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This episode is probably my favorite episode so far and the one I least hate about Arya. The last episode ended with a direct challenge to Kuze, but I liked that Arya kept the focus on herself. While you might say she’s only there for her man, she really needs to prove herself to students and viewers that she’s qualified to run for the position in the first place. She’s a new freshman who barely interacts with anyone, so it’s easy for people to project their own interpretations onto her. It would be difficult for someone like this to run for a position where the goal is to interact with other students and build community. However, it’s a good step towards her filling the role in a way that feels believable.
I’m really interested in the debate itself and wish the argument between Arya and Sayaka would have lasted longer. However, I loved the underhanded tactics that caught Arya off guard. If she could do everything on her own here, I don’t think it would feel worthwhile given her previous interactions in high-pressure situations. But I loved how things slowly unraveled with her insecurities, and Hisasawa’s sympathy for it. If this is something she needs to overcome, then maybe I’ll start liking her more as a character. Additionally, this debate demonstrates the overall point that Kuze and Arya are basically two sides of the same coin. They are both smart but can emotionally meet certain needs of the other, even if they don’t want to admit it yet.
However, this idea of having perceptions projected onto you is relevant to the last third of the episode where Sayaka illustrates this lesson. I was surprised by how definitive the writing felt at the end. A lot of the message could have been delivered more elegantly: Sayaka outright said that she projected an ideal version of Kuze and Yuki onto them, which is why she needed to pick this fight. It feels clunky because much of the episode is tightly written and not clearly articulated. But without feeling clunky, this is a real step forward for our main duo as a team. They handled the first debate well and were even able to open up to each other emotionally. I’m excited to see more progress for the rest of the season.
PS The bit at the end where Yuki oversees everything and monologues like a supervillain is probably the funniest gag in the entire show.
grade:
Arya sometimes hides her feelings in Russian Currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation and the majority shareholder of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
