kj1980
2004-09-12, 06:35
It's been a while since I watch an anime with much emotion, even though I know what's going to happen. I’m going to write as if Touko-chan as a fiendish usurper here (even though it is not really the case) as to keep in the same thought process as the non-novel readers.
The sakuga quality was exceptionally excellent. I'd assume the animators would use their best skills to portray this last arc of this season, and they did.
In the novel, this whole thing is taking place at the same time as the previous two episodes, but alas there have been no notion shown in this anime of such inter-twining.
So we begin with Sachiko-sama cancelling the amusement park date with Yumi. Something seems to have come up (most likely to be answered in the last episode). And, Touko-chan devilishly appears...
[OP sequence]
Yep, you can't forget about Yumi's blue umbrella...that is an important symbolism.
Minako-sama takes Yumi over to show Sachiko-sama with Touko-chan. Yumi thinks Minako-sama has brought her over so she can get a scoop on a "Red Rose Revolution" (by the way, the Lillian Newspaper showing that is pretty cool). However, Minako-sama does not want to see Yumi and Sachiko break up and end up in the same predicament as her friend.
Hmm, is it just me or that Yasuko, Masumi and Asaka look very scary (it reminds me of Fate/stay night) in this memory scene? While no name is given here (as well as in the novel), a short story was released in this February issue of Cobalt Magazine about this soeur-triangle incident. Yasuko is the gran soeur, Asaka (Minako-sama’s friend) is the 'real' petit soeur and Masumi is the usurper.
Actually, the memory shot doesn't even look like them at all...
Here's a picture of Yasuko and Masumi from this February's issue of Cobalt by illisutrator Hibiki Reine:
http://www.boomspeed.com/kj1980/Yasuko_Masumi.jpg
and this is Asaka:
http://www.boomspeed.com/kj1980/Asaka.jpg
Going back to the story, Minako-sama does not want to see the Rosa Chinensis soeurs to end up in a soeur-triangle, nor does she wish to see Yumi putting on a facade smile.
Yumi looks so cute here trying on her clothes to wear for the next date she promised with Sachiko-sama. Yuuki is happy to see Yumi finally smiling again. Yuuki however strikes a good point on worrying about Yumi on her school life being so dependent revolving around Sachiko-san.
The phone rings…and we finally see a glimpse of Yumi and Yuuki’s mom!!! It’s only her back side though. Yuuki hands over the phone to Yumi…and it is Sachiko-sama. Once again, the date has been cancelled since something has come up. Rage of emotions and questions churns up within Yumi…but she chokes them down into her id and says “it’s okay.” I thought this part was articulated rather well along with the novel. Good job.
Cut to scene on the next day where Touko-chan is waiting in front of the Bara-no-Yakata. It is as if she was waiting for Yumi-sama to appear just to show that she is much more closer to Sachiko-sama. Touko-chan hands Sachiko-sama’s wristwatch in front of Yumi.
Good thing the anime did not forget to cut out the hydrangea lecture.
[Commercial break & eyecatch]
Cut to scene at the Yamayurikai. In the novel, the events that take before this was the incident where Noriko-chan was “lectured” by Sachiko-sama on how to address Shimako. No mention whatsoever was done in this scene, so I’d taken to assume that in the anime, the past two episodes were not happening simultaneously as in the novel.
Yumi asks Sachiko-sama to decide on a next date for their amusement park trip. Yumi’s psychology here is on the verge of frailty as she begins to mutter “As long as I get a promise, I will be at ease until that date” and “I don’t mind it becoming cancelled…as long as I get a promise, I will be rest assured…”
Touko-chan cuts in, whispers something into Sachiko-sama’s ear, and they start to leave. Yumi makes a strong move here by addressing “Onee-sama, we are still under discussion.” Sachiko-sama turns back and tells Touko-chan to wait downstairs, and tells Yumi that “Yumi…I cannot make a promise right now because I don’t have such schedule. Please…understand.” Sachiko-sama starts to walk off. Yumi dashes to Sachiko-sama “Please, don’t go!” while Touko-chan addresses Sachiko-sama to hurry up. Yumi makes her boldest move yet by yelling at Sachiko-sama “So you’ve chosen Touko-chan over me!” Sachiko-sama turns back with a very scary look by ending the conversation with “…okoruwayo” (I will get angry) to Yumi.
