Filthy Casual for Life

EPISODE 4: OUR FIRST SHRINE VISIT

Hotaru and her friend, Hibiki, are waiting for the rest of the group to show up. Hotaru mentions that her and Hananoi are maintaining the “status quo”. I don’t really know what that means. Hibiki tells Hotaru that had she known, should would have let them come to the shrine alone. Hotaru’s other friend, Shibamura, shows up. Hotaru then tells the girls that Hananoi is probably already there. She enters a bookstore where Hananoi is browsing books. When he turns around, she feels something that she hasn’t felt before. She blushes and becomes shy.

Hotaru introduces Hananoi to her friends. Then, Hibiki’s boyfriend shows up and acts chummy with Hananoi since they’re classmates, but he receives a cold shoulder instead. The line is long and Hibiki tells everyone not to get separated. She’s holding hands with her boyfriend. When Hananoi offers his hand to Hotaru, she shyly grabs her friend’s hand instead.

Hotaru makes her wish at the shrine. She wishes her friends and family are happy and that she learns what love is. When she finds Hananoi, he tells Hotaru God has never really done anything for him. Hibiki’s boyfriend walks up and suggests that they eat. However, Hibiki wants to draw fortunes. When they ask Hotaru, her stomach gurgles. So, they decide to eat. The boys are in charge of mains and sides while the girls will get drinks and dessert.

Hibiki’s boyfriend is trying to make small talk and tells Hananoi that he can tells he’s head-over-heels in love with Hotaru and that he should try to share some of his sunshine with his classmates. However, he does not receive the warmth he was expecting. Hananoi immediately turns cold and makes it clear for Hibiki’s boyfriend to stay out of his way.

Meanwhile, the girls are wondering if the boys are getting along while they’re in line for castella. Hibiki points out that Hananoi isn’t feeling the outing. Hotaru is clueless. Hibiki points out that he hasn’t talked to anyone but Hotaru. Hibiki then points out that he probably wants to be alone with her since they haven’t seen each other in a while. Hotaru states that it has only been a week and Hibiki tells Hotaru that she doesn’t really get it. Every day is agonizing to someone in love. She asks her other friend Shibamura if she agrees. Shibamura agrees that she knows what it feels like to see someone she likes after a long while. Hotaru flashes back to her feelings when she saw Hananoi in the bookstore. As they wait at the torii gates for the boys, only Hibiki’s boyfriend shows up. He stammers and tells the girls that he got separated from Hananoi. Immediately, Hotaru goes to find him. When she does find him, he is helping an elderly lady. When Hotaru suggests that they should head back, he grabs her coat and asks if they could be alone for a bit.

As they talk, Hotaru asks Hananoi if he is having fun. He dodges the question by saying anywhere with her is fun to him. She tries to explain that her friends are really nice, and he agrees that anyone she’s friends with must be nice. She senses something wrong with the mood and wonders if she is misunderstanding his feelings again. He reaches to take a leaf out of her hair and she jumps. He asks her if she is avoiding him. She explains that she is feeling a bit shy. He smiles and says maybe they’re making some progress, but as always, she is quite clueless. He asks her if he can “recharge” and she thinks he is talking about his cell phone. However, without touching her, leans up against the tree and asks her to stay there with him for a moment.

In the moment, she wonders what she should do, but she suddenly realizes it has been a while since they were that close. She starts to reach for him right as he is pulling away exclaiming he is recharged. She realizes that maybe she missed him. As they return to her friends, she begins to think that she wants to know more about him and someday put a big smile on his face. They finally draw their fortunes. Hananoi helps Hibiki tie up her fortune and it takes everyone by surprise.

Just then, a boy stops and tells his friends he thought he saw a familiar face.

Hotaru gets a job at a bookstore to learn more about what Hananoi likes. However, it is cutting into her time with him so he waits for her at the end of every shift. She begins to tell him she’s okay and for him not to wait, but she stops herself. She remembers that their time together means so much to him. One night, he walks her home and her mother invites him to have dinner.

Sitting in her room, he looks a bit uncomfortable. She comes in with drinks and he reminds her that even though he promised not to touch her, she shouldn’t let her guard down. He then breaks the tension and pulls out their notebook. In it, he wrote he wants to see her as a child. She brings out a photo album and he exclaims how cute she is.

Embarrassed, she tells him he has to show her his baby pictures. He tells her it wouldn’t be interesting. He was a boring child. Then, he notices a picture with long hair. He tells her she looks pretty. He asks her if she ever plans on growing it out. She says no. Things get awkward. Hotaru realizes that she is making a mistake. She wants to know more about Hananoi, but she is refusing to tell him more about herself. Steeling her nerve, she tells him she got the job to know more about what he likes and that a good friend got mad at her and cut her hair. Hananoi then opens up to her a little. He explains he was a gloomy kid who couldn’t make friends. Hananoi thanks her for opening up and then admits that he is experiencing all kinds of firsts with her. Hotaru realizes they’re the same. She reaches out and rubs his head.

He jumps and she immediately apologizes. His face is shocked, but in a positive way. As he is about to say something to her, Hotaru’s mom yells dinner is ready. As they eat dinner, she smiles at him. She is down on herself because she knows how much Hananoi is holding back, but admits she wanted to touch him badly. As he leaves, she asks herself when she can recharge.

THOUGHTS

Oh, Hotaru. She really has no clue. I can relate. I was like that, too. I had no idea when boys liked me, or what that was even supposed to mean. I often misinterpreted intentions and feelings, too. While this show may seem a little far-fetched, I know it is totally possible to be this clueless! I am glad that her feelings are beginning to change and that she is slowly realizing that maybe she loves him, too.

What was up with Hananoi’s reaction to Hibiki’s boyfriend? I am not sure what to think about that reaction. It was a totally different Hananoi. I don’t know if he was mad with the boyfriend because he suggested the kissing or whether he is truly mean in some aspect. It was a bit of a red flag moment. However, he did partially redeem himself after he “recharged”.

Enter the long-lost friend. That has to be who that boy was that mentioned he thought he saw someone familiar. In the picture book, she was with a boy that looked similar to the boy at the shrine. What new drama will unfold?! Will continue to monitor.