Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru – 06
Dating 101
Another week, another SNAFU. Last time, we left off with Hikki being awfully inconsiderate to poor Yui. Let’s see if he can do better this time around.
Misunderstandings
Oh boy. This episode is absolutely full of misunderstandings; most of which stem from Hachiman and Yukino’s little “date”. Again, this is nothing new to anime, but I’m just beating the dead horse here so I’ll shut up about it. First, we have Komachi playing the wing man as the bro-est little sister ever. I hereby coin the term “bromouto”. And it was good of her to accompany the awkward couple, because those two obviously have no concept of what a date is, even though they weren’t “technically” going on a date. “I’ll go this way and you’ll go that way”? Yeah, they were definitely doing it wrong. After pushing them in the right direction, Komachi stealthily takes her leave only to be replaced with Yukino’s older sister, Haruno. Haruno certainly is quite the character, coming across as hyper and overbearing. But Hachiman isn’t fooled and sees through her adorably playful facade, a moment of clairvoyence that impresses even Yukino. But only ever so slightly.
But of course, no false date is complete without the rival coming across the unlikely pair and making the obvious misunderstanding. So this is exactly what happens when Yui’s dog gets loose in the mall and leads her straight to Hikki and Yukino. The irony here is that the two are only going on a “date” to try and cheer her up later. And they’ve only managed to bring her down even more. Luckily, Yui doesn’t take the blow too heavily and leaves the two to their devices without much incident. She doesn’t even break down into tears, which surprises me as she’s constantly depicted as being obviously in love with Hachiman. I figured this, if anything, she would do something about. But maybe her lack of protest is due to her soft-spoken nature, compounded by the “disagreement” she had with Hikki last time. In any case, SNAFU takes this misunderstanding to the limit, but subverts it at the very last moment with a sharp observation that we might not have expected from Hachiman. In spite of Yukino’s intelligent air and Yui’s attempts at socializing, it’s kind of hilarious to think that the unsociable loner Hachiman is more perceptive at human interactions than either of the girls. I guess his spending all his time observing others does have its benefits.
As far as misunderstandings go though, the long-standing one between Hachiman and Yui takes the cake. Not to mention, it’s been the focus of the latest episodes. On one side, we have Hachiman, who doesn’t see his saving Yui’s dog as an importanct act and believes Yui is pitying him insincerely. On the other, we have Yui, who genuinely cares for Hachiman and doesn’t understand why he’s trying to distance himself from her. This “dispute” is finally laid to rest with a few wise words from Yukino for the two to let bygones be bygones and start over from here. And so this arc finally comes to an end and the Volunteers Club regains a lost member.
The Romance
I’ve been touting Yukino as the main romantic interest for Hachiman all this time, but this episode has me scratching my head a bit. Technically, Hachiman and Yukino were the ones on the date. But it really felt like Hikki and Yui made more progress relationship-wise instead. Perhaps this is due to their relationship worsening previously though. So I guess if you think about it, Yui is only now back on the same level as Yukino. The two are special friends to Hachiman, even if he doesn’t want to admit it, and I really hope that one of them becomes something more. Hachiman could certainly do with a special someone, even if he is more than a little socially awkward. He just needs to figure things out and become more considerate.
Fun with Haruno
With the conflict between Hachiman and Yui finally resolved, it’s back to business as usual for the Volunteer’s Club. There was some talk of Sai-chan joining the club as a new member, and I’d love to see that happen just so we can watch Hachiman deal with the delicious trap. With all this drama going on though, SNAFU is still able to slip some comedy in for us. Yukino’s inability to rebut Hachiman insulting Yui’s intelligence is one notably entertaining example. And there’s also the usual Hachiman catching Yukino fawning over cute items and Yukino verbally abusing Hachiman. Oh, and Yui’s closing goof of mistaking the dog collar for an accessory? Priceless. She really isn’t making a case for her intelligence.
About Sumairii
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
So would it be, “Bromoutos before Imoutos”?
I think Yukino is slowly but surely leading the other two on, towards each other. It’s like her ultimate club mission.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Bromoutos before imoutos always.
I also get the feeling that Yukino is sort of pushing Hachiman and Yui together, but perhaps she’s just being self-sacrificial and isn’t truthfully happy about the two getting together? This could definitely lead to even more dorama.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
….But Hachiman, in turn, actually falls for Yukino…hence the SNAFU?
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 63 comments
No, SNAFU is because even if they do fall for each other(I somehow hope they do), their relationship will never be easy.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Part of me thinks that Yukino might be truthfully happy about Hachiman getting with Yui because that gets him out of her hair, and she can stop thinking about him. A guy going off the market has a definite affect on other people’s attitudes toward him (although usually this means all the ladies around get *more* interested).
