Otaku ni Yasashii Gal wa Inai!? continues to be a resolutely positive and affirming piece of work. That combined with the wish-fulfillment aspect make it a frequent target of those calling it unrealistic. And sure, I get that. I still take issue with the core idea that a girl can’t become interested in a guy because he’s kind – they can, and do. But things are obviously rosier than real life here in a lot of ways. Are we turning in for hard realism? I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder, but I’m not put off that this show accentuates the better side of human nature.
One thing that’s clear – if indeed it wasn’t already – after this episode is that both Kei and Kotoko have feelings for Yukiya. Kei is horrified at the idea that the two of them might have gone to see a love story together. She’s relieved to find out it was “Zombies vs. Sharks”, then horrified that she’s relieved. Then Takuya is horrified at the idea that the guy in the photo that drops out of Kotoko’s album is her (much older) boyfriend. He too is a bit unnerved at his relief in finding out it’s just her eldest brother (who’s 18 years older than her youngest).
Having fallen behind at dating and at exams, Kei is desperate for a chance to reign supreme. The ball sports tournament provides it, since she’s good at basketball and both Takuya and Kei suck at ball sports. She still kind of loses, though, because it’s Kotoko who draws the biggest crowds for ping pong of all things (and not for her ping pong). She invites the other two to go to the massive tabihoudai afterparty. Both of them were rather beg off, not being the social gadfly Kotoko is. But only Takuya has an excuse – he’s been invited to karaoke by the boys on the class baseball team. Is hanging with these two actually helping his social development?
The three amigos wind up going to karaoke themselves anyway, and Takuya only briefly tries to apologize for making them do so – baby steps. Naturally he and Kei only want to sing Glittermon songs (he’s terrible but enthusiastic). And Kotoko has learned the words herself, clearly intent on cementing this bond to the two closest people in her social circle. But the headline here is the indirect kiss incident. Kotoko is very convicting in her claim that a big high schooler like her doesn’t care about such things. But the fact that she does in this case speaks volumes.
Next up – the swimsuit episode (and Kotoko’s choice is surprisingly conservative). That eldest brother throws a seaside family barbecue every summer, and Kei and Takuya are invited. This is an opportunity for some face time for the chibis – and for Sayu to meet Kotoko’s two little brothers. I don’t imagine it will be especially decisive on the triangle front as a group activity, but it’s more on the job training for Takuya in being a functional human teenager anyway.
