[Kaoru Chujo]

Another wonderful episode, hilarious with a bit of touching. Some of the animation was incredible: the timing of Dekomori hitting the closed door; her legs shaking as the milk bottle entered the room; the watery animation of Isshiki when he was clingingly telling Yuuta about the letter; or the moe-moe drawing/animation of Rikka's legs (and Dekomori's) at several points.

One scene that hit me just for its layout was where Isshiki was lit against the sky on the left, talking to Yuuta who was in some shadow at the lower right. Beautifully done.

This was a comedy episode, but included some important romantic development: Yuuta actually wearing the shirt; both his and Rikka's drawings seen by the class; the hand-holding scene by the railway tracks (he made no move to take his hand away).

And Nibutani just gets better. I loved the scene where she was speaking directly into Isshiki's open mouth. And the scene where Dekomori and she are suddenly fighting at the door. Or when she is comically rolling around the magic circle in embarrassment at hearing words from her Mabinogion. Akasaka Chinatsu is really doing a wonderful job, and seems so assured. I loved the way she did the sudden shift from seriously threatening Isshiki to saying "Yokatta!" and dancing away.

I understand Klashikari's criticisms. He's describing things that are actually there. But those things didn't bother me. The "mood swings," "shoehorned" romance, and "personal touches" all worked for me.

Next week: the beach.