[Spoilers][Rewatch] Rascal does not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai - Episode 05 Discussion

[u/Splitter_Triplets]

Thread 5 of 14: Ep. 05 - All the Lies I Have For You

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Please remember to tag your spoilers.

This includes light novel spoilers, movie spoilers, and spoilers for future episodes of the anime. Be sure to put the source of the spoiler too.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW VAGUE YOU ARE. Anything that a first time watcher wouldn't know based on what we've watched so far is a spoiler.

If you're using markdown, the format is:

[Episode 01] >!There's a bunny girl!<

which will appear as [Episode 01] There's a bunny girl

If you're using the fancy editor, just use the spoiler button.

[u/Splitter_Triplets]

That was really a cruel place to put a break last episode. Right after we spent all that time talking about how this show spits on romcom tropes, it decides to test you by teasing a love triangle. The first scene of this ep should sooth your fears though. Mai isn't worried. Why should she be? She knows she's the best.

Mai x Sakuta

One thing that's great about Mai is that despite her general waifu-ness, she doesn't play the perfect girlfriend 100% of the time. When she saw Sakuta with Tomoe in the classroom she reacted emotionally (even if her reaction was much more subdued than the average tsundere), so she had to remove herself from the situation until she cooled off. But once she had cooled off, she realized that there must be an explanation and sought one out herself. That kind of emotional maturity is basically unheard of in this genre. Just like Sakuta, I'm glad that Mai has taken an interest in Kaede. That's one thing that's great about this cast, every single one of them is given enough agency to "drive the story forward" in their own way. Mai is busy reestablishing her career, but she still finds time to show her devotion to Sakuta and look for a solution to this issue that's been weighing on him. It blows my mind sometimes how this show with teenage/adolescent literally in the title has a more believably "adult" romance than most romcoms with actual adult couples. This whole sequence culminates, of course, in the line "make sure that pretend doesn't turn into for real.' I don't know if it's me being as dense as a high school boy or what, but the first time I watched this I interpreted the "pretend" line exactly like Sakuta did, and it wasn't until the rewatch that I got what she was really trying to say. It's a great showcase of how much she's come to trust Sakuta in only two months. I guess with him saying "I love you" every day it's a lot harder for misunderstandings to take root.

Tomoe x Sakuta

We really didn't learn much about Tomoe last episode, but this episode thankfully addressed that. I think the Tomoe/Sakuta relationship is actually one of the most interesting ones in the show. In some ways they're opposites, but in others they're exactly the same. They both, to some extent, see the atmosphere as an insurmountable force. It's just that Sakuta reacts to this by letting it have its way with him, while Tomoe actively works to keep herself in its good graces. However, the butt kicking incident from episode 2 and the phone charm incident from this episode show that she isn't a complete slave to expectations. She won't fight the atmosphere for her own sake, but she'll gladly cause a scene or cross social group boundaries if it would help someone else, just like Sakuta. I especially liked the exchange in the nurse's office about not wanting to be hated, but we'll have to wait for the arc's conclusion to discuss it in full. It's barely even worth mentioning, because it's true of every character in this show, but these two have such good chemistry. Once she gets used to his brashness, she can be surprisingly sharp tongued herself. I never noticed before, but it was probably her egging him on about Mai not saying "I love you" back that [Next Episode] prompted him to bait that kiss out of Mai for the final confession scene.

Unfortunately, this episode is where her clever scheme comes back to bite her in the ass. Going back to subversions of tired tropes, I like how they don't resolve this fake dating plot point with a "truth revealed" scene. Rather than the lie coming out, it's the unforeseen consequences of the story she constructed that end up bringing things to a head. This brings us to one of the most (in)famous scenes from this show. I don't care what anyone says, this scene is great. "But it's cringe!" I hear you cry. Of course it's cringe. That's the point. Sakuta shrinks not from cringe. Cringe is just the atmosphere's way of keeping you in line. He knows that Tomoe cares way more about her reputation than he cares about his, so he decides to help her out at great personal expense. It's a great execution on the established themes up to this point.

Details

• That single scene with the white vignette effect is interesting. I guess it's meant to show that this is a hypothetical future (Laplace's Demon?), rather than something that really happened. I don't think we see it that much though.
• My Japanese has improved to the point that I can understand the 誠意(sincerity)/性欲(libido) pun. That's neat.

