Vampire Dormitory – 01 (First Impressions) – Needing to Be Needed

Misfortune seems to follow Yamamoto Mito everywhere he goes. He lost his parents in a fire, and his other relatives kicked him onto the streets. Everyone who sees him is smitten by his beauty, but that’s the precise reason he loses the one job he was able to get at a ramen restaurant—his presence was angering the other guys.

After visiting a butler café called La Fraise goes wrong with him breaking a vase and one of the waiters licks his bleeding finger, Mito has to trudge through the cold rain. When he stops on a bridge, he contemplates whether anyone would notice he was gone if he jumped, but only for a moment. Instead, he slips and almost falls … but he’s caught by the finger-licking waiter.

The waiter is actually a vampire named Saotome Ruka, whose master has been urging him to find a thrall. Mito fits the bill, despite his blood tasting terrible, which in this world is due to no one loving him. That means his blood can be made delicious if Ruka takes him in and loves him every day, and Mito learns how to be loved, and love in return.

Ruka takes Mito to the fancy academy boy’s dormitory for a hot bath, and Mito agrees to be his thrall—not just because he needs a place to stay, but because Mito is the first person in his life to tell him he was needed. But while Ruka insists he’s unable to drink a woman’s blood, the truth is, Mito is biologically female, presenting as a male with a binder and wig.

While I cannot say this early in the season if this will make the Spring 2024 final cut, I honestly didn’t hate it. Chalk a lot of that up to Mito’s impossibly dire circumstances, and the fact I could happily listen to seiyu Ichinose Kana read the phone book. Mito’s secret femininity is also a good hook to keep watching for another episode or two.

Urusei Yatsura – 35 – What’s at Cake / A Fox’s Tale

Atari spots Ran in the park but loses her, but not before she drops a neatly-packaged cake from her basket. A cake she said would “knock him dead”. Hearing her use those exact words puts us in the Lum’s state of mind, because when she finds Ataru, he’s flat on his back and in bad shape.

Lum, noted inventor and tinkerer, turns to her robodoc, who confirms poison, but no treatment: just funeral preparations. Hooking him up to a vital sign monitor of her own design that she can check on with a handheld remote, Lum heads out to save her Darling. She manages to find the warp gate Ran used to travel to a fantastical (and gorgeous) forest, but she’s always a step behind her.

When a napping Cherry snags a wire, Ataru’s vitals flatline on Lum’s remote. But as expected, “knock him dead” was just an expression: Ran made the cakes for Rei specifically, and the galoot does seem to enjoy them. But Lum doesn’t know that, assumes Darling is dead, and her wailing lament draws both Rei and Ran to her. Ran is pissed at first, but when she sees Lum won’t stop crying, she seems genuinely concerned for her old friend.

She’s able to calm Lum down, assuring her there must be some mistake. Sure enough, they return just as Ataru is reovering a bit, but is still wretchedly bloated. Turns out the cakes were specifically formulated to be one hundred times more filling than normal, in order to satisfy Rei. Pissed that Ataru ate one, Rei goes after him, while Ran lays into Lum for ruining her date.

It’s a raucous, unpleasant ending, but it can’t ruin the previous display of Lum’s genuine love and devotion for Ataru (and despair upon believing him dead) as well Ran showing she’ll be there for Lum if she needs her.

The second half marks the return of the adorable little fox (we’ll call him Kitsune) from last season. It starts with a positively gorgeous folktale of a fox who fell for a human girl and used charmed horsetail shoots to turn her into a fox for a night. Kitsune just happens to have some of spring’s first shoots, and sets out intending to play out the folktale with his beloved Shinobu.

Between the folktale and Kitsune finding Ataru and Lum, his journey to the big scary city and issues with big dogs and cars is played out with scarcely any dialogue. Kitsune, the dogs, and his Kotatsu Cat hero simply make expressive sounds. The music is also superb in this sequence, as it perfectly complements Kitsune’s unique POV in the otherwise familiar town setting.

When he spots Ataru and Lum at a vending machine, he disguises himself as Shinobu (which of course means he looks like a little fox Shinobu and isn’t fooling anyone). Shinobu feels bad about simply sending the little guy on his way, and agrees to help him find the horsetail shoots he lost.

They take him to Shinobu’s, where he disguises himself as Ataru and Lum and even adopts (and mixes up) their unique manners of speech. Kugimiya Rie is the perfect button-cute voice for Kitsune, no matter who he’s imitating. The four eventually encounter Cherry and Kotatsu Cat, who are cooking something (I love how everyone ignores Cherry until they simply can’t anymore).

They initially offer Kitsune some of their soup to comfort him after they were unable to find his shoots. But Kitsune, Cherry, and Kotatsu make the soup seem so tasty, Ataru, Lum, and Shinobu have a bowl as well. And because Kotatsu Cat put the horsetail shoots in the soup, they all turn into foxes!

This reveal, complete with soaring music, cozy lighting, and adorable character designs is masterfully directed and timed for maximum emotional impact. The whole episode was a feast for the eyes and ears, but you simply cannot go wrong with a Kugimiya Rie-voiced little fox. I’d watch a whole season of his adventures and terrible disguises!

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! – 12 (Fin) – Cool Like You

This finale starts, somewhat surprisingly, with Tsubasa and Minami sharing a hotel room together. Turned out they missed the last bus home because they read the weekday schedule on a weekend (I’ve done that too many times to count). But when Tsubasa calls his dad, he tells him a friend has a hotel he’s welcome to stay at to spend more time with his friend.

Whether his dad knows this friend is a girl or not, it’s clear his dad is looking out for him. His and Minami’s date essentially continues with a sumptuous dinner. Then Minami takes her shower first, and Tsubasa fantasizes about her coming out in a towel and kissing him. Instead, she comes out fully dressed, and he’s already fallen asleep.

Minami leaves him a note and leaves, presumably having been picked up by her mom. The next we see her, she’s dropping in on Sayuri, who was hanging with her kohai friend and her friend. Minami has her carry-on, so she must be on her way to the airport. She thanks Sayuri for the advice she gave, and is determined to come back from studying abroad “just as cool” as she and Tsubasa and Rena are.

Tsubasa, meanwhile, has spend much of break holed up in his room, believing from the note that Minami didn’t like him anymore. But when a little pink hairpin falls out of his backpack, Tsubasa takes it as it was intended: a little push he needs. Sayuri texts Tsubasa like the good friend she is, and fortunately for Tsubasa his dad’s able to reschedule a meeting and drive him to the airport.

Minami’s mom can tell her daughter is nervous about her impending trip abroad, but that’s not all. Minami is also watching her phone and waiting for Tsubasa to say goodbye. She’s walking into the departure lounge when he finally makes it, taking her by the arm before she leaves. He tells her he came to return her hairpin (just as she’d planned), but that’s not all.

He had to see her again before she left, because he wanted her to know just how happy he was to move to Hokkaido and meet her, and that whenever she comes home—six months, a year—he’ll be waiting for her. That’s when Minami tells him she’s be gone for—wait for it—two weeks. That’s it! Tsubasa totally misunderstood, but now that he knows she won’t be gone long. The relief washes over him, and he can wish her good luck with a genuine smile on his face.

He no doubt counts the days when Minami will be back, and on the day of her return, she’s late for class, arriving as the teacher is takng attendance. Tsubasa doesn’t wait until lunch, but hands her the gift of her favorite konbini chicken, which she starts munching on and even feeds him. I love how they’re just in their own little world. Not even the teacher making them stay after class can harsh their vibes. Minami’s back; that’s what matters!

