Another intense episode with character development out the wazoo--none of the roles are black-and-white at this point. So much happened in this episode, I'm curious to see how the series will run for 10 episodes if this pace keeps up.
I wonder if it was weird for Toda Erika to be romantically involved with a younger actor? It's only 2 years, but the difference between a 21 year old and a 23 year old can be pretty big...Miura Haruma was playing a high-schooler just one year ago (Bloody Monday 2) and Toda Erika's been playing post-high school characters since at least 2007 (Liar Game)...
I'm torn between loving the soundtrack by Pink and hating its upbeat placement among really serious scenes. But her typically angry music sort of fits and it definitely adds to the tension of the serious scenes...
Summary:
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The episode starts with Uemura seeing the blackmail picture of Kashiwagi, sent by Saeki. She now has no doubt that the two slept together. Before Kashiwagi & Uemura can talk things through, Uemura gets a call that her father's been hospitalized. The two rush over and nearly run into Saeki at the hospital. They learn that Uemura's father will be fine with just a hernia and they quickly go to leave. Kashiwagi heads down to the lobby ahead of Uemura and has just enough time to run into Saeki and the nurse before Uemura catches up. Saeki happily introduces them to the nurse as "the man I slept with and his fiancee". Saeki makes it clear to the nurse how much she's enjoying messing with the couple.
In this episode, we learn the details of Uemura's condition. She has Congenital Ovarian Dysfunction, in which medication is needed to produce secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts and menstruation. We also learn that Saeki acquired her arm scars in an accident 4 years previous.
Kashiwagi follows Uemura home and says its up to her to decide if she wants to stay together or proceed with the wedding. Uemura flips out at Kashiwagi, saying that she shouldn't have to decide all the important things and leaves it up to him to think about their future.
At school, they are both noticeably depressed. Saeki corners Kashiwagi in the cafeteria, promising she'll do anything to separate them.
Uemura confronts Kashiwagi's brother at the family liquor store to ask about the night before school started. The Kashiwagi brothers were together when she had left early, that evening. Kashiwagi's brother claims Kashiwagi had left early and that nothing had happened.
Uemura and Kashiwagi arrange to meet after school one night to talk things over. When Kashiwagi gets home, he finds Saeki had used the key to get into his apartment. Uemura walks in shortly after and almost flees, seeing the two together. Kashiwagi gives a great little speech about how he loves Uemura and he's sorry that he hurt Saeki, but he has no intention of letting things continue. Saeki returns the key and flees, while Uemura stays. Kashiwagi then tells Uemura he wants to cancel the wedding before the school hears anything about the affair. He's clearly still feeling guilty and wants to protect Uemura. Uemura leaves, hurt and angry, grousing about how Kashiwagi is too honest and she would have forgiven him.
Saeki flees in tears to Sonoda, her short-haired friend with the money problems. It becomes clear that Saeki had been putting on a brave front and she truly did have feelings for Kashiwagi. She associates Kashiwagi rejecting her with her not being a "real girl" because of her disorder.
Saeki skips school for several days and Sonoda begins to worry. After Kashiwagi gives a lecture about how "slugs are not defective snails," Sonoda ties Kashiwagi back to Saeki's mystery man. Saeki had posted the same comment to her blog, saying she'd overheard a man saying that and fell in love with him for it. Sonoda corners Kashiwagi about the affair, claiming he'd played with Saeki's feelings.
Because Saeki had skipped school for so many days, Kashiwagi has to do a home-visit. He meets with Saeki's mom while Saeki is at the hospital. Saeki comes home as he's leaving, along with the nurse from the hospital. The nurse is now able to connect Kashiwagi as both the guy Saeki slept with and her homeroom teacher.
Saeki and Kashiwagi go for a walk, in which Saeki explains about the accident which killed her perfect older sister, some details about her illness, and her true feelings for him. Kashiwagi begins to feel bad for her.
Uemura goes to the wedding planning office and picks out the cake and menu. She calls Kashiwagi to tell him she needs him and still wants to get married. They're on the verge of making up, when Kashiwagi gets a call that Saeki is missing. Seeing her recent foreboding blog posts, he gets a bit freaked out and goes running off. Meanwhile, the nurse calls the school office with some information about Kashiwagi...
Scenes of Note:
The scene where Uemura tells Kashiwagi she still wants to be together on the phone, then Kashiwagi goes running off and you're not quite sure who he's running to...
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