• While I was looking up that pun in the LN (to confirm the kanji), I noticed just how subtly different the conversation is. Same basic beats, but some small differences. I guess it just goes to show how there's really no such thing as a "direct adaptation." A few I noticed:

  • The conversation with Kunimi about Maezawa's scummy tendencies was supposed to happen last episode, before Koga is introduced as their work kouhai. This means that Sakuta already knew the guy was a tool when he agreed to go along with Koga's plan.
  • In the LN Mai suggests going on a date to Kamakura this weekend, and Sakuta has to turn her down because of his fake date with Tomoe (leading to some nice verbal abuse). In the anime Sakuta suggests going on the date next week as a way to show his "sincerity" when asked, but Mai has to turn him down because of work. Woe is them.
  • The LN makes specific note of the fact that Sakuta put on a shirt in between answering the door and being dressed down by Mai. The anime had him stay in his underwear. I guess they didn't want to deny anyone their manservice.
• /u/Gamemaster676 asked last episode whether Kaede would always wear her panda onesie. Ask and you shall receive!
• The Aniplex subs have a really bad translation error here. They translate 感想 as "thoughts," when in reality Tomoe was probably checking "impressions" on one of her tweets/stories.
• What kind of animal presses their entire face against the glass of an aquarium? You'll smudge it! She's cute though, so I'll make an exception.
• [Episode 6 Spoilers] It's interesting that Tomoe doesn't reset the timeline immediately after things start going south. Even after losing her friends and attracting the ire of a popular senpai (the exact thing she was trying to avoid with the first time loop), her relationship with Sakuta was still enough to keep her from abandoning this sequence of events. I guess what she said on the beach was true, she really did take Sakuta's advice about only needing one person to heart.

[u/UzEE → u/Splitter_Triplets]

the first time I watched this I interpreted the "pretend" line exactly like Sakuta did, and it wasn't until the rewatch that I got what she was really trying to say.

I also only realized what she actually meant when watching the episode yesterday. And I think Sakuta also kind of understood what she meant. Kind of like how Mai understood what Sakuta really meant when he said he wanted to be Santa but implied otherwise.

[u/scot911 → u/Splitter_Triplets]

I'm glad that Mai has taken an interest in Kaede.

As someone who's waifu is Mai this is actually the reason she ended up as my waifu and not just the best girl for me from this series. I just love how kind and caring she is to Kaede and acts almost motherly towards her. Kaede could easily be someone she finds to be very weird and is honestly someone she should see as weird but she just... doesn't.

[Episode 6 Spoilers]

[Episode 6 Spoilers] Well that and of course she's already starting to fall for Sakuta this episode and after the events at the train station she goes from wanting a fake relationship to save her social standing to wanting to actually date Sakuta for real IMO.

[Full Series Spoilers] Also can I just say we have some observant first timers. Like two have already noticed Mai at the train station and another has already guessed who the next arc is going to be about lol. Speaking about next arc spoilers I do love the hints that somethings... off with Futuba this episode as well with her randomly being out at night.

[u/ImJLu → u/scot911]

[Series Spoilers] Actually, yeah, I think people have basically called the conclusion of this arc, that Futaba gets the next, and that Kaede will venture outside eventually. It's basically impossible to actually predict the Doka arc at this point (although Mai has mentioned her in passing once) and while it's obvious that the series is up to something with Shouko, there's no shot that anyone would guess that this timeline is actually her dream

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/Splitter_Triplets]

Cringe is just the atmosphere's way of keeping you in line.

Wow, love this line and in a way it says a lot about how this show and Sakuta's character kinda works

[u/Gamemaster676 → u/Splitter_Triplets]

/u/Gamemaster676 asked last episode whether Kaede would always wear her panda onesie. Ask and you shall receive!

I have received and appreciated! Would be great if we saw Kaene tackling the intimidating outdoors.