While initially I wanted a confession to come out of this finale, the urgency of that was based on the fear she’d be gone a long time. Since she’s back after two weeks, there’s no rush there. It was actually a wonderfully stress-relieving revelation. All I ever asked of this show was to make me smile and experience some nice feels, and it never disappointed.

The Apothecary Diaries – 24 – Beautiful as Balsam

Having lost to Maomao, Lakan goes to Verdigris House to buy out a courtesan. As he waits for the Madame to show him her girls, Lakan thinks about his daughter Maomao. He had met her when he was wee, and always wanted her to be a larger part of his life, but he also understands why she’d hate him. He accepts she outwitted him this time, but he’ll try to connect again someday.

Lakan has his choice of whom to buy out, and money is essentially no object. When all of the courtesans are lined up before him, they all have white go pieces for heads. He’s prepared to choose Meimei, since he knows her and she’s been kind to him, but she defies the madame by opening the way to a courtesan she think will be a better match for him.

As soon as Lakan hears that familiar lullaby, he realizes the meaning of Maomao’s withered rose message, and races to the source of the singing. He’s overwhelmed with emotion upon entering the room to find Fengxian, still alive, if not so well.

After she finishes her song, he draws close to her, ignoring Madame’s warnings, places two go pieces in her bandaged hand, and asks if she’ll play go with him, and she agrees. To his eyes, she’s never looked more radiantm and like him and Meimei, I couldn’t hold back tears at their reunion.

Needless to say, Lakan buys her out, and would pay any price to do so. Hell it’s something he’s wanted to do going on two decades. Upon her return to Jinshi’s home, Maomao is given a hot meal, which she eats while telling Jinshi that her mother surely got pregnant and carried her to term because she wanted to.

Maomao also explains to Jinshi how her father cannot discern faces, except for her own and her adopted father’s (and, as we see, her mother’s as well). She admits that while she dislikes her birth father and is grateful Loumen adopted her, she doesn’t hate Lakan, and urges Jinshi not to make him an enemy.

Meimei sends a letter to Maomao informing her that her father did indeed buy out her mother, and also included a gorgeous sheer shawl. When Meimei is bought out, she wants Maomao to dance for her. Maomao decides to don her dancing outfit and the shawl and climb up to the wall to dance for her mother.

This is the long awaited dance previewed in the first cour’s OP, and it doesn’t disappoint, with a stirring insert song and a beautifully animated and hauntingly beautiful dance sequence. It is so gratifying to see this lovable goofball move so gracefully.

When Jinshi surprises her, she slips on her dress, falls backwards and nearly over the wall, but he catches her before she can. He got a report that “another weird woman” was climbing the wall, and the guard in question recognized Maomao, so Jinshi came to investigate personally.

Maomao explains the custom of courtesans dancing for one of their own when they’re bought out, but doesn’t tell Jinshi who Lakan bought out. And as gorgeous as Maomao looks both in motion and standing still now, she’s still Maomao, so she tells Jinshi that when you chop off the tip of a finger (like her mother did with her as a babe), it will grow back.

Maomao is also extremely nonchalant about the fact that her leg wound reopened again, a testament to her high pain tolerance. She’s ready to stitch it back up right there atop the wall, but Jinshi won’t let her. He gathers her into a princess carry and uses his own physical prowess to elegantly descend the wall and to his house to be treated.

While carrying her, Maomao’s face is quite close to Jinshi’s, something he’s all to aware of. She tells him she has “something very important to say”, really laying on the shoujo vibes thickly. When his eyes are trembling, sweat rolls down his cheeck, and her lips are almost meeting his, she tells him in her most seductive voice: “I’d like that ox bezoar, please.” For that, Jinshi headbutts her.

Once she’s all patched up, Jinshi again invites her to his office from her home in the Jade Pavilion, no doubt with some new palace case to investigate. In this way, we close the book on Jinshi and Maomao, but only for a little while, as the episode ends with the announcement that a second season is in production.

That makes me happier than any other second season announcement this Spring, because whatever incidents she gets mixed up in next, there’s no such thing as too much Maomao, perhaps with a little Jinshi on the side.

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! – 11 – Symphony in Pink

This week opens with the first of many rare sights: Minami without any makeup. Of course, she’s still stunning. Watching her gaze into her mirror and wordlessly go about her beauty routine, putting extra care and thought into her appearance for her upcoming day with Tsubasa, it just felt so real and intimate.

Both that routine, and the day she’s planned for Tsubasa, are done with the amount of care someone would put in only because they care about the person they’re doing it for, and there hasn’t been any doubt about that for some time. As they hop on a train for the first leg of a three-hour journey north, they look every bit like a couple in love, finally going on a first date.

And honestly, Minami couldn’t pick a prettier place for their date than Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park, just as it’s in full bloom, resplendent in pink. It’s another instance of her wanting to show off how special Hokkaido is, while also enjoying it all the more by watching how hard it “hits him in the feels”. It means so much to her that Tsubasa is there with her, and having fun.

When stopping by the gift shop, Tsubasa buys something for Minami, but misses a chance to give it to her, as she sees go-karts, watch a concert of the opening theme played live, enjoy festival food, and ice cream, dip their feet in pools, having their photo taken together by an elderly couple while also thinking about coming back here together years from now, and praying at a shrine whose deity Minami jokingly says is for fertility … but isn’t necessarily lying.

When the sun is low and the color palette becomes even more vivid and intense, Tsubasa finally gets his chance to give Minami her gift: a promise bracelet. Extra care is put into the animation of him taking her hand in his and putting it on. If the purpose of bringing Tsubasa here was to confess to him and/or ask him to be her boyfriend, you couldn’t ask for a more perfect time or place.

Instead, Minami says what Tsubasa has been thinking a lot during their time at the park: what do other people think when they see them together. Tsubasa wants to say what first comes to mind, but is too scared, so he says they look like “two very close friends.” 

After hearing Minami’s half-hearted agreement and watching her smile become sadder, he realizes he said something horribly wrong. Even worse, it could be that his response to her may have been the clinching factor in how she’d broach the matter she wanted to talk to him about all along: she tells him she’s leaving Hokkaido to study beauty abroad.

Now Tsubasa has two problems: thinking he’s a coward unworthy of someone like Minami by saying they were just friends, and not feeling like he has any right to tell her not to leave, but stay in Hokkaido with him. After all, she tells him meeting him and watching him work so hard to adjust to life there inspired her to better herself.

Telling her not to go for his sake would trample on that inspiration, no? But again, maybe a part of Minami wants to stay, and him friendzoning them in that moment made her think he didn’t see her as anything more than a good friend. But even if that’s the impression she got, his reaction to her announcement gives her another one.

After she thanks and praises him, he suddenly gathers her into a hug, which she doesn’t resist, and blushes as bright as the nearby flowerbeds in his arms. When they do pull apart, she sees tears streaming down his shell-shocked face.

Can Tsubasa say what needs to be said to keep Minami there, or is this pretty much it for them, and her going away is a done deal? We’ll find out in the can’t-miss conclusion of a show that’s suddenly become a lot more serious and dramatic than its playful title would suggest … and I’m not complaining!

The Dangers in My Heart – 12 (Fin) – Showing It All

Ichikawa thought he was pretty clever, booking his first shrine visit with Yamada a half-hour after his family’s. Master planner, this guy! Except he forgot that Yamada is always super early for everything where he’s concerned. His mom is the first to spot her, and then Kana gets a look at her, looking like a girl waiting for someone she likes. Oh, she is.

