hontou ni sou omou?

With the start of the Valentine’s Day episode, Yumi tries but fails to get advice on chocolate giving from Yoshino (not good at making chocolate), Shimako (chocolates are not important), Tsutako (no younger or older soeur), Rei (way too good at making chocolate). While I was keenly aware that the Japanese interpretation of V-Day revolves around females giving chocolate to their loved one (and males returning the favour on White Day), it was still culturally disorientating to see girls stressing about gifts and events since for much of the rest of Mammon’s earthly dominion, V-Day is manifestly a day to cause stress and wallet-is-cry for guys. On another level, it’s girls who are stressing about V-Day with their beloved elder "sisters".

Yumi’s troubles are compounded by her discovery that (1) Sachiko did not accept chocolates from anyone last year and (2) a half-day date with her precious Sachiko is up for grabs, potentially by someone else, as a result of the Newspaper Club’s planned V-Day event.

Crazy Possessive Yoshino reveals herself.

Utterly fun to see how the Rosa trio crushed the opposition from their boutons.

Sei, in another significant plot intervention (though not as significant as suggesting the bet in Ep 1), proposing that only the boutons take charge of the event so that the petit soeurs, Yoshino and Yumi, can take part.

Shizuka’s differentiation of Sei’s kindness (not rejecting anyone’s chocolate) and Sachiko’s (rejecting all) was a thoughtful one which says a lot about both characters but also about Shizuka who herself should have a fan club in Lilian and lots of chocolate.

Yumi tries to cope with her disappointment at the seeming lack of a chance for her to bond with Sachiko over the V-Day chocolate giving ritual by not burdening Sachiko. After talking to Shizuka, she resolves to win the treasure hunt in order to gain Sachiko’s acceptance. Already hinted in the previous episode, Yumi’s lack of confidence and neediness - combined with Sachiko’s intimidating character - creates fertile ground for misunderstanding. The lack of communication and wildly different assumptions lead Sachiko to accuse Yumi of avoiding her and resenting her. Primed by Sei’s warning, Yumi finally understands but is still unable to speak her mind and resolve the mess. Cliffhanger as she breaks down in tears in the couple’s First Big Fight.