No, it's not boring at all. Hello and welcome to our weep Fairyak and explore collaboration and education and anime. I'm your anime idiot, patrick dugan.

I'm an anime expert, dana hollander.

And I'm brenda mccullough. Your anime flower based New Jersey R and B group n two. You guys, I really struggled with this fucking intro this week.

That was a reach and a half to the other coast.

And the name of the group is the letter N-I-I and then the letter U. Like, I really had to look for something on this episode. I had nothing.

Wow.

It was a struggle.

I thought you were a flower pun.

I probably should have got it.

I thought you were going to do something with Orlando Bloom because that seems like your speed.

I thought about that. I considered it. I was mostly stuck on the into you part. And I was thinking like, I don't know why I got hung up on that. So I'm trying to think of everything about that. And I was thinking of like paramores still into you. Because that's on my ipod. Still rocking.

Also. You're still rocking an ipod?

I got a first ipod nano for all my podcast. It's on life support. It can't exist without a power cord.

You have a smartphone?

Walk me. I just have an ipod touch from God. What? 2008? When did they that's incredible. Like high school. So yeah, I keep my shit working and I'm cheap. Anyway.

Your references. You lived with dinosaur technology.

I have not progressed past 2010 in any sense.

Now it all makes sense.

Yeah. I'm like a caveman.

No, that series came out 2007.

That's right.

Right. Why did we dereal so quickly?

Because we're watching a show that you couldn't think of a pun for Bloom into you.

Yeah, I know nothing about it.

Good.

Yeah. So dana, why this pick? Why this week?

I know one thing about this show and that it's that it's gay. And that's it. That's all I know.

That's all we need.

Yeah. I honestly don't even know if it's good. I saw I mean, like pretty sure I heard good things about it, but I don't really know that much about it at all. So it's a shot in the dark.

I mean, those have always worked out so well for us.

Yes.

Do you know anything, dugan?

No, I just learned it's gay.

I think I saw a clip of it floating around, but I forgot the name of it until just now. But it's between an older woman, I guess is a bartender or something. She's behind a bar. Talk to like a younger girl about lesbian relationship or about loving someone of the same sex. I don't know if the specific lesbian.

I've seen this too.

Yeah, I think it was like kind of taken out and floating around a bit because it addressed an older gay person talking to a younger gay person about their situation, which is very rarely seen in anime, let alone, like most media. It's not forbidden, but it's just like, oh, you don't see this too often. And it was people were appreciating that. And that's kind of the only thing I know about this show.

Yeah. This show is also very recent. This was a 2018 release. So it makes sense that based on all the stuff that we've seen that's been older. We're getting this from the very fresh, very recent anime.

I was surprised to see there's already a dub for it, considering how new it is.

Yeah, the times are a changing.

They're pumping them out.

Yeah. With the Simon cast now there's what show is it? I think it's Space dandy aired the same time in Japan as it did in the Us. Like on tunami. So it was already dubbed when it launched. So it's kind of like with the Internet and simulcasting, they're able to do stuff at the same time. It's impressive technology. The wonders. It'll consume us all in PR downfall.

Can't wait.

Love it.

That's why I'm nice to the robots.

I'll make a good four hour downfall. Do we want to dive into this show?

Yeah, we're watching the first three episodes.

So gentle, so soothe, so soft, so gay.

Suge. I don't actually know what that means in Japan or Japanese.

Some soft gay girls. Let's go. Episode one.

I feel like it's an early 90s punk band. Soft gay girls.

Soft gay girls. I claim it.

Damn names. divs.

That's mine now. Copyright patent pending.

Patent pending.

It's a doll, too. We make dolls. Oh, okay.

Anyway, what is happening?

I know. So episode one, we are introduced to you. She is a first year in high school and she wishes that she could have a romance like the one she reads about in shojo manga and she hears about in love songs. But she feels like it's out of her reach. What a way to start.

I feel like this might be the most relatable character for an anime, is someone who beats too much manga and anime into those expectations.

I think I wrote the note that she has never felt it to this point in her life. So she feels like she never will, which I feel like is the thing that a lot of people in high school feel. And it's like, calm down, kid.

Yeah.

You're literally 14 years old.

You see all the stories and movies and stuff, and it's like, well, it happened for them, and if it's happening for them and not me, then this is the only chance and it's all over. It's always so dramatic.

Yeah, but so, yes, as I mentioned, she's a first year in high school. It's a little ways into the school year. They say the cherry blossoms are gone. All the trees are green now. And her friends are asking her what club she's thinking of joining. And she's like, I don't really know. I'm not really interested in anything. And her friends are like, well, her one friend is like, join the basketball club. Come on. And she's like, I'm not tall enough. And then the teacher overhearing. This is like, hey, why don't you join the student council? And she's like, maybe can I watch a meeting or something? And he's like, oh, hell yeah. I really need the help for the upcoming election. Thanks, you. She's like, son of a bitch. You got me.

You set me up, you motherfucker.

I liked this scene because since we were going into it blind, it's sort of the show discussing what type of anime are we? You want us to join the basketball team and make this a sports anime? Join student council and make it a political anime. You chose that one. Great.

I didn't think of it that way, but that's great.

I love that it's choosing your class in, like, a game or dnd.

Yeah, there's just so many high school things of, like, this specific club. She's like, do I join the Culture Club?

But I was thinking that I think Culture Club and student counselor are both just, like, ambiguous. And it's just like, here's an excuse to just hang out, like during school hours where basketball and like a sport. You're doing shit.

I mean, based on the student council we've seen in other anime, they seem very powerful, but what do they do? We don't know.

Ruin other students lives, apparently.

Fight each other for a rose bride.

Oh, yeah.

So she's given a drawn map to show where the student council room is. And it is apparently in the back of the school in the woods, which doesn't seem promising.

No. And skipping ahead a little, like when we finally see it, I'm like, man, this is a fucking rundown shack. It's not a nice building.

Yeah, council was supposed to be rich.

Where'S your money?

Yeah, poor.

Aren't you the most powerful organization in this city?

Can't you overthrow the military at the moment's notice?

But before she gets there, she rounds the corner to the back of the school where she sees a boy confessing to a girl. And she like, hides behind the wall. She's like, oh, no, I'm not supposed to be here. So the boy says, I love you. And the girl says, I'm really sorry. I don't feel the same way. And he says, yeah, I mean, I guess we're not a good match. And she's like, oh, no, don't take it that way. I just don't really want to date anybody. And he leaves.