Alas, however there was one thing missing in the anime that was in the novel – Yumi’s monologue after this in the novel was of a very strong conjecture. Since non-novel readers would be eager to know what was going on inside Yumi’s mind after this, here is a rough translation of that scene (Mari-mite Vol. 10 pg. 193-194):
Touko-chan calls out for haste from beneath the stairwell. As her (Sachiko) hand reached for the doorknob, Yumi desperately yells
“So you’ve chosen Touko-chan over me!”
Sachiko-sama paused for a moment. As she turned back, her facial expression was of anger that [Yumi] had never seen before.
“…[continue this further and] I will get angry.”
Leaving behing that remark, Sachiko-sama left the room and headed downstairs where Touko-chan was waiting.
“Get angry…?”
Grimaced Yumi as she stood alone in the empty room. If she wants to get angry, go ahead and get angry. It’s much better than making up for the debt with kind smiled or sweet words.
That is why Yumi felt great that Sachiko-sama showed such expression to her. She was able to make Sachiko-sama into such level of anger. Whether or not what was in that angered emotion, it showed that Yumi’s thoughts reached directly at Sachiko-sama.
Yumi thinks to herself what a twisted expression of amour she has – to ask for a promise that cannot be given or to say such things to make Sachiko-sama angry.
She can feel herself becoming more and more unstable. Yumi looks at the rain hitting the side of the window glass.
It’s this rain. It’s all the weather’s fault. That is why my mood does not clear up.
Going back to the anime.
Yumi is in melancholy as she walks with the last thought written in the novel in mind.
Once again, there is a difference between the novel and the anime. In the novel, Sei-sama comes into Yumi’s umbrella because she forgot her umbrella. Sei-sama quickly figures something is wrong with Yumi and figures it has to deal with “that horizontal roll” that she just walking alongside with Sachiko just a few moments ago. Sei-sama tells Yumi that she is willing to lend an open arm to discuss what Yumi has mushed deep within her emotion. Sei-sama adds, “Yumi-chan, please do not give up on Sachiko.” Yumi does not respond as she thinks to herself that she cannot always keep on relying on a person that had graduated – that this is something that she needs to resolve on her own. Too bad this scene was entirely cut from the anime – but I guess time constraints do happen.
Cut to scene at the convenience store. Yumi buys a box of butter (not shown in anime) that her mother asked her buy on the way back home. However, her beloved blue umbrella gets “stolen.” That was the last straw that cut loose the emotions that she packed into the bag within her.
Yumi comes home all wet and crying….and we get our first shot of Yumi’s mom and dad!!! This is the first appearance of Fukuzawa Miki (mom – her surname before being married was Houribe) and Fukuzawa Yuichiro (dad). Take the “yuu” from dad and “mi” from mom, and you get “yumi.” Take the “yuu” from dad and “ki” from mom, and you get “yuuki.” Of course, currently the credits at the ending only says “Yumi’s Mother,” but there that trivia for those non-novel readers. As Miki, Yuichiro, and Yuuki looks at Yumi in shock, Yumi begins to cry in pain and sorrow as she screams “…Don’t take people’s stuff!! Don’t take the things I cherish away from me!!!!”
It’s Sunday again and she decides to call Sachiko-sama to apologize on what happened on Friday. She calls the Ogasawara household only to have the call taken by…Kashiwagi Suguru. He tells Yumi that Sachiko cannot answer the phone as she became carsick. Suguru, not knowing what is going on within Yumi’s mind, rest assures her that Sachiko is doing fine and that Touko-chan is taking care of her at her side. Yumi figures that this was Sachiko’s answer to her question Yumi yelled at her that fateful day. Yumi reaches for her rosario…and takes it off. She had become tired of being in doubt of someone she had admired.
Yumi refused to come to the Yamayurikai meetings that week. Yoshino, being worried, asks what is wrong and tries to help. Yumi, however refuses that it is all too late. Yumi, clenching and shoving her rosario into her skirt-pocket, walks out of the school, leaving a concerned Yoshino behind. There, Sachiko-sama is waiting for Yumi. Sachiko-sama, with the same kind voice, calls Yumi’s name. “I should let you know what is going on,” says Sachiko-sama as she touches Yumi’s tie.
