Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai S2 – 05
Let’s go on a date with Kyousuke and Kirino!
Welcome back for more discussion of Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai! This season’s been kind of up and down, with a good episode about Saori, but also a couple of episodes I didn’t really think fit in the overall narrative well with Ayase and Ria. So does this week get back on track, or continue jumping around?
Return to form
I certainly thought the episode this week went back to the successful style that we saw so much in the first series. While last week I thought that a lot of time was wasted on not much happening, this week got a lot done. First, we saw the reason for Kirino’s question at the end of last episode about Kyousuke being her boyfriend: she needs to get a talent agent off her back. Trying to come up with a reason not to go overseas again, Kirino bluffed that she had a boyfriend. But now she needs to prove it, and going a little overboard in their meeting, Kyousuke ends up having to take Kirino out on a date the next day.
Of course, everyone is out to see them together, and they have to keep acting like they’re on a date to make sure they keep fooling the talent agent. That doesn’t stop Kirino from delighting in seeing Manami’s shock at her on Kyousuke’s arm, although she gets her comeuppance when they run into Kanako. Meanwhile, Kuroneko’s shocked into silence, but Kirino just blusters past and explains later.
Circle of Success
I cannot figure out why she’s got a handkerchief on her head. Probably some horrible reason.
I’d say that the second part of the episode was the best part of the season so far. Bringing the camaraderie back, we get to see the Summer Comiket sale of our group’s first doujinshi: Kirino’s story, Kuroneko’s manga, Saori’s illustrations, and Kyousuke’s modeling as one of the characters from Maschera. The first surprise is a white dress for Ruri, who immediately gets dubbed “Shironeko” by Kyousuke, but she’s obviously pleased that he likes the way she looks. The second surprise is that they sell out their entire run of books, as opposed to Winter when Kuroneko only sold 10% of her stock. The power of collaboration and friendship!
Who’s the real boyfriend?
The “Do Kirino and Kyousuke love each other like that?” question got quite the workout this week. From the times on their date where they described the things they liked about each other, which were probably the most honest parts of their fake date, to the question of whether Kirino has a real boyfriend, this episode just further muddied the waters about their relationship. The way I see it, they don’t want to be ‘like that’ with each other, yet there is an attention-seeking that is probably too large for a usual sibling relationship. I mean, we’ve seen what turns on Kirino, and it’s not her older brother.
More of this, please
But there’s that jealousy. In his talk with Kuroneko, Kyousuke agrees with her belief that Kirino would probably be obsessive about a real boyfriend, but he’s fairly stunned to hear her say that she’d be happy if Kirino did have a real boyfriend. Of course, he still doesn’t get the real reason why (even though all of us do). And his confrontation with Kirino about it turns more serious and desperate than he wants it to be, causing Kirino to mock him about it.
I was really pleased at this episode. The dynamic between Kirino and Kyousuke seemed really good, with Kyousuke being much more of his ‘older brother’ persona, and Kirino seeking his approval. Their ‘fake’ date went pretty well, with some interesting honesty about how they view the other person. But there was still that tension that makes you wonder just how much they’re truly interested in each other. Or is it more the normal human tendency to not want to let others get ahead of you? It’s hard to tell, and I’m sure the show will keep playing both sides to further the suspense. I know I’m in a really small minority, but the incest angle doesn’t bother me at all, and I really would have no problem with such a relationship. I just don’t think we’re going to get that far along in the story to have any sort of resolution to it. So the next question is how ‘real’ is the boyfriend that showed up at the end of the show?
Is this her real boyfriend?
Bonus Shironeko Time!
About Highway
Proving that you don't have to be young to love anime, I enjoy all genres and styles of shows. If it's not hurting anyone else, you should never be ashamed of what you like!
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
Shironeko ftw! Too cute~ =v=
I loved Kousaka siblings’ date ovo uhuhu
I…I don’t want that kid to be Kirino’s boyfriend ._. that kid looks weird.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Not weird per say. He just looks girlish and that isn’t something new in the world of anime.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I quite agree with you, “Do they like each other in that way?”, is given quite a spin with Kirino’s interests; but I’ve always wondered, does she like being a big brother herself? Or does she want to play Onee-sama?
As with most of both series, these question are not given finality. This is a good thing, as these are growing young people, the change from one thing to the next is how the drama happens.
The incest route? I find it hard to support, given my mutual dislike of both characters when they are with each other. Kyousuke is happiest thinking about Kuroneko, and it looks like Kirino is happiest….when she has an eroge/loli/Meruru with her.
Shironeko. Wow, it’s almost like watching a new character, isn’t it. Spot on dude, for recognizing that. Kawaii has a textbook illustration in that.
So yes, back to form for the show. About the only thing I feel cheated on is only seeing the finished product at Comiket, and not the process. Watching them build it would have been entertaining.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I wonder how much of Kyousuke’s interest in Kuroneko is due to her actually acting on her interest in him, in even the most minimal of ways. As much as Manami likes him (at least as much as Kuroneko does, I’d say), she’s never been overt enough to kiss him. He doesn’t think of her ‘that way’, because he’s never had to, even though he showed a lot of potential jealousy when Kouhei was asking about someone else dating her. I think it would be interesting to see what would happen if he had to face up to that (let’s have another sleepover where she climbs into his futon… *guhehehehe*).
I’m not bothered by not seeing them do anything to make the doujinshi. It didn’t look very collaborative in the specifics. I do wonder who took the pictures of Kyousuke, tho (I’m guessing Saori).
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…yeah, Kyousuke is rather broken in that regard; does he still want the quiet life he espoused in S1E1? Living it up with his sibling is not going to earn him that.