There’s no way for him to weasel out of this: his family and Yamada shrine visits are now merged. Also, Kana is totally and inescapably crushing on Yamada right from the get-go, and I not only can I not blame her, I salute her. She is a gal of refined taste. That said, Kana is plenty cute herself! I love how closely her outfit resembles her brother’s here. Oh, and he’s gone full Mikasa with that scarf.

After polite introductions —I love Ichikawa’s nearly-invisible pops asking “who is this?”—Yamada hangs back to give Ichikawa a playful shove, calling him out for the double-book. Thankfully, the other Ichikawas give the couple some space to pray. When Ichikawa can’t put his hands together, she puts her hand on his and they pray together. So damn cute.

When Ichikawa’s folks head off for lunch, Kana decides to stay with her bro and track down Yamada, wanting to make better first impression. Instead, she gets a new impression of Yamada, as she’s already stuffing her face with fried food. I love this. First she got the stunning model side, then her messy glutton side. Both sides rule.

Kana is no idiot, and when she heard Yamada say (with her mouth full) that she got some food for Ichikawa, and also saw her looking in her mirror, checking her makeup and smile, it clicks for her: her brother is not on a romantic suicide mission. He’s really got a chance!

Kana invites Yamada to their house, but as soon as Yamada takes off her coat he sees she tied the dog keychain to her belt loop. To keep Kana from seeing it, he ends up making a gesture that looks like he’s slapping her hip, embarrassing everyone.

Kana serves Yamada some leftover new years soup which she loves. Ichikawa thinks how cute she looks, and then Kana vocalizes it. She also gets a hit of Yamada’s endearingly guileless ego when she says a lot of people call her cute, and Yamada is just like “Yup, they do!”

When talk turns to how Kana should address Yamada, thinking last names seem too distant, puts Ichikawa on the spot. Both she and Kana want to hear him squirm, but Yamada also really wants to hear her first name in his mouth. When he gets it out, she flashes a warm, appreciative smile.

Kana then breaks out the albums, showing Yamada a even tinier, cuter versions of her and her bro. Ichikawa thinks he looks the same in his grade school pic, but Yamada thinks he’s completely different. I tend to agree. Then Yamada accidentally treads on a sore subject when asking about the class excursion, which Ichikawa never went on.

Reading the room, Kana elegantly excuses herself, but before she leaves, she earnestly thanks Yamada in the entryway. She can tell her brother is happier, and she knows why. She’s happy for him is all.

I’m not surprised Yamada asks if she can call her onee-san, because she’s an awesome onee-san! Kana even leaves her keychain behind for her brother, having spotted the matching one on Yamada. Now he and Yamada match, and Yamada’s never gonna be mad about that.

Yamada is eager to learn more about Ichikawa, and ends up following him to his room. She finds another photo of him in the yearbook, noting that he friend Chii went to his school, “not like she was looking for him in her yearbook (she was)”.

While he’s worried about any lingering evidence of jackin’ it, she insists on sitting as close beside him on the bed as possible. When she sees what look like Ichikawa’s two friends in that photo, he says they drifted away when they went to private school.

Yamada gets up an admires various trophies won in what he calls his “glory days”, and then Yamada finds his armor: the book about murders he carries to keep others away. For a beat, he waits for her to react, but of course she reacts how you’d expect: excited, a little impressed, and eager to learn more.

Heck, she even jokes about having a double life as a murderer; how would he know? As she does so, she lies back on his bed, making herself comfortable, and spots the corner of a girly mag under his sheet. Ichikawa panics and gos for the mag, but ends up right on top of Yamada. Every second they linger in this position, the tension rises, until Yamada slowly gets back up and off the bed. Too soon for … for That!

Ichikawa is scandalized, and feels like her spotting his mag turned her off him completely, but that’s not the reason for her haste. Whatever her goals were today, she achieved them, and doesn’t want too go too far too fast. Ichikawa feels the same way.

No, after snapping his yearbook pics and heading down the stairs, she tells him she looks forward to showing him her yearbooks next time. Ichikawa takes that for what it is: a enthusiastic future invitation to her house.

The morning of his first day back after winter break, Ichikawa wakes up from unpleasant dreams of his past loneliness and isolation, and finds a shirtless Cool Ichikawa standing in his room. He’s shirtless because he represents Ichikawa’s heart, which he wants to bear. Ichikawa wants to show everything he is to Yamada.

Due to his arm injury, Ichikawa’s mom drives him to school, and Kana tags along to wish his little bro well—and probably to catch a glimpse of Yamada. She gets that wish as Yamada leaps out from behind a car to greet him, then says good morning to his mom and sister.

Yamada inspects him and notices he’s missing his dog keychain. When he produces it, she attaches it to his button. The bell is about to ring and everyone else is inside, so Ichikawa deems it the perfect time to show more of himself to Yamada.

He tells her how he used to hate middle school, but that’s changed, thanks to her. While clearly very happy to hear this, Yamada tells him he should be thanking himself first and foremost. He kept coming to school, even when it was painful, and that led to him eventually talking to her.

Yamada hands him back his books, with the murder one that he used to keep people away at the top of the pile. He says “thank you,” but it’s more than just thanking her for helping with the books. It’s the words he’s wanted to tell her all along, more than “I like you.” Those words aren’t necessary here, because his feelings are clear. Yamada lets the books fall to their feet again, gathers him into a warm hug, and pats his head.

Ichikawa pulls Yamada closer and thanks her again, and they stay like that for a few more precious seconds before heading to class. On the way, Sekine greets them, and they pull away from each other so quickly, she assumes they’re bashful after having “done it.” They most certainly haven’t, but they did do a lot during the winter break to clarify both who they are and what they mean to each other.

Before joining Sekine in the classroom, Yamada hands Ichikawa a bag of shrimp crackers—an empty bag, like she did in one of their first close interactions many moons ago. Then she says “just joking”, takes the bag back, and produces a candy for him. As always, the strongest sign that Yamada Anna likes you is that she’ll share her precious snacks with you without hesitation.

I know episode 11 me wanted an actual confession in words from someone, but the series subverted my expectations to the point I still walked away satisfied with where we leave Yamada and Ichikawa. They remain on that road together, walking hand-in-hand more often than not, and far more locked in to each other’s emotions.

From family and “dark past” to his murder book and nudie mag, Yamada has seen a lot more of who Ichikawa is in very short order, and it has only endeared him to her more. It is Thanksgiving day as I write this, so I am mindful of what I am grateful for, and it’s anime like this!

I’m anticipating the second season more than any other Spring 2023 show, as while Ichikawa is the lead and POV character of the show, hopefully it will also delve deeper into who this girl Yamada Anna is, beyond what we’ve seen and heard. Also including their first kiss couldn’t hurt … just sayin’!

The Dangers in My Heart – 11 – Remote Control

Ichikawa and Yamada’s date went so well and they made such big strides in their budding relationship, but what fresh villainy is this? Ichikawa in an arm sling, between Sekine and Loverboy and with Loverboy’s groupie across from them? In hindsight, I loved how random and vicious this stinger is, but in the moment I was anxious as fuck.

It’s a classic “How’d I end up like this?” story, which coninues by rewinding to the start of Ichikawa’s family trip to Akita. His frustration over having to share a room with Kana dissolves when he remembers his promise to photograph the snow for Yamada. But in the process of doing so he slips and falls off a damn cliff and at the very least sprains his arm.

He sends a selfie to Yamada as a gag, but she almost immediately video calls him, genuinely concerned about his arm, and relieved that he’s okay. I know that concern is genuine because a.) it’s been established she’s crazy about this little guy and b.) she called him so fast she forgot she was in Casual Evening Mode with her sports bra and glasses.