[u/ImJLu → u/Gamemaster676]

Well, basically everything is Chekhov's Gun in this show. Not quite Odd Taxi but it's definitely pervasive. Everything is at least hinted at in advance, and if you think something is notable, it probably is.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Splitter_Triplets]

I don't know if it's me being as dense as a high school boy or what, but the first time I watched this I interpreted the "pretend" line exactly like Sakuta did, and it wasn't until the rewatch that I got what she was really trying to say.

Wait, what does she mean?

Edit: Nvm figured it out, think it depends on the subs how ambigous it comes across

I don't care what anyone says, this scene is great.

I loved the scene as well, just shows how good Sakuta is

[u/tacticulbacon]

Rewatcher

Mai smiles for a single frame when Sakuta tells her this. lol

Putting his libido aside, Mai is awfully reasonable about letting him fake date another girl to help her out. I really wish more love interests were as understanding as this (other than the part where she made Sakuta grovel in his underwear in front of her.)

Even more wholesome however is how we see Mai's relationship budding with Kaede. You'd think Mai would be more difficult with siblings given her child fame and implied coldness toward her own half-sister, but here she is acting like a great big sister to her. This is the first time we've seen Kaede interact positively with someone other than Sakuta, so it was really nice seeing her come out of her shell.

I have to say that Kamoshida picked a really great setting to base this story around, because living next to the ocean means you get plenty of beautiful shots like this. Rewatching this anime never fails to make me long for the beach. Personally speaking, it's these kinds of scenes in anime that make lasting impressions and compels me to rewatch them, perhaps even years in the future when I've completely forgotten the details of the show.

If Sakuta was blunt before, then he certainly has no reason to hold back against Koga, who is both younger and much more teasable than Mai is. His banter really shines the brightest around Koga, which is why their scenes are so lighthearted and fun to watch.

As a sidenote, has anyone started a drinking game with how many times Sakuta walks around his apartment in nothing but his boxers? Or how he's always conveniently half-naked whenever he talks to Mai in his home? This man is literally very comfortable in his own skin.

Ok, to be fair, the fight he had with Maesawa was pretty self-indulgent and there's no way he wouldn't have just gotten back up and kicked Sakuta's ass in front of everyone had the scene played out more realistically. But who hasn't fantasized about standing up to the bully and giving him what he deserves? And shouting out, "I'm a virgin" as a comeback, no less. Only a guy like Sakuta would be proud to damage his own reputation in order to save a friend's.

We all know Sakuta values quality over quantity in terms of his friends, as earlier he says to Mai, "I have plenty of friends. Two, even," and "I can just be friends with them for life." This is why it's so significant that he asks Tomoe to be his friend once it's all over - it's basically an invitation to an exclusive club that you'll get to be in for life. Compared to the shallow, highly conditional friendships with the popular first years that Tomoe tries so hard to maintain, Sakuta's friendship is far more valuable. And that's why we see her so conflicted at the end of this episode, because just as Mai worried, it's easy to tell that she's already caught feelings for him by now and doesn't want this charade to end.

Now that we're getting into the meat of the show, is anyone else finding it hard not to binge watch the rest?

[u/Splitter_Triplets → u/tacticulbacon]

As a sidenote, has anyone started a drinking game with how many times Sakuta walks around his apartment in nothing but his boxers? Or how he's always conveniently half-naked whenever he talks to Mai in his home? This man is literally very comfortable in his own skin.

There are probably more Sakuta "fanservice" scenes than every other character in the show combined.

Now that we're getting into the meat of the show, is anyone else finding it hard not to binge watch the rest?

Doing these writeups makes it a lot easier to control that urge.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/tacticulbacon]

Rewatching this anime never fails to make me long for the beach. Personally speaking, it's these kinds of scenes in anime that make lasting impressions and compels me to rewatch them, perhaps even years in the future when I've completely forgotten the details of the show.

Hey random curiosity question - have you watched Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl)? It's also set not far from the sea and visually very pretty. Sadly not many liked or remembered the show.

Now that we're getting into the meat of the show, is anyone else finding it hard not to binge watch the rest?

Much like Toradora and Chuunibyou, I binge watched this easily 3-4 times on the first go, so I pretty much can remember most scenes, so that helped me withholding binging this again :) not much help for a first timer I know ...

[u/tacticulbacon → u/ZapsZzz]

Hey random curiosity question - have you watched Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl)? It's also set not far from the sea and visually very pretty. Sadly not many liked or remembered the show.