Yeah, he's kind of the way he's kind of like, yeah, of course you turn me down. You're too good for me. She's like, yeah, hey, don't be so down on yourself. And wants to make it clear. It's like, it's not him. She's just not interested.

It's not you, it's me.

Yeah, but in that way it goes great.

Yeah, but so he walks away and she kind of turns around and she's like, I know someone's there. And you comes out and she's like, oh, my God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I'm trying to find the student council room. And she's like, oh, cool. Yeah, I'm going there too. I'll show you where it is. Oh. But before that, she tells her to keep what she saw a secret week. So they walk down this wooded path together. It's very nice. At which point I was thinking, I really like the background music in this show. It reminds me a lot of a Harvest Moon type of game.

That's a good comparison.

Yeah. Which makes me feel very nostalgic. Love those games.

Yeah. This show just the light piano in the background. It's definitely spa music. Just so gentle, so light. Just a twinkling little piano.

Everything about this show is just so gentle and so light.

You can tell it's not my pick.

But so they get to the building and yeah, it's a rundown. It used to be the room of the calligraphy Club, which doesn't exist anymore. So now it's the student council room, club, place building. And her name, the cool girl, the cute girl that was confessed to, her name is nanami. She introduces herself and then it's the next day. yu is hanging out with her friends again. And this happened in the beginning scene, too. She's looking at her phone. She's receiving texts from someone. And they kind of happened too fast for me to read because the characters are talking at the same time. But it is texts from a boy that confessed to her at the end of their junior year. Not junior year, the end of their junior high school career. That's what I wanted to say. But she talks to her friends about how there was a cool sempai, and her basketball friend is like, oh, my God, do you like somebody? And she's like, oh, no, the senpai is a girl. And she's like, ah, man nuts. darn it.

You can't like, girls can't be any love there. Moving on.

This is also when that friend says, like, oh, you should join the basketball club. There's a lot of cute boys. So kind of showing like, this friend likes basketball and it's kind of boy crazy.

Yeah, specifically about her senpai. But so her friends are having this conversation about boys, and I really like this imagery of the floor filling with water. And her friends just kind of drift away because that's just not something she can relate to. Because even though this boy confessed to her, she really doesn't feel anything toward him. She can't reciprocate his feelings, and it's something that she kind of feels bad for. It's interesting because she feels bad for not reciprocating his feelings like him specifically. But I think she also feels bad that she just can't feel that right now. And I think that's an interesting feeling as well.

Yeah. It's kind of just like it's the absence of feelings. It's not even like she's discussing or she does not rejection she's feeling. And it's not love she's feeling. It's just nothing. Which makes her question it even more.

Yeah. And she feels as though she can't talk about those feelings with her friends because they wouldn't understand. And then it's after school. She's back at the student council club. I guess I shouldn't say student council club. She's back there in the abandoned building, and there's a new girl there. Her name is sayaki. Her and Nunami are buds. I thought SAYAKA I think that's her.

First name, last name.

Maybe it's one of those.

Okay.

I don't know. I saw syaki.

Got it.

But I also saw her referred to as SAYAKA. I'm not really sure which switch, but so you is making them tea and coffee, and I'll call her SAYAKA. It's easier to say. She tells nanami that she knows that she rejected that boy, and she's like, who told you? And she's like, the boy you rejected.

Shit.

And she says that nanami has been confessed to at least ten times since she started her high school career. And I think they're only second years.

Yeah.

So that is pretty impressive. And then SAYAKA is like, hey, you, even some girls have confessed to Nunami. And nami is like, why would you tell her that?

Be cool.

And then I think SAYAKA is gone at this point. And you ask nanami, like, why she doesn't reciprocate anyone's feelings. And she says, every time someone's confessed to me, it just doesn't make my heart flutter. And that's how she wants to feel when she is when someone tells her their feelings for her. Which makes sense. Why would you want to be with someone that doesn't that you don't like?

She was the physical reaction. Like, when she hears something.

Yeah. To quote kuzu no Hong ki, is there anything more disgusting than someone having feelings for you that you don't have feelings for?

There's a lot of parallels between this show and that showed watching. I was kind of like, oh, shit. I wasn't expecting it.

Yeah, it was very dramatic. I wasn't expecting it to be. It is very light and gentle, but it's like drama. There's not a lot of comedy in it.

Yeah.

There's a lot of deep, emotional stuff going on for all the characters.

Yeah. So the boy from junior high tells you that he wants her answer by tomorrow, which is kind of shitty. He's like, I've been waiting a really long time. I think you should. I guess he's not saying, I deserve your love, but he's saying, like, I deserve an answer, which is fair.

Yeah. We find out later. He's been waiting over, like, a month.

Which I feel like if you're waiting that long, the answer is no. intuit that.

But sometimes if you like someone so much, you just kind of hold on to the hope, I guess.

And there are also some high schoolers, too.

Yeah, but so she kind of thinks about how nanami said what she said about, like, not feeling her heart flutter when people confess to her. So after school, she rushes to the student council room to talk to Nunami, and no one's there yet. And Nunami shows up, like, a second later, and she's like, hey, what's up? You're early. And then you is kind of like, Never mind. She, like, starts to ask, and then she's like, Never mind. It's fine. And then they sit down, they have some tea, and anami is like, you obviously want to talk about something. Like, I'll listen. You seem like you have something you want to say. So off camera, you tells her the whole story about this boy she knew in junior high. And Nunami is like, Well, I don't know him, so I can't tell you if you should date him. And you says, oh, it's not that I like him, but I don't want to be with him.

Definitely don't want to date.

Yeah. She says they spent time together outside of school. They always had a nice time, but it's not how she pictured things. She says that when he confessed to her, I loved this too. There's a lot of imagery in the show. I loved that. She said when she reads Shojo manga and listened to these love songs, she could tell that these people felt like they were, like, flying, and that's how she wanted to feel when someone confessed to her. But she said when he said that, her feet stayed firmly on the ground. And I was like, I like that. I don't know why. It just like, woo. I loved it. So she tells nanami that, and nanami says, Perfect. Tell him that. You should be able to tell him how you feel just as he told you how he feels. And he calls, and she freaks out a little bit. And then nami holds her hand, and they keep holding hands while she has this conversation with him. They squeeze. Love it. And she says, I'm sorry I don't like you. And the boy just says, thank you. And he sounds kind of relieved.

