Kimi ni Todoke Episode 4: Rumors

Sawako’s social learning curve grows steeper when she encounters just how vicious rumors can be amongst teenagers. Insecurity, suspicion, and confusion rise to the fore in a shift toward a darker storyline. But first, lot’s of lighthearted chibi moments!

I don’t think there is a more vicious creature on the face of the planet than a teenage girl. Sorry honey badgers, Tasmanian devils, and wolverines – you don’t even come close. The mini-arc that begins with the fourth episode depicts the darker side of high school very well and reminds me of why I would never want to be a teen again.

Things begin innocuously enough when Sawako’s parents notice she is happy. Her father’s reaction to his wife’s speculation she might have met a boy indicates he may not be ready for that. It is cute and comical in the right measures.

By the way, the above screen capture is as close to fan service as you will ever see in the show. There is no need to have fan service when you have a good story to tell. I wish more anime production teams would understand this.

Sawako lounges in the bathtub while thinking about all the good things that have happened to her. Images of Kazehaya, Chizuru, and Ayane all flash through her mind’s eye. Life can’t get much better for her, she thinks.

Ignorance is bliss, but Chizuru and Ayane have heard too much to be happy. Nasty rumors about them are being spread throughout the school: Chizuru being a yankee, or delinquent with a track record of violence; Ayane being a slut and prostitute. It is the ugliest kind of rumors, the kind that destroy reputations and ostracize girls. Behind it all is Sadako, according to the classmates they confront.

To their credit, the duo confront Sawako since they don’t believe she is capable of such malicious behavior. An utterly clueless reaction reinforces their faith in her innocence and they declare her “pure white” by the end.

Kazehaya gets yanked out of the classroom thanks to Pin, who is suffering from memories of an alcohol induced hallucination the night before. He saw three little men running around a cup and is now obsessed with what it might mean. But he still has time to state that Kazehaya is interested in Sawako, much to the boy’s horror.

Pin is always gold in these episodes and a force to be reckoned with. He isn’t done, oh no, not by a longshot.

Meanwhile, Sawako enjoys life with her new found friends and is introduced to what having friends is like. It is a charming series of scenes and the formerly lonely girl stops to contemplate what a simple change of desks made in her life. But rumors are still popping up and she assumes wrongly they are about her having spiritual powers.

In fact, the rumors have gotten so out of control that Sawako’s old middle school acquaintance pulls her aside to find out if she really is friends with Chizuru and Ayane. Her overly thoughtful and halting response is eavesdropped on by the subjects, only to be interrupted by Pin dragging them off for a task. What they miss is critical.

Suddenly unsure of what is going on, the pair confront Sawako, who doesn’t know how to express her feelings. Not understanding what is going on and having problems finding words, her fumbling response is cut short and the unhappy girls turn their backs to her. Confusion reigns for the poor girl, not used to how mercurial teenage girls can be.

Later in the girls bathroom, Sawako hears gossip about a master manipulator controlling Chizuru and Ayane while using Kazehaya like a slave. To her shock, Sadako is revealed to be the culprit! Not just that, but she is destroying their popularity.

Stunned, Sawako broods on what has happened and makes a decision to protect her friends. It is the worst possible decision that could be made.

Thoughts

Kimi ni Todoke would be nothing without its constant misunderstandings. They may aggravate fans, but so much of adolescent life is made up of misinterpreting things, making mistakes, and being in over your head. This show merely distills them into their purest form.

I had to admire the way the episode starts out cheerfully enough, packed with chibi scenes and their associated silliness, then getting more serious until reaching a very unhappy ending. Being a teenager includes massive mood swings and the structure of the story conveyed that well. It also makes for quite a setup for what is to come.

Once again, a really good episode and so far the series has not had a weak one.

BEWARE! HERE BE SPOILERS!!!

 

 

 

 

Sawako’s refusal to wave back to Shota was painful to watch. That hesitant raising of her harm than slowly pulling it back in was excruciating. Having it all happen against some of the most beautiful backgrounds you’ll ever see in an anime made it worse, somehow.

Less painful, but still emotional was the scene where Chizuru and Ayane meet on the bridge on the way to school. Both have swollen eyes from crying and they mock each other in an attempt at hilarity which dies quickly. The way they worked out how they felt about Sawako felt authentic and realistic. This is how to do character development, writers!

Sawako’s slow crumbling into misery and loneliness out of her desire to protect those she cares about is a wretched thing to watch. Stubborn and socially inept, she thinks she is doing the right thing while actually hurting everyone else.

Poor Kazehaya. He has no clue what has happened to change things, but all he can do is watch the back of the girl he loves when she runs away from him.