When we last left off, Akine had introduced herself to Koyuki. Why is this important? She’s related to a girl that our MC had had issues with in middle school. I know, I know, middle school is even less of a big deal than high school, but this is anime, so just catastrophize everything. So what’s this new girl gonna do~? Is she gonna start up duh-rama~? Well, while trying to skip the OP (I never watch them more than once unless they’re really, really good), I notice the younger sister squatting in a circle with Koyuki and her friends. So whoops, accidentally spoiled myself! Guess younger sis ain’t a meanie.

But since we’re still laboring under the assumption that the past likes to haunt Koyuki, we start things off with a flashback. Essentially, Manatsu, the older sister, seemed to take issue with Koyuki garnering all the attention when she joined the basketball team — not just from other boys but also the seniors on the team. Just really pointless, petty shit. Y’know, childish stuff ’cause it’s literally middle school and kids are dumb. Koyuki tried to befriend her anyways, but it backfired. Manatsu used her to make connections, but kept talking shit about Koyuki behind her back. Then of course, Manatsu’s behavior got really bad when Koyuki agreed to date Igarashi. Kinda karma, though. Koyuki was just using Igarashi to get back at Manatsu. Users all around, basically. This led to an incident we’ve already seen before, a big confrontation, Igarashi playing the hero, yadda, yadda, yadda. Typing all of this out, I can’t help but think that none of this is worth dwelling over. You just move on instead of reliving the past in a pointed flashback. We already know Akine won’t be an issue, but even if she was, just tell her to fuck off and live your life.

Back in the present, Koyuki bumps into Akine on the way to school ’cause they live in the same general neighborhood. She starts thinking she has to make conversation, but she doesn’t know what to talk about. I guess this is an etiquette thing, like how a senpai needs to be gracious to their kouhai. My introverted, rude self would’ve just walked on in silence. I didn’t ask them to accompany me, so why should I be responsible for anything? Nevertheless, Koyuki frets until someone comes to her rescue: Minato this time instead of Giraffe Guy. I wouldn’t say she’s using him like she used Igarashi, but at some point, Koyuki really does need to be able to resolve her minor problems on her own instead of cowering behind others all the time. Surrounded by annoying guys bigger than her? Okay, fine, I can understand needing help. But a kouhai on the way to school? C’mon, man. But slowly, her opinion of Minato is starting to improve. Well, it’s already the eleventh episode. We ain’t got much time left if we wanna leave this season with a romantic hook of some sort.

When the trio gets to school, they bump into one of Akine’s friend. This girl kinda looks like Nishi’s BFF in that other series except with dark, black hair. What was her name again? Ah right, Honda. I feel like they both were described as looking like dolls. The mangaka seems to like reusing characters. Well, Honda had some interesting takes that gave her a personality worth noticing. The jury’s still out on this Momoka, but so far, it doesn’t look like she’ll get a favorable verdict. In fact, she just glances at Koyuki then says nothing. Guess she’s into Minato despite… what? Only meeting him a handful of times? Speaking of etiquette, shouldn’t you at least address your senpai? But y’know, maybe this won’t end up being Manatsu redux. She could totally like MInato without stirring up any drama. Imagine that!

Koyuki initially wanted to cut bait and bail from the conversation, but Minato keeps her in place. Sure, I guess I agree with him. There’s no reason for her to run away. She has all the right to be there, and Momoka didn’t exactly do anything except ignore her. Stand your ground. Stop running away from everything. Though this probably isn’t Minato’s intention. He likely just wanted to keep hanging out with her.

Later that same day — I think — Koyuki shares a meal with Giraffe Guy. There’s apparently a gyoza festival. I’m jealous. Regardless, this would’ve been more shipping fuel for Miki, but it’s Momoka who sees them together instead. Basically, it’s her turn to assume that Koyuki and Giraffe Guy have a thing. Y’know, ’cause members of the opposite sex can’t just hang out platonically. Then the next day, the girl sees Koyuki with Minato, then does the exact same thing as before again: greet him but ignore Koyuki. This time, however, Minato loops Koyuki into the conversation, but Momoka doesn’t really care. She’s just trying to probe to see where things stand, i.e. who likes whom, who’s dating whom, etc. Everyone seems to think Minato should be a playboy. This probably sounds condescending, but this is all so juvenile. And not even, like, the good kind that lets you feel cozy and relaxed. Just pointless high school drama.

Alright, I guess I should predict where this is all going to go. Minato obviously has a crush on Koyuki, but he isn’t being completely honest with himself. Momoka’s going to shoot her shot, which forces him to confront his feelings. Meanwhile, Koyuki is going to have some encounter with Akine that helps her realize that the younger sister is a billion times more chill than Manatsu. The end. What about Koyuki and Minato? Bah, you think you’re going to get anything substantive on that front? No way. She’s the type of heroine to remain clueless about his feelings for a long while. Not unless he grabs her hand like Igarashi or whatever. But considering how she doesn’t think she deserves to be loved, she would probably play dumb even if Minato did do something overt.

Stray thoughts & observations:

— Koyuki opens up to Giraffe Guy about Igarashi, but she leaves out the fact that she used him to get back at Manatsu. Tsk, tsk, tsk… but I’m not being serious here. It would be weird if you just started unloading your drama onto a friend over dinner or whatever.

— Wait, have we seen either of Koyuki’s parents directly? I find it so amusing that You and I Are Polar Opposites is, well, such a polar opposite to this show. Suzuki’s parents are such a mainstay in that series. We know almost nothing about Koyuki’s parents other than that they’re split up. One show is almost everything I want in a slice-of-life romcom, the other is… well… nonstop drama fodder.