Yeah, I think that shows that after waiting a month on for his answer, he kind of accepted it was no, but he just wanted the solid confirmation, so it sounds like he already moved on and we never see him again. So I don't even know if he's in this high school. He might have gone to a different.

School, but yeah, even though he just had this one line of dialogue in this conversation, you could feel, like, just.

The weight off of his shoulders.

Yeah.

It reminds like a ghost being freed.

Thank you.

And actually, for both of them, they're just like, oh, sick. This is finally yeah.

She says, thank you for me, too. And then they keep holding hands. And I was like, it's already happening.

Oh my God.

And anami is like, so you just you didn't feel anything for him? And she's like, no. And she's like, cool. And she pulls her into an embrace and she's like, I think I'm falling in love with you. And then you're like, what? Okay.

Hey, I've known you for 4 hours.

Yeah, it's weird. Like, this is the second day no, third day. This is the third day they spent together. But still, like, I don't know. I guess her feelings for her were just very overwhelming that she was just like, I've never felt this way about anybody in my life. I must be in love with you. Yeah, there's like, some credits and then there's more. But yes, say what you were going to say.

Yeah, it just felt sort of out of the blue with how deeply she felt, like, right off the bat. Like, if this was episode, like, six. Okay, but this is like halfway through or towards the end of episode one.

Yeah, I was surprised.

But I also point out since I watched the dub sub dub in the dub nanami, I wrote toko a whole in the notes.

Yeah, I did the same.

So in the dub, she's toko, but she says, I'm feeling the fireworks. She's saying, I have this feeling. But in the sub, she just straight up says, like, I think I'm falling in love with you. And it's like, that's a big difference in translation. Like, that implication is pretty big.

I feel like to say I'm feeling the fireworks, though. It's such a weird thing to say, but I guess it's not realistic.

It's like they're high schoolers and they don't know how to verbalize stuff yet.

Wow, what a concept.

Well, it was going back to she was saying when someone asked me out, I want to feel like I wanted to feel like fireworks. So it's just calling back to an earlier line.

Got you.

I feel like the sensation of, like, I have an interest in this person and I think I'm falling in love with you are pretty different. And you've lost in translation there.

Yeah, but after this weird mid episode credits, there's more. They're in the student council room and there are more student council members that just have three absent until now. And they're talking about the election that's going to happen. And they show you is kind of like, why is Nunami just being normal now? She said she's falling in love with me. What the heck? And then they show a scene, like, right after she says she's falling in love with her. She's like, you know what? That was a joke. I'm so sorry. Goodbye.

This is a fun prank. I pull it on all the new members.

Forget about it.

I'm also in the improv club. It's a bit I do with new people. I see.

Yes.

I'm all about performance art.

You'll learn that about me.

Oh, gosh. And then you is like, I mean, we're both girls, so it's nothing that I should be worried about. Right? This is my favorite thing in anime, when they're like, we're both girls, so it's fine. Boys, so it can't mean anything.

We're both girls. Let's just, like, kiss and hold hands all the time, right?

It's fine.

It's great, right?

Yeah. And everyone in the club is like, yeah, nani is probably going to get elected because she's great and everyone loves her. And then nami asks you to help out with her campaign and be her campaign manager. We'll have to spend a lot of time together. I hope that's okay with you. gee, I wonder why. And that's episode one.

Yeah, it was very weird that they put this vital scene in a post credit scene.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then we later find out that that's not the usual credit. That was like the first episode credits, which were just it was just white with credit scrolling. Like no visuals at all. But then there are visuals for all the other credits in the rest of the season.

And there was five minutes left in the episode, and I was like, how much how many people were going after this?

Yeah. Like, why did they make the credits that you needed to sit through? Because they needed you to not change to learn this vital information on the series. Why did they make those the most boring credits out of all of them, the ones you want to sit through the least?

I'm wondering, though, because there was a lot of different things. Like, dana pointed out the water kind of as you is drifting away from the conversation. And there was a lot of first person perspective shots done in this. So I feel like the budget was maybe significantly higher for the first episode, or maybe the show they knew was going to be only one season, so they're just like, we can pace out the budget better. Because I was expecting it to be in the whole series, but it seemed like it was just in the first episode of these kind of higher caliber animation shots in the first episode. So I was impressed by them. But it was kind of like, that's interesting. And I'm thinking maybe that's why they did the different credits. Maybe they had a different studio specifically working on some of those shots. Or maybe this is like the big pilot they show to different studios or networks to get picked up. And this is kind of the first episode is kind of like the big deal. And then the rest kind of whatever.

Yeah. Especially if it would be a pilot having her confess to her this early. That would make sense.

It sinks you in.

But it still bugs me if they're like, okay, pilot, we really got to sell this. Oh, let's cram all the plot into post credit scenes. Yeah, we forgot to get the whole episode. Let me put it in the last four minutes real quick. We don't need to recut anything. I'll just plop it in at the end.

After the credits is fine.

All right. I finished the episode. It's 17 minutes. Fuck. Just tack it off.

They're going to hang out.

Do you want to put the scene before the credits?

No, there's no time.

There's no time.

Marvel is really popular right now. They do post credit scenes. Let's just do what they do.

We're in the car. Going to the pitch meeting right now.

Yeah. Don't, you know, bloom into you? You have to wait until after the credit.

It's part of the mcu. It's canonical.

Love it.

Yeah. Nick Fury is on the talk to.

You about the avengers and initiatives.

You two small high school girls. Anyway, also pointed out, SAYAKA Nunami is, like, best friend up to this point was also there. She's like, oh, are you going to be the campaign someone asked her like, oh, are you going to be the campaign manager? She's like, no, but I'll continue to support Nunami as I usually do. I was just like, oh, as you always do. Drama right off the bat. So then we start with episode two opens with you friends saying one of her friends she has, like, two friends she talks to all the time in class. And one of them just saying, like, oh, she doesn't like cute things because they're too cute. She thinks not cute things are cute. And it was just like I don't know. It was kind of a weird opening end that I were talking in detail about it. I was kind of confused. But she just has this grossly, slug, like, phone charm. She's like, see, it's cute because it's not cute.

That's me. I love shit like that.

