(CR) Tsuki ga Kirei (The Moon is Beautiful)

[pagan poor]

Originally Posted by FredFriendly

Let me ask you, were you shocked or surprised that Kotarou confessed at the end of episode 3?

Somewhat. But him leading up to it wondering where the title quote came from made it less surprising to me. That said, your point is made. These are kids plunging into the unknown for the first time.

Originally Posted by FredFriendly

If Akane started dating Hira at this point, it probably wouldn't be a matter of choosing him over Kotarou, but, rather, being shoehorned into a relationship by the immense peer pressure brought to bear on her by her friends and members of the track team. It would not be the first time in an anime that someone has been pressured into dating someone else, and it wouldn't be the last time.

Sure it's possible. But the show has shown mostly the cues that she has for Kotarou, not towards Kira. I'm moving more towards the enemy of this relationship will be the hinting of Akane's family moving than anything else.

Since I don't read Japanese, I wonder if the texting screens during the ED have any context to the show, or at best insight? I've noticed they've been different each episode.

[FredFriendly]

Originally Posted by pagan poor

Somewhat. But him leading up to it wondering where the title quote came from made it less surprising to me. That said, your point is made. These are kids plunging into the unknown for the first time.



Sure it's possible. But the show has shown mostly the cues that she has for Kotarou, not towards Kira. I'm moving more towards the enemy of this relationship will be the hinting of Akane's family moving than anything else.

Since I don't read Japanese, I wonder if the texting screens during the ED have any context to the show, or at best insight? I've noticed they've been different each episode.

Regardless of what happens now, I agree that if Akane's family were to move away, that would certainly become the biggest obstacle to a long-term relationship between Akane and Kotarou. Like I said before, unless we're seriously being trolled by the animation of the ED, them eventually becoming a couple is already a done deal.

As for the ED text messages at the end of episode 3...

Spoiler for link to translated text message that may contain hints of future circumstances, of course if we could all read Japanese, it wouldn't be much of a spoiler:

You can read one translation for the text messages at the end of episode 3 here.

I haven't found translations of the text at the end of the first 2 episodes yet.

[pagan poor]

Originally Posted by FredFriendly

I haven't found translations of the text at the end of the first 2 episodes yet.

There's this post. Not much of content to actually spoil the show, but possibly if it does relate at all.

[BWTraveller]

Originally Posted by FredFriendly

Let me ask you, were you shocked or surprised that Kotarou confessed at the end of episode 3? I certainly was. If nothing else, that clues me in to the probability that this show will shock or surprise me again (and again) when I least expect it.

If Akane started dating Hira at this point, it probably wouldn't be a matter of choosing him over Kotarou, but, rather, being shoehorned into a relationship by the immense peer pressure brought to bear on her by her friends and members of the track team. It would not be the first time in an anime that someone has been pressured into dating someone else, and it wouldn't be the last time.

On this I wholeheartedly agree. I find their dating somewhat doubtful but if it happens, then I as well would find it most likely that she found herself unable to say "no". Given the situation a refusal would be extremely awkward and difficult on someone so shy.

Also I see your point about the show throwing some surprise curves at the audience. Haven't seen such an early confession since My LOVE Story, and while it'd be sweet to see them take the rest of the story that way I find it doubtful. It takes a lot of work to make something that sweet when you start out with "happily-ever-after", and it's still recent enough that such an attempt would welcome comparisons. So while I wouldn't be surprised to see them start dating (which frankly seems like it'd be a bigger bombshell than him getting dumped at this point in the game), I'm sure we'll see a lot of other stuff happening. I too think it's all too likely that a move will be in the works. Probably not for a few episodes, except maybe as a future event, like Dad's getting transferred in X months or something. But wouldn't be at all strange to have something like a move split them near the end only for one to choose their high school to be close and maybe even get their parents to rent an apartment (or take a job to rent one) for proximity (to the school...).

Didn't think Akane's face was so strange or out-of-balance with her being free and interested. I mean, she's definitely interested in him, I think that much has been made quite clear. She didn't look surprised enough or sad enough for that. I mean think about it. You're a girl who's had apparently no experience in the world of romance. Boyfriends are just something your friends giggle and whisper about. Then in one night, in short order, the cool guy from your team asks you out followed immediately by your light crush. You're going to be utterly shocked, and if you just said "yes" to the guy you like as a friend but everyone wants you to date when your real crush asks you out, you're going to be rather unhappy as well. I could be wrong of course. Her face is a little hard to read. But personally I'd expect a bit more if she'd just hooked up with Hira.

[FredFriendly]

Originally Posted by pagan poor

There's this post. Not much of content to actually spoil the show, but possibly if it does relate at all.

That's the question: do the ED text messages actually really have anything to do with the show per se, and, if so, are the messages between Akane and Kotarou? Or are we, with the rest of the ED, being trolled by window dressing? It would be splendid if the messages were a look into the future and about Akane and Kotarou (at least so far). I found the 2nd episode's text messages particularly encouraging if they are between Akane and Kotarou.