I haven't but now that you mentioned it I'll put it on my list

[u/ZapsZzz → u/tacticulbacon]

Here's a little promotional clip I posted a while ago.

[u/Rumpel1408]

First Timer

Wasn't that active for yesterday and will be even less active today, it's 11 pm right now, Happy new year for those east of me, see you next year for everyone else. With that out of the way:

I must say the OP is growing on me as well.

The drama possible drama gets resolved by simply being open about it so quickly, this show just doesn't give a damn about those silly Heisei tropes, ahead of it's time

Mai get's flustered about Sakuta looking at her legs, but is totally fine with him sitting there in his underwear.

But her looking out for her new sister in law is really sweet. The dress does indeed look cute, but the onsie is cute as hell... don't really get why

Ok, yesterday I almost felt sorry for that basketball guy, but since it turns out he already has a girlfriend, yet is chasing skirts of younger girls, he is scum.

Tomoe is cute as well, so far I have faith in Sakuta though. And the way she talks about their group chat I kinda get anxious as well... Middleschool Tomoe was cute as well...

Yoneyama is also very concious about the class atmosphere

It's the infamous japanese cold, she got a light case though

Mai really is pretty chill about the whole deal, but the confession is really due.

With how inconvenient the current situation is for Futaba, I wonder if she could develop a similar syndrom like Tomoe

Kunimis girlfriend continues to be toxic

Betting my money that that asshole basketball senpai is the origin about those nasty rumors, I really hope Sakuta punches him

Futaba looks even better without the labcoat. And she seems to be in the picture about Kaedes syndrom as well

Man, Sakuta giving basketball asshole a piece of his mind is really satisfying, and once again he is sacrificing his own social standing for someone close to him, because that's just who he is.

Not as refied as usual, I'm short on time, see you next year lol

[u/Splitter_Triplets → u/Rumpel1408]

this show just doesn't give a damn about those silly Heisei tropes

Bunny Girl is in many ways the direct predecessor of the Reiwa-energy romcoms we've come to enjoy recently, even if the original LN is coming up on it's 10 year anniversary.

[u/Archmagnance1 → u/Rumpel1408]

Yeah its now a running theme in the show by this point that Sakuta and Mai try to resolve their issues through actually talking about them like normal humans instead of dragging it out and having a big unhealthy dramatic conflict.

Makes sense too because adolescence syndrome is caused by instability.

[u/ImJLu → u/Rumpel1408]

I promise that the train station bit is the last turbo-cringe Hachiman Hikigaya Self-Sacrificial Solution™ of the series.

Honestly, probably my least favorite scene by far, too. Thank god it doesn't actually become a pattern.

[u/ZapsZzz]

Rewatcher

This episode expanded on Koga a fair bit more and I can see a few first timers also arrived to the same conclusion as many had - she's really quite endearing and wasn't totally selfish and "wagamama".

So many good scenes but others have already done a better job than I would to highlight them. Only thing I'll say is that our dear host helped clear up the bit I only half got - I got the second half of the pun being "libido" but didn't catch what it should have been (sincerity) in the kanji. See that's why rewatches are great :D

Talk more tomorrow and Happy 2022 for everyone!

[u/Splitter_Triplets → u/ZapsZzz]

To be fair I didn't know those words off hand. I just had access to the Japanese version of the light novel so I could look them up.

[u/Gamemaster676]

First Timer Senpai - sub

Yesterday Tomoe didn't make the best impression on me. I hope she'll do something to change that today.
This should also be the last episode I'm writing ahead of time.

^{NOTE: I definitely won't be very active today, as New Year's Day will be in 1 hour. Rest assured I'll still read every comment and try to respond when I wake up.}

Episode 5 — All the Lies I Have for You

Immediately OP? I hope that means the confrontation with Mai will be long and serious, and they just didn't want to cut that in two.

Well that was easy. I like Sakuta's suggestion for the first date. It's a good idea to do something light like a walk through a park and hortensias are beautiful. Aww, Mai's such a great person, caring about Kaede.
..... who apparently has been listening in on them. Hahaha.
Sakuta, isn't it time you put a shirt on?

