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Impressions:

Excellent episode, I must say! This is a great improvement from the last. This has gotten me much more interested in the series now. Satou’s history with Kashiwa and their reunion was very interesting. It was shown in a pretty serious manner, which was good, unlike episode 4 where everything was just stupid. And yes, Satou has finally started work with Misaki. I actually had a feeling that Misaki might not be who she seems, as she gives the impression that she is a very devious, scheming person who had planned out Satou’s decisions and actions from the very beginning. Guess that didn’t happen though lol. But still, the story has finally gotten a move on. I also like how Satou will be continuing the game. I think both Kashiwa and the game will be vital factors in Satou’s recovery. Both Satou’s encounters with Kashiwa and the production of the game will provide more material for the episodes, loosening up the mood from the hikkimori part and making everything more interesting. I would also like to see the finished game. I just hope that the game won’t be used to make an episode like last time’s. The animation and character design has gotten better this time too, although Satou still has a few extra wrinkles. But seeing as he is a hikkimori addicted to the computer, that is understandable. And oh – who’s that girl in the preview! She’s drawn much hotter than Misaki or Kashiwa! Kekeke…

Here are a few funny moments:

	This is when Satou ‘plays’ with his figurines.
	Yamazaki goes overboard in adding freckles to the girls he drew.
	Satou and Yamazaki screaming their heads off when they accidentally break the Pururin doll.

…and the rest:

Summary:

The episode begins with a fairly long flashback of Satou’s high school days with Kashiwa. In the literature club with Satou, she is talking about conspiracies like she usually does, but Satou is feeling depressed as she will be graduating soon. When he mentions that this will be the last day she’ll be able to come to this room, Kashiwa stands up and walks to do the door. She locks it and proceeds to undress. When she has her blazer and tie off, she approaches Satou to feel his lips…

Presently, Satou is having a drink with Kashiwa in a café after four years apart. Satou is reticent, to which Kashiwa asks if he’s feeling depressed. She takes out a wad of drugs and offers them to Satou. Psychiatric drugs to rejuvenate him, sleeping pills, antidepressants … Satou asks her about the number of hospitals she’s seeking treatment from. She replies three. The conversation moves to occupation and Kashiwa says that she works at a ward office. When it comes to Satou’s turn, he does not hesitate to reveal that he’s a hikikomori and also starts showing off his galge’s figuerines and DVDs. Kashiwa is not too surprised by this and accepts it quite quickly. She goes on to say that they should’ve dated during high school. If they had a proper relationship, then Satou wouldn’t be a hikkikomori. However, that didn’t happen because … Kashiwa holds back the word that she used to always say in high school, but Satou says it for her: “it’s because of a conspiracy”. He receives a call from Yamazaki and goes outside to take it. After being yelled at for not meeting at the arranged spot, he returns to the café and tells Kashiwa about Yamazaki. Kashiwa asks Satou for his number and then asks if they can meet again.

The trip has brought Yamazaki more determination and inspiration to finish the game. Satou though is feeling kind of sad. He thinks about the end of his meeting with Kashiwa. After she had asked him to meet again, he had been about to say that he can’t because he’s a hikkikomori. Kashiwa predicts what he’s about to say and takes back her request. As she is about to leave, Satou asks her if they can meet again. Kashiwa is not too sure as he is a hikkikomori. Because of this, Satou now feels like he really should seek help for this. He apologises to Yamazaki and goes back to his own apartment. Yamazaki doesn’t hear him though. After signing the contract that Misaki gave him, he takes it to the park and waits there. Even though he is ten days early, Misaki shows up anyway. He admits to lying about being a ‘creator’ and everything else, then hands her the contract. She is delighted to see this and tells Satou that counselling will begin tomorrow. She also reminds him that if he runs away, there’ll be a one million yen fine (that’s about $8,500 US or $11,300 AU).

When Satou returns home, he plays with his figurines for a while before clearing his head and decides to apologise to Yamazaki for admitting to Misaki that he’s a hikkikomori. However, Yamazaki starts yelling next door as he is on the phone with his parents, who have told him to go home and take over the farm. As he is in a terrible mood, Satou decides to tell him later.

The next night, Satou goes to the arranged meeting with Misaki. Sitting in a gazebo with a magnificent view, Misaki pulls out a ’secret notebook’ from her bag and starts lecturing Satou about being a hikkikomori. After that, she suggests doing a psycho-analysis test designed by a man called Dr. Freud. Basically what Satou has to do is to describe to Misaki his dreams last night, which will be interpreted in the book. What Misaki doesn’t know is that Satou is quite familiar with Freud’s work and comes up with a fake dream that he knows will be interpreted as something rather embarrassing to say. Misaki goes red and puts the book away. She wants to do a similar test with Jung now, but Satou asks that she tell him the interpretation from Freud. She refuses and after Satou continues to insist, she packs everything up and says that they will continue tomorrow.

Later in the night, Satou reflects upon his first counsel meeting with Misaki. He doesn’t think very highly of Misaki’s methods but as he does not want to be fined a million yen, he decides to go along with it. However, there is one thing that he’s grateful to Misaki for: inspiring him to create a script for the galge. The next day, he goes to Yamazaki and admits that he has told Misaki about being a hikkikomri. However, he does not wish to discontinue the game and presents him with the script. As there is no deadline now, they can take their time working on the game. Accompanied with nice, soothing background music, Yamazaki takes Satou’s hand in an act of a renewed resolution. However, a loud shattering noise cuts through this moment. They both look down … under one of their feet, the rare Pururin figurine has been stepped on and broken.

Preview:

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