Yumi, looking up to her beloved oneesama, is in mixed emotions – her feelings for her beloved gran soeur still exists, yet ponders deeply how many more times she will be allowed to call Sachiko-sama as her “oneesama.” Her “heart“began to melt” with her beloved oneesama beside her. Just then, Touko-chan appears.
Yumi’s “melting heart froze instantly” as she deduced that Sachiko-sama was not waiting for her, but was actually waiting for Touko-chan. Yumi coolly says to Sachiko-sama, “oh, I understand” and begins to walk away. Touko-chan then has the “nerve” to say, “Wait Yumi-sama. Your discussion has not been finished yet. Would you care to join us on the way as you discuss your matter? Right, Rosa Chinensis” with Sachiko-sama agreeing. Yumi could not stand it any more and runs away into the rain.
Filled with emotions of rage, anger, distraught, sorrow, fear…Yumi cries as she runs in the rain. She is at the bottom of her troubles…when she catches a glimpse of Sei-sama ahead of her. Yumi, throws everything she was carrying and jumps into Sei-sama’s arms crying as if clinging on to her last hope of light. Sei-sama has been always there for Yumi whenever in trouble. Sei-sama kindly wads Yumi’s head. Sachiko tries to call for Yumi, but Yumi refuses to let go out of Sei’s warm arms. Sachiko sighs in despairs to Sei-sama “I am sorry for the trouble” and hands Yumi’s belongings to Sei.
Yumi is still crying in Sei’s arms, when Sei says that Sachiko is about to leave. Yumi realizes that Sei has Yumi’s belongings in her hands – that Sachiko-sama went into the wet and muddy ground to pick up her belongings. Yumi yells “oneesama” once again as she runs towards the car carrying Sachiko-sama and Touko-chan. However, the car leaves behind Yumi as if Sachiko had gave up on her. Yumi cries down in further despair as the car leaves…
We see a shot of Sei-sama…and a glimpse of Katou Kei in the blurry background.
Episode ends with Yumi crying in the rain in the middle of the street.
Next episode: more new characters:
Katou Kei – Satou Sei’s “friend”
Ikegami Yumiko – the elderly woman – Katou Kei’s landlord
Aota Mitsuo – Yumi’s teacher back in first year of middle school, holding Yumi’s blue umbrella.
The sakuga quality was exceptionally excellent. I'd assume the animators would use their best skills to portray this last arc of this season, and they did.
In the novel, this whole thing is taking place at the same time as the previous two episodes, but alas there have been no notion shown in this anime of such inter-twining.
So we begin with Sachiko-sama cancelling the amusement park date with Yumi. Something seems to have come up (most likely to be answered in the last episode). And, Touko-chan devilishly appears...
[OP sequence]
Yep, you can't forget about Yumi's blue umbrella...that is an important symbolism.
Minako-sama takes Yumi over to show Sachiko-sama with Touko-chan. Yumi thinks Minako-sama has brought her over so she can get a scoop on a "Red Rose Revolution" (by the way, the Lillian Newspaper showing that is pretty cool). However, Minako-sama does not want to see Yumi and Sachiko break up and end up in the same predicament as her friend.
Hmm, is it just me or that Yasuko, Masumi and Asaka look very scary (it reminds me of Fate/stay night) in this memory scene? While no name is given here (as well as in the novel), a short story was released in this February issue of Cobalt Magazine about this soeur-triangle incident. Yasuko is the gran soeur, Asaka (Minako-sama’s friend) is the 'real' petit soeur and Masumi is the usurper.
Actually, the memory shot doesn't even look like them at all...
Here's a picture of Yasuko and Masumi from this February's issue of Cobalt by illisutrator Hibiki Reine:
http://www.boomspeed.com/kj1980/Yasuko_Masumi.jpg
and this is Asaka:
http://www.boomspeed.com/kj1980/Asaka.jpg
Going back to the story, Minako-sama does not want to see the Rosa Chinensis soeurs to end up in a soeur-triangle, nor does she wish to see Yumi putting on a facade smile.
Yumi looks so cute here trying on her clothes to wear for the next date she promised with Sachiko-sama. Yuuki is happy to see Yumi finally smiling again. Yuuki however strikes a good point on worrying about Yumi on her school life being so dependent revolving around Sachiko-san.