I was just like, it's just high school, and it confusing. I'm just like, you like what? You like you can't say the same word over and over again. It loses meaning eventually. But at this point, we see you face down on her desk, and she's just miserable. Ask her, like, hey, you. Why are you so miserable? She's just kind of overwhelmed with the campaign a manager stuff, or at least the idea of doing it. She's like, we got to do this. Then I got to send out posters. Then I got to do interviews with the paper. Then we got to do this, and we got to give a speech. And she's like, it's too much already, and I don't want to do it. And her friends say, oh, why don't you just turn down anami's offer? She's like, I did. She won't let me. She really wants me to be the manager. Like, oh, wow. This Nunomi girl really likes you. And she's like her friends also say, like, oh, this anomaly. Girls like, yeah, we don't know why it's like, wow.

You'Re kind of boring. Good friend.

I mean, friends give French shit all the time, so I'm not surprised. But just like, that's true.

You loser would hang out with you.

And we also see at the same time, Nunami and saiyaka are number one and two in their class, respectively. So they're both on the student council and very smart and very popular and just the perfect match.

But they won't.

And then we have the open. You figures that naomi has much better options for a campaign manager. And that's when we get the flashback of, like, I think I'm falling in love with you. And I just like, what? Why would you translate that differently in the double? Just kind of freaking out there in my notes. And as he's walking away out of class, we say, siaka, give her, like, a look. Give her, like, a shot. Just like oh, SAYAKA, loves the nami. And this gay love triangle is starting off right away.

Here it comes.

It's very clear. And then we get the opening. And we also didn't get the opening in the first episode. So this is the first episode we get with the opening. And it's just kind of like the main cast in different shots in the classroom with just flowers everywhere and on them.

I love it.

I mean, it was neat. It just kind of confusing. I was lost in the message, I suppose.

I love flowers very much, my aesthetic. But also, the show is called Bloom Into You. Flowers.

Kind of forgot that for a minute. I'm an idiot.

But there's also, like, the water like that recurring water motif.

Yeah. Filling it, like the room around the ankles. But there's also a shot of Nunami and SAYAKA, like, sitting at a desk. And SAYAKA goes to reach for Nunami and she gets up and walks away. She's about to touch. So I'm just, like, super gay, like, really hammering at home early on.

I'll be honest. I was running late to watch these and I skipped the intro, so I did not watch it.

Let's just talk about the opening for the rest of the episode.

So we had the first shot of you and her two friends in the class diagonally. Her one friend has daisy. No, the opening and endings were good. They weren't like anything like I'm trying to think of one show we did where it was just like, fuck this jam pumps. It wasn't anything like that. They were very nice. Yeah, it was a smile bomb, but they were good. So opens up the episode with SAYAKA and Nunami and gym class. And I wrote down this is one of the very few, very few anime I've seen where the girls gym class aren't into the sweatshirts with the super short short, basically underwear.

They were wearing real gym shorts.

Yeah, they like jumper, like a coat on and then just basketball shorts or something. And it's. Kind of like it always confuses me with that in anime. I'm like the short bikini briefs for, like, girls gym class. Like, those can't be real, right? For a regular Japanese gym class, that feels so inappropriate. Like, that always confuses me.

I'm just, like, impractical.

Yeah, it's so confusing.

You don't want your thighs to rub together.

So Jim clatter playing volleyball, and anomie is doing great at it, and she notices SAYAKA kind of moping on the side. So she comes on, comes over, talks to her, like, hey, what's up? And SAYAKA is pretty blunt with it. Just saying, like, oh, I thought I'd be your campaign manager because we're always doing stuff together and we're so in sync and stuff. But I guess if you want to put your trust in another girl, okay, that's cool. And the nami is just like, it'd.

Be a shame if something happened to your campaign.

Pulls out a knife. No. So nanomi is saying, like, oh, I wanted you to be my campaign manager because she's a first year, so she'll help get the first year kind of involved in the election. Because they're coming into a new school. They're kind of overwhelmed. They might not get involved in it right away, so this will help.

Do you think the title of the show is supposed to be a pun because bloom Into You?

I think so.

Maybe you is growing as a person, like a flower. Because we see in later episodes I love that we can sort of see a transition, like, inner character between the first and third episode we watch.

Yeah. Sorry to interrupt. That just Shawned on me.

No, that's a good point.

What is the Japanese name of this show? Because does it work in that context?

Hold on.

Bloom into you cham, despite how much anime I watch, I am just atrocious in anything Japanese. We know.

We've heard you say a name.

Wow.

Yagata Kiminadu.

It doesn't work.

Well, good job for whoever dubbed this to make that a solid pun.

Yeah, there you go. So nanomi saying, like, I want you as my manager to get the first years involved. And because she's also new, I think it'll give a fresh perspective on the school and the council and me personally. So it won't be the people that are in the same grade as naomi, who know her as the smartest and number one ranked and the coolest and prettiest and asked that all the time. It'll kind of give fresh eyes and, like, a real perspective of her. So she's saying, I chose her for a reason. It wasn't just because I like her. And while she's saying that, volleyball gets passed over and she catches it and throws it back into the court, and her hair gets undone the whole time she's talked to her. And when she throws the ball back, SAYAKA comes off and puts her hair back in a ponytail without even being asked. To or saying anything, showing that she's always supporting her. And I thought that was a really.

Good they're so in sync. They love each other. They're best friends.

And that's when Saga says, I guess you want to put more trust in another girl than me. And she walks away. And then they start playing volleyball. They go back into the game and they're hitting the ball, and they're like, I got to catch it. I got it. And the classmates say, like, oh, you're just so in sync. And after the game, Anonymity comes on torrents to. You see, I think our trust is deep enough. I think we have plenty of trust with each other. So it's nothing personal. I didn't choose your campaign manager. It's like, we cool. Yeah, okay. Strikes it off. So just so much unrequited love. Just so much. And after class, sock, it goes up to you and the nami's in the back, but she gives you the campaign speech that she already had a rough draft written off because she assumed she'd be the campaign manager. And she basically says, like, hey, you'll need this. You don't have to read the whole thing. You can just take points from it and work it for yourself. But you're going to have to give a speech introducing and kind of nominating nunami as the election nominee. So good luck with that. And you and nunami walk home. And nanami sorry, I'm going to pause every time I get to the name because I wrote toko everywhere.

