I think that I won't be able to fully process everything that happened in this episode until I watch it again, but it's totally clear why this episode was called "Mashiro-iro Symphony".
Probably the most important thing was the scene with Sana right in the middle of the episode, where Sana tells Shingo that if he ever gets dumped, he could go out with her. His answer is of course what we'd expect: he'd never go out with her on the rebound, as that'd be unfair to her. But then
that most important line: "That's just the sort of guy you are." What a perfect way to tie things back to the resolution of Airi's plot 5 episodes earlier. You'll note of course that Airi's "tsuntsun" side came back a bit in this episode whenever topic of love and Shingo came up. This all of course came up again at the playground scene at the end with Airi's reflection about her relationship with Shingo, and she comes to the realization: "I'll definitely never fall in love [again?]." Is it true or not? Who knows... but from the perspective of these two girls (and to a larger extent, four girls) spending this Christmas "alone" (together) after the first guy they liked fell in love with someone else, that's what it feels like.
I have to say that entire scene was really well done (nicely animated, and ties back perfectly to the opening of episode 1), but if there was ever a sign screaming "buy the game!!!!", this was it.
Now as for Shingo and Miu... I actually laughed a lot. It was pretty well done. It's that feeling where if you have one thing in your mind, all of a sudden everywhere you look and everything you do somehow reminds you of that thing. This episode really captured that feeling perfectly, as it was like everywhere Shingo went he was reminded of
that thing he wants to do now that he has a girlfriend. I laughed particularly at the "mating" conversation with Sana and Airi, and how it came up again with Miu's mom ("What, you're not mating yet?"
). All of the Miu and Shingo romantic scenes were
soooo awkward, which is of course on purpose. ("Oh my god she touched my hand!!!"
) That ending scene with the two cat plushies was so cheesy that I laughed so much... but all in all it was well done. It totally captures that awkwardness of a "first crush"/"first girlfriend"; I was squirming the whole time, but it was great. I said from the get-go that the game was all about over-the-top sugary-sweet romance, so I'm glad they captured a little bit of that for the anime.
A few other things I noticed:
- At the beginning of the episode, they comment about how they've setup a system now to take care of the animals at the club with everyone taking turns. It shows that they're all depending on each other enough now such that neither Miu nor Shingo feel like they have to be there. So that's progress in another sense.
- The "note-taking" scene in the classroom reinforces just how "matter of factly" Shingo puts others first, but of course Airi is trying to protect Sana a little bit from that, since she figures that'll just make things worse. (People also noticed how since Episode 7 Airi had sort of been keeping her distance from Shingo as well... hmm... ) Sana of course makes her own decision that she'll spend time with him anyway, even taking him out shopping to buy a Christmas present for Miu. That takes some inner strength.
- I also liked the "Miu-sensei" joke, which came home to roost when Miu's mother basically pulled the same joke. Like mother like daughter...
And also "tomorrow evening my Mom won't be home, so let's do it a lot until night falls"... like I said before, when sex is on the mind...
Yuiko: "Tonight's first lesson will be how to get a girl pregnant..." Shingo: "Eh?!" Miu: "I'll be the one to teach him that!" Shingo: "EHH?!?"
- The mothers looking out for their daughters scene was also pretty important, as both Yuiko and Ranka have had to let their daughters go to some extent, while still trying their best to protect them from afar. It's an interesting parallel because both Airi and Miu don't get along with their mothers for somewhat-similar reasons, and of course both mothers are also old friends. I guess they're trying to say that being a parent is hard, but protecting your children from arm's length is what you do... even if your children may not see or appreciate that at the time.
- Another important comment from Sana in this episode is the obvious point that we've noticed too: Shingo is pretty good at noticing things when it comes to others, but horrible when it involves himself. But it also comes with Sana's admission that Shingo actually is a guy worthy of being with Miu. Shingo realizes that means a lot coming from her. Sana's introspection on the swingset, and her comment about her imagined phone call with Shingo was both tragic and beautiful. When Sana acted out Shingo's imagined reaction, note particularly Airi's own reaction -- like something clutched at her chest. "It's better to have loved and lost" after all.
Incidentally, the pass case Shingo buys for Miu is indeed the same as in the game, and you can recognize the "Palette" name on it (original game maker).
I also noticed that, when Shingo meets Miu after work and she forgot her gloves, he gave her one of his gloves to put on her left hand, while they each went gloveless for the hands they were holding. Tiny little touch, but that's Shingo's brand of thoughtfulness.
Next Episode: The fate of the school merger. Everything comes full circle before the final curtain falls.
Edit: Oh yeah and also, the kiss scene reminds me so much of Toradora, though that one was a tiny bit better executed IMO.