Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto 10 – 12

Wolverine~

Episode 10 starts off with a younger version of Mizuno and Marino, with Marino claiming that all of Mizuno’s magic spells were hers alone. Anyway! Southern Cross High School is having their annual sports tournament, with sports such as baseball and badminton and many other different things. Class Onederberry (Takuto, Suguta and Wako) and Twober (Mizuno, Marino) are having a baseball match against each other. By the way, Captain isn’t very familiar with baseball, so she apologizes in advance in case she gets anything wrong.

The first inning begins with the Twober at the bat, and Takuto as the pitcher. Takuto’s apparently excellent in baseball and manages to get three strikes and a batter out almost immediately. Fangirling from around the school ensues. Even some of the Twober class members are cheering for him. The three Glittering Crux Brigade members from before are sitting at the side, without their masks but still being able to recognize Marino as Manticore. Next up, Mizuno takes her turn at the bat, but makes no attempt to even block the ball, instead she just gawks at Takuto and is OUT. She runs to tell her sister that the pitcher is Takuto-kun, who in response tells Mizuno that she’ll get her revenge for her lost.

Bear in mind that Marino is actually the school’s sports star, so I don’t think that there was any way Takuto could beat her even though he’s excellent at baseball. She steps in and starts chanting something like a spell, repeating the words “Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse” a few times before the round starts. When Takuto throws the ball at her, she slams it spot on with her bat and sends the ball flying all the way to the top of the scoreboard. Well, she is the school’s sports star.

Orange head from the Brigade trio then takes over after Marino’s helluva epic homerun. At this point I am convinced that he has a crush on Marino. Takuto actually misses the ball he throws, but Suguta springs out from nowhere and does and epic backflip catch of the ball. Fangirling from around the school ensues.

On the other hand, Wako, Suguta and the Class President are left alone together in the shade. Wako then says that it’s been a while since they’ve been together, and it’s revealed that the three of them were the ones who erected the totem pole when they were children. While they’re all feeling nostalgic, Takuto manages to hit the ball pretty far, but it’s stopped by the Twober players pretty quick. When Marino catches the ball, Takuto accidentally runs into her and – HE HAS HIS FACE IN HER CHEST. THE MOMENT EVERY ANIME ALWAYS HAS. WHY. WHY. WHYYY — He late r offers to help her up, but she rejects his hand as orange head looks on in hatred…or whatever emotion he’s trying to show.

Takuto and Marino have a little chat at the sidelines, Takuto being surprised that Marino knows his name. She claims it’s because her sister talks about him a lot, but no, it’s obviously because she’s in the Brigade. Takuto knows her name as well, saying that it is again because of Mizuno talking about her a lot.  While Takuto gets completely owned, he compliments how the sisters look so much alike, and how they even have the same eye colour – Please don’t tell me Marino’s blushing. Again, orange head looks on in jealousy.

It’s the Class President’s time to bat, and Suguta is a gentleman to hand her the bat and wish her the best of luck. Not that the luck helped very much, because she missed all three balls and was out instantly, looking very embarrassed.

Onderberry and Twober are having an extremely close fight, with this one being the last inning with the Onderberry stars at bat. Orange head’s first two balls are sent flying all the way into the nearby forest by Takuto, but his third one appears to have a magical power and managed to avoid Takuto’s bat. Yup, he used his first phase, and I can’t believe he still feels legit about winning now.

Orange head, which I shall continue to call him even though I know his name is Sword Star, goes to look for Marino while she’s drinking water after the game. They identify themselves as Brigade members and then discuss about the last bat. It’s confirmed that he used his first phase (which seems kinda pathetic, I mean, moving balls around?) to win the game. He then says that it must be tough to have a sister like Mizuno, seeing her teach a spell even to Takuto after the game and how she’s really into him. Marino just bites her lip. Elsewhere, Wako, Takuto and Suguta are hanging outside a pastry shop and talking about the day’s events. Wako says that Takuto was cool and Suguta mentions how the last ball seemed strange. Except Takuto is just the ignorant youth that he is and completely didn’t realize that the ball had avoided his bat contact.

Mizuno is drawing her adorable fanart of Takuto when Marino comes in to play their little “guess the ice cream flavor” game. She gets it right, as usual, and Marino’s thrilled by her little witch or a sister. Marino then asks Mizuno to stop teaching other people spells, because she thinks that they’re all trying to make her happy but none of them believe in the spell and also think that she’s just silly. Mizuno then denies Takuto being like that, because she thinks Takuto’s different. She asks Marino whether she believes in the spells or not, and she says she does. We’re then dragged into a flashback.