The phone rings…and we finally see a glimpse of Yumi and Yuuki’s mom!!! It’s only her back side though. Yuuki hands over the phone to Yumi…and it is Sachiko-sama. Once again, the date has been cancelled since something has come up. Rage of emotions and questions churns up within Yumi…but she chokes them down into her id and says “it’s okay.” I thought this part was articulated rather well along with the novel. Good job.
Cut to scene on the next day where Touko-chan is waiting in front of the Bara-no-Yakata. It is as if she was waiting for Yumi-sama to appear just to show that she is much more closer to Sachiko-sama. Touko-chan hands Sachiko-sama’s wristwatch in front of Yumi.
Good thing the anime did not forget to cut out the hydrangea lecture.
[Commercial break & eyecatch]
Cut to scene at the Yamayurikai. In the novel, the events that take before this was the incident where Noriko-chan was “lectured” by Sachiko-sama on how to address Shimako. No mention whatsoever was done in this scene, so I’d taken to assume that in the anime, the past two episodes were not happening simultaneously as in the novel.
Yumi asks Sachiko-sama to decide on a next date for their amusement park trip. Yumi’s psychology here is on the verge of frailty as she begins to mutter “As long as I get a promise, I will be at ease until that date” and “I don’t mind it becoming cancelled…as long as I get a promise, I will be rest assured…”
Touko-chan cuts in, whispers something into Sachiko-sama’s ear, and they start to leave. Yumi makes a strong move here by addressing “Onee-sama, we are still under discussion.” Sachiko-sama turns back and tells Touko-chan to wait downstairs, and tells Yumi that “Yumi…I cannot make a promise right now because I don’t have such schedule. Please…understand.” Sachiko-sama starts to walk off. Yumi dashes to Sachiko-sama “Please, don’t go!” while Touko-chan addresses Sachiko-sama to hurry up. Yumi makes her boldest move yet by yelling at Sachiko-sama “So you’ve chosen Touko-chan over me!” Sachiko-sama turns back with a very scary look by ending the conversation with “…okoruwayo” (I will get angry) to Yumi.
Alas, however there was one thing missing in the anime that was in the novel – Yumi’s monologue after this in the novel was of a very strong conjecture. Since non-novel readers would be eager to know what was going on inside Yumi’s mind after this, here is a rough translation of that scene (Mari-mite Vol. 10 pg. 193-194):
Touko-chan calls out for haste from beneath the stairwell. As her (Sachiko) hand reached for the doorknob, Yumi desperately yells
“So you’ve chosen Touko-chan over me!”
Sachiko-sama paused for a moment. As she turned back, her facial expression was of anger that [Yumi] had never seen before.
“…[continue this further and] I will get angry.”
Leaving behing that remark, Sachiko-sama left the room and headed downstairs where Touko-chan was waiting.
“Get angry…?”
Grimaced Yumi as she stood alone in the empty room. If she wants to get angry, go ahead and get angry. It’s much better than making up for the debt with kind smiled or sweet words.
That is why Yumi felt great that Sachiko-sama showed such expression to her. She was able to make Sachiko-sama into such level of anger. Whether or not what was in that angered emotion, it showed that Yumi’s thoughts reached directly at Sachiko-sama.
Yumi thinks to herself what a twisted expression of amour she has – to ask for a promise that cannot be given or to say such things to make Sachiko-sama angry.
She can feel herself becoming more and more unstable. Yumi looks at the rain hitting the side of the window glass.
It’s this rain. It’s all the weather’s fault. That is why my mood does not clear up.
Going back to the anime.
Yumi is in melancholy as she walks with the last thought written in the novel in mind.
Once again, there is a difference between the novel and the anime. In the novel, Sei-sama comes into Yumi’s umbrella because she forgot her umbrella. Sei-sama quickly figures something is wrong with Yumi and figures it has to deal with “that horizontal roll” that she just walking alongside with Sachiko just a few moments ago. Sei-sama tells Yumi that she is willing to lend an open arm to discuss what Yumi has mushed deep within her emotion. Sei-sama adds, “Yumi-chan, please do not give up on Sachiko.” Yumi does not respond as she thinks to herself that she cannot always keep on relying on a person that had graduated – that this is something that she needs to resolve on her own. Too bad this scene was entirely cut from the anime – but I guess time constraints do happen.