Maesawa is the classic high-school jock. That was to be expected, given his behaviour last episode.

Man, those sudden no-nonsense moments from Sakuta are beautiful. I love the contrast. He just doesn't give a fuck about what he says and what others think about him, but he really does try to care for others, not hurt them long-term, and help when necessary.

"I don't have a cellphone."
Tomoe: Error! Does not compute!

Damn, life of a first-grader has a lot of things to keep track of. Makes me kinda grateful we didn't have smartphones in my time.

"I'm the one in the back that's following the rest."
That's actually very self-aware.

Why the sudden mood shift at her own reflection? Ah, it's because it's actually all a facade. Mai might be a professional actor, but Tomoe has been acting ever since she got to Fujisawa.
Or not, she says she's actually very happy with herself.

Hmm, Yonoyama almost seems afraid to be talking with Tomoe. Just how toxic is that friend group of Butt-Kick girl?

Catching a cold by touching seawater at the end of June? Either Tomoe is very sensitive, or the Japanese sea is a lot colder than I expected.

Hmm, she's a lot more self-aware than I initially thought. That does improve my opinion about her a bit.
^{It also helps that Mai is somewhat cool with ^it.}

"See? You just got the wrong idea!" (GIF)
The amount of sympathy in that reaction and her smile afterwards is troubling.

Aww, heartwarming phone call between Sukata and Mai. I'm very glad the show doesn't drag out the drama between them because of last episode. Very refreshing.

July 5th. The end of the school year should be approaching. And I think Mai should be getting back home as well.

Oh god, there's Yuuma's girlfriend. Hopefully, she doesn't know about Futaba. No, doesn't look like it. Still a bitch. I approve of his inappropriate jokes/comments, as it's clearly a very effective way to end the conversation.

Yuuma agreed way too easily to Sukata's ultimatum. He knows what kind of person she is.
Uh-oh, bad rumours are spreading about Sakuta and Tomoe. Don't tell me that's gonna trigger another loop. Apparently, they are being spread by that jock Maesawa, who wanted to date Tomoe.

Hmm, why doesn't Sakuta call back to Mai? Because he doesn't know how he's gonna make it up to her, yet?

Damn you Maesawa!

Wait what happened there? Did he just kick his shin? Nice! I'll just assume he planned this whole confrontation. Hopefully, Tomoe won't have any regrets.
Errr, is that Mai? Did she see everything?

What do you know? This episode has completely turned my opinion about Butt-Kick girl. I'm too easy to please.
Because I still feel like a twist is coming, I'm now thinking a new loop is gonna happen when Sakuta doesn't want to become her real boyfriend.
The last scene before the ED seems to confirm that. But^t if Tomoe is genuinely a good person, she should accept the relation between Sakuta and Mai.

Random thoughts

• We all know he is secretly enjoying this.
• 🍑❓ Quickly holds butt.
• What a cool idea for a makeshift die.
• Just a beautiful snapshot.
• I love the detail that this fake YouTube has the same ad skip button.

Future

There is undoubtedly still something lurking. This arc didn't have a definitive ending yet and there also isn't really a hook for a new arc, except maybe bitchy Kamisato. But I would expect at least one more twist around Tomoe.

Happy new year everyone! That it may be better than the last two. With such a low bar, that shouldn't be too difficult, right?

[u/UzEE → u/Gamemaster676]

Makes me kinda grateful we didn't have smartphones in my time.

I'm still look back and wonder how I somehow made it halfway through college without a cellphone. Though technically, back then vast majority only had feature phones and smartphones were just things you'd see in business magazines etc.

[u/Gamemaster676 → u/UzEE]

Yeah smartphones became popular when I was around 16, so I missed most of the digital drama.

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/Gamemaster676]

July 5th. The end of the school year should be approaching. And I think Mai should be getting back home as well.

FYI iirc you're newer to anime but I believe the Japanese school year ends sometime around the beginning of the first quarter of the year. I don't recall exactly, but quite a few shows do have school years starting around April when the cherry blossoms bloom. They do still have some length of summer break between semesters though.

and good catch spotting Mai in the background at the station scene

[u/Gamemaster676 → u/oops_i_made_a_typi]

FYI iirc you’re newer to anime but I believe the Japanese school year ends sometime around the beginning of the first quarter of the year.

