We’re back in the groove of three mini-episodes again, and none of the ones this week were remotely trying to be serious.  But these were some of the funnier chapters of the season so I’m not complaining – especially as it was a big week for Rokumon-chan.  Rokumon is consistently one of the best things about Kyoukai no Rinne, and Nabatami Hitomi’s performance is one of the best least-appreciated in anime.

Food, as ever, is the theme of this episode, starting with a tragic nikuman story (no karuta involved).  Poor Rokudo-kun can’t even buy a meat bun when he buys a meat bun – his has no meat in it.  Where’s the justice in that?  The problem is a nikuman suit a student has made for the culture festival – one that was never used because his class decided not to see meat buns after all.  It gets to just how dark this series is that Ageha sees winter as the time to ambush Rinne’s heart because he’s “weak from hunger and cold”.  I admit I didn’t see Anko-chan as the top boss coming.

Next up is a hill, which has acquired an evil spirit from the accumulated misery of all the students who’ve failed to climb it and/or hated trying.  I think my favorite part of this one was Jumonji’s glamor-boy tracksuit.  It’s Rokumon who ends up saving the day here (with Mamiya Sakura’s help) after Rokumon and Jumonji are overcome with kedaruge and turn into stereotypical teenage boys.

Finally, that most glamorous of delicacies – the matsutake mushroom.  So irresistible, in fact, that it turns “that good boy” Rokumon-chan against his Rinne-sama.  All of this tragedy could have been avoided if only Grandma Tamako would have bothered to put a return address on the package she sent to Rinne-kun – even when she’s being generous, she finds a way to screw it up.