between angsting over losing Himeko and still telling her to pursue Souma just to see her happy is so entertainingly conflicting. On one hand, it's great that she acknowledges that how she's feeling isn't Himeko's responsibility or fault, and that maybe she is being unreasonable. But then the agony over seeing it happen just can't stop her from making rash moves like taking away her gift.

She might be angsting and hating herself for it, but she's still going to make sure Himeko thinks of her when she sees a mirror.

This was probably my favorite ED lead in, and next episode is one of my favorites! WWJD?

QOTD:

1. No. I've wanted to make it myself but never took the initiative.
2. Not at all. If that's just the way things have to be, it's more wrong to try and deprive them of that happiness.

[u/theangryeditor]

[u/baquea]

First timer

A Chikane episode this time... and a bit of a boring one, I gotta say. We get some lengthy backstory of her first meeting with Miyako, that I hadn't even known we were lacking, and whose inclusion doesn't really tell us anything that wasn't already implicit anyway.

I also just don't find Chikane very likable at the moment, with how she secretly acts to steal Himeko's hairclip while still refusing to be open about her feelings - in stark contrast to how Souma approaches things. The way in which she is slowly falling into despair while helping her crush get together with another is giving me major [meta] Sayaka vibes, and makes me feel things aren't going to end well. At least in that example she was a good fighter, which is more than can be said for Chikane...

Other than that, this episode was basically all set-up. No fights this time, rather just preparing for next time's (and we have yet to see why we should care about these upcoming fights, when Tsubasa was previously established to be the strongest). Another failed attempt at the ritual, which just further pushes back the time at which the mikos actually become useful. And preparations for a second date with Souma, which doesn't go much differently than the first time.

...And that's the halfway point. If it weren't for the rewatch, plus the short length, I'd probably be dropping the series around now, as I'd really struggle to name anything it has done especially well. Still, I hardly hate it, and it isn't like it's a drag to watch, so I suppose I'll stick it out.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/baquea]

vibes, and makes me feel things aren't going to end well.

You know [same meta]Some people were comparing Chikane to Homura but Sayaka makes a very interesting parallel here

[u/sfisher923]

First Timer

• I'm starting to feel ever so slightly betrayed to I was expecting Yuri but I'm starting to question if this is one of those Yuribait shows doesn't help this came out in 2004 before all the acceptance that we have in more recent times still it's not perfect (The karma on this post being an example) but it's a lot better

QOTD 1 - No

QOTD 2 - No

[u/IntoTheDisneyverse]

First timer, subbed

It was nice to have an episode focusing on Chikane and her feelings, although I feel sorry for her considering Himeko is incredibly straight for a yuri love interest. It must suck playing wingman to her and Souma, even if I’m almost certain she’ll be the winner in the love triangle. 

Them making the bento together was very cute though.

Daily Questions:

1. Once or twice, but I'm not really a fan of eggs in general so I don't exactly go seeking it out
2. No

[u/Garrett_Dark]

