Suzuka - 15: Bellflower

Title:Suzuka
Episode:15: Bellflower
Synopsis
Being stranded in Hiroshima together, Asahina and Yamato aren't too happy about the situation, and the Ice Queen is moping at her best. Yamato's idea of killing time in a karaoke bar fails due to lack of available money, and some stupid comment of Yamato about a love hotel doesn't particularly improve the situation. Finally Yamato remembers that his family lives near Hiroshima, and with Asahina's cellphone [image1] he calls his father to pick him up - and bring some money to allow Asahina staying in some business hotel.
Yamato's plan is working, and Asahina calls the team captain on the train to inform him about the situation. But soon Honoka wants to talk to Yamato, and wordlessly Asahina hands the cellphone to Yamato. The boy tells Honoka not to worry - he'll go home alone and call her back from there. After this phone call, Asahina suddenly asks Yamato whose confession it was that brought him and Honoka together, and Yamato tells her it was his. Asahina concludes that he must like Honoka-chan then - and Yamato starts explaining why exactly... well, Asahina soon gets annoyed, and the next 90 minutes they spend in silence [image2]. Finally Yamato's father arrives, and without further discussion he urges Asahina to board his car - of course she will stay at their house as well!
Eating breakfast together with the whole Akitsuki family [image3], Asahina shows her most charming smile while Yamato gets bullied by everyone. His father will busy until afternoon, so they will have to take the evening train and have to kill time until then. Yamato tries to make conversation, but every time Asahina tells him to just leave her alone. While walking the family dog Yamato suddenly remembers having told Asahina something about his home - would now be an opportunity to do it? Yamato offers Asahina to stay over another night and show her the fireflies - only to hear from her: "Aren't you mistaking the person you're being nice to?" Which reminds Yamato of calling Honoka-chan [image4], explain to her that Asahina stayed over at his family's house and confirm he has no weird intentions. After this phone call, Yamato tells Asahina to prepare for their departure - but now the girl has suddenly changed her mind: She asks to stay and watch the fireflies!
So off they go, despite the promise Yamato gave to Honoka over the phone to return today. But at the river where Yamato thought the fireflies to be, there are none. Instantly Asahina is back into bitch mode [image5], but she's surprised to learn that she's not the first girl whom Yamato led here: In junior high there was this one girl... but rain and no fireflies made his first confession fail. Asahina snorts with laughter - this boy can't ever finish things off when they matter! But suddenly the full moon is hidden behind the clouds, and there they are! Yamato takes a firefly on his finger - and Asahina asks him how he planned to make his confession to that girl back then: "Show me the confession from Akitsuki Productions!" And so he does... [image6]
Comments
(2005-10-20, Devil Doll:)
The Akitsuki family gives us a good impression why Yamato decided to move out: Not knowing what actually happened they all blame the boy for everything. Living with his aunt and his charming cousin must be heaven compared to this.
As I love to ponder about symbolism: Back when Yamato was chasing after Asahina we've seen her big sister with their dog and Yamato's aunt with their cat; now that Asahina is beginning to make her move we can see the girl pet the Akitsuki family's cat while the boy is walking their dog... the roles are reversed now. Consequently, we get a new ED song with this episode, and a trailer with all of Asahina's highlights so far.
Poor Honoka, fate is so up against you. First Yamato's father invalidated the boy's promise to not let Asahina stay over, then Asahina winds the boy round her little finger as to watch the fireflies. But while dropping the juice cans and missing the train was an accident and Asahina staying over at the Akitsuki house was "superior force" by his father, the fireflies invitation was a clear rule violation of Yamato, breaking a promise given to his new girlfriend. This episode shows Yamato's worst performance of the whole series so far; he's a spineless wuss, wax in Asahina's hands and unable to say "no" to her.
But more importantly: The ice queen is beginning to move! Note how she tries to touch Yamato's hand when giving him the cellphone for calling his family, and how she's holding that same cellphone with her fingertips when Honoka ask's to talk to the boy. During the day she's aware of the awkwardness of this situation: She's left alone with the boy who confessed to her but now has a brand-new girlfriend. So it's considerate of her to make Yamato aware that she's the wrong girl to care for today. Then again, every time when she listens to Yamato talking to Honoka, listens to his cheerful voice and watches his happy face, she is losing her self-control and makes a little move closer to the boy, be that asking about his confession or asking to stay one more night. And the closing scene was wonderful, as so many times in this series already: Asahina is a mess of emotions right now - which makes this episode really interesting, and probably the forthcoming ones as well.

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