At this point there’s no question that Ame to Kimi to fills “that” niche this season. I thought for a time that Dekin no Mogura might be a candidate, but it slides over into the more plot-driven lane I think. That one may be a bit of a hybrid, but With You and the Rain is a purebred. And, like so many of its predecessors, its appeal is a slow build. I always liked this show, right from the start. But it has a way of drawing you gently into its oddness, becoming more and more absorbing in the process.

Every week seems to bring a couple new oddities into the oddness, and this was no exception. First is Teru (Touya Kikunosuke). And he’s important, because he’s Fuji-san’s twin brother. I don’t have one but I can only imagine what a big deal having a twin is, especially for someone who keeps a distance even from those they’re close to (as Fuji does). At first glance Teru comes off as somewhat like his sister – a bit stilted in speech pattern, with odd social graces. But Teru is perceptibly more outgoing than Fuji – and that’s before we learn he has a pregnant wife.

Teru has showed up to put together a piece of furniture (which he picked out) for his twin sister. This immediately causes a bit of an existential crisis for Kimi, for whom the concept of fraternal twins seems to be a new one. Is this a swampman, or what? But Kimi comes to more or less trust him, although he does get miffed when Teru scolds him for getting too close to his electric screwdriver. He insists on a walk (even without writing he gets the point across) and there, the pair meet a lady who’s going crazy trying to figure out what”nanika” Kimi looks like.

At this point it’s official – it’s a running gag. Eventually Mr. Veterinarian shows up and she asks him what breed this dog is, which sends Kimi into a panic. He manages to convince the doc to keep his secret but the truth of the matter is now firmly established. They go home, where Teru finishes the cabinet and Kimi insists on being hoisted atop it (I think tanukis can jump, but I suppose they’re more climbers). Alas he’s afraid of heights (Teru uses this to his advantage – he has a sharper sense of humor than his twin).

Next up, it’s time for a new friend. Teru and his wife Wako (Hanamori Yumiri) – who’s quite pregnant – bring over their cat to be watched while they’re away. I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out with Kimi, but whatever challenges there are don’t stem from him – except for a certain lack of respect for personal space. It’s patently obvious (one suspects this is exactly how she’d react in a new place) that Fuji would understand Nyan-chan, and she counsels patience and restraint as Kimi works (too) hard to make friends. Kimi struggles – the news that cats (probably) can’t read is a real blow – but time is on his side, and good will eventually rules the day.

As a nekozuki I obviously found this both adorable and funny. And what are the odds, after never having seen one that I remember we get two feline Flehmen responses in three days. Next up we pay a visit to Wako and Teru’s house, which I have to say is pretty effing gorgeous and makes me wonder where the money comes from. Kimi and Kitty get re-acquainted while Wako and Fuji-san settle down for their project for the day, making jack-o-lanterns (which for the record I always hated doing – disgusting). Along the way there’s time for a little musing on what it feels like to be expecting – a moment that’s pregnant (pun intended) with subtext for someone like Fuji who’s perfectly happy to never experience that herself, and not feel like less of a person because of it.