Yeah, I did the same. So expect that in the next episode too.

Yeah, toko is her last name. Yeah, I wrote nanami just because I like it better.

Because you're on that familial level.

Yeah.

We went to middle school together. She rejected my advances.

We're best friends now. I just don't want my hero academia, where everyone's got 13 names and confusing enough for listeners. Too late. So after class or walking home, Anami says or you says anami is, like, so pushy. And it's kind of, like, surprised, like, how pushy she was for wanting you to be a campaign manager. She's like, I was certain I wanted you, so I kept pushing for it. Normally I'm not like that, but I definitely wanted you to be my campaign manager. And you brings up, like, okay, it wasn't the whole I'm falling in love with you lying. And then I was kind of, like, calling me out of my shit, and you just kind of saying, like, oh, I kind of knew what you meant. I didn't take it in a weird way. Wasn't weird, but we're both girls, so that can't happen. He says, like, I'm not the type to fall in love with anyone anyway. And as they're saying that, they're crossing, like, train tracks, and you start getting into the train track signals, like, as the bars are coming down. And then we get a shot of the train coming and right when you says, I can't see myself falling in love with anyone. naomi stops, and he kind of bumps into her, like, oh, you stopped. And I don't know about you guys the whole time, though, they kept cutting away from them and, like, the train. And right when the nami stops, I was like, oh, they're still on the tracks.

You're going to get hit by a train.

They're about to be smushed. And I feel like that's definitely intentional. They did that. But we later see a shot like, no, they got off the tracks. They're fine. But it does showcase that when the nami stopped, she turned around, and right as the train is passing them and kind of cuts off the view from everyone behind them, the nami kisses you. And she says, well, I read that exact line. She says, My love is something where I want to do something like this, and my heart races when I'm around here. So this is a scene where everything slows down and everything kind of turns pink for a bit. It's like, real dramatic. It's the first kiss.

If we're talking about imagery, though, isn't that like a saying, like, hit you like a train? Yeah, I feel like that's what that kiss did to you.

Yeah, that could definitely work. I saw it more as because we also got a shot of, like, students behind them being blocked off when the bar went down. So I was thinking more of like a blocker so they couldn't see two girls kissing because it's forbidden. So that's kind of how I saw it. But it did also add to the element kind of tension of the ramping up the train, the horn, them, the quick cuts, so it builds up the tension for that small scene. So they start walking again, and you ask yourself, like, what do I do? Because she clearly is not in love with naomi as much as nunami is in love with her. And the next day, he's reading sayaka's speech, and it's perfect. She says, Everyone start show up for having, like, a brief introduction meeting with the council. And the nami wants to talk after meeting with you. And they have the meeting and introduce everyone, all the candidates, blah, blah, blah. And after the meeting, they're on, like, a balcony. And the nami apologized for the kiss yesterday. He's like, no, I wasn't bothered by it first. It's not the reason I asked you to be my campaign manager. And kind of ask, can I ask you again as a friend to a friend, if you'd be my campaign manager? And he's just kind of like, all right, sure. It's definitely because you like me, though you could say that's not the reason, but that's the reason. And we see you walking home, and she's thinking to herself, like, she's not mad that a girl stole her first kiss, as she put it. But she also wasn't excited about it either. She kind of doesn't feel anything about it. And that's what kind of I don't know if it scares her more, but kind of perturbs her more than anything is that she's not upset or excited. And then we get a few we get a little montage with them campaigning together. And then they're in Newspaper Club being interviewed by the paper because they're the candidates and campaign manager. And he says her being a first year is in hopes of kind of gives them what nunami said in hopes of getting the first years involved and seeing it from their perspective. And it's during the interview that you looks at nunami and sees how calm she is during the whole interview process while you was nervous. So she's kind of like, oh, kind of realizing that's what made her think they were the same or kind of what made her special. And when she initially met nunami and when they both said that they hoped to fail, a certain feeling when someone confesses to them, for nunami it was like fireworks. For you, it was like walking on air, floating. She's like, oh, that's what makes us the same. But after the kiss and after Anomie's confession, he's realizing like, no, they're not the same. They're actually kind of different. They're just similar. And the newspaper is getting a group photo of all the candidates and their managers. And he's like, can you squeeze in a little more get together as a lot of you and nunami and you bump hands and nunami is blushing, so she's already all hot and bothered by it. And right as the picture is about to be taken, you grabs Nunami's hand and she just holds her hand during that time. And while doing that, we see You's eyes kind of go blank, like kind of zooms in her eyes and goes blank. And this is where she remembers nanomi saying that she wants her heart to flutter. And then all of a sudden that memory gets like real staticy. It kind of rays out. And then we see you remembering her saying she wants the sensational walking on air, floating. And then that memory starts getting like staticy and phasing out. At this point I was like, oh, they're dying. This is when they die. Or like time is erasing something's happening. This is like just the plot element of the horror because I'm just oh.

It'S a horror animal. Yeah, got it.

Dokey dickie. Literature called really fucks you up, guys.

I love it.

It fucks you up.

If this turned into that, I'd be down.

I'd be on board too. But I was expecting just like a tender palate cleanser of an anime. And it's like, oh no, we're going to get you again. haha twist.

And that still lost on me. I'll get there eventually, someday.

Well, you should play it. It's free on steam.

Yeah, I'm scared.

It's also terrible, you'll know, if you.

Like it within, like, 2 hours of playing it or something. Something like that. We won't talk about it just because spoil it as little as possible. Yes. Thank you. Yeah, so, yeah, it's at these moments where the memories are getting, like, staticy, and we kind of come back to the present day, and it's after the photo, and you let's go over hand, and you kind of thinking to herself, it's not fair that she says it's not fair, but it kind of applies. It's not fair that naomi gets to have these heart flutter feelings and all these love feelings, but you doesn't. She doesn't feel any of this. And it's not fair that she's not getting the positive emotions tied to it that naomi is getting.

I like it. She seems like she feels betrayed because she's like, what the hell? You told me that you don't understand romance as much as I don't, but here you are having the romance for me, and I don't have it for you. What the fuck?