When she learns he’s returning home early, her thoughts turn to hanging out with him as soon as he’s back, but the two lovebirds are interrupted when they notice Kana, whom Ichikawa thought was dead to the world, is awake, and catches a glimpse of Yamada. She says she’s cute, and he says she’s “just” a friend from school. Kana is amazed she wasn’t some streaming thing.

Yamada wants to know what Ichikawa told Kana, and he’s honest: “that we’re friends … he guesses … for now.” The for now part is enough to cause Yamada’s heart to overflow, granting us one of her cutest faces to date. She then asks if they can talk more, and Ichikawa goes into the hall.

Yamada proceeds to ask Ichikawa to do things while she does them, from taking a drink to looking out the window to admiring the moonlight. It’s a tried-and-true method for feeling closer to someone you adore. Even if you’re far apart, the part of them in your heart feels closer than ever. She also has the shoujo manga in her lap, turned to the page where the boy says “I want to be with you. I wouldn’t be otherwise.”

Before heading back, Ichikawa decides to buy an Akita dog keychain for Yamada. Kana tries to let Ichikawa down gently by telling him girls are more than just their looks, and Ichikawa assumes she’s telling him not to get his hopes up with a girl out of his league.

For all their differences, Ichikawa recognizes in Kana the same tendency to try giving up on what she really wants before it hurts that he has. But now that he has something, someone he wants, he’s not willing to let it go. Not yet. Hopefully, not ever!

The next day Ichikawa heads out to meet up with Yamada, both to return the red scarf he borrowed and to give her the dog keychain. Instead, he ends up startled by a dog, who is attached to a leash, which is being held by Yamada in full-on Adorable Athleisure Mode.

Even after they made plans, she suddenly worried about his arm and decided to head his way instead. She decided this so quickly and with such a strong desire to see him as soon as possible, she neglected to consider the possibility they might’ve missed each other. But it’s all good; luck was on their side, and they were able to cross paths.

They head to the park with her Corgi, Wantaro, and Ichikawa suddenly gets cold feet about giving Ichikawa a non-food gift. Does this kid not remember that extended sequence bathed in blue light where he and Yamada were holding hands like old soul mates?

No matter; he is punished for his lack of faith by being given a bottle of green tea that’s already open by Yamada. My first thought was that she already took a swig, making it an indirect kiss. And while Ichikawa felt a bit like Yamada was remote controlling him over the phone the other night, she ends up following the commands he meant for Wantaro, including, most importantly, “paw.”

Yamada sits close beside Ichikawa without letting go of his hand, then reaches over him to retrieve the red scarf. Ichikawa put it in a bag so it would stay clean. Yamada blushes, tightens her grip on his hand, and admits that she actually wanted him to keep it, but then thought he wouldn’t want it.

His eyes opened by her honesty, Ichikawa exhibits his own, accepts the scarf, and offers her the dog keychain after all. She is so goddamned happy to get a gift from Yamada that she jumps up and does a little frolick. Before parting ways, she asks him about his first shrine visit of the year. He says he’s going, but doesn’t say it’s with his family, so she assumes the two of them will go, and will message him the time and place later.

From then on, Ichikawa and Yamada message each other every day. He may feel like it’s getting to his head that he can’t stop reading and re-reading her messages, the fact is she’s doing the exact same thing. If he’s a big embarrassing dork, so is she! And that’s perfectly fine!

What isn’t fine is Ichikawa heading into a FamilyMart to buy a drink, only to be ambushed by Loverboy, his groupie, and Sekine. It’s awkward as hell, especially since Sekine pretends not to know “Ichihara.” When Loverboy realizes it’s the boy who was with Yamada, he presses him for her LINE.

In an extremely telling moment, Loverboy orders the groupie to grab him a coffee, and the groupie blushes and obeys without hesitation. It feels so different, and so wrong, compared to when Ichikawa and Yamada were obeying each other on the phone call and in the park. Loverboy doesn’t seem to respect or even care about the groupie. He’s just using her because he can.

Sekine also excuses herself, leaving Ichikawa and Loverboy alone, but remains in earshot behind a wall. This is a test, and Ichikawa best not fail it. Loverboy drops the nice guy act, and things get transactional. “Ichihara” will give him Yamada’s LINE, and in exchange, he won’t tell anyone he got it from him. Ichikawa says he won’t tell him, and Loverboy asks why.

Ichikawa could tell him way, but Loverboy doesn’t deserve that much, and it isn’t really his business at all. So Ichikawa tells him he’s not telling him because he simply doesn’t want to. Before Loverboy can say another word, Sekine interrupts and asks Ichikawa to walk her home. When Loverboy offers to go with her, Sekine says she’s good … because she and Ichikawa are friends.

Sekine is clearly impressed with Ichikawa’s resolve. He passed the test and protected Yamada. But she says he should be straight with Loverboy next time about why. When Ichikawa protests, Sekine takes his hand in hers, and he recoils from her, and says, out loud, that he likes Yamada … he “thinks”.

For dramatic and comedic effect, Sekine takes a beat, then walks away and yells with a fake echo “I know…know…know,” then remarking that it’s “absolutely super obvious.” When they reach her door, he thanks her, and she teases him by asking if he wants to pop in. This Sekine girl man … she’s alright.

Having just been thoroughly messed with by another girl, but also given the validation he needed (note at no point did Sekine say he shouldn’t pursue Yamada, as it’s likely just as clear to her that Yamada is crazy about him), Ichikawa wants to hear Yamada’s voice, so he calls her. I loved her little nervous reaction before picking up (I love all her reactions, really).

He wishes her Happy New Year before she can tell him, but hastily hangs up when Yamada says Sekine has arrived (Yamada unknowingly walked her right to where Yamada and the others were having a sleepover). Bathed in moonlight, Ichikawa vows to someday tell Yamada that he likes her.

What a glorious slow burn this has been, with incremental progress from episode to episode providing a steady stream of good vibes. What began with a chuuni dork with delusions of edginess outraged an invasion by the class idol has now come to point where that dweeb is on the cusp of confessing to that idol … whom he’s learned is also a dork.

Ichikawa has done so much for Yamada thus far. First out of decency and kindness, then out of his growing affection for her. Now there’s one more thing to do: the most important thing, the thing that will end their beginning and begin their story together in earnest.

That’s asking a lot. It means putting himself out there after so much time as the safe but lonely hedgehog. But he doesn’t have to fear. He’s got this! He can, should, and must confess to her. The only question is will he, and before the season ends? Or will she be the one to confess first?

The Dangers in My Heart – 10 – The Real Thing

Ichikawa is in his emo finest when he arrives thirty minutes early for his meetup with Yamada, only to find she’s just as early as him, and for the same claimed reason (making sure they “got the place right”…you know, Hachiko, the most famous meeting place in Japan).

But whatever Ichikawa was expecting, handing over the new manga was only a pretense. Yamada wants to try out a pancake place, but despite there being a line their relationship doesn’t fall apart due to awkwardness—like she says is the reason not to go to amusement parks for a first date.

Her being early and bringing up first dates should clue Ichikawa in that what he and Yamada are in fact on is their first date—and on Christmas Eve no less—but for much of the day he wrongly assumes he’s just a hanger-on.

When he sees the prices, he pretends not to like sweet things (untrue), even eschewing sugar for his coffee. When Yamada’s gorgeous pancakes arrive, she has him sake photos and he suggests taking a video, which he assumes is all for her socials. He thinks about all of the people who will see this video, and it makes him a little lonely.

Imagine his surprise, then, when Yamada makes clear she doesn’t intend to upload them anywhere, she’s just taking them to send to him and him alone. These are for him. When his gaze lingers on his phone too long, she leans over, lifts his chin, and tells him not to forget to “watch the real thing.” She may be a model and appear on TV and eventually a movie, but here and now, he’s the only one she wants watching her.

