It’s almost time for the local summer festival, but that also means it’s almost time for term exams. Naturally, Yamada gets the bright idea to coordinate a study session. It’s just funny how Tani rejects him with nothing more than a simple “no.” He doesn’t elaborate further. People usually do, because they want to be liked; they don’t want their friends to misunderstand them. After all, Yamada assumes Tani isn’t worried about the upcoming exams. Meanwhile, Sato is a little more cynical: “More like Tani-kun doesn’t see any merit in studying with us.” Only Suzuki knows the real answer, because she understands him.

Now, you might think, Oh, Tani doesn’t care what people think of him. That’s why he doesn’t explain himself. But we know from last week’s episode that he used to only consider the literal meaning of words before he started dating Suzuki. It’s different now. These days, he worries that she might misunderstand him from time to time. So who knows? Maybe over the course of this series, Tani will learn to how to better communicate with his friends.

The kids end up having a study session in the library anyway. Afterwards, Sato apologizes to Tani, because she can’t help but think they were bothering him while he was trying to work. She kinda leans a little on the pessimistic side of things, doesn’t she? I mean, why would she think they were bothering him? I guess one possibility is because he’s so expressionless. If people are happy, they often show it. After all, why hide it? But there are plenty of reasons to hide your discomfort in social settings, so maybe she thought this was what he was doing. Like maybe he’s only tolerating them because they’re his girlfriend’s friends. Gotta earn brownie points or whatever. But no, Tani’s just a stoic guy. He actually had fun helping Yamada and Watanabe with math. Still, it goes to show that every relationship has growing pains, even friend relationships.

Roughly halfway through the episode, Suzuki gets excited over a combini opening up near her house — so excited that she just has to pay it a visit right then and now. Well, it’s a small world, because she bumps into not only Yamada, but Taira as well. Now here’s a guy who does mind people bothering him while he’s trying to work. This guy worries too much about the little things that just don’t matter. But I can’t remember if I was the same way at that age. Maybe I was. In any case, I love the pregnant pause right after Yamada asks, “Huh? What’s wrong with having your friends come see you at work?” It says so much about the three kids without a single word being spoken. Both Yamada and Suzuki innocently stare at Taira, expecting an answer or for him to at least keep the banter going. In return, Taira has no answer. He cares about bumping into familiar faces, they don’t; he doesn’t want to debate it.

I actually really like Suzuki and Yamada’s relationship, because they can just hang out without any implications. Frieren‘s eponymous protagonist recently said that when two friends of the opposite sex spend time together, it’s a date. Of course, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about, since she has no experience in romance or otherwise. But a lot of people legitimately believe this! A lot of people honestly believe men and women can’t be friends, and as someone with a few female friends, nothing frustrates me more.

So when Tani eventually shows up at the combini — again, it’s a small world — I’m glad he doesn’t get jealous or possessive over the fact that his girlfriend is hanging out with another guy. Granted, Watanabe is also there, but you know what I mean. Lots of romcom would’ve gone for the low-hanging fruit. Rather, Tani is jealous over something else instead: feeling as though Suzuki can be more comfortable around her friends than him. It’s not that she has to put on airs around him, but she’s a insecure about her low maintenance look: “I want to be myself with you, but that doesn’t mean I can show you every little thing.” Look, if you guys are gonna get serious, he’s going to see a whole lot worse than this. But you do kinda get where she’s coming from, especially when she adds, “If I did and it disillusioned you…” I have seen weirdos piss and moan about how make-up is a form of lying.

Ultimately, there’s a lot that Tani doesn’t totally comprehend, like why it’s okay for others to see Suzuki like that and not him. But I get where he’s coming from. There’s a certain comfortability that she has with her friends, and it comes from years of knowing them — years he doesn’t share with her. But this is just a matter of time. The same can be said about Suzuki and her insecurities. Sure, she has her pride; she wants to always look a certain way to him at all times. But that feeling will fade. After all, this is kind of a nothingburger of a problem. Like I said up top, once they get serious, i.e. living together and whatnot, none of these concerns will matter. She’s going to get super comfortable with him, and he’s gonna see and experience it all: the bed hair, the crusty eyes when they first wake up in the morning, the morning breath, etc. Anyway, even though she might not look her best, Suzuki gets to ride on the back on his bike. She’ll live.