When Marino and Mizuno were children, they’re mother remarried. They refused to acknowledge the man as their father, and instead think of him as a sly man who tricked her. Their mother blames the fact that they are unable to call him ‘daddy’ as the reason why he left the reason, and also because he was probably sick of staying there and decided to go to the city. The You sister’s mother then leaves in search for him, telling them to take care of the house until she comes back.. Which is obviously hasn’t done yet. Marino then cries while taking a walk in the forest with Mizuno, saying that she doesn’t like their mother anymore. Mizuno then decides to teach her the “It’s Okay Spell” (Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse), so that’s why Marino believes in the spells!

Meanwhile, orange head decides to go into his Cybercasket and challenge Takuto that night, thinking that his ‘awesome’ ball levitation power can beat him. Takuto is actually driven to the point of near defeat because of these red balls, but decides to chant the “It’s Okay Spell” halfway through.. and things do turn out to be okay. Takuto fires off his robot tailcoat missiles to battle off the red balls, and then flies up above orange head and slices his Cybody into quarters. Manticore, watching on, is mildly surprised by the fact that Takuto really chanted the spell. Again, here are your 8 screenshots.

Back in their house, Mizuno and Marino are sharing a bath, Marino wallowing in her own mind, thinking about Takuto. She then asks Mizuno how she knows what flavor ice cream she picks, and Mizuno simply replies that it’s because they always like the same things. Basically.. THEY BOTH LIKE TAKUTO! And that is the end of the episode.

At the start of episode 11, Simone wakes up from what seems to be a bad dream of a car accident. But she gets up and carries out her duties as per normal, anyway, showing jealousy towards Kanako (Mrs. Watanabe), who would always be awake and working before herself no matter how late she stays up. They then head to school afterwards, where they come across Takashi, who’s there for early kendo practice.

During what seems to be English class, Kanako begins her very interruptive speech in the middle of the lesson. Speaking to Takuto (who responds with a “oh god, not again” expression), she goes on about how the top reason for cheating wives is revenge for husbands cheating first, after discussing how she thinks that there’s another woman with her husband after calling him the night before. She then says that it’s time to celebrate since the exams are over, and announces a class party at her ship that evening, and requests that everyone attends it.

It turns out that everyone does attend it, in swimsuits to top it off. Kanako herself wearing a very… amazing dress that awes everyone in the class, with “oohs” and “ahs” and so on when she appears. Wako is invited to sing for them, with Takashi playing the piano accompaniment for her. Takuto then has a friendly chat with Simone and Takashi, who asks him if her would like to have a re-battle since he’s a dual-wielder. Takuto then totally insults tells him that playing the better suits him more than holding a kendo stick.

But where’s Suguta? He’s not at the party. Instead, he’s out wandering at a park, where he meets Head from the Glittering Crux Brigade. Head turns out to be a painter who doesn’t want to paint anymore, someone who’s trying to convince himself to give up painting. Suguta tells him to go ahead and do so. Leaving the park which is apparently the best place to see the sunset at, Head does the frame movement with his hands and compliments Suguta as a ‘beautiful boy’, saying that he’s glad that there are people like him still out there. I have no idea what that was about.

At the every-episode Brigade meeting, Kanako, who is the president of the Adult Bank, is accused of bending the rules. In response, she says that ownership of Cybodies should only be held by someone who understands the responsibility that comes along with it. Simone, who is sitting in the background, runs an internal commentary, saying that is the greatest at these times. But when Manticore then says that she’s heard about her using Cybodies for her own personal uses, Simone then comes to a conclusion that if it’s true, she might have been overestimating her own Mistress.

Creepin’ in the shadows, watching you..

Later on, when Kanako’s getting her massage from Takashi, Simone comes in with a call from Mr. Watanabe, saying that he wishes to speak to her about their wedding anniversary. Kanako tells Simone to inform him that he will call him back later, and she does, with her internal commentary telling us that LEON WATANABE IS HER FATHER?! Uhm, okay. Apparently the dream at the start of the show was a memory from the accident that she was involved in, and she was admitted into the hospital even though her injuries weren’t serious. It was when she saw Leon Watanabe on television marrying Kanako that her sister, Milene, told her that the man of television was her real father. Simone, whose real name is Pamela, had been raised by her mother’s family without hearing about this at all. The story is simple, though, her mother was Leon’s secretary, who then fell in love with him and then had two daughters. Separated, of course. Milene told Simone to then in turn to work for Kanako. She does so, taking on a fake identity as well. And that is the story of Simone!

