Episode 08 – “It’s Not a Date”

Just when we thought mind-reading wouldn’t become an issue for Kotoura any longer, the topic rears its ugly head in this episode. First, Kotoura comes down with a bad cold, which actually strains her so much that she can’t read minds. This allows Manabe to kind of take advantage of the situation and help Kotoura out while she’s sick, without worrying about her finding out about his fantasies. A nice gesture, if not for some ill intentions. However, there is a nice moment when Kotoura asks Manabe to hold her hand until she falls asleep. Unfortunately, I can’t find myself caring all that much for this relationship at all, mostly because Manabe is just really dumb.

Naturally, Manabe’s intentions are exposed, and Moritani doles out some physical punishment. Mifune suggests that he be “punished” by catering to all of Kotoura’s wants. Ultimately, this means going out on a date with her, though Kotoura still hasn’t gotten her ESP back at this point. Strange…but maybe it’s for the best, right? Typical date fare happens, such as a trip to a clothing store, in which Manabe suggests outrageous items for Kotoura, and Manabe buying taiyaki for her.

As Kotoura and Manabe are about to go to the theater, Kotoura mentions that she has never seen a movie without getting the plot spoiled, which makes sense because everyone at the theater is always thinking about it while leaving. This kind of struck me because it’s something that I take for granted and not really something I’d think would be a hardship for anyone. It may seem petty compared to other troubles that Kotoura’s faced, but I thought it was an interesting part of her struggle.

Everything is quite lackadaisical, until tragedy literally strikes Kotoura down where she stands. She suddenly gets bombarded with a string of ambiguous visions and passes out from the stress. They appear to be flashbacks, but they could also be of something that happens in the present or even the future. This could be playing into Mifune’s hands, as she reveals that the reason she wanted the two to go on a date was to hopefully stimulate Kotoura’s ESP back to her. If that’s what happened, then I guess her plan was successful.

By the looks of the preview, things are about to get quite intense in the next episode. Police barricades, a new character, and the return of Kotoura’s mother leave a lot to think about for the coming week.

B.W.