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
I didn’t notice the sign for “Bloody Candy” until I looked at your gif. Even at 50% off I can’t say I feel enticed.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 163 comments
I’m surprised you didn’t notice the title to this episode:
“Finally The Beginning Between Him And Her Has Ended.”
You need to ask, who is the title talking about?
Obviously Hachiman. But which girl?
During the next-episode teaser at the end of episode 5, I was thinking “her” was going to be Yui. But it didn’t turn out to be Yui. Instead it meant Yukino.
Just my opinion, but we see the beginning of something romantic between Yukino and Hachiman here, but just like that, it’s over. They have a date, she shows a cute side, they have a few minor romantic shots together, but then – Yui and Hachiman patch things up and Yukino seems to have bowed out of the running.
You can actually view Yukino’s attempts to patch things up and her little speech about starting over, as Yukino bascially friend-zoning herself. And here I was all worried about Yui and Hachiman, and I didn’t even notice Yukino’s potential until the “ship had sailed” so to speak.
Bit of a clever bait-and-switch by the episode. You go into it feeling sorry for Yui, but you end it feeling sorry for Yukino – who basically seems to have given up on the limited feelings she’s developed so far. And it was so subtle it was kind of a blink-and-you-miss-it thing.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Like I wondered above, I think this might be on purpose, because if she gets Yui and Hachiman together, then he can be off her mind. I can totally see her being the type of person who thinks that way. But ahhh, stories like this don’t work that way for characters like her.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
I didn’t mention the title because I thought it was fairly obviously referring to the end of the misunderstanding between Hachiman and Yui that has existed since they met on the first day of high school.
But your interpretation certainly has more interesting complications.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
This show’s doing absolutely great with the “I like him but I don’t know why” idea. I don’t think you can even put Hachiman in the normal harem lead position, because he doesn’t want any relationships, and is actively trying to push them all away due to his poor attitude and outlook.
I wish we’d get a little more insight into Yukinon, tho, because I don’t quite get why she’s falling for Hachiman. But such is the way of romance anime.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
All things in due time, I suppose. That very last bit where Hachiman picks up her book is probably a good indication that the next arc will be about her.
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
“… it’s kind of hilarious to think that the unsociable loner Hachiman is more perceptive at human interactions than either of the girls. I guess his spending all his time observing others does have its benefits.”
So… This makes of him a professional stalker…
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Well I wouldn’t call him a stalker at all. He just sits in his corner of the classroom and watches everyone socialize. It’s not like he follows them home and watches them change through their window or anything.
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 63 comments
As far as I like Hachiman x Yukino, it wasn’t a date, since neither of them had that in mind, and Yukino “go out with me” was simply a bad choice of words.
>>But Hachiman isn’t fooled and sees through her adorably playful facade, a moment of clairvoyence that impresses even Yukino.
Hachiman is so jaded that the conclusion “she’s not the ideal girl she pretends to be” was quite expected. Remember, he’s doubting Yui’s sincere niceness, so I think he’s doubting everyone’s good intentions.
>>it at the very last moment with a sharp observation that we might not have expected from Hachiman.
What do you mean “not expected”? All the resolutions in the previous episodes are based on his observations. Also, not at the very last moment, he got the gist of it in about the middle of a conversation.
>>Oh, and Yui’s closing goof of mistaking the dog collar for an accessory?
Honestly, I thought it was an accessory too. It was a bit too fancy for a dog collar.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 163 comments
Oh, I don’t think his observation about the older sister was perceptive so much as is was just what Hachiman would say about any girl that acted like that. Like you said, he naturally doesn’t trust any girl who acts nice.
Yukino seems impressed, but I think that stems more from her dislike of her sister than any real insight on Yukino’s part.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
And how does this make it any less perception? Others not willing to doubt her facade would be fooled.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
“Not expected” as in you usually don’t think a guy who avoids social contact would be the one to notice that the two girls aren’t talking about the same thing. I know he’s had his moments of insight before, but I just wanted to stress the irony of the situation.
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
I admit 8man isn’t fool because he saw Haruno’s mask.
But he didn’t know he is not the one who has human observing skill. This woman in front of him has the same skill. Talk about the same skill, 8man scanned her because his unease feeling until he found the reason.
But he didn’t know again Haruno is using skill to him too. After she finish scanning him, she is very interested to him and that’s why she is the one who Hayama told that he understood a bit why she looks out for 8man.
The question is why did Haruno “gaze at him” so much?