Netflix anime has created some unusual launch conditions. As well as, it has made my life as a author tough at occasions, though general I nonetheless contemplate Netflix an enormous optimistic for anime. However That is the place I belong is stranger than most – in every single place else on the planet it’s precisely per week behind Japan. That is why I am by no means positive how finest to cowl it up. I even requested on Twitter and Bluesky (which I encourage everybody to hitch, by the best way – it is the closest factor to Twitter earlier than it broke and grew quickly). Ought to I stick with Japan time or wait per week? Be happy to weigh in right here, there and in every single place.
For now episode #8. And poor Taiki, truly. Yep, he shares mutual affection (and a house) with just about a dream woman, and she or he’s not even a manic elf. Comfortable in that sense? Actually. However the fact is, he is in a troublesome spot. His dwelling state of affairs binds him to some extent, as he’s too considerate to disregard the stress it places on Chinatsu. He’s behind Chinatsu in each method – age-wise, in fact, but additionally as an athlete (not that they don’t have anything to do with one another). The Japanese ethos is all about endurance. Give up to your seniors and wait on your flip. However should you’re intensely aggressive, that is a troublesome promote. Particularly should you really feel like it is advisable be on equal footing to justify your function in a relationship.
As she heads to the ultimate weekend of the basketball prefecture – semi-final Saturday, last Sunday – he heads off to the prefecture qualifiers. Doubles is Saturday (solely the profitable crew advances to inter-highs), singles Sunday (the highest two advance). And it’s right here that Taiki discovers that Haryuu – his white whale – has one in all his personal, Hyoudou Shouta (Ono Yuuki) is a 3rd 12 months on the highly effective Sajikawa Excessive College and an Olympic hopeful. And he is the man Haryuu has by no means been in a position to beat, a form of badminton cyborg. It is good for Taiki to see Haryuu like this – it humanizes his senpai – however the larger drawback is Hyoudou himself.
The Hyoudou pair (does the opposite man actually matter?) knock out Taiki and Haryuu fairly simply. Taiki is kind of dissatisfied, however not discouraged – there are nonetheless singles. And Chinatsu wins her semi-final, providing an opportunity to maneuver on. Haryuu warns Taiki that Hyoudou is ready for him on his facet of the singles draw, nevertheless it’s one other Sajikawa participant who proves his undoing: Yusa Shuji (Ono Kenshou – apparently solely Onos play for Sajikawa). Taiki truly does one thing for him by letting Yusa-kun know that he dropped his pockets whereas he was sleeping on a sofa. However Yusa reveals no mercy on the court docket.
Taiki is, in a phrase, dazed as a result of he left the match within the blink of an eye fixed. And the truth that it is usually a fellow first-year solely makes it worse. We do not see a lot of this match, nevertheless it’s clear that Yusa have to be one thing particular to topple Taiki after seeing him make a lot progress. Hina comes over to supply him some consolation (and snacks) after the match, and Taiki appears to be coping with it emotionally. However Hina, who’s a real elite herself, cannot actually think about what Taiki goes by.
Taiki is completely satisfied to listen to that Chinatsu’s crew gained and superior to inter-highs. And I believe that is honest, however so is the contradictory response that follows. It hurts to have her transfer ahead whereas he is in impartial. And the truth that he all the time appears to look as much as her simply makes it all of the extra discouraging. It is one of many challenges of being a 12 months youthful at an age the place that 12 months actually issues. And when it is actually laborious to take a step again and have a look at the massive image and play your lengthy sport.
