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Impressions:

It’s all pretty interesting, except that this type of anime where not much happens except developing relationships usually does not capture my interest in it. This is what happened with Binbou Shimai Monogatari too. However, that does not mean I will stop blogging it. The series is quite enjoyable and it’s still in its early stages. If I had read the manga… Anyway, I felt that the first episode’s animation was better, but this episode’s events are certainly more interesting. With the foundations in place, I’m hoping the storyline will become more interesting and complex (I feel kinda inferior to those who’ve read the manga…)

Summary:

The episode starts with a familiar series of events. Haruma is woken by a light tapping from outside. And who is outside? Santa, once again. There is one difference in this situation though: Choco is already present and is sleeping in Haruma’s room. Santa steps in through the open window and makes for the sleeping Choco. Haruma asks her what she’s doing here, and she replies that she has come to take back the unwanted present. She is talking about Choco. As she picks her up and is about to leave, Haruma finds himself denying this. Santa ignores him and gives him a few cash vouchers in exchange for Choco. Before she leaves, Choco wakes up and meekly calls out ‘onii-chan’. Before Haruma can say or do anything else, Santa takes off in her motorized sled.

Nooooo!!!

Oh wait, it was all a dream! What a cliché! Haruma realises it was all in his head, but suddenly starts to panic when he notices Choco isn’t in the bed beside him. Was she really taken? No … it seems that Choco had crawled into his bed during the night … hehe. When the two get dressed, Choco bids Haruma a Happy New Year. She then extends her arms, waiting for Haruma to give her something. Upon noticing Haruma’s confusion, she says that little sisters are meant to get New Year’s money from their older brothers. Haruma searches the room briefly until his eyes fall upon an envelope on the desk. He places a (what was that? 5 or 500 yen?) coin in the envelope and hands it to Choco, who receives it gratefully, even though she believes other people do it differently.

At breakfast, Choco consults her guide book and notices that they don’t have ‘osechi-ryouri‘, which is a traditional food served at New Year. She asks about other special foods but Haruma says they don’t have any of those. She complains of how boring the New Year is, even though it’s her first. Haruma suggests they visit the shrine and pray. Choco lightens up. After breakfast, they head to the local shrine, where many people have gathered to do whatever they’re meant to do during the New Year. As they are doing ‘hatsumode‘. As they are doing hatsumode, a middle-aged man comes and greets them. He introduces himself as Yasuoka, Haruma’s neighbour from down the hall (they live in an apartment). Haruma follows by introducing Choco, making up a story how she was living in the country, but family matters brought her into his care. With an exchange of Happy New Years, the man walks off. After some more hatsumode, the two return home.

As Haruma and Choco are having lunch, a knock on the door indicates the arrival of one of Haruma’s friends, Makoto, and oh no, for some reason she isn’t wearing any pants! Ignoring Haruma’s remarks, she presents him with some beer that she bought. After some introductions, Makoto hands Choco a can of beer. Haruma objects to her drinking any but does not hesitate to enjoy it with Makoto. Choco complains of only getting to eat oranges, but Haruma tells her that she can’t drink beer until she’s twenty. Makoto notices that Haruma and Choco don’t look alike and asks about this. She accuses Choco of not being Haruma’s real sister, but she strongly objects. In order to apologise for the misunderstanding, she decides to take off her shirt (wth??), but Haruma tells her that she doesn’t have to. Makoto realises that doing so would only please Haruma and not Choco. Before things can settle down, the landlady lets herself into the room. She sets down a bottle of drink she brought on the table and squats down. Haruma asks about her injured leg, which she had obtained by falling down the stairs. As they are talking, Choco becomes fascinated at the distorted images the bottle produces. Choosing the moment carefully (well, not really), the landlady suddenly reveals that she is going to retire. However, the tenants need not worry as her grandchild will take her place. In order to lighten the mood, they start drinking again, though Choco is restricted to the oranges.

The next day, Haruma has a hangover and doesn’t want to get out of bed. As Haruma goes back to sleep, Choco decides to go outside and play. She runs around the streets until she spots two boys playing badminton. She watches them play and even laughs when one of them misses. The boy who missed challenges her to try it. Choco takes the racket, but unfortunately has no skills and ends up falling on the ground. The three then enjoy a light laugh as a result of this. They play for a while longer before Choco decides to move on. She goes to the store and with her New Year’s money, decides to buy a packet of crayons, mistaking them for poki. She takes this to the two kids she was playing before, but makes a fool of herself when she offers them the crayons. She returns home gloomily (after tasting the crayon first) and meets the landlady in the backyard. The two have a nice, long chat, before Choco gets inspired to make a picture diary with her crayons. The landlady gives her New Year’s money in a proper pouch to spend on a diary. When Haruma returns home from wherever he went, he sees Choco drawing in her new diary…

Preview:

New landlady arrives…

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