I do not usually lurk on other message boards (some are inhabited by sub-human beings that are just too vulgar for my reading pleasure), but, in comparison, the discussion of this series here on animesuki pales in comparison in sheer numbers of posts to the enthusiastic discussions elsewhere. Shame, really.

[pagan poor]

Translations for all 3 ED texts here.

[FredFriendly]

Well, with tomorrow's preview we should get an inkling as to which direction this story is headed. I've tried to come up with a list of Akane's possible responses to Kotarou's confession...

Spoiler for specualtions:

1. "Sorry, but I already have a boyfriend."

2. "Sorry, but I'm too busy with track to have time to go out with someone."

3. "Sorry, but I just want to be friends with you."

4. "Sorry, but I don't see you that way at all."

5. "Sorry, but I'm not interested in going out with anyone."

6. "This is so sudden! Can I take my time and think about it?"

7. "Okay."

but this story has already become unpredictable and there may be other possibilities that I didn't even think of...

[pagan poor]

Of course the possibility of her saying yes to Hira exists. But it seemed like the only times she was attentive to much of the conversation around him was when her name is as called out. Otherwise her thoughts were towards the race, and Kotarou.

The last part was like a couple of moths drawn to a fire. You're struggling with emotions you've never had before and trying to figure out rules of engagement for situations that never applied to you before. So far this story has drawn both well.

[FredFriendly]

Originally Posted by pagan poor

Of course the possibility of her saying yes to Hira exists. But it seemed like the only times she was attentive to much of the conversation around him was when her name is as called out. Otherwise her thoughts were towards the race, and Kotarou.

One thing that Hira has going for him that Kotarou definitely does not is that Akane feels completely at ease talking and even joking around with him. Well, at least she did until she realized that he was about to confess to her before he got interrupted...

The last part was like a couple of moths drawn to a fire. You're struggling with emotions you've never had before and trying to figure out rules of engagement for situations that never applied to you before. So far this story has drawn both well.

Well said!

My biggest concern about that scene at the end of episode 3 between Akane and Kotarou (well, except that we didn't get to hear her response to his confession) is when she says to herself, "This is weird." Not a very encouragingly optimistic (or romantic) thing to think. Was she just feeling awkward with the lack of conversation, or was she beginning to regret seeking him out on her way home, thinking she made a mistake in doing so? I suppose we'll never know for sure.

[pagan poor]

Originally Posted by FredFriendly

One thing that Hira has going for him that Kotarou definitely does not is that Akane feels completely at ease talking and even joking around with him. Well, at least she did until she realized that he was about to confess to her before he got interrupted...

And the one thing that Kotarou has over Hira is Akane's attention.

Originally Posted by FredFriendly

My biggest concern about that scene at the end of episode 3 between Akane and Kotarou (well, except that we didn't get to hear her response to his confession) is when she says to herself, "This is weird." Not a very encouragingly optimistic (or romantic) thing to think. Was she just feeling awkward with the lack of conversation, or was she beginning to regret seeking him out on her way home, thinking she made a mistake in doing so? I suppose we'll never know for sure.

I'd feel a bit more concerned if either of them were thinking up excuses to leave the area because they couldn't handle what's come over them. Being together in silence is still a better sign.

Edit:

Originally Posted by FredFriendly

Let me ask you, were you shocked or surprised that Kotarou confessed at the end of episode 3? I certainly was. If nothing else, that clues me in to the probability that this show will shock or surprise me again (and again) when I least expect it.

Ugh, right after he thought about who wrote "Tsuki ga Kirei" first (and how it's translated to "I love you"), she says it (saying how the moon is beautiful), without knowing the literary background of the term. Then he broke out the confession.

[Verso Sciolto]

Dissociate

[pagan poor]

Spoiler for Ep 4 Preview for those outside Japan:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5j...web-preview_tv

[FredFriendly]

Originally Posted by pagan poor

Spoiler for Ep 4 Preview for those outside Japan:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5j...web-preview_tv

Thanks. So it looks like...

Spoiler for speculation based on preview:

at the very least, she said, "No." Sure wish I could understand spoken (or written) Japanese.

I read elsewhere that one line of the preview was, "we haven't talked since then" which would certainly imply that things did not go well for Kotarou's confession.

So much for trying to figure out what'll happen from the preview...

[BWTraveller]

Originally Posted by FredFriendly

One thing that Hira has going for him that Kotarou definitely does not is that Akane feels completely at ease talking and even joking around with him. Well, at least she did until she realized that he was about to confess to her before he got interrupted...

I return to my comment about LINE. They're not very adept at communicating with each other in person (though Akane can sometimes get relatively comfortable), but on LINE it's noted that their conversation is very lively and open. They get awkward on the occasion of the match, due to his feelings about not being able to be there, but overall their conversations are apparently plenty open, jocular and casual.

Also, concerning the preview, what I was able to pick up:

Spoiler:

It starts out with Akane saying "Since then I've hardly talked with Azumi-kun at all". Then there's a class trip going somewhere, and at the end you have one of those cliché nighttime girl conversations where they talk about the boys they like, and someone asks Akane, saying "you've got someone you're interested in, right?" and it ends with her saying something I'm not able to make out followed by "and we're not going out".

