hontou ni sou omou?

The moment, screencapped above, was my absolute favourite scene in this episode. Itoko thinks that Harima has brought home a girl to have hot monkey sex with and it is none other than the younger sister of his big crush. I think it is reasonable to know that she can recognise Yakumo - afterall, she did trick Harima into telling his Basis of Attraction (tm - Stripey) story to her in the Chinese restaurant while the Tsukamoto girls were seated behind him. (Which ep?) Tiny quibble with the Mr.A sub in the conversation later - Yakumo is surprised that Harima lives with Itoko-sensei and the pun isn’t itoko as “candle” but “cousin” . Harima replies that it’s ok since she is his cousin (ore no itoko) but Yakumo hears it as “my Itoko” in the “Itoko is my gal” way which only multiplies her confusion since she can’t read his mind and suspects that he likes Tenma. Hmmm… think DC’s Kotori’s confusion when she lost her power.

The scene when Harima goes shopping with Tenma for a present for Karasuma was quite agonising as was the train ride back. The whole premise of this series is inability to communicate and the only character who has the power to read the minds of those who like her, can’t understand the concept of love or relationships. Harima is probably the first guy she felt comfortable enough with to ask about those things but after giving a good answer, the waters are muddied again due to his self-absorbed reaction. More on the non-communication and mis-communication basis of School Rumble when with my series review / ep 26 post.