Yeah, but she's also not but she's also not angry in the Navy. She's like, how dare you? She's not putting it on her. She's just like it seems like she's aware of that it's my body or brain just not reacting, and I can't do anything about it. So I like that she didn't internalize anger or externalize it towards anomi. She's kind of like, this isn't fair, and kind of not content with it, but she's not, like, fighting. And when you get home, she gets a text from the nami saying, like, hey, tomorrow on the way home, can we stop and talk about her speech and go over it? And she just kind of says, like, yeah, sure. Okay. And then throws her phone and then pops back down on her bed, listening to headphones, and it's kind of just really zoning out. And you can tell at this point she doesn't feel the same way nami feels for her. And she had a line that says, I had selfish expectations, and I'm selfishly disappointed. I was just like, Fuck me. That line is good. That's a good line. So we get to the next day. On the way, they stop at the cafe, and before you can really say anything, she tries to bring it up, and then they get cut off by the waitress. And then right after, nanami brings up so he's like, hey, I'm not going to ask you out. And I know you don't think of me in a special way, and I'm not expecting you to, but I'm hoping you will let me love you. Because I do feel that way about you. And I am getting satisfaction from it and fulfillment from it, even if you aren't. And you kind of says, okay, I guess I don't mind. If that's what makes you happy, you can keep doing it.

I can't really stop you.

Yeah. And then I kind of, like, thanks her for it. And you thinks, like, man, this girl's really unfair. She gets to fall in love, but I don't. And it's just like, Fuck, man. And this is the ending we get that's different. And the whole cast, it's you and anomie talking through cups and string. And then as we follow the string, it goes through, like, the whole cast of the show. And the song is really poppy, kind of electronic. And it's like, this is nice. This is a lot better than the.

Last upbeat music we hear this entire series.

And that's episode two.

Yeah.

So for episode three, we start out. yu is working on the speech, and all of her friends are like, so you should join student council. I assume you're joining student council since you're already doing it all anyways. And she's still hesitant. So we get the opening credits. And then we cut to you and nanami sharing a drink and walking home from school.

Indirect kissing spit.

I thought this would have been a.

Bigger scene than it was, but, yeah, they're walking home. They get to where they part ways, but nunami is like, hey, I'll keep walking with you because I'm going on a break soon, so I want to get a book. So I'm going to this bookstore. Weird. So they keep on walking. They get to the bookstore and surprise, you's family owns the bookstore.

Got you.

Love it.

It's a trap.

So we get to see you very embarrassed as naomi sort of meets her family for the first time. Her grandma runs the bookstore and her mom is there working. So they all meet.

Nanami says it's secret grounds. It's like, Damn, girl, chill. I know you're into me, but I'm like, Relax. Yeah.

She's freaking out, like, oh, I didn't want to over set my boundaries. We're hanging. That's cool. Chill. So, yeah, then that night, Hughes whole family is having dinner and her older sister is there giving her shit because her mom and grandma are talking about how nice nunami was. And her older sister is like, oh, did you bring a boy over? Is it your boyfriend? She's like, no, it's a girl. Oh, so is it your girlfriend?

Love. That the first acceptance in this show.

Undercut 2 seconds late. When he was like, no, she's not my girlfriend. And her dad's like, oh, thank God. I couldn't deal with that. It's like, oh, boy. Great.

What if my daughter were gay? Oh, no.

It's interesting because we do get a lot of implied two girls can't date or two boys can't like each other. That's silly. Ha ha. Kind of implied homophobia in some of the anime. This is like, I believe, the first one I can think of, or at least first one we've watched where a character Saturday says, like, oh, thank God. So overtly against it.

So, yeah, that sort of helps establish where you're coming from the next day. Or later on, you meets friends at the mall, they're out having a fun time, doing some shopping, and they go.

To see girl stuff.

Gals beam pals.

Gals beam galsbeam pals. So, yeah, they go to see a romance movie, and her friend akari is a little bit weird about it, but she's like, okay, we'll go. And then afterwards, they're talking about the movie, having some lunch, and akari was like, yeah, that's not great timing because I just got rejected. I believe akari is the basketball friend.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yeah. So akari took the shot.

Basketball, three points honoree.

Shaquille got rejected from the guy she.

Likes, but the guy also said, I kind of want to focus on basketball right now. I'm not really into dating right now. And she says, Well, elisa wasn't another girl, so there's still hope.

Yeah, basically just put on hold, but still hurts that rejection.

When she says there's still hope that he didn't outright reject me, I'm kind of waiting for an answer. The two other friends are like, you just got to keep at it. Just keep going for it. And eventually you'll get them, like, sure. And he kind of says, like, maybe it's just an excuse because he couldn't say no right away.

Yeah, or maybe not.

It's a polite put down.

Yeah. And the two friends kind of chastise you for saying that. How could you say that now? What are you talking about?

It's like, See, that's what I am, that friend where I'm like, Maybe they just don't like you. I had a friend, her boyfriend broke up with her, and she was like, he didn't even want to talk about it. He didn't even want to hear my side of things. And I was like, well, if someone doesn't want to be with you anymore, they don't want to be with you anymore. Like, no offense, but you don't get a say in that conversation.

You can't really after someone breaks up with you, like, lawyer your way back into a relationship.

Yeah.

And I feel like you is just trying to be realistic of being like, maybe he just doesn't like you, especially.

Since she just had to do that with the other guy, and then she's kind of going through that with nunami, so she's got first hand experience. The shitty thing is, with a relationship, you don't really need a reason to end things. It could simply be, I don't feel like being in this relationship anymore. And as shitty as a reason as that is, that's enough of a valid, valid reason. Also, the two friends, when they were talking about the movie, they were saying, like, oh, it's so frustrating seeing two characters clearly in love with each other, not omitting their feelings, and kind of like, beating around the bush, and it's just like, ha ha, the meta joke.

Clever.

So good. But yet you'll continue to do the trophy stuff. You can poke fun of the tropes, but you're still going to follow those tropes, aren't you? Chill.

You can't be slick and fall through the same trap. So, yeah, then we see nanami is at the bookstore, sort of hesitant to go in, and you is working and just going out for the outside display and sees her holding a bag. And she's like, hey, what are you doing? You already got the book you said you needed. Why are you here?

Why are you in my face? Why am I dealing with you right now?

Why am I seeing you?

She kind of did have an attitude.

Yeah.

I feel like she was being a little smug, like, oh, I see. You're not just here for a book. You a little wire. But, yeah, she got a present for her. We see. It's a little planetarium projector, and they're talking about feelings as they do in every scene.

I like you a lot.

Really? Wow.

