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Impressions:

This show is indeed very good and still getting better, but only story-wise. I hate to admit it but the quality drop made it less favourable for me than the first three. Still, the depth and emotional development the characters have is very intriguing, but it seems like there’s not much to go on with now that Hiro has accepted Shouko and Karada for who they’ve become. Sure, there’s still Testu to come to terms with things, that girl in the next episode preview who is probably another old friend etc, but everything that will happen is likely to be very similar to what’s already been shown. For this show to continue to rise, it must take some drastic action, and drastic drama. A sorrowful and shocking turn of events would be delicious, such as someone getting some severe injury or perhaps even dying. Maybe they’ll go bankrupt, or someone gets lost. Also, more characters need to be introduced as apart from Testu and his sister/aunt (can’t remember which), everyone has gotten enough time to develop their personalities. Both Karada and Shouko seem to have become accustomed to their new lives, but what happens when or if they change back? Hmm, more possibilities. What if someone else changes their age, like Hiro or Tetsu? That’s some wishful thinking, but I hope it doesn’t happen, as it will become too fantasitical (I don’t think that’s a word, but you know what I mean).

Next episode we get a newcomer, as I said earlier. I wonder who she is – she’s pretty cute. I have to resist the temptation to read a few blogs that go by raws, but I’m excited to see that the anime won’t stay isolated with the three main characters. I think that’s one of the problems it has now. Since the major issue of Hiro’s acceptance has been resolved, the series needs to expand on everything. That means plot should start branching out, creating parallel subplots, as well as more characters and interaction between them. So far, apart from the first episode, Shouko and Karada have gotten no interaction with Tetsu or his aunt (I’ll just say aunt now since she seems more like one than an older sister). Also, the story so far has been pretty straightforward, so that needs to change. Some more diversity in the story, a bit of a twist etc. In some ways, I wish this was a six episode OAV, so the quality would be much higher and the story which has been squeezed into four episodes, can be elaborated into six. Of course, I’m betting there are plenty more surprises to come, so I’ll continue anticipating for now. Hopefully, the quality will get better. If you didn’t already now, I have a huge issue with quality, so if that goes down, regardless of how good the story is, my enjoyment of watching it will go down drastically.

Plot Outline:

- Flashback: Hiro takes Karada to the fireworks festival and lets her sit on his shoulder to get a better view
- At Shouko’s apartment, Hiro refuses to believe that Karada is his sister, which makes her retreat into her room to cry
- He leaves but Shouko takes the elevator down with him, and kicks him in the shin
- When she goes back up, she tries to comfort Karada but Hiro returns
- After a while, it seems things have eased up a little as Karada starts cooking for Hiro
- At Tetsu’s place, Toukou(?) comes to visit him and whispers something in his ear
- After covering for him, Testu escapes out the window to go to the summer festival
- Karada puts on a yukata after Shouko convinces her to go to the festival to see Hiro
- When the festival starts, Shouko lets Karada and Hiro have some time on their own to console

- Meanwhile, Testu is looking around to try and find someone (Karada?)
- Hiro and Karada go to the place where they stood some years ago at the same celebration
- Hiro explains everything they did during the first time they went to the festival together
- Karada acknowledges everything they did, and also explains why she wished to become an adult
- She explains that it was because she was a burden to Hiro, but she’s still a burden even now
- Because of this, she starts crying
- Hiro is eventually convinced that Karada is indeed his little sister
- The two make their way back to Shouko and tell her that things have been settled
- Hiro and Karada then convince Shouko to return home with them to live together

Next episode – #5
Let’s see what this show has to offer now…

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