As he considers just how much this meetup resembles a date, Ichikawa at least shows he knows what he’s doing wrong when he lists all of his mistakes thus far, from calling his mom cute to mansplaining fashion. The thing is, none of those things seem to be sapping Yamada’s enjoyment of their time together.

When she goes clothes shopping, she makes a distinction between what she likes and what he thinks of two dresses she’s holding up. But not five minutes after he mentioned going shopping with his sister sometimes, Kana enters the store with her friends. Yamada wants to go over to meet her, but Ichikawa say’s “not now.”

Sensing Ichikawa doesn’t want Kana to see him or her, she pulls him into the changing room. In this restricted space, every smell, every breath, and every bead of sweat is amplified. Yamada asks when she can meet Kana, and when he says another time, she’s relieved. She wants to know him better, and that means knowing his fam.

She admits she’s sweated through the dress she was only trying on, but Yamada suggest she buys it, as she looks good in it. Good boy. You gotta give a person compliments when they’re clearly trying things on for you! Alas, Yamada forgets she’s not quite zipped up in the back, and Ichikawa isn’t ready for the glimpse of her back and the hooks of her bra. Fortunately, Kana passes by without suspecting a thing!

Before he knows it, it’s gotten dark out; the day went by far faster than he expected. She apologizes for the day, thinking he must be exhausted being “dragged around.” He realizes he’s been in his own head so much he hadn’t been properly thinking about how she feels.

That’s when he decides to open up and tell her a little about himself. He’s not a people person, not afraid of turning down invitations, and will say so if he wants to tell someone to buzz off or if something sucks. So he deduces that since he didn’t do any of those things today, he had fun today…”probably.”

Yamada can tell, because he is talking about himself to her. He wraps him in a red scarf, which she claims she was wearing earlier. But looking back we never saw her in it, so she may well have bought it for him (she’s got plenty of cash with her modeling).

They eventually walk into a Christmas garden lined with dazzling lights all around, really heightening their cozy closeness. Ichikawa may have seen these kinds of lights before, but since he’s seeing them with Yamada, they just seem much prettier.

When they board a train packed to the brim with passengers, for one horrible beat I feared Ichikawa got on and Yamada didn’t. But then we hear the sound of a hand—her hand—grasping his. It’s sweaty, just as Ichikawa noticed when he took the bag of manga from her.

When her hand slips out of his, he tenderly re-takes it and holds it tight. Whatever mistakes he made throughout their day together, this gesture makes up for all of it. Even if he has yet to reckon with his specific motives or realize how she truly feels, taking her hand back makes clear to her that he doesn’t want to part with her just yet.

Clearly, the feeling is mutual, and sweat aside, the feeling of holding hands is so nice, neither of them want to let go. So they don’t! They hold hands for the duration of the train ride, when they get off the train, when they exit the station, and when they stroll slowly down the streets, which take on a soft, blue glow, like they’ve strayed into a dream together. Only it’s not a dream: its two people who found each other, and like what they’ve found.

Yamada only lets go of Ichikawa’s hand when they arrive at her house. Ichikawa starts to wish her a Happy New Year, but she shushes him. There are still quite a few days until then, so she doesn’t want him to say that quite yet. If he does, it suggests they won’t see each other again until the new year. She doesn’t want that.

After hiding behind a pole and then breaking out an adorkable “Santa Yamada” act that makes him laugh, the two finally part ways, no doubt not wanting to at all. And after they part, Ichikawa finally lets himself start thinking seriously about his feelings getting across to her; that she might know he likes her.

That night, while going over their time together and thinking about all the things he should and shouldn’t have said and done, Nigorikawa, the boy from the manga he’s reading, appears before him, saying he’s Ichikawa and Ichikawa is him. This “cooler” Ichikawa serves as a sounding board for his thoughts about having a chance with Yamada.

It also results in the most bizarre scene of the entire series thus far, as after receiving a photo of Yamada in a Santa suit, Ichikawa jacks off in bed with his new alter ego reclined beside him. Very odd stylistic choice, even if what Ichikawa himself is doing isn’t out of the ordinary for a hormonal teen. But suffice it to say, I’m glad he’s at least keeping an open mind about Yamada possibly liking him as he likes her. Because, duh, she does.

The Dangers in My Heart – 09 – Everything On the LINE

Sometimes Ichikawa is so dense it hurts. Yes, Yamada asks him for his LINE ID in a bit of a roundabout way, but seriously dude, just exchange LINE IDs with her, damnit! But no, everything has to be done the excruciatingly hard way.

Winter break approaches and Sekine wants a boyfriend, so she just casts her LINE out to everyone, starting with Ichikawa. Her more aggressive approach works, and we not only learn that Ichikawa’s avatar is Rem (whose right eye is also obscured by bangs), but Sekine knows who that is and is more of a Ram fan. Oh, and Yamada feels cheated.

It isn’t until Sekine sends Yamada to the class track star (who lives in the same apartment building as her) for his LINE ID that Ichikawa realizes what a tactical blunder he made in the library. Thankfully, when he suddenly blurts out an “AH!”, that’s all Yamada needs to say never mind to the guy.

He’s determined to tell her tomorrow that he does indeed use LINE, but descends into doubt and indecision as he reads three more pages of the shoujo manga she lent him. He seems to think she wants a guy like the boy in the manga, starts seeing parallels between their story and their own scenario, and warns himself against such trains of thought. He still feels like having any kind of hope is folly.

The next day, a casanova stops by  to very aggressively asks Yamada to come to his house and “go at it” (in “video games”). He’s flanked by another girl he’s either dated, dating, or stringing along as proof of his virility. Thankfully, Chihiro is right there as Yamada’s Iron Defense.

But when the guy says Chihiro is welcome to join them as well, that Iron Defense suddenly crumbles. This doesn’t bode well for Ichikawa, but it distresses Yamada even more. Yamada and Ichikawa realize the same thing: that dude is using Chihiro to get to her.

But Yamada would never say that; she insists she’s not going. Chihiro says fine, she’ll go with Sekine, but Yamada says “forget it, but I warned you”. As spacy as she can presents, she’s always exhibited the emotional intelligence to cut to the meat of things.

Yamada was just looking out for Chihiro, and that they ended up at odds leads Yamada to cry in the library. She hides her tears when Yamada comes in, and starts talking about all the video game systems her dad has, no doubt working towards inviting him to her place.

But then two older girls who know loverboy come in to size up and even pick on Yamada a little. They conclude that she must already have a boyfriend, but she insists she doesn’t and then emphatically repeats it while looking directly at Ichikawa. The girls think they know what’s going on and leave.

Just as Ichikawa is telling Yamada she shouldn’t hang around him when other people are around, one of the girls returns with the loverboy. Rather that separate herself from him, Yamada draws him even closer until they’re in position to kiss. From the interlopers’ view, that’s what they look like they’re doing, and they leave.

Later in class, Sekine breaks it to Chihiro that loverboy was just using her so Yamada would come. Realizing this, she decides not to go after all, and after class tries to flag down Yamada. When she tries to ignore her, Chihiro calls her a “big stupid she-giant”, and Yamada chases her down the hall.

The chase ends with Chihiro in Yamada’s arms, and Ichikawa overhears as they make up. But even as peace returns to the girl group, one withering look from loverboy gets all the wrong gears spinning in Ichikawa’s head.

What if, all this time, Yamada was just using him to shake off a guy she didn’t like? I tell ya, my heart sank all the way down to my feet when he took a sudden, unadvised detour off the new road he and Yamada had been walking. Me no like regression! Stop thinking wrong!