Takashi is then approached by Simone to go up once more against Takuto since they can now regenerate Cybodies, and so that he’ll be able to be in a higher position than Kanako. He tells her that even though they can indeed regenerate them now, he’s already lost his emblem so it’ll be of no use. He then requests her to use her own Cybody, but let him handle the fighting bit since she’s not as good as he is.

The plan turns out to be pretty good, really, with Simone taking Takashi in at the beginning of the fight. Manticore can’t up but relate what they’re doing with Scarlet Kiss’s failure, but Professor Green cuts in and tells them that it’s nothing like that. While Takashi handles Takuto, Simone continues to focus all her energy on her Star Sword, making the sword much more powerful than one who has to control the Cybody as well. Takuto is attacked ruthlessly by Takashi, but Suguta then joins in the fight, summoning his King Cybody’s power for Takuto, causing his swords to grow into giant, freaking long, fluorescent blue laser beams sticks. And so he wins the fight like that. Only 6 shots this time, instead of the usual 8 xD

After the fight, Simone goes to Kanako, who was apparently worried about her. Surprisingly enough, Simone’s sister, Milene, walks into the room halfway through their conversation. Kanako tells Simon that Milene is actually her most trusted confident, and has always know about Simone’s plan and reason for working for her. In fact, their mother had actually introduced Kanako to Leon Watanabe as a partner after deciding that he needed Kanako more than herself.

Simone and Milene then have a conversation within Simone’s room, which is when Milene tells her the truth about Kanako. A year ago, after the accident that Simone was in, Kanako heard that she wasn’t waking up. She then apporvoised in order to save her, and that’s why Manticore had mentioned her using Cybodies for personal reasons. After hearing all of this, Simone then goes out to confront Kanako on why she lead her on despite knowing everything. She tells her that it seemed like something out of a novel, and so she liked it. Simone finally decides that she really, really, hates Kanako. But you know what they say, hate is a form of affection!

At the very, very start of episode 12, Kanako is shown standing in front of some lockers, presumably to change into something. Then they’re at school, where another random boy comes and requests a kiss through the glass from Kanako, who gladly does it. Takuto asks the Class President why she’s going easy on Kanako, who promptly replies that there’s no point in filling a bucket with a hole. Kanako also does her occasional ‘class interruption’ speech again, this time talking about how she has yet to give Takuto a kiss through the glass, and how she’s already kissed 73 boys since she arrived in this school, and how Takuto might be playing hard to get. She also shamelessly reveals how she totally stares at him and fantasizes during class when she’s bored, and how she wonders if she’s a sinner for having all these fantasies.

Takuto’s FACE.

Then, at the Glittering Crux Brigade, the have a discussion about the Cybody restoration equipment. It’s almost ready, but they won’t fix Manticore’s Ayingott first, and instead test it out on other Cybodies instead, since Ayingott was already broken when found. Orihalcon’s regeneration formula, however, it requires a Star Driver input in order to work. It also requires the Star Driver’s libido in order to generate, if not it will drain the Driver’s life force instead. And apparently, it might be related to Samekth’s users always falling into a coma after using it, and seeing that Samekth actually works now.. Suguta must have sufficient libido for it. Pfft. But in any case, they don’t have sufficient information on it, yet, even though it’s possible, so there’s a big risk to using it.

The next day, Simone visits Takuto in the dormitory to deliver a letter to him on behalf of Kanako. It’s an invitation to a date, a simple chat over coffee, despite Kanako’s often flamboyant taste. Simone urges Takuto to turn up for the date, telling him how she sometimes lacks the pleasure of a normal life, since she can do whatever she wants. Kanako’s still adjusting to the new environment, and Simone believes that this is the only way she’s trying to get closer to Takuto, but lacks the common sense on how to do it. Takuto then tells Simone that it’s obvious how much she likes Kanako, and it’s nice to have a pretty girl visit him on weekends.

