Tales of Wedding Rings – 02 – Winds of Change

Satou can handle a few monsters, but when high-level Abyss knights infiltrate the castle, he is forced to flee the city with Hime, Sage Alabaster, and Prince Marse. On the carriage ride Satou learns that he’s not powerful enough to take on the knights because he needs four more rings. That means four more marriages to four more princesses (hence the haremy OP and ED).

There’s only two rooms available at the inn, the newlyweds share a bed for the first time. Hime says their marriage is “only a formality”, but when she sees all of the bruises he amassed in his battle, she runs off in guilt. Satou chases her, but on the way encounters Marse, who admits he’s relieved he didn’t have to be the Ring King, but also assures Satou that if he left his own world behind for a woman, that’s resolve to be proud of.

Buoyed by the prince’s words, Satou rushes back to Hime’s side, where he drops all ambiguity and confesses his love, and not just as a friend. Honestly I wasn’t expecting this so soon but I am not complaining! Hime admits that when she chose him, someone she also truly loves, her resolve vanished, because she didn’t want him to get hurt or marry other princesses. But hearing that he loves her too and seeing how resolved he is to be a proper husband helps her steel hers.

That leads to some awkwardness back in their room, as the mood seems to dictate that they consummate both the marriage and their newly declared love for one another. Hime tells him she’s ready to become his wife, but when Satous feels her trembling shoulder, he realizes the timings not right. Their first time will come, but first they should take their time enjoying all the things couples do. Hime agrees, but neither of them are able to sleep that night.

Their travels take them to Romca, the hidden village of Elves, children of knowledge. There dwells the Princess of the Wind Ring, one of the four other elemental rings (after Hime’s light) The Ring King must acquire. On the way, Satou is way too friendly with a giant bear, while the elven sentries who greet them seem skeptical Satou will make any progress here.

Their skepticism is brought into focus when Satou and Hime finally meet the elf princess, who is hiding behind her throne and covered in a big blanket. She sees the rings on their fingers and asks if they’ve “done it” yet, i.e. made out. When Satou answers in the affirmative, the princess is disgusted by the thought of touching lips, and runs away.

Even if he assures Hime she’s his only real wife, and the other marriages will be merely out of obligation as the Ring King, the fact of the matter is he still needs to marry them, and probably kiss them as well to get the full effect of the rings’ power. Looks like that won’t be so easy!

Kimizero – 05 – The Last Man

You’d think Ryuuto would be keeping better track of how long he’s been with his first girlfriend ever, but Runa has to remind him of their upcoming 1-month anniversary. Seriously dude? Rookie mistake. So is letting Maria have his LINE contact info. Gotta turn that shit down, man. Nothing good can come of her having your digits.

That said, Ryuuto proceeds to have a lovely beach date with Runa, gets to see her in a gorgeous bikini with matching manicure courtesy of Nicole, and must apply sunscreen to her back. He even picks a time to compliment Runa on her swimsuit when she’s least on-guard. For all the critical hits she scores on him, he can make her heart flutter too.

Their fun in the sun doesn’t last, however, as a forecasted typhoon ends up cancelling their return train. They head to a hotel for the night, which is over twice as expensive if they get two rooms. Runa says it’s okay with her, though, so one room it is.

As you’d expect, Ryuuto feels all kinds of ways about this. Was Runa just okay with the one room, or all the “other stuff” that tends to happen when two people who are dating he night together? Runa can probably sense some tension, but after his bath he plays it cool.

In their adjoining futons in the dark, Runa asks Ryuuto if he wants to do it. But he suspects she’s doing it out of obligation, and when he asks, he’s right. While she does want to do it with him eventually, she doesn’t particularly want to now. Such is the experience of someone with boyfriends who didn’t consider her wants or needs, she never had a choice.

While he’s super-nervous, I’m sure Ryuuto would probably make love with Runa on this night, but only if it’s what she really wanted. Since she doesn’t, he’s perfectly fine with them simply sleeping. He’s not disappointed, nor does he want Runa to be. They end the night with a hug that they both enjoy, and fall asleep holding hands. It’s honestly sweet as hell, in addition to being a pretty nifty exercise in consent.

What isn’t sweet is Maria up in the middle of the night as the typhoon churns outside, trying to come up with a way to be “more like Runa.” In the morning when the storm clears, Ryuuto walks Runa home. Turns out he didn’t sleep a wink last night, but there’s no rest for the weary as Nicole accosts him and pulls him into the restaurant where she works.

She offers him a staff meal while asking how things are going with Runa. She remarks that Runa can be clingy, and messages every day, but Ryuuto actually likes that because it means she’s always thinking about him. The reason Nicole is still concerned is that every boyfriend Runa had before either cheated on her or dumped her (or both) before their two-month anniversary.

Those previous boys were scum, who didn’t subscribe to the “two-way road, two-way road” philosophy of balanced relationships. They simply took what they could and then ran. Nicole has seen enough of Ryuuto to believe he won’t follow that trend, but she wants him to go farther. He can’t do or say anything to make Runa worry about not reaching that 2-month anniversary. He solemnly promises that he won’t, and a rare Nicole smile is his reward. Love Nicole. Such a good friend/big sis to Runa.

Alas, with Maria working behind the scenes throughout the episode I knew that promise would immediately be put to the test. He gets a LINE audio call from Maria’s number, but the person on the other end is talking with Runa’s voice. She says her phone died, so she’s using it to ask him to meet her in the school later that evening.

Perhaps due to how tired he is from lack of sleep, Ryuuto accepts the sudden invitation. And when he arrives in the P.E. storage room, Runa appears to be standing there in the pitch dark, telling him that she wants to do it with him after all. I’m going to assume he can’t see her reddish eyes, because that should be a dead giveaway this is not Runa but her twin sister in disguise!

First of all, goddamn is this Maria a calculating piece of work. This is a new low for her. She’s also got at least some luck on her side, because at this point Ryuuto is probably seriously fatigued. Secondly, it is 100% anime silliness that he can’t discern Runa from Maria, but I’ll allow it because … this is an anime.

Even if he only cheats on Runa accidentally, stupidity and falling for Maria’s tricks is no defense, so whatever medieval torture Nicole enacts upon him will receive my enthusiastic stamp of approval. You’re on thin goddamn ice, Ryuuto … sharpen the fuck up, or you’ll lose the best girl … and, far worse, hurt her.