With the term exams finally out of the way, the kids have a clear runway for the summer festival. I’m not a fan, though. Don’t get me wrong, ’cause I think summer festivals look and sound like a lot of fun. Moreover, hitting up a summer festival and seeing fireworks go off is an anime romcom staple. You simply can’t escape it. But I just don’t like how the guys never have to put in any effort. The girls are always dolled up in their yukata, but the guys will schlub it up in their everyday wear. It’s silly. Don’t you want to look good for your girl? When was the last time I saw a guy in a yukata anyway? Off the top of my head, I can only think of Yusuke from Persona 5. It’s like with the bento trope. The girls always have to go hog wild putting together the best possible lunch for their love interest… while all he has to do is sit there and chow down. Oh well, at least Tani didn’t hesitate to call Suzuki beautiful when he saw her in her yukata.

Suzuki is over the moon. Sato told her not to be giddy, but she’s giddy. She’s even bold enough to cling to him. Usually, anime couples can barely hold hands, but they’ve done that several times already. They got together in the first episode, and they started dating immediately afterwards. In other series, the fireworks at the summer festival trope is usually reserved for the season finale, but we’ve already gotten it in episode four. The only complaint I have left is that our couple is still coy about kissing. Obviously, making out is still a no-no. But an innocent kiss shouldn’t be a big deal. She wants it, and I bet he does too. So why not just kiss? Everyone does it. Hell, she just saw a couple do it. But at the end of the day, Suzuki and Tani are still miles ahead of most anime couples, and that’s refreshing enough on its own.

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Stray thoughts & observations:

• I had no idea what Suzuki was talking about with the “bibimbap” thing, so I googled it. Found a nine year old Reddit thread that explained the discrepancy. Welp, the more you know.
• Suzuki’s friends always ask to copy her homework, so I wonder how good her grades are. They gotta be decent enough for them to bug her all the time, right?
• Speaking of note-taking, I never took notes in high school, because I didn’t have to. I was lazy, and this bad habit bit me in the ass when I got to college.
• Eh, why wouldn’t she be happy? Her boyfriend is getting along with her friends. On the flip side, it’s always awkward when your partner’s friends don’t vibe with you. Your partner will still insist that you come to their hangouts anyway, but you can’t help but feel like you’re encroaching.
• Nishi, the other girl sitting next to Tani in the library, keeps giggling to herself. I kinda wish the group would say something to her, but I guess it’s not time yet.
• They’re not exactly polar opposites. Sometimes, they share the same brain cell.
• Look at them eating bibimbap with chopsticks. I think you usually get both chopsticks and a spoon when eating bibimbap. Mix it with the chopsticks, eat with the spoon. I just use the spoon all the way through. I can eat rice with chopsticks, but why?
• I guess our equivalent to a combini would be a nice bodega or corner store. There are places here where you can grab a variety of convenient goods as well as a really kickass sandwich. But eh, they’re probably nowhere as clean as a combini.
• I wanna say Suzuki and her brother has the typical sibling relationship — y’know, the one where they naturally bicker a lot — but he comes off as an asshole every time he’s onscreen.
• Hm, I don’t really what there is to be embarrassed about here, but I also find that teens can be embarrassed by anything.
• Watanabe looks kinda goofy with that helmet.
• People keep ragging on Suzuki for her casual look, but what’s wrong with it? I guess I’m just used to seeing people here go down to the corner store in pajamas or sweat pants, so I don’t really think much of it. She’s just running to the store to get some toilet paper. Why would anyone get dressed up for that?
• Suzuki has the best timing. Not that Tani would care, of course. He doesn’t seem to put much stock in looks.
• Love the disappearing effect.
• Is she really gonna steal Watanabe’s helmet? Then what will the girl wear on her ride home? C’mon, don’t endanger your friend!
• Looks like she gave it back.
• “Now that I’ve run this far, like Achilles and the tortoise…” Wow, didn’t expect one of Zeno’s paradoxes in my anime. Do they teach that in high school? Well, calculus didn’t exist at the time Zeno was spewing his metaphysical quandaries…
• Tani: “…if it’s a dish I like, then I’m not concerned about the rest.” Hm, never take Tani to a fine dining restaurant.
• As a Californian, I can’t understand “this smell you get after the rain.” In fact, what is this mythical “rain” you speak of.
• Hey, c’mon now, she’s not wrong, but no need to say it out loud.
• See? He’s always an asshole when he’s onscreen. Is there anything redeeming about Suzuki’s brother?
• Damn, where was she keeping that selfie stick?
• Ah, I wish kids wouldn’t have to feel so… inhibited. It’s the time of your life. Go have fun and stop worry about nothing.
• The dub is great just for the script alone. “Holy god! Boy can scoop!” The subs might be accurate, but the dub adds character so I like it more.