One of the things I enjoy about this series is that although it has episodes that concentrate on one character’s development, the other two main characters still get plenty of screentime which weaves in nicely with the character in focus. Upon seeing Yasuna kissing Hazumu, Tomari beats a hasty retreat and reduces her contact with Hazumu to a minimum so as not to get in their way. Or so she says, still being clearly distressed by what has transpired. Her odd behaviour leads the normally non-confrontational Hazumu to demand a conversation. Mutually cherished childhood memories come to the fore, they reconcile as friends and Tomari is finally able to admit her feelings to herself.
While the criticism that “Tomari’s been doing nothing but spinning her wheels since the very beginning” is certainly true, I find myself being more sympathetic towards Tomarin. She knew that Hazumu was attracted to Yasuna and that, together with their childhood friendship, was probably coalesced into a huge block against her being able to come to terms with her own feelings for Hazumu. It’s an aching sort of despair and desparation that makes her the most interesting main character for me. Also liked it very much how Hazumu and Tomari’s childhood memories are fleshed out more in the anime relative to the manga. The Love Hina anime ruined the premises of “childhood sweetheart” and “childhood promise” for me by extending them to absurd and overly deterministic lengths. And glad that Kasimasi is helping me to rediscover my delight in that particular genre.
While I do like Yasuna, the whole “can’t see guys” thing just fills me with dread and fear as it sets up a basis for her to be *NSFW* "cured" *NSFW*, Hazumu to change back into a guy and for the two girls to continue their more conventional struggle over Hazumu. Buuuu~ buuuu~ Other than the fact that this would a complete (if typical sucky anime) cop-out, it will also completely destroy what makes this series different from other girls-fight- over-useless-guy romance stories. 48 screencaps follow.
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