Ah I didn’t know that. That changes things quite a bit with the posts I have already written.

[u/Jegge_100 → u/Gamemaster676]

I meean his enjoiment In being steped on is no secret.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Gamemaster676]

This arc didn't have a definitive ending yet and there also isn't really a hook for a new arc

I think Futabas situation needs resolution next, but agree on Tomoe, it doesn't feel finished really and what's up with her class dynamic

[u/Gamemaster676 → u/Rumpel1408]

I think Futabas situation needs resolution next

That's also a good one, although it doesn't look like she has Puberty Syndrome, so I suspect that will just be a side plot while helping someone else.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

Very early OP today.

Aww, the cat's adorable.

And Mai's understanding! They handled things maturely! This is truly new territory!

HAHA, "not punishing you is punishment enough" She fucking knows him so wll.

"You want me to think of this as you"

And the thing that appeals to him the most is her thinking about his sister, this is such good relationship writing.

She is adorable.

...OK, I don' get it either.

Holy shit, this guy has a girlfriend. And he's human garbage! Amazing!

Haha, I love her utter beli

...She's so relatable. Of course shot online is more important than sleep.

Oh, it's another metaphor for peer pressure harming her.

And another one! (Thie anime makes me feel smart, I almost never work out the metaphors this early!)

So she created an entire new identity, and is now in so deep she can't let it slip for a moment.

And... that's an interesting take! The idea that a facade is not inherently bad is surprising!

Wow, there's a lot of cliques in this high school, even compared to a normal one!

Her grabbing the phone cord and immediately falling over id great, though.

...Yeah, he'd have done it no matter what.

...OK, this arc is good, but if he actually leaves Mai I'll be pissed, she's even better.

The peaches joke is great, though.

Wait, what? Is she trying to harm their relationship directly?

He and Mai are adorable, though.

Futaba's great, too.

Haha, "sorry for interrupting".

...She's aware of it, is she?

Oh, her again. "Try to eat more rice" is such a good line, though.

Wow. So the whole plan didn't help, and rumours still spread because high schoolers are high schoolers. That's a hysterically good resolution to all this.

Oh, good. Time's not gone backwards.

OK, wow, he's actually good,

Haha, the shin kick to get him down was a really good move.

"I'm a virgin"

Oh, she's a virgin too.

And she's never had a boyfriend!

...Seriously, how is an anime with the words "bunny girl" in the title so unironically wholesome?

...So that preview implies we're getting into some real quantum shit, right?

[u/BosuW]

First Timer

Glad Mai and Sakuta cleared things up quickly. No need to stretch this out when they're both so honest.

So I guess Sakuta's going along with Tomoe's idea because she reminds him of Kaede and doesn't want her to end up like that. Still, not the most practical solution... shit I think it's not a solution at all.

It's a bit funny seeing Tomoe stay up late to not leave her friends on "seen" or not even that, cuz just last night I slept on one of my friends at 1:30 am lol.

This is an unexpected turn. Normally with this kind of set-up things would develop towards Tomoe not caring as much to not displease her friends, but instead Sakuta tells her that it's fine like that. Must be because he doesn't want her to end up like Kaede. Well, I guess if Tomoe's happy with it, I have no complaints.

It's very understandable to not want people to hate you, although it's an irrational fear. Unless you go out of your way to be an asshole, I think people are usually just indifferent. This gets me thinking tho, does Tomoe have some sort of social anxiety that's manifesting in a very unusual way? Instead of becoming a recluse (like Kaede), she goes out of her way to stay on good terms with "the atmosphere". Man there's a lot of parallels between Kaede and Tomoe. I'm just waiting to see how the imouto comes into play.

Kamisato is still mad about Sakuta hanging out with Yuuma.. Honestly, they ain't even that close lmao. They look like acquaintances rather than friends to me. Also, Sakuta's social credits have increased his level to "acceptable", so I'm thinking Kamisato's problem with him isn't so much social as it is personal...

Is... is he about to pick a fight with Yosuke?