Neat.

Haven't heard that one yet.

Cool joke.

But yeah. So it's a little planetarium projector that shoots up stars, and you sets it up in her bedroom and sort of just fantasizes about the space of it all. And then we're ready for the student council speech. We see the auditorium filled with kids and this boring guy sort of just droning on eda.

Any anime character glasses, I'm calling eda.

That's fair.

Yeah.

So, yeah, he finishes up his speech and then we see SAYAKA, talk with nanomi and you sort of last minute, hey, don't fuck it up. And they remark about how chill nunami is and has been throughout all of this. So you and nunami step outside to talk before they go up for their speech?

Yeah. When you're reflecting on how amazing nunami is, she sees her hand kind of shaken a little.

Yeah. So she's like, hey, there's something going on. Let's chat. So they step outside and it turns out nunami is just very cool at hiding how uncool she feels about everything because she is very nervous and sort of freaking out about how much everyone will rely on her as president and how much everyone relies on her already.

How relatable is this?

Wow.

For me, very okay.

No one relies on me. It's great. I love it.

I'm a lone wolf, baby.

I'm a lone wolf, baby.

I spend all day, I feel throwing around. I don't do shit all day. It's great.

But, yeah, you sees naomi freaking out and was like, oh, okay, there's stuff going on. And you give her her support and all that fun stuff. And then we finally get you going up for the speech, sort of saying the speech out loud of why nunami is going to be a great president. But in her head, she keeps thinking, like, oh, but she's freaking out. She's so stressed. Everyone relies on her and she has no one to rely on. So while she's giving the speech, she improvises a little bit and says that she's announcing that she's also going to go out for student council and finally makes up her mind about that because she figures everyone's relying on nunami who needs someone to support her. So she will be that support.

Love it.

It's very cute.

I will say back when they were outside, we get a little bit more of Nunami's like backstory, saying she was always very bland and average and uninteresting. And then something happened. We never specify what you even says. You said something happened. What was that moment? She's like, well, after that I decided to study really fucking hard and be like the best of my grade and become this new person. And Anami kind of midst of saying, I made this kind of new persona for me to be like the cool, popular, smart girl in class. And she puts her head on your shoulder and it's kind of like really just advancing and kind of letting it out. And nami says like, whatever I do, you don't hold it against me. And we see the color screen pop up with text on saying that's why she chose me. So it's kind of you realizing the reason she likes being with me is because she can be honest. Basically.

That'S where we end off.

Episode three, she does get elected president.

Yeah. It ends with the results being posted on bulletin board.

Yay yay. Good for her.

But yeah, that's where we're at.

Yeah, I have something to say. I have feelings about the show. Can you believe?

What? Who would have guessed?

I know. I talked about cousin oh, hongki before. And you did mention, brenton, that it omits emits. emits. A similar vibe, similar tone, similar feeling. And I agree, especially in the sense that this relationship that nanami and you are building is not very healthy.

At least right now.

At least right now. But it's also not great to build a relationship on any unhealthy.

Yeah, but we kind of get hints at the end of the third episode. It's you looking up and remembering the advice her friend gave to the basketball friend saying if you just keep going at it and keep trying, maybe like one day you'll get it. And earlier in the second episode, you friends say like, yeah, you kind of drag your feet at first, but whenever you get into something, you get deep into it. And they were kind of saying that about the student council, saying once she joins, she'll probably be president too, and then she'll be president for like four years or whatever, saying she'll get deeply involved once she is invested. So I think those are both lines kind of setting up you for saying like, if she can eventually grow to feel anomaly as special or like kind of have a symbiotic relationship with nanomi instead of a one sided relationship that she would be deeply invested in that too if she could get to that point. But it's also not saying she has to get to that point. It's not like forcing her to do it, but I think that's where she's trying to get to by the third episode.

Yeah, I mean, I can see where it's heading. I did read some stuff about the last episode only because I remembered a scene with the relationship they were building right now. I remembered a scene, I think, from a different anime. I saw it a while ago, and I could not find the clip again. It was like women at a train station, and they were, like, running into each other. They knew each other from high school. And one of them was like, hey, I'm sorry I made you this way, insinuating that they had a gay relationship while they were in high school. And she was like her senpai. And she was like, I'm sorry I made you this way. And then she's like, you don't have to be sorry. And then she walks off with her girlfriend. And I thought maybe that it was, like, the end of this, but it wasn't, which I kind of felt disappointed about.

That does sound familiar because I feel.

Like that would be a satisfying ending for you to be like, hey, fuck you. I was going to like girls anyway. bye. Just because I personally don't like I don't like seeing relationships that are built on, like, obsession. naomi is not in a healthy place with how she feels for you at this moment. And I feel like you is just feeling pressured to like her. But I am interested in seeing where it goes because it is so similar to Kuznonkai, because I like that show very much, even though it's full of unhealthy terrible relationships.

Yeah.

So I would keep watching this.

I got to finish that show.

Yeah. I also did a little bit of research because I was getting some different vibes from it. And this show has been sort of praised for the depiction of asexual relationships and sort of that side of it because in the first episode, I got some hints from the scene of them in the student council clubhouse. It's really pointing out how gray naomi's eyes are. She has gray hair, and the only English text we see that's native to the show is them drinking earl Gray tea. So it's a really big arrow, big signal for gray asexuality, which is sort of the asexual region. That's the wrong word. distinguishing factor of sometimes feelings for people, but most of the time not. And sort of that establishing of, I've never had feelings for anyone except for you. This is the first time. And that's sort of why it's hitting so hard for her, is it's like the first time she felt attraction to another person? I am not as familiar with the asexual community, so I'm mostly getting this from what I've read online. But, yeah, a lot of people are identifying with you as an. Asexual person because she's like I've been told through all the media that this is supposed to be such a great feeling of falling in love, but I've never had that and I never think I will. And sort of that angle to it. So I'm interested to see where the show goes and where it takes it. Because that is not something we see in any stories.

