Otome Youkai Zakuro – 09

Fortune telling for dummies…

Hey hey, this is Ness and I’m one of the so called new blood of Metanorn. You can find me sometimes lurking around the chatbox with sassy and for those of you who don’t know me.. well you can find my profile in the Team section of the site. Anyways, I’ll be covering Otome Youkai Zakuro and various other things you’ll soon find out about.

Now then a recap on the last eight episodes: You can find that there’s already a first impression review by Kyokai and Overcooled. The following episodes focus on the relationship between the girls, their pasts and how they start to work with their partners from the military. In episode three we learn that hanyou (half spirits) come into being from village girls being spirited away and returning pregnant. As well, that Zakuro’s mother was spirited away once, returning with Zakuro in her belly and was spirited away a second time to never return. Eventually the antagonists make their way into the series as cloaked figures working in the shadows causing trouble aimed towards Zakuro.

Back when we were kids, we’d choke animals and play with snakes

Episodes three to five deals with the the hanyou girls and the military guys relationships becoming closer. We find out that Susukihotaru’s power is that she’s able to read the minds of people by feeling their emotions and that of items. Following that, in episode six we learn that the powers of the twins is flower power! Well to be precise, they can control petals magically and by singing, the power is activated. I guess now we know why the girls sing during battle, hah! As well, we get another clue that contributes to the main story, one of the enemies as she’s supposedly dying mentions Zakuro’s mother and that she’ll soon find the truth about her and herself. This kind of makes me think that maybe Zakuro’s mother is bad or something, but that’s is just a guess.

You don’t mess with my peeps~!

Episode seven deals with Agemaki’s past and family. Zakuro reluctantly accompanies him as his ‘assistant’ and finds out the reason behind his fear of spirits. In episode eight the antagonists and some hints to their motives is finally revealed. After Agemaki and Susukihotaru are kidnapped by the two cloaked figures from episode six, they reveal themselves as hanyous named Byakuroku and Daidai. They kidnapped the two with orders from Rangui (the enemy from episode six that was supposedly dying) to lure in Zakuro… which of course works. A battle occurs between the two hanyou sisters vs Zakuro and Riken. Zakuro defeats Byakuroku but Rangui shows up and disappears with the sisters. We find that Byakuorku is being used by Rangui in order to protect her weak sister. Also the fact that Zakuro is somewhat special compared to the other hanyous.

The antagonists fully revealed in episode eight

Episode nine begins at breakfast with Zakuro staring at Agemaki’s cup of milk. During the series it was established that Zakuro finds it strange to drink something from cows. I don’t understand why you’d dislike drinking something from cows when your beef comes from them too. But anyways, Zakuro decides to give it another shot and after one sip she falls over screaming how sweet it is and that an image of a cow is spinning around in her head. Mmm when I drink milk, I think of uhhh cake!

After breakfast, the three tanuki servants are gossiping about the relationships between Zakuro x Agemaki x Susukihotaru x Riken x Zakuro. Is that what we call a love-square? The twins show up with a solution to finding out the truth, a new fad for human girls called kokkuri. Meanwhile, Lt. Hanadate (appeared near the end of episode two) arrives with a request for the Spirit Affairs concerning kokkuri, which he explains to be a game where questions of a romantic nature are answered. The concern relates to that whenever kokkuri is performed, a spirit appears but disappears after a while not harming anyone.

Let’s ignore Agemaki. Taa-taa my honey, see you again~

The twins suggest that they try out kokkuri as part of their ‘investigation’. But I’m sure we can tell that they have other motives. Anyways, on with the kokkuri performance, a fox looking pokemon is summoned from the kokkuri table but Zakuro explains its not a spirit but “a visualization of the feelings of humans, who believed it to be kokkuri’s appearance.” My visualization of the fortune teller who’ll answer my love interests would probably be one of those magic eight balls, simple with no expectations or problems.

“Kokkuri-san, kokkuri-san, please answer our question. Who is Agemaki-san in a relationshop with?”
Zakuro: Huuhhhh?!!

Zakuro yells at them to stop but one of the tanuki’s stop her by simply stomping on her. Effective yet life risking way to subdue a friend, well maybe not life risking if you’re a hanyou. The kokkuri didn’t answer the question asked so they tried again by rephrasing the question to…

Zakuro: Nooooo!~ Don’t ask the question!!
“Kokkuri-san, kokkuri-san, who is Agemaki-san in love with?”

