Here’s where I think the show starts kicking some ass. I first enjoyed the beginning with the return of Master’s simple-minded thinking regarding expired food. Nice to know some things haven’t changed. Here’s an idea, Master. Just go back in time and eat the food there. You can go back in time, can’t you? Speaking of that, I found it incredibly strange that Yasaka and Yayoi are able to connect. When did this happen? I guess Yayoi really is compatible with just about anyone that isn’t a ghost. Things to a huge turn when Yasaka learns that Arashi will disappear once the summer ends. Way to blow, Jun.

It’s a very sentimental moment for Yasaka and Arashi because they’ve been through so much together, and Yasaka practically confessed his love to her and it’s just so sad to see that things couldn’t be worked out. Once they tried to connect again and failed, you can tell that this is real dire. With the Hakobune gang at Yasaka’s back, he takes that one step to get inside Arashi’s heart, which is by going back in time to when Arashi is Yasaka’s age. Have to say, Yasaka kicked ass with his kendo skill (absolutely no degree of it) and I believed that captured Arashi’s heart. So could this be now the reason Arashi fell for Yasaka? The part where she takes his broken glasses and gives him a kiss on the cheek was a warm tender moment that I don’t think anyone could forget. I was very glad they, essentially, made up with each other in the end. This could’ve been a really great end to the series, but we still got a few more left. As a little note, I love that they used an old ED theme (only used once before) for this episode.

JUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!! Now this is the kind of Jun-centric adventure I’d love to see again, especially if Jun goes through puberty. The chest, the hips, the ass, the hair… hell, even the height. She grew immensely. They say that puberty is the scariest thing ever, but… wow, Jun proved that point with her loud scream. In typical cartoon stupidity, the other characters sans Arashi have no idea it’s Jun. Those new assets of hers certainly creates an entirely different tune. Even Yasaka could’ve been swooned by her. It’s great to see Jun be a little more feminine. This time she has no embarrassment for blushing. So Jun has a busy day with setting herself up with a surprise birthday party. That’s one way to ruin your own surprise, but since she got what she wanted -and who doesn’t want pie in their face?- I guess it all went good. I can’t help but think that it’s not really Jun having feelings for Yasaka but moreso how Yasaka thinks about her, which seems to mean that Jun doesn’t have that much self-esteem. In any case, I think in this anime strawberries have some sort of mystical power to them. I wish Jun could’ve just stayed adult forever. Oh well.

In episode 12, veteran SHAFT seiyuu Kobayashi Yuu makes a special guest appearance as an eccentric, annoying manga artist who can’t get inspired for her kissing scene. My god, Kobayashi sounds just as crazy and chaotic just as her drawings. I like it better when she sounds like she’s about to sue someone. Or rather, I think I should just watch more SO・RA・NO・WO・TO. Along with her comes the seiyuu of the main character from Kobayashi’s other work, School Rumble. Yup, Koshimizu Ami is here and she plays a bitchy editor who happens to have Harima glasses. It’s amazing that just about everyone seemed flustered to do kissing, especially Yasaka refusing to kiss Arashi. Kissing Jun would be a billions times better. Not a bad statement, Yasaka, but you have nooo idea. I almost wanted to see Kanako and Arashi’s kiss go through, but Master had to break it. Experience in kissing, hmm. Ironically, my favorite part was when Yayoi called Hideo, who was out in the mountains (or so he said) just to get called over for the scene, and didn’t hang up until Hideo answered back. That’s a funny trick, though I felt Yayoi did it kind of unintentionally.