Especially Japanese stuff, which is typically more conservative because like you said, two girls swelling in love. That can't happen. It's so common. Yeah, I was surprised the point outs with the nami and the asexual tendencies with that I assumed she was a lesbian, but she just wasn't attracted to any of the girls that have confessed to her at this point. But that is a good point. I definitely saw this as you being asexual, especially when we get those memories. Just like kind of getting staticy and gray of just saying of her specifically saying like, I'm not mad, I'm not excited, though. I'm nothing and I hate it. That's kind of like, oh, that's brutal. So I definitely saw those depictions of asexuality. And it is interesting, especially because we don't see it. I can't say I specifically hunt any of this stuff out, but the only depiction I can think of, of any asexuality in any show is the bojack horseman.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's what I was going to say. That was like the most excited I ever was watching bojack horseman when he was like, I think I don't want sex. I was like, you mean fuck yeah.

Talk. It's also one going to make me wait until next season for more info.

One of the very few moments of that show that aren't horribly depressing.

Yeah, that's why excited.

Also spoilers for bojack horseman.

I mean, sorry. If you like that show, you would have seen them. That show sucks you in. I watched it in two weeks.

Yeah, I watched this is like two.

Anyways, get with the times.

Anyway, back to anime girls.

Would you keep watching? You kind of made it seem like you would.

I'm interested. I'll be frank. I found the show to be boring.

Yeah.

Now that new dynamics are being brought into play, I'm interested to see how those play out. But I'm not super into watching more of the show because number one, it is very boring. It's just very gentle. It's just all soft conversations. It made me feel like I was in film school again.

My art piece, French New Wave film.

Especially in the first few episodes of like I'm getting now why nanami reading it with the asexual angle is so immediately like, oh, this is love. I found it. I found it. Finally. That makes more sense. But going through it the first time without that lens in place yet was just like, okay, this just feels like very trophy romance of they've known each other for 2 hours and she's deeply in love.

Yeah, but it's trophy stuff like that that always annoys me. But I always try to keep in mind they are high schoolers. They are like fresh out of middle school. At least you is. And it's elements like that where it's just like especially in horror movies, it's like, oh, why would a character make such a dumb decision? It's like, well, in the moment when you're full of adrenaline, it's scared for your life. You're going to make an impulse decision. And usually it's the bad one. And if you're a dumb high schooler full of hormones, you can fall in love with anyone at the drop of a hat. I remember a girl brushing against my shoulder in high school and I started getting a crush on it takes nothing. Also, that's not everyone's case, too, but it's very common, especially with the hormones. And they're all new experiences and your body's changing through puberty. So I can understand, like, I would be more concerned if a 45 year old was in a show and they're just like, oh, I dropped my phone and she picked it up and she's destined to be my wife. It's like, yo, dude, chill. I would definitely pump the voice. I'd definitely be more skeptical if it was like a full grown adult experiencing that level of just immediate attraction. I love scrubs, but the main character, not jd, falls in love with girls at that drop of a hat level. So it's just like fucking relaxed. The writing is not great there, but with high scores, I can definitely see that more, and especially because it's all new, so they're not just like I like that person immediately start banging in and it gets like, brilliant. They go slowly. They're very nervous about every little thing. Even just touching hands. It's a big element. So I can see that more with the high school students, but it is still kind of annoying.

Yeah. So this is something I would look into where it goes before I continue watching because I think it's a longer series. I think it's like 30 something. I can't remember how many episodes were about that.

Hold on.

Are you sure you can get to it faster?

Because I thought I saw it was more than 1213 13. Oh, damn.

Just beep.

Okay, so that argument is off the table now.

Why won't you watch it?

Yeah, just kidding. I don't know. I'd like to look into it. This is a show. I would be fine. Getting spoiled for me because I'd like to know it's going somewhere interesting rather than they have a tepid on off relationship for eight more episodes and then they finally get together. We knew it was going to get there, but you want to make sure.

Your time is not wasted because you're so limited of it and you have to get back to re watching buffy for the fifth time. So it's wow.

Wow. Okay. All right.

What a personal attack.

I just sorry. I am re watching both crazy ass girlfriend and trailer park boys. They are very important.

I realize that about myself. I'm rewatching Full Metal, alchemist. I'm like, I could be watching a new show. I could be watching finishing segment's Wish instead of just watching Full Metal for the third time. But that's what I do.

I need to keep procrastinating from finishing sekiro.

I think for me, I got two monitors on my computer. I think it's one of those shows, especially since it is dubnail. I might just put it on a second monitor because there's not a ton of action. I don't need to be watching it the whole time. And I can just check over whenever it sounds like something's getting intense. So I might watch it as a background sort of show.

Yeah, that makes sense. I feel like I would do the.

Same because this is very pleasant, very beautiful, and the music is nice, but it's very common. So it could be a good wind down.

Yeah. Well, all right.

That's a strong minute.

Yeah.

Sort of how you feel about nami is how I feel about this show.

She's nice.

I don't love her, but she's nice.

Even though she has a gap tooth, I still think she's sorry. That's a trixie mattel joke. All right, what's happening?

What we have going on next week, Brendan?

Oh, man. If you just want the cool, chill out, pleasant piano overture, like music going the whole time with like, nice calming tones, you're shit out of luck. Because next week is my birthday and we're watching the first digima movie because fuck yeah. That movie is hot and on YouTube for free. And I fucking love it. That is my childhood nostalgia. I won't even try to deny it.

This is yourzoids oh, fuck yeah.

Because none of my friends like ditch Monster. This one was very personal to me. And even going back and rewatching some of it, it's still good. The early ones are still real trophy and stuff. But the writing is a shit look better than pokemon ever has been. Well, maybe in the new pokemon is pretty good, but the writing is much better and more intense. People should die in digimon and stuff. And the movie lit the movie is three smaller, like, short films just combined into one when it was released in America. So it's got like three clearly defined acts. So I'm looking forward to it and it's going to be fun as fuck.

All right.

Hell yeah.

Party time, everyone. All right. Well, thank you for joining us this week. If you have a show as special to you as digimon is to Brendan, send it our way. And you can tweet your anime suggestions to us at Are We There Yet? On Twitter and Instagram. Or you can reach out to our email arwibaria@gmail.com. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram at mr. Patrick dugan.

You can find me on instagram at queen. Period. weaboo and on twitter at queen underscore wihbu.

You can find me on twitter at abts. Brendan it stands for almost better than silence, which is my video game podcast.

And thank you to camille Ruley for our artwork and thank you to Louisong for our theme song stories off the album beats. You can find all of Louis music at Louisong bandcamp.com. Thank you and we hope you'll join us next week as we learn to live with anime.

Stay gay.

Don't waste your time on someone who doesn't love you.