Takuto does indeed turn up for the date. The moment he steps into the café, Master pulls him close and tells him that he’s never seen such a pretty lady around before, who happens to be Kanako. Takuto tells master that she’s his date, and Master’s reaction is.. pretty epic. They talk about Simone, their individual love lives, and how they could always meet up like this once in a while and also receive a free meal from Master because of the benefits of being pretty. She then asks Takuto his thoughts on kissing through the glass, which he says is pretty much the same as a real kiss, since you can see the other person’s face. But what if you closed your eyes? Then it’d be just be kissing the glass. Then, INDIRECT KISSU!

Suguta’s at the park once again, just to see Head and what he’s painting. Sadly, Head has yet to start painting anything, but tells Suguta that he hasn’t been attending school recently. He goes all philosophical, asking Suguta whether it’s true that he cares less about what he’s painting that him painting it. He also mentions how they seem alike, both having to make a difficult decision in their life, and their choices are normal. Then, the opening bursts into the scene, 11 minutes into the show. Talk about being late.

After the rather late opening, Mizuno goes to Takuto’s class to look for him, asking Wako where he is. Just when she’s about to leave, Kanako calls her and tells her that she’s heard a lot about her, especially that she’s a witch. She asks if there are really people that can use magic. Mizuno tells her that every individual human has their own power, and every one of them has their own individual power, but right now, an evil demon king has cast a curse to block the source of magic power, and so, unfortunately, not many people can use magic right now.

Kanako changes into her Brigade gear and approaches Takuto in the middle of the night, introducing herself as the head of the Adult Bank. She says that she doesn’t want to fight with Takuto, but asks him why he’s doing all of this. Cybodies have been around for decades, ever since the Ancient Galactic Civilization’s legacy was discovered, and it won’t get more sealed than it is at the moment. Kanako informs him that what he’s doing will only make it worst, but he tells her that there’s no way he can trust Maiden kidnappers like them.

One more thing, KANAKO’S A PROFESSIONAL BOXER! George Honda (who has been casually forgotten until now) has been invited to Kanako’s house as a sparring partner. She totally owns him in two hits, but nevertheless she’s surprised he managed to survive the first hit since most people usually go down at that hit. Takashi informs her that they might make a special event for her at the London Olympics, but she says that she might miss if it the Brigade manages to achieve Departure. She’ll also be Takuto’s opponent in this episode, and she’s totally confident about beating him, even saying that she might not be able to stop herself from killing him.

The fight starts! And it’s going to be boxing, this time, with even a ring made of laser beams. The first punch Kanako delivers sends Takuto flying into the lasers, zapping him. The second punch is an uppercut, which causes Takuto to crash onto the floor after being lifted off the group completely. But Takuto doesn’t give up, and Kanako gets to go all Wolverine on him. Takuto’s tailcoat metal parts start to spin around his hand, and he finishes her off with a drill-like move known as pile crasher.

Supposedly the next day, Kanako passes by Takuto in a car and asks him for a kiss through the glass. He looks around, and reluctantly bends down starts to approach the glass. Then Kanako winds the glass down and gives him a real kiss, telling him that he can’t do that since she’s married and drives off. Heehee.

End Thoughts: Overall I thought this was a pretty cool episode. I mean, I’ve been waiting for Kanako’s fight since finding out she’s a Brigade member. Plus, she seemed pretty good as well. I’m getting a little tired with the fights, though, especially with all the “Takuto’s gonna lose” and then “Takuto makes an epic comeback” thing repeatedly used in every episode. But do not fear! I’m not losing interest in Star Driver, honest. Now that they can officially regenerated Cybodies now, I’m waiting for an all-out war to start against Takuto, and hopefully Wako and Suguta get to join in too :> There isn’t really much to say, since they don’t really let out a lot in the previews and give out many hints, or it’s just me being ignorant again. And sorry for the really, really late review, I was kinda a sick and I’ve got a lot of adjusting to handle right now. Sigh. I’m kinda happy that it’s going for 25 episodes, though!

Preview: But episode 13! Scarlett Kiss is definitely up to something. She’s snuck into Takuto’s room in the middle of the night to use her first phase of mind-controlling kissing on him. And it definitely worked. I have a feeling that she might be using it to get his libido up in order to put him in the Cybodies for the regeneration process, or just simply make him lose on purpose so that she can become the head of the Brigade. Sadly, no, that doesn’t really make sense, since she’s already lost her emblem. Maybe make him lose to someone else, then… Let’s just hope Takuto doesn’t do anything too naughty with her.