Manami is too perfect for him, anyway. I think he and Kuroneko has just enough juice and patience to handle each other and prompt each other along.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
Comiket. Now that I think about it, that part seems extremely off (even though we can over look it since it’s fiction). As far as I know (which isn’t that much) Comiket is only for the top doujin circles. cYsmix, a popular English-speaking Norwegian Touhou arranger was originally going to release his “Electro Festival” album at C83, but he didn’t make the list and had to release it at Kouroumu 8. cYsmix might not be a Japanese artist, but he’s not a minor presence in the Touhou scene. He’s been a guest multiple times on Diverse System’s albums, done collaborations with fellow artists like MYTK and Ottiki&Charlotte. So the fact that Kuroneko got in the previous Comi and only sold 10% is a little unrealistic, but anywho it’s just anime o3o Also, I don’t know much about it myself. Kyousuke satisfied with his own cosplaying was hilarious though.
On a side note, I think cYsmix’s new album is going to be released C84 for Reitaisai, which is great for him ^v^ And his song 51 Frantic from Diverse System’s AD: Electronic Dance 2 which was released just a week ago (at M3-31) is quite good. Although my two favorites from that album are AMATERASU and Panzer =v= hahaha
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Well, the previous one was Winter, which is supposed to be quite a bit less popular. And who knows their popularity is: Kirino has had both an anime and a top selling LN.
Besides the story needed them to be there, and it’s not *that* much of a stretch. 🙂
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Wow, what I wouldn’t do to get a huge parfait like Kanako. A dessert of that size would be equivilant to at least daily meals. It’s a scary thing to think of how big an appetite these anime characters have.
The “Do Kirino and Kyousuke love each other like that?” question is putting this dangerously into incest territory. With Kyousuke declaring himself a siscon, there’s no real way to tell if most of what he’s been saying was acting or the truth. To me, he was getting a little too comfortable with his role playing and sometimes, it doesn’t even look like he and Kirino are siblings.
I don’t see it as problem either because when I think of incest, I’m only able to see it as a possibility in the anime world since it’s a place with hardly any rules to hinder a person’s fantasy (Incest being moderately used in hentai as an example). You wouldn’t feel the same way about things in anime as you would in the real world. It’s the same situation when I think of the yuri genre.
That could be the case and it’s a common feeling. Among the many things a person would hate to see, being outdone by someone else, especially at something you’re trying to the hang of, is very frustrating so you do what you can not to fall behind. In the end, it’s for the sake of maintaining an image and preserving one’s ego.
Kuroneko looks like a black haired version of Kuzuha Doumoto from Hagure Yuusha no Estetica and both have Kana Hanazawa as their seiyuu. I’m surprised she didn’t exagerate with her emotions when she saw them together which shows she can be a reliable person to confide secrets in.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
I probably would not have a problem with incest either, … if my sibling was that smexy.
Anywho, I think the main problem is because incest is illegal in most (?) countries. I’m not sure, but I think the reason has to do with something about genes between family members…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That would be very hard to disagree with if we were in anime. Some siblings are so lovey dovey and have so much sex appeal that you’d never think they were ever related.
Yeah, I heard that children born of close incestuous unions have greatly increased risk of congenital disorders, death and disability at least in part due to genetic diseases caused by the inbreeding.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I have declared before my lack of opposition to any pairing or bonding that those who are able to consent consent to. IMO, the genetic reasons now are basically an excuse for people who think it’s squicky. There are so many couples now without children (especially in Japan, where the population is dropping precipitously), plus there are so many other avenues for parenthood (donations from either side, adoption) that as long as those who are genetically similar know these problems and want to avoid them, they can.
So in short, the main opposition is the same opposition there’s been to gay marriage and parenthood for the last however long: other people saying “ewww, I don’t like that”. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s a crappy reason to tell other people they can’t do something.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Witness!
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It’s pretty circular to relate Kuzuha to Kuroneko, since I spent the whole time Hagure Yuusha no Sexual Harassment was on calling her Kuroneko. 🙂
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It’s funny. I don’t remember any of that during those MetaFap posts. Those two have so many similarities that they might as well have been the same person, just different hair color.
PS: It’s late to say this but congratulations on reaching the 2000 comment mark! You’ve ascended from Meta Resident to the anomaly state.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Well, I was blogging it for another site you didn’t read…
And hehe…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…and I’m still not to far back..
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Since I’ve started writing for Metanorn, you’ve caught up by something like 80 comments. 🙂
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
This is true. But I think you’re posts are fantastic, so it’s worth the loss in comments.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Well, gosh, thanks! 🙂
But now I’m blushing and grinning so much that the shippers are gonna show up again…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
::hangs head::
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Since Highway became a blogger for Metanorn, you’ve been chatting up one hell of a storm. I remembered the gap between the two of us being 1500 comments! You’ve grown very talkative.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I don’t think the gap was ever that wide. Something like 100 or so? Not that important really, whatever gap.
..and I that much of a Chatzilla?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You better believe it, buster! 🙂 You were at 1500 when I touched 3000 and I marked my milestone on one of Overcooled’s Psycho-Pass posts as a memento and that wasn’t very long ago. Not that I’m one to talk when it took me nearly 3 months to jump from 2000 to 3000.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…I guess I do tend to go on…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I keep forgeting you were previously part of another blogging site.
I’ll take that as a sign of satisfaction and I imagine that laugh going like this. It took a lot of time to reach this far but it was worth it, right? Considering how great this site is. How does it feel?
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Well, it’s surprising that it’s over 2000 comments in less than a year (first comment was May 30, 2012). But I still really enjoy it.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Mine was in late October ’11. So I gots a few months on ya.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
My first comment on Metanorn was on November 1st 2010. I remember that but it doesn’t feel so long ago.