OK, I admit – I didn’t see that one (that seven?) coming.

Development!  What a novel concept for a comedy, but Shirokuma Café has definitely started delivering it lately.  This has all been building up to Penguin-san finally confronting his fears and asking Penko-san out, but first we had a sketch about out of control weeds turning the yard next to the café into a dangerous wilderness (and archaeological dig).  There wasn’t too much that was memorable in this first sketch, to be honest, though it does continue Penguin-san’s return to prominence in the story after several weeks where he’d been on the fringes.  And it did contain the interesting information that llamas have a separate stomach for BBQ.

I may just have been exposed to a Japanese custom I was previously unaware of – writing “person” (penguin?) three times and swallowing it to avoid nervousness?  That’s a new one for me.  In any event, the moment we’ve all been waiting for finally arrived, as Sasako-san finally shames Penguin-san into confessing to Penko-san.  Except, as it turns out that’s not even her name – just one Penguin made up for her in his mind.  That’s pretty pathetic, but at least give him credit for going all-in when he finally decides to confess. 

I guess the moral of the story here is that penguins are as hard to tell apart for each other as they are for us.  In any case the revelation that there are in fact seven Penko-san’s (“Penjolina” is my favorite) working at the bakery certainly was a twist I hadn’t expected.  Yes, the audience and Penguin-san trolled yet again – and Shirokuma-san wasn’t even involved.  I think this has cured Penguin-san of romantic inclinations for the time being, assuming he survives – but it’s a bit of a letdown for those of us hoping for some actual romantic development between he and Penmi (or Penno, or Penuelle).  Hard to see any scenario where he can choose one over the others now – looks like it’s “forever alone” for Penguin-san, and no more bread for Panda red bean buns for the gang at the caff.