The next day, my nightmare scenario unfolds, as Yamada brightly greets him only to be stonewalled. He completely ignores and avoids her, even avoiding the library. Yamada stands at a distance like a stunned puppy. When he starts heading home without a word to her, she follows him.

Out the door of the class room, down the hall, down the stairs. He quickens the pace, but there’s no way he can outrun those determined legs. Finally, she manages to grab his wrist and wall slams him, her eyes raw and primed for tears. She asks him, with pain in her voice, if he’s mad at her, and why.

When they hear voices, she jumps away from him, asking if he’s mad because she’s always so close. Ichikawa, still in spiteful victim mode, brushes her off and says he’s “got places to be,” not caring if she’s upset the guy she’s using hates her.

But when he hears her begin to sob, the tune in his head thankfully changes. Like a radio caught between stations, the static gives way to clarity: Yamada isn’t the kind of girl who would use him, and he doesn’t hate her. He was just looking for an excuse to hate her. Now he’s hurting her when he doesn’t want to, but he has the power to stop that hurt right now.

He turns back to her as she drops her tissue—from one of the packs he left for her in the library ages ago—and corrects course, hopping back on the road. He clarifies that he just has some stuff to do during lunch break, and isn’t mad. A Yamada relieved beyond belief pulls him into a dramatic hug.

She apologizes for this make-up hug, as she assumes he doesn’t like being close, but Ichikawa takes her wrist in his hand, looks up at her, and says “I never said that,” which is exactly what the heroine in the manga says to the guy. After they check to see if anyone is around, they remain in a protracted hug, then agree to walk home together. This scene made me cry tears of joy. I legit needed a tissue!

Just like that, all is well, and my heart is back where it belongs: within my rib cage! The gorgeous colors of the setting sun mimic the similarly vivid warm feelings emanating from Yamada and Ichikawa as they chat on the way home. Ichikawa lets her go on about natto, and she asks him what he’s doing for Winter Break.

When he returns the manga to her, she asks for his impressions, and they learn they even have the same favorite part. Yamada, who had just earlier looked at December 24th on her calendar, tells Ichikawa she’ll bring the next volume for him on Monday.

But Monday comes, and she “forgot” the volume. By “forgot”, I mean she hatched a brilliant and foolproof scheme to not only get Ichikawa’s LINE ID, but arrange to hang out together before he heads off with his family for the break.

She insists that the cliffhanger at the end of volume 3 demands that he read the next one ASAP, so they have no choice but to meet up somewhere. She then asks him for his LINE ID. Youmiya Hina’s voice brooked no dissent, and Ichikawa wisely agrees.

From there, the floodgates open. The two start messaging and don’t stop until the morning. Yamada proposes meeting up at 2PM tomorrow by Hachiko in Shibuya, and Ichikawa confirms, while noting it’s already tomorrow. After the first half of the episode plunged us into the depths of despair, this felt like suddenly rising and breaking through the surface of the water with a dazzling splash.

The pure excitement of this development is sold so well by the editing, Yamada’s expressions, and composer Ushio Kensuke, who has really been giving the endings the extra dramatic oomph and flourish they deserve. I couldn’t help but think to the times when I first started clicking with a girl I liked, and the rush of adrenaline and dopamine that comes with that sudden flow of communication.

What an emotional roller coaster this was. I’m exhausted in the best way. When a show makes you feel so much in such a short time, you know it’s something special. We’re now officially back on the road again, and just kicked into high gear with a full tank of gas. Avanti!

RABUJOI WORLD HERITAGE LIST

The Dangers in My Heart – 08 – Walking New Roads

With Chihiro out with the flu, Yamada has to sit on Sekine, who puts her hands on Yamada’s chest and pays the price. A discussion ensues and eventually a diagram is drawn on the board indicating which parts of Yamada can be touched and which ones spell instant death. Ichikawa makes sure to study this diagram closely … just in case.

When Chihiro returns she’s worried about upcoming exams, so Yamada invites her to the library where Ichikawa helps her with some problems. Chihiro notes that Ichikawa is talking more naturally to girls now, and also mentions that Yamada talks about him a lot lately. She also shares an adorable antidote about Yamada trying to remove whipped cream from her face with more whipped cream, and Ichikawa can’t help but smile.

Neither can I, because Chihiro is gradually getting used to the fact that Ichikawa is becoming a persistent presence in Yamada’s life now, and it’s good to see them getting along. A lesser anime might have drummed up some kind of rivalry.

When parent-teacher meetings arrive, Ichikawa spots his mom sitting with Yamada and her mom. Yamada’s mom is continually correcting her daughter’s legs and posture, and Ichikawa’s mom finds herself also correcting hers. When she introduces herself as “Kyo-chan’s” mom, Yamada lights up, and in telling her how she talks with him a lot, she bashfully uses his first name, Kyoutarou.

Ichikawa’s mom and Yamada even swap candies. As mother and daughter-in-law, they’d surely be BFFs. After the meetings, Ichikawa’s mom asks him about the stunning girl she met who’s in his class, and he says without hesitation “Yamada.” Little did they know she was walking right behind them! Hearing Ichikawa identify her from “stunning” turns her beet red, and she has to beat a hasty retreat.

The next day, Ichikawa notices Yamada is closer than usual … yeah, he’s gonna have to get used to that! Inspired by him helping Chihiro out, she asks him if he’ll tutor her, and he wisely accepts. When she takes out her notebook that’s half history and half science, she says Chihiro playfully called it “a history of how dumb I am”, inducing another smile and chuckle.

When the librarian appears, disaster almost strikes, as the throat drop Ichikawa’s mom gave Yamada is right there on the desk. Remembering the diagram, Ichikawa taps her on the shoulder. But when he draws close to whisper in her ear to hide the drop, she gets flushed and leaps up, unprepared for such close contact, but also not hating it. She merely revises the diagram later.

On another rainy day, Ichikawa forgets his raincoat, and it rains more than he predicted. He crosses paths with Yamada, who shields him with her umbrella, admires his exposed right eye again, tenderly touches his face, then tries to fashion a rain hat for him with her shopping bag.

When that doesn’t work, Yamada hops on his bike for another ride, but they’re going in different directions: her to work, him home. So they part ways in the cold rain, both of them a little disappointed they couldn’t stay together a bit longer. You can really feel the yearning emanating from both of them in this scene.

It isn’t until Ichikawa gets all the way home that he realizes Yamada left her bag in his basket. When he sees that among the snacks is a box of what he thinks must be tampons, he races to the train station with all due speed, hoping to track her down.

Luck is on his side, but Yamada leans in to his ear this time, whispering that she bought the box for her mom and they’re “not the ones for periods.” Ichikawa bikes home, and when he’s in bed, he looks up Yamada on social media, but it’s clear all that riding in the rain took its toll.

After a bizarre fever dream in which he is confronted by both a mini-Yamada and a kaiju Yamada, Ichikawa wakes up with a temperature, and stays home from school for the first time in a long while. This sets up one of the best home visit scenes I’ve ever seen, as there’s a ring at the doorbell, and it’s a concerned Yamada.

He answers the door to greet her, and she’s come bearing extra serving of strawberry Bavarian cream for him, in part because she feels partially responsible for him getting sick. The two part ways, and there’s that same sinking feeling as when they parted in the rain … but then Ichikawa invites her in for a cup of tea.

He can’t believe Yamada is in his house, on his couch, about to drink tea with him, and he gets sloppy. There’s also the matter of him still running a prestigious fever, so his focus is in and out. He suddenly realizes he’s in his PJs and heads upstairs to change into something “more stylish”, but when he doesn’t return Yamada finds him passed out and shirtless in his room.