Cut to scene at the convenience store. Yumi buys a box of butter (not shown in anime) that her mother asked her buy on the way back home. However, her beloved blue umbrella gets “stolen.” That was the last straw that cut loose the emotions that she packed into the bag within her.
Yumi comes home all wet and crying….and we get our first shot of Yumi’s mom and dad!!! This is the first appearance of Fukuzawa Miki (mom – her surname before being married was Houribe) and Fukuzawa Yuichiro (dad). Take the “yuu” from dad and “mi” from mom, and you get “yumi.” Take the “yuu” from dad and “ki” from mom, and you get “yuuki.” Of course, currently the credits at the ending only says “Yumi’s Mother,” but there that trivia for those non-novel readers. As Miki, Yuichiro, and Yuuki looks at Yumi in shock, Yumi begins to cry in pain and sorrow as she screams “…Don’t take people’s stuff!! Don’t take the things I cherish away from me!!!!”
It’s Sunday again and she decides to call Sachiko-sama to apologize on what happened on Friday. She calls the Ogasawara household only to have the call taken by…Kashiwagi Suguru. He tells Yumi that Sachiko cannot answer the phone as she became carsick. Suguru, not knowing what is going on within Yumi’s mind, rest assures her that Sachiko is doing fine and that Touko-chan is taking care of her at her side. Yumi figures that this was Sachiko’s answer to her question Yumi yelled at her that fateful day. Yumi reaches for her rosario…and takes it off. She had become tired of being in doubt of someone she had admired.
Yumi refused to come to the Yamayurikai meetings that week. Yoshino, being worried, asks what is wrong and tries to help. Yumi, however refuses that it is all too late. Yumi, clenching and shoving her rosario into her skirt-pocket, walks out of the school, leaving a concerned Yoshino behind. There, Sachiko-sama is waiting for Yumi. Sachiko-sama, with the same kind voice, calls Yumi’s name. “I should let you know what is going on,” says Sachiko-sama as she touches Yumi’s tie.
Yumi, looking up to her beloved oneesama, is in mixed emotions – her feelings for her beloved gran soeur still exists, yet ponders deeply how many more times she will be allowed to call Sachiko-sama as her “oneesama.” Her “heart“began to melt” with her beloved oneesama beside her. Just then, Touko-chan appears.
Yumi’s “melting heart froze instantly” as she deduced that Sachiko-sama was not waiting for her, but was actually waiting for Touko-chan. Yumi coolly says to Sachiko-sama, “oh, I understand” and begins to walk away. Touko-chan then has the “nerve” to say, “Wait Yumi-sama. Your discussion has not been finished yet. Would you care to join us on the way as you discuss your matter? Right, Rosa Chinensis” with Sachiko-sama agreeing. Yumi could not stand it any more and runs away into the rain.
Filled with emotions of rage, anger, distraught, sorrow, fear…Yumi cries as she runs in the rain. She is at the bottom of her troubles…when she catches a glimpse of Sei-sama ahead of her. Yumi, throws everything she was carrying and jumps into Sei-sama’s arms crying as if clinging on to her last hope of light. Sei-sama has been always there for Yumi whenever in trouble. Sei-sama kindly wads Yumi’s head. Sachiko tries to call for Yumi, but Yumi refuses to let go out of Sei’s warm arms. Sachiko sighs in despairs to Sei-sama “I am sorry for the trouble” and hands Yumi’s belongings to Sei.
Yumi is still crying in Sei’s arms, when Sei says that Sachiko is about to leave. Yumi realizes that Sei has Yumi’s belongings in her hands – that Sachiko-sama went into the wet and muddy ground to pick up her belongings. Yumi yells “oneesama” once again as she runs towards the car carrying Sachiko-sama and Touko-chan. However, the car leaves behind Yumi as if Sachiko had gave up on her. Yumi cries down in further despair as the car leaves…
We see a shot of Sei-sama…and a glimpse of Katou Kei in the blurry background.
Episode ends with Yumi crying in the rain in the middle of the street.
Next episode: more new characters:
Katou Kei – Satou Sei’s “friend”
Ikegami Yumiko – the elderly woman – Katou Kei’s landlord
Aota Mitsuo – Yumi’s teacher back in first year of middle school, holding Yumi’s blue umbrella.