Frankly the implied direction DOES really seem like the most likely. It's hard to set up a really great story with the two becoming a couple so early on, so frankly it was unlikely that she'd accept. That said, it didn't really seem likely that she'd end up dating Hira. Hira doesn't have the guts to ask her quite yet and she's not actually interested in him. And I think we can guarantee she didn't start dating Hira, since I doubt they'd ask if she had a boy she liked; more likely they'd be asking what she liked about Hira. Now, I can't say whether she WILL go out with him, as like Fred said and I agree, she doesn't seem like she'd be very easily able to reject the guy that all her friends think is perfect for her. And I've seen a few series where a guy asks a girl if she's going out with a particular boy before asking if she'd go out with him, or girls asking about a boy's relationship with a girl before confessing their own love. Thus a hesitant "we're not going out..." could be either a reply to girls probing her on her love life at night OR responding to a boy checking before he asks her out.

[Verso Sciolto]

Dissociate

[FredFriendly]

Originally Posted by Verso Sciolto

That appears to be the line right at the start of the preview.

Spoiler for Your guess is as good as mine ...:

Proceed with caution.

Next we see and hear Roman expresses enthusiasm about the bullet train while at Tokyo station. Gathering and then on their way to Kyoto for an "overnight" school trip. Dangling bag of potato chips. Fortune telling paper. Communal bath. Grirls talk on Futons lit by mobile phones...
"... Next... Akane"
"What? ... me?"
"There is one, isn't there?"

"Snippets of conversation" continue as voice over but scenes change ... to Kotarou's face lit by mobile ... Akane walking with friends ... Roman and Daichi come out to greet Kotarou

"... someone who is on your mind / a person you are concerned about / care about... "

Akane by herself outside Kyoto station, by the bus platforms. Talking to herself.
"No reply. No date."

From the text preview on the Story page it looks like Kotarou's mobile may have been confiscated. It seems like this happened before he received an invitation Akane sent him and about which he is thus unaware - while she doesn't know why he hasn't replied or shown up... Which I guess means she asked him to spend their "free time" together...

Merci! Looks like we're in for a bit of clichéd drama...

Just found an episode 4 preview with English subs...

Spoiler for English subbed preview:

[pagan poor]

Going on what I posted earlier, I think she responded with a "huh?", and he backpedalled the he said. Now he's super embarrassed over the misunderstanding and he's being more cautious, even not texting. Probably pick another book out of the library to see what what do next.

[FredFriendly]

Originally Posted by pagan poor

Going on what I posted earlier, I think she responded with a "huh?", and he backpedalled the he said. Now he's super embarrassed over the misunderstanding and he's being more cautious, even not texting. Probably pick another book out of the library to see what what do next.

I'm similarly inclined, though I rather think she said, "No" or "Give me time to think about it."

If this follows the typical shoujo storyline, we can expect to see the usual misunderstanding-based complications, such as...

Spoiler for episode 4 screen shots and speculation:

Akane declined to go out with Kotarou (for whatever reason) and Kotarou now thinks that she really is interested in Hira, thus he feels like he'd be interfering if he continued to contact her.

Chinatsu hears that Akane told the other girls that she doesn't have anyone she's interested in so she feels that Kotarou is free for the plucking.

While waiting for Kotarou to show up to her half-assed arranged meeting in the rain (forgetting so quickly that a dead battery might be the reason why he hasn't texted her back), she calls Chinatsu who tells Akane that Kotarou is with her (as seen in the screenshot). Akane jumps to the conclusion that Kotarou has given up on her and is now going after Chinatsu.

Typical shoujo misunderstandings to induce unneeded "drama."

This was a surprise:

Spoiler for weekly ranking chart image:

I didn't expect this show to rank so highly.

[Pen3]

I just watched episode 4 and everyone's speculation on cliched preview will be damned. This show is very refreshing.

[FredFriendly]

Originally Posted by Pen3

I just watched episode 4 and everyone's speculation on cliched preview will be damned. This show is very refreshing.

Spoiler for being polite in case you haven't seen episode 4 yet...:

Although most of my speculations floundered, Akane did ask Kotarou to "Give me time to think about it." And she did get quite jealous of his interaction with Chinatsu, and suspicious about him being with Chinatsu when he talked to her on the phone, jumping to conclusions left and right. And, like I thought, it never occurred to Akane that his cell phone battery may have died (or that his phone could have been confiscated). Were we seeing a bit of tsundere nature there?

Nonetheless, her answer was not, "Yes, I'll go out with you" but, "I want to talk with you more..." Not quite the same thing, although it could be interpreted as such, I suppose. Still, she hasn't taken heed of her fortune with such an ambiguous answer. "Are we going out or are we not going out" is what I'd be asking Akane if I was Kotarou.

And there were a bit of clichéd moments to induce unneeded "drama," such as Kotarou desperately trying to find Akane who he doesn't see because she momentarily went into the department store, but comes out just as soon as he runs past trying to find her (and then she criticizes him for not showing up). How many times have I seen that scenario? Actually, the cell phone being confiscated is just another variation of the battery dying at a critical moment (see episode 3).