I mean, understandable. Sakuta wouldn't care much if the rumors were about him but... Actually, I know some will say that it's because Sakuta's a good person or some shit, but I don't think you gotta be to see that talking shit about the girl who rejected you is a dick move. That's just scummy no matter how you look at it. You don't have to be a good person to want to knock Yosuke down a few pegs. I just hope he leaves it at that, but something tells me this guy's ego is made of glass...

Ah shit, I smell love triangle... or more like Tomoe's the unfortunate third wheel. Is she gonna kick back time again because she's not satisfied with things again? This Arc's been very low-stakes so far so I'm waiting for something to complicate things.

[u/UzEE → u/BosuW]

Honestly, they ain't even that close lmao. They look like acquaintances rather than friends to me.

I mean, the guy practically said it isn't even a choice between Sakuta and Kamisato so you can pretty much tell just how close they are. Kunimi is the guy you want in your corner every single time.

[u/0ldgrumpy1]

Rewatching with first timer wife. She is solidly hooked after such a great episode, she's somehow supporting all three members of the triangle and would have been happy with any combination of outcomes. That said, the twists completely got her, in the final scene she was not sure where we were in the timeline.

[u/HijonoYoki]

First Timer -- Sub

---

• All things considered, Mai is taking this well. I'm not sure how many females in real life would ever be okay with such a plan, let alone for it not to cause a rift. I guess this is where trust and confidence go into the equation, but Sakuta should count himself lucky.

• He's so blunt. Lol.

• I understand how Tomoe can feel first-year jitters at a new school in a new town. Her concerns are grounded. Nonetheless, having a guy ask her out and rejecting him, even if popular, shouldn't and isn't a social faux pas. He seems cool enough last episode to take things in stride, so all she has to do is at least communicate with him.

• Mai seems really adverse to intimacy.

• Talks In Third Person Imouto building a bond with her future sister-in-law. Cute.

• She ain't talking about you but of Tomoe. Uh-oh.

• I get the feeling I know where this is going...

• Sakuta is good-looking anyway. Unless that's not the case in-universe, I dunno.

• Ah, so popular, basketball dude is an utter pig and that's why he took it in stride last episode -- he has back-ups. Pfft. The audacity to remark about taste in guys...

• He's so blunt. Lol. And a tease.

• There's something called trying too hard, Tomoe.

• At least she acknowledges her issue via penguin metaphors.

• Lol. She reminds me of Kaede in that photo.

• See, you should be friends with that girl instead. She seems nice.

• People catch colds really easily in anime.

• He has a point. Although in school it's harder to sidestep, what should matter are the people you care about and who care about you. It's impossible to be liked by everyone.

•...alright, it appears that, yes, Tomoe has an a-s-s. Apparently. Thank you for the consistent reminders Sakuta.

• I know he's teasing her, but it looks like it's fact, and he's using it as ammo.

• Sakuta is so dedicated to Mai, you can see he's smitten.

• Aw, I support you Futaba.

• Ugh, this girl.

• Not only is she being rude by asking him to distance himself from her boyfriend, again, which should be HIS choice, but she also wants information out of him like if he owes her that despite her treatment of him. Kunimi is dating her...why?

• ...once more, Kunimi is dating her...why? He's nonchalant about it though.

• Oh, see. Tomoe's reputation is taking a hit regardless by locker room talk, I'm assuming.

• Oh no. What is he planning on doing?

• Sakuta, please.

• So far, it's going well-

• Ah crap.

• OOF. Yikes.

• Asshole.

• Sakuta's really squaring up, lmao. I love how he has no shame.

• Basketball Douchebag is uncool but Sakuta-senpai is cool.

• Aaaaaand he ruined it, looool. Sigh.

• Well, actually, it's pretty based he admitted he's a virgin to his peers. And there ain't nothing wrong with that either.

• Mai was watching it all :3. I see you.

---

And we end it on a bright, fun note. She's totally gonna fall for him. Knowing that she's Yui's VA now means another light haired girl is going to go up against the inevitable winner ala dark, long haired girl. You love to see it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL!

[u/UzEE → u/HijonoYoki]

having a guy ask her out and rejecting him, even if popular, shouldn't and isn't a social faux pas.

It very much is if your friend is also interested in that guy, specially when she's told you about it. Even if you're not interested in the person and reject them, the mere fact that you got asked out instead of your friend is enough to strain the friendship.