Yamada carefully carries him to the bed and helps him get his arms into a shirt, but his strength fails again and his head comes to a rest right between Yamada’s breasts. And even though this area was clearly marked as restricted on her diagram, Yamada lets him linger there, and even puts her hands on his bare back and draws him closer to her. It’s an astonishingly heartwarming, beautifully storyboarded and animated sequence that took my breath away.

When Ichikawa comes to again later that night, he calls Yamada’s name, but it’s Kana instead. She has the strawberry cream Yamada brought, as well as a hastily written note wishing for him to “cheer up” (rather than “get well”) soon. Kana assumes a friend stopped by, but if she only knew what kind of friend!

The next day Ichikawa’s mom tells him she found Yamada outside the house, and we thankfully get to see what transpired. Yamada is such a bashful, adorable mess around his mom, and when she learns his fever broke and he’ll be back to school tomorrow, tears well up in her eyes. She turns about and leaves in such a hurry she bangs into an electrical pole.

Yamada can’t wait to see Ichikawa at school the next day, so surprises him well before he gets there to say good morning with a sore voice that indicates she caught his cold. He admits he doesn’t remember much from when he had his fever, and had some weird dreams.

She wants to hear about them, as she can apparently interpret dreams, but they’re interrupted by Chihiro, who reveals that Yamada didn’t eat her strawberry dessert. In fact, she only ever had one, and she gave it to Ichikawa. If you need incontrovertible proof that she’s down bad for this boy, look no further than that gesture!

During their small talk outside his house before inviting her in for tea, Ichikawa infers that she must have walked a long way from school. But in one of her more poignant lines, Yamada says “it’s fun walking new roads.” Well, she and Ichikawa are certainly walking new roads together! I daresay there’s no turning back, and they are absolutely mesmerizing to watch.

The Apothecary Diaries – 06 – Poison, as a Treat

Maomao soon learns the extent to which an imperial garden party consists of a lot of standing around freezing your ass off. Even with the pocket warmers she prepared, it’s still cold out there in the open. The party is also an opportunity for the ladies-in-waiting of the four concubines to engage in petty sniping.

When Maomao sees that one of Lihua’s ladies-in-waiting who is talking shit about her is someone she’d already set straight back in the Crystal Pavilion, so it only takes one extremely unsettling look (while covering her lack of freckles) to cause her to flee in terror. She’s definitely gotten the hang of putting jerks in their place!

Maomao also learns, and is rightfully skeeved out, by the fact that the emperor’s youngest consort, Lishu, was technically his oldest consort Ah-Duo’s mother-in-law, despite being all of nine years old when she was with the previous emperor. Even now she’s still but fourteen—and her ladies-in-waiting don’t seem to be big fans of her.

When Maomao sees Lihua’s ladies freezing, she offers them some stones, but they recoil from her. That’s fine, because plenty of people like Maomao and show it by offering her hairpins. First there was Jinshi last week, then Lihaku, a Golden Retriever of an officer, and then most surprising of all but then again not, Lady Lihua gives her savior a hairpin. That said, I doubt Maomao is in any hurry to be poached from Gyokuyou.

Maomao’s favorite part of the garden party is the food tasting. The first dish is fine, but she notes that the second is odd in that it contains a different ingredient than usual, and when Lishu eats that same dish a table over, not only does she seem thoroughly troubled by having to eat it, but her food taster seems to be getting a kick out of her discomfort.

When Maomao tastes the next dish, a bowl of soup, Lihaku and the other officers watch, transfixed. For a second, I thought from her reaction to the taste of the soup that it contained another aphrodisiac, perhaps meant to embarrass her lady. But no, it’s just straight-up poison. Maomao just gets off being poisoned, or poisoning herself. The more the poison courses through her body, the more excited she gets.

Hey, I ain’t here to kink-shame, but the fact she swallows the poison soup calls into doubt whether it’s actually poison, so a minister tries some and collapses. By that point, Maomao has rushed to the fountain to wash out her mouth, but Jinshi is still concerned.

Maomao gives him her sweetest doe eyes and asks if she can have more poison, but he’s not there to enable her. As he takes her by the hand to the infirmary for a proper purge, she notes that he’s acting more adult while ironically appearing younger; she notes that she “prefers him like this, somewhat,” but when she sees that even he has a hairpin, her mind wanders who gave it to him.

Once Maomao has taken “the good drugs” and purged all traces of the poison from her body, she asks Jinshi to bring Lady Lishu and her taster before her for some questions. Almost immediately upon arriving, Lishu strarts scratching at her sleeve, which Maomao lifts to reveal a nasty rash.

Maomao has seen this before, including with her own body: she doesn’t use the words “allergic reaction”, but she understands what’s happening and that it’s caused by certain foods. In her case, it’s buckwheat, but in Lishu’s case, it’s mackerel.

Maomao goes on to note that Lishu and Gyokuyou’s dishes must have been swapped, and she gives Lishu’s food taster a good long stern look and gives her a list of things to avoid if she wants to keep Lishu alive and happy. Maomao leaves out the “…or else you’ll fell the wrath of the emperor”, because that’s implied.

And so not long after saving Lady Lihua from toxic makeup, she’s saved Lady Lishu from a negligent food taster. She continues to demonstrate her indispensable ability to identify causes of problems and formulating solutions.

She may not know who poisoned the soup, but it’s another instance in an ongoing pattern of incidents Jinshi is keeping a close eye on, and I’m sure he’ll continue to rely on Maomao for council where medicine is concerned, while also ensuring she doesn’t get overexcited and kill herself with that sweet, sweet poison.

The Apothecary Diaries – 05 – Preparing for Battle

Only Gaoshun witnesses a shirtless, sweaty Jinshi elegantly sparring with a promising underling. If there were any women present they would surely faint from the hotness. But after the session, Jinshi asks about the apothecary, specifically whether she’s restored her weight and health after going all out for Lady Lihua.

Maomao is in good spirits owing to the fact she’s found some fresh Matsutake mushrooms on the palace grounds. She also learns from her girl on the street Xiaolan that a servant managed to seduce a military officer, and suspects an aphrodisiac was used. Maomao keeps quiet about the fact that Jinshi had her make it.

After enjoying some grilled mushrooms with salt and soy paste with her partner-in-crime, the quack doctor, the two new best buds are interrupted by a eunuch who believes he’s been cursed. He shows them the nasty rashes on his hands, and Maomao believes an ointment should do the trick.

When the lad tells the story of how the rashes came to be, and that a strange colored flame led him to believe it was a curse, Maomao replicates the many-colored flames he saw, and chalks up the rashes to the fact he touched the wooden tablets containing the stuff that changed the flame’s colors, like fireworks.

With this little mini-mystery solved with science, Jinshi takes Maomao aside and shows her a number of different salts that can color flames if they were mixed with water or oil. Jinshi asks Gaoshun to find anyone else who may have suffered burns; both he and Maomao suspect the colored flames could be a code, for possibly nefarious purposes.

If there is some secret scheming going on, Jinshi, Maomao, and Gyokuyou and her retinue have to be on alert, especially with the emperor’s lavish garden party on the horizon. Gyokuyou’s other ladies-in-waiting dress her up in the formal garb they’ll be all be wearing. All four of the emperor’s top concubines will be in attendance, and it will be a war of looks and charm.

Maomao, as ever, is extremely practical about the upcoming event. Since it’s autumn it’s bound to be cold and there’s going to be a lot of standing around, so she makes a candy with orange and ginger to help bloodflow and provide warming, and sews pockets into her underrobe so a warming stone can be placed there.