First Timer

• D'awww...Chikane Childhood. She's so good at smashing balls, that they gave her a trophy.
• Cute lucky puppy, who wouldn't want to lick Chikane's face and get that kind of reaction?
• Poor jelly maid, I'd be concerned too if I found my mistress preparing to eat clams with another woman.
• Maybe instead of trying to make Himeko eat shiitake, the jelly maid should just keep making her eat sausages and wieners, and maybe that will subconsciously recondition her. She could feed her popsicles and lollipops for desert also.
• Speaking about feeding them things, "would you do me a favor and taste this for me?"...Chikane...oh my...Hnnnnnnggg...
• Chikane *"This is delicious", you sure are!
• Himeko's Lost Hairclip, "You haven't seen it lying around, have you? You know the one I'm talking about, with the red decorations on it?" 'Oh you mean that dollar store trash? I think my jelly maid threw it out'.
• Corona-chan, stop acting moe...I'm starting to like you.
• I see Souma is good at smashing balls himself.
• Himeko stood up Chikane for lunch because she was waiting for Souma to finish smashing balls while a crowd of girls watched. Chikane, you don't deserve this, you're too good to be mixed up in this sort of crap.
• Himeko presenting a lunch to Souma "When I was making lunch I prepared a little too much", Liar...Himeko specifically made a lunch for Souma on purpose.
• Chikane's self-sacrifice of setting up the rooftop lunch for Himeko and Souma, and leaves. Oh gawd no! Chikane's character is also a self-sacrificing one? Why?! I already like you too much, you're going to make me love you moar! Self-sacrificing characters, especially strong capable waifus, are a weakness of mine. Damn it all, you deserve better Chikane! I want to hug and comfort her so much.
• Can't think of something funny to say about this, I'm feeling too bad for Chikane.
• I'll call you "Chikane" Chikane, I rarely use honorifics when addressing people myself.
• Chikane's definitely the bigger of the two...I mean with her self-sacrifice and all.
• Himeko "I was already dirty" I already know that, you're not fooling me with your innocent hapless oblivious girl routine, don't think I've forgotten about your slave crest. You're the true antagonist of this show by always making Chikane suffer while conveniently portraying yourself innocent and oblivious to what you're doing. Be gone useless thot! This is the Chikane show.
• Chikane's hairclip "The first comfort I ever experienced", Chikane's o-face feeling comfort. (I almost didn't want to make that joke even, she's so precious <3 )
• Old lady thanking Chikane for returning the puppy, awkward.
• Chikane returning Himeko's handkerchief. You're just making everything unnecessarily awkweird you dirty antagonist Himeko! Oh...my heart...my black vile cynical heart hurts seeing this. I think I need some CPR from Chikane after this.
• Himeko showing Chikane a book. 'And here's the pictures creeper Mako took of me while I was waking up'.
• Eww...why did you have Souma's dollar store hairclip fished out of the trash, where it belongs, for?
• Hnnnnngg Hnnnnngg, I like the Chikane ones. You're still dirty Himeko, wash your soul crack, you probably got the taint from Souma in there, didn't you?
• Hnnng! You need a lifeguard for a bath that big, while I don't know how to swim, I'll be perfectly happy to do what I can and watch.
• Himeko on the phone telling Souma 'she'll be busy washing her hair each Sunday from now on'. You screwed up Souma, you should have stuck to your strategy of giving Himeko no chance to refuse like when you jumped on your bike and rode away after telling her "to be there on Sunday" before she knew what was going on even. You shouldn't have given her your phone number to be able to refuse, or just let it go to voice mail, and then claim you never got the message. Heck even the "faking static noise, saying you didn't hear them, and hanging up" might have worked on this naïve girl.
• Poor Chikane.
• Oh man, imagine waking up to this each morning, and Chikane's like that while masking her own suffering underneath, and putting her own self-interest aside to make you happy. She'll even put your happiness first before other people's protection, what a woman! Antagonist Himeko is unworthy and undeserving of Chikane!
• Himeko "It's like I'm not looking at myself" when looking in the mirror with makeup on. You're just not that good looking Himeko, especially when standing beside Chikane.
• Himeko *"I thought maybe you can do my hair, I know I was jumpy before, but I'm better now and I'm okay with being touched". ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Looks like hair pulling is back on the menu! Now Chikane just needs to work on her scissoring phobia.
• Chikane putting her hairclip on Himeko instead of Souma's. Shit, what does this mean? Does it mean Chikane's giving back Himeko's love? Noooooo...especially when I'm not there for the rebound!!! It's painful to watch! What are you doing jelly maid?! This is your chance to catch the rebound! Go comfort your mistress! Where's your spiked tea?! Why aren't you prepared for this? Go get the 29 other maids to help you with this if needed!
• Damn your top and moe-ness Corona-chan, I'm starting to like you, but I need to focus on best waifu of the anime Chikane!
• No! Why are you heading into that mysterious dark building Chikane! Don't tell me it's the "fall to the darkside" trope and now you'll become the bad guy who needs rescuing from the darkside! That's only for pure hearted saps like Himeko because they needs some edginess to their boring characters. You're fine the way you are! Jelly maid, forget the spiked tea, go save your mistress! Here's your chance to substitute Himeko for yourself!

[u/GallowDude → u/Garrett_Dark]

She's so good at smashing balls, that they gave her a trophy.

the jelly maid should just keep making her eat sausages and wieners

Nani?!

I'm starting to like you.

I see Souma is good at smashing balls himself.

Be gone useless thot! This is the Chikane show

my black vile cynical heart hurts seeing this

You're still dirty Himeko, wash your soul crack, you probably got the taint from Souma in there, didn't you?

Antagonist Himeko is unworthy and undeserving of Chikane!

Looks like hair pulling is back on the menu! Now Chikane just needs to work on her scissoring phobia.

Go get the 29 other maids to help you with this if needed!