The kokkuri reacts to the question but before anything else happens, Zakuro somehow throws the tanuki off of her and jumps at the kokkuri only to get repelled to the ground causing it to escape. After chasing the kokkuri, Zakuro with her backup singers attempt to stop it. I don’t see the other girls using their twigs, so whats the use of singing? Motivation for Zakuro! Fight-oh!! Unfortunately to no avail, the kokkuri escapes.

I got me my backup singers and now to kick your butt with a twig!

In the evening, Lt. Hanadate meets up with the Spirit Affairs. Amaryoju (the elephant who seems to be higher up than Kishimatsu and is always seen drinking tea with his trunk to hold the cup) suggests that they make love bloom which will cause the kokkuri to pass on. Hanadate firmly insists on joining in on the task and heads out with the group. Of course he joins in with the Zakuro and Agemaki pair. I think the love-square (mentioned previously) is now a love-pentagon.

Meanwhile… Twins: “Lets start a relationship ^_^”. Ganryu: “How can three people be in a relationship?! x_X;”

While looking for the kokkuri, Zakuro and Hanadate chat away with Agemaki dragging behind like a third wheel. Agemaki tries to butt in, only to be interrupted by screaming girls. When they find the kokkuri, Agemaki volunteers to do the task but as he is about to confess his love, Zakuro arm locks him not wanting to hear a false confession. Which I don’t see a reason for her to make a big deal about when she was oogling over Hanadate earlier. Its just part of the job yo.~

Can’t… breath… x_x

The kokkuri ignores the pair and rushes toward Hanadate who then proclaims his love for Zakuro; who then does so in return to cause the kokkuri to depart. Oh this sneaky guy, I thought he was being a bit too quiet not having any close ups ’till now. Zakuro thanks Hanadate for his help in ‘lying’ but Hanadate admits that he’s a bad liar. Such sly words, Agemaki should learn a few things from him.

Agemaki: If I stare off in the distance alone, maybe they’ll finally notice me

Later that night the three tanukis argue with Zakuro asking for a straight answer on her love preference. Hanadate or Agemaki?! Hmm that’s a hard one, do you prefer the mysterious yet serious type or the cool bishi who is actually a wuss deep down?

Don’t you be touching my man, you imposter!

To end the episode, we get a scene of Rangui clinging to a man, commenting how he’s a ‘good liar’ and such. The man pushes her off to walk out from behind the screen and we see that he’s the masked man from the opening song. I saw that coming, did you?

Mmmm… kinky. I love a man in a mask

Extra pics from episodes 2-9:

Mamezo x Agemaki

What happens if I cross the line?

Zakuro: “Give me a hand!” Agemaki: *Claps and starts to sing* “Bravo, bravo, bravo–!”

Pssst… I think he’s checking us out. Who needs those twins when you can have us triplets

Awww, my very own pet… Susukihotachu, I choose you!

End Thoughts: First off, I don’t have any attachments to this anime. There is a good amount of action and comedy mixed up into the series but the main story feels somewhat obvious and slow. As well, some of the turnout in events feel predictable. For example, I can figure out who the masked man is from the opening song by the second episode. Nevertheless, I find that the character development is well laid out. There’s a range of different types from the tsundere main character to a charming bishounen who is actually a wuss behind that sparkly mask. The quick change in Agemaki’s face from sparkly to scared is very funny. As well, Zakuro’s evil glares at poor Agemaki and then cute love struck awe at Hanadate are amusing to see. The relationships of the characters have progressed but isn’t quite there yet. Agemaki and Zakuro have their moments, but other people or their shyness gets into the way. I think Susukihotaru and Riken’s relationship has progressed further than them. As for the twins and Ganryu, no comment.

As for episode nine, it felt more like a filler with a touch of Agemaki x Zakuro closeness. But then Hanadate intrudes in and we get that mysterious masked man appearance. I guess we can now hope that the story is finally going to progress. Three more episodes! You can do it Agemaki, man up and show them everyone your hawt coolness. On another note, I also look forward to finding out what’s the deal with Zakuro’s mother being mentioned.

Preview: The Spirit Affair group gets to enjoy the festivities. Though the masked man is up to no good.