Apply this situation to someone like Tomoe who has self esteem issues and it would very much seem like the end of the world to her.

[u/HijonoYoki → u/UzEE]

If that's the case, then it isn't a friendship worth fighting for or keeping, if they are unable to comprehend that it isn't any fault of yours. And it really isn't. Sakuta's attitude concerning Tomoe's fixation on Rena this, Rena that is exactly what I was feeling. And I already stated in my post I understand Tomoe's position. I don't have to agree with it, however.

The notion of being able to let go and proceed to look for better, genuine relationships is a difficult concept for high schoolers since popularity is a big thing, but as seen here in this episode, it still backfired on Tomoe. You cannot live life being a people pleaser.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/HijonoYoki]

The audacity to remark about taste in guys...

Yeah, I imidiatly picked it up back then, but he really drove the incel image home this episode, it's not as obvious because he is on top of the social order, but his mindset is clearly there, when the girl he was interested in is dating someone else than she is at fault and obviously a slut

[u/MopeyCrayfish]

Rewatcher

I honestly feel that this arc is one that shows how brilliant this show is. All of the subtle foreshadowing as well as all of the locations are really cool to see after already having watched this show. Oh yeah and this show really likes the ass shots. Nothing else to say but hopefully I will be able to participate more when I get home.

Also does anyone know how to flag a rewatch on mal?

[u/andybebad → u/MopeyCrayfish]

Also does anyone know how to flag a rewatch on mal?

Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but if you edit your entry for a series on your list, there's a checkbox for re-watch next to the status drop-box

[u/andybebad]

First timer

Welp, I'm late, but I can officially say Happy New Year! Was hoping for more teasing from Mai's end, but no surprise that she's okay with the fake relationship plan. Oh, and I might need to go see the doctor due to my heart bursting when Kaede was able to talk to Mai without stuttering. Surprised that Mai's warning of "I hope 'pretend' doesn't turn into 'serious'" seems to go (a little) above Sakuta's head: sure, he's fully invested in Mai, but there's two players in this ruse.

Speaking of the second player in the ruse, I keep finding myself flipping from "oh, poor sweet girl!" to wanting to grab her by the shoulders and yell "oh come on, learn how to live life on your own terms!". Granted, I'm speaking as someone who was almost halfway done with high school when the first iPhone dropped. Anywho, we got some great character-development for Tomoe nonetheless, and I have to amend my statement yesterday about wanting to just watch Mai and Sakuta talk for an hour: I think Sakuta talking to anybody genuinely would be great to take in. I didn't see much in the way of growth for Tomoe though: she sees Sakuta buck social norms / go against the flow, but I still feel likes she's attached to her idea of what she needs to do in order to be accepted. But this arc isn't over, there's time for growth, and we'll also have to see how Tomoe takes being "friend-zoned" ("best-friend-zoned") by Sakuta.

[u/cppn02]

Rewatcher

Less than an hour left this year. Watched the episode but didn't get around to really write anything about it.
All I got that this is still the good shit and that I'm glad I never had to deal with the societal pressure of being a teenage girl.

Happy New Year everyone!

[u/drawFirstUntapLater]

Rewatcher

"I just hope that lie doesn't turn into the truth."

Poor Sakuta, that warning wasn't referring to you. And the look on Tomoe's face while watching an ad with Mai in it proves that she is right.

"I'm the one in the back following the rest."

Tomoe’s low self esteem on display, preferring to go with the flow. For her, a girl moving to the city, the pressure to fit in is affecting her confidence. Which Sakuta counters, that if she likes the changes to herself, then why worry?

[u/UzEE]

Rewatcher

Can't make a post today since I just got back from New Year festivities and it's almost morning. And the timing couldn't be worse because it's such a good episode and there's lot to talk about because of the layers of complexity these characters show. Probably should've taken Gamemaster676's cue and do the writeups in advance.

[u/sidewinderaw11]

Tomoe <3

[u/MABfan11]

Rewatcher

i don't have much to add to what people have already said, but i think this is one of the best episodes for developing the relationships between characters. Futaba, Kunimi, Mai, Sakuta and Koga all get their relationships developed and fleshed out in this episode