When her co-ladies-in-waiting learn of these hacks, not only do they ask her to make them for them, but even the emperor’s cook and seamstress reach out. By just being who she is, she’s making a lot of friends and turning heads in the court.

When the day of the garden party arrives, Gyokuyou dons exquisite crimson robes that set off her coral hair and jade eyes, while Maomao and the other ladies are resplendent in their pink formal robes. Gyokuyou “marks” her ladies with fine jewelry, explaining to Maomao that they may otherwise attract “bad bugs.”

She marks Maomao with an elegant necklace of gold and precious stones, and then the ladies accost her and prepare to hit her with the (non-toxic) makeup kit. The first step is to wipe down her face and get rid of her infamous freckles.

But to both their shock and Jinshi’s upon laying eyes on her in her garden party best, Maomao never had freckles to begin with. She made fake ones with clay. When Jinshi, who is clearly bowled over by Maomao’s beauty (those eyes), asks why she would do such a thing, Maomao is blunt: so she wouldn’t be dragged down an alley.

She proceeds to tell him that in the red-light district where she worked, the short, skinny, ugly girls were less likely to be scooped up by awful men. Turns out she was anyway, but they only sold her, they didn’t do worse. Jinshi is angry on Maomao’s behalf, and she admits she’s angry about it too, but it’s not his fault.

Maomao is as thrown off by Jinshi being straightforward rather than his usual games, but it’s Jinshi who is so smitten by Maomao that he puts one of his hairpins in her hair, which is what Gyokuyou was trying to prevent. Now, by custom, Maomao is not just hers anymore.

The “curse” of the man’s hand rashes foreshadows potential foul play during the party, especially as the four concubines are vying to become the emperor’s official consort by marrying him. Eyes will be on all four of them, and a woman in the darkness preparing to serve a meal suggests she’s an agent in treachery to come.

But if it’s food meant for Gyokuyou, Maomao will be tasting it first. But her glow-up this week confirms the beautiful dancing Maomao in the OP is no illusion, but what she looks like when she doesn’t frump herself up. The preparations are complete; now it’s time to party.

The Apothecary Diaries – 04 – Living for Him

Once the Emperor learns of the “famous apothecary”, he asks her to look after Lady Lihua. That is to say, he commands her to cure her of her affliction. If Maomao can’t, it means she’s disobeying the emperor and will surely be beheaded. That said, Maomao approaches this latest mystery—with her usual wit and levelheadedness.

That said, Lihua’s stuck-up ladies-in-waiting don’t make it easy. At first, they make it outright impossible. Maomao knows that in Lihua’s weakened state she needs easy-to-digest food to slowly build up her strength. Instead, they turn Maomao away and insist on serving their lady the richest, most luxurious foods. She’s too weak to eat them, so she wastes away.

Jinshi, who is monitoring Maomao’s progress, she that she’s hit an interpersonal snag and provides an immediate assist, by reminding the smitten ladies-in-waiting that the emperor wishes Maomao access to Lady Lihua. And she gets it not a moment too soon, as she discovers that the ladies-in-waiting have continued to apply the poison makeup to Lihua.

This goes beyond simply having no idea how to treat Lihua in her delicate state; they are actively continuing to killing her for the sake of beauty, and hid the toxic makeup from he eunuchs assigned to confiscate it. Upon learning this, Maomao approaches the lady responsible for Lihua’s make up, delivers a vicious slap to the face, then pours the makeup over her head.

This is about more than Maomao simply demanding respect for having the knowledge and experience to treat Lihua. It’s also about more than saving her own skin by obeying the emperor. Maomao simply cannot abide such wanton ignorance and stupidity in her presence. And when she delivered that slap, she cemented heself as one of my favorite heroines of the year. Yuuki Aoi can really bring it when she needs to, and does so here.

The slap, which occurred in front of Jinshi, who doesn’t interfere and thus tacitly approves, also serves as a message to the other ladies-in-waiting: when it comes to Lihua’s health, Maomao is the new boss of the Crystal Pavilion. She carefully crafts a diet Lihua can handle, and adjusts it as Lihua’s strength ever-so-slowly returns.

No longer being poisoned by the makeup, Lihua graduates from rice water to porridge and tea, to broth and fruits and vegetables. Maomao also ensures her chambers get proper ventilation, and even takes up Jinshi’s offer to help again by asking him to have a steam bath built on the premises so Lihua can keep sweating out the toxins.

As Lihua’s color and vitality improves, there’s a subtle change in Maomao’s appearance; bags form under her eyes, she seems to move more slowly and more deliberately, and perhaps she even gets a bit thinner. Again, it’s subtle, but very apparent. The fatigue that results from her tireless exertion serves as a sign of her dedication to doing the job she’s been given right.

One day, while sitting by Lihua’s bedside trying to stay awake, Lihua gathers the strength to speak. She asks Maomao why she didn’t simply let her die. Maomao replies, quite simply, that Lihua ate food when it was placed in her mouth. Because she ate food, and continues to eat it, means she doesn’t want to die.

Maomao took note of this the first time she fed her. It wasn’t the lack of will to live that kept her from eating, but lack of strength from the neglect of the ladies-in-waiting. We learn the head lady was confined and the eunuch responsible for confiscating the makeup was flagellated—more reminders that this was not a request from the emperor to do her best, but a command to make it happen.

When Lihua recalls when she had her health, and her darling infant son in her arms, and…that’s when I couldn’t help but tear up a bit. Lihua suffered incalculable grief and loss, but also guilt for not heeding the warning about the makeup. But she agrees with Maomao’s assessment that she wants to live. She does want to live, to honor the memory of her lost son.

The recovery regime continues with Maomao in charge and the ladies-in-waiting assiting her with Lihua’s steam baths, wipe-downs, laundry, and everything else. One day, the head lady she slapped returns, now contrite. She vows she’ll never make the same mistakes she made again, and says the clearly exhausted Maomao can go rest; she’ll take it from here.

When she sees that Lihua is strong enough to greet her, her eyes fill with tears of relief. I’d hoped she’d have actually apologized to Maomao for being such an idiot and almost killing Lihua, and thanked her for restoring her health so dramatically, but just because she doesn’t say those things out loud doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel that way.

In all this time with Lihua, Maomao learned more about her, and that she wasn’t the selfish princess she first thought her to be. When Lihua is strong enough to take strolls through the garden on her own, Maomao’s service to her is coming to a close.

When she finds Maomao fast asleep on a hard bench, Lihua offers her thanks by sitting beside her and gently stroking her hair. It’s a scene of regal, dignified, yet tender and heartfelt gratitude exemplified. Maomao did good, and even Jinshi is impressed she was able to fulfill the emperor’s command.

When the time comes for Maomao to return to Lady Gyokuyou’s pavilion, Lihua asks her if she’s still capable of having children. Maomao honestly answers that she doesn’t know, but there’s no harm in trying. When Lihua says the emperor’s love for her has gone, Maomao reveals that she was given express orders from the emperor to care for her, so it’s not like he hates her.

Maomao leaves her with some advice from her big sisters from the red-light district: a tactic they taught her, but which she cannot use due to her lack of endowment. Lihua doesn’t have that problem, and in fact her bust is superior to Gyokuyou’s, so she is able to employ it.

She apparently does, as shortly after Maomao returns (and is embraced like a sister by her fellow ladies-in-waiting), the frequency of the emperor’s visits to the Jade pavilion are diminished, and Gyokuyou is finally able to get some good nights’ sleep. Everybody wins this week, thanks to Maomao, the extraordinary apothecary.