Gomen ne, Seishun ep 9 | Thoughts
Episode Highlights
- Information Mishima~~~ Information Mishima~~ Info info info info information mishimaaaaa
- The eye-conversation between Hara and Principal Kaba is hilarious.
- Kaba’s freakout over having his true identity revealed is amazing.
- Hachiya, ” Just shut up and listen to what I have to say, okay? ” Hara, ” Okay “
- ” Can I stay at your place tonight? We’re friends right. No, not in that way. ” Ever so direct, Risa
- Hachiya, ” What’s in the okazu box? ” Hara, ” It’s nothing! So, lets go to bed. ” Kannon, ” Oooh!! So it’s about to begin!! “
- ” Don’t you think you should also give Bei-kun a ‘Sorry, ne’ too? “
With Yuko’s entrance into the story, the past comes back to haunt Hara at full force. How can he live with the actions of his past with the girl he loved now back in his life and everyone seemingly more tense? How can he face Hachiya everyday knowing that it was his heartbreak that caused her relationship to completely collapse with her sister?
This episode marks a turning point in the story, now the focus being on Hara and his crimes… but the way it plays out seems to bring more light into why he’s been able to get away with it for so long. For 14 years, Hara Heisuke believed that he was not held responsible for the actions of that night because he wasn’t at the scene of the fire when everything went down. His anger towards his friend allowed him to use him as an escapegoat, a justified means to a bitter end. But soon we learn that things weren’t as simple as it seems.
Fireworks found at the scene. A growing police investigation. Parents who knew that their son may have done it, but hid the facts anyway. The growing affected parties due to Hara’s actions causes the young teacher to finally break down and find the courage to not only confess his sins, but in some way, begin to seek redemption.
But, of course, this whole episode isn’t about Hara. Most of the episode is spent focusing Hara’s father, who now suddenly got remarried Sachiko, a woman who seems to be the perfect housewife. She cooks, cleans, and is always happy… But this story seems a bit forced and unnecessary… Its almost boring in a way. The way the story seems to give itself some redemption is through learning how Hara’s mother passed away and how dear she was to the family of a husband and two sons.
Yuko’s return is a bit underwhelming because of this. I do not know if Kankurou has something planned for her in the next episode, but considering all the drama behind this “mysterious girl” that was set up for nearly four episodes I would have expected more conflict. Instead, she just floats in on screen, has a few bittersweet conversations, and flitters out. You would think that Hara would completely fall over meeting her again, considering he spent the beginning pushing both Hachiya and her father for her whereabouts, but he just seems to carry on as if nothing happened.
His high school obsession with her seems to be nonexistent. Is this because of Hachiya’s influence in his life? Is this because she crushed him again over the radio in the previous episode? Who knows, but I would have figured there’d be more behind these two… Unresolved tension or something else. But Hara instead focuses a lot more on Hachiya Risa and seeking her forgiveness than Hachiya Yuko.
This brings us to the climax of this episode, when Hara calls for Risa to meet him ontop of Toukou’s rooftop. He tells her’s going to quit being a teacher after telling her his story, but she’s completely flabbergasted. Not because she’s in love with Hara but because she legitimately finds him to be an amazing teacher. But once she finds out that it was him who nearly burned down Sanjyou and destroyed her relationship with her older sister, you see the rose-tinted glass completely shatter before her very eyes.
Matsushima’s acting is absolutely amazing in this scene. You can feel her entire confusion, heartbreak, and frustration. I love her in this drama.
” It’s your fault! My sister, my father… No, it’s not use. Comprehending… My feelings just can’t keep up with this. ”
” Ms. Hachiya… ”
” Don’t come near me! How can an arsonist be a teacher?! How could you be quiet about this?! Did you think no one was gonna find out?! Why are you telling this now?! The cultural festival is here… tomorrow!!”
” Yes. ”
” It’s not yes! You have absolutely no idea. I already told you that I liked you…”
” Yes. ”
” So why? Why are you telling me this?! ”
It makes you wonder why Hara confessed to Risa instead of Yuko. But then we find out that he did it because he loves her.
” Because I love you. ”
Suddenly.
” This is not something to say before the cultural festival, but I’m going to say it. I like you. I love you. ”
Considering that half the series spent time focused on Hachiya’s infatuation for Hara it seems a bit off that Hara also shares the same feelings for her, perhaps even more deeply. Especially since he completely friendzoned her in the previous episode. But, when you remember that Hachiya explains to Donmai-sensei that she’s been living with him for about two weeks, it sort of rings in your head…. But explaining away how Hara may have fallen in love with Risa with a one liner sort of makes a confession a little bit more confusing than fulfilling.
But if your like me, who was rooting for Risa to get her man, than that schematics stuff doesn’t really hit you till way after the fact.
” I don’t really know the reason why. ”
” I do. Because we’re bounded to each other by fate. ”
Well, that works too.