Yes, there are definitely downsides to being eligible for the Boku Alliance. When a dem-doll is needed, it’s one-stop shopping for Kerori. Of course, she has some track record here with Irumi, who’s already proved a big hit. But she needs two this time, and thus “Lindy” is born. Lead is none too pleased to hear that Iruma promised their services during the Harvest Festival (Kerori is taking a rather liberal view on that, to be fair). Even Kerori’s cute face isn’t getting it done, until she plays her trump card.
This is one of those Iruma-kun episodes – and arcs – that doesn’t try to hide what it’s on about. This is strictly fanservice in every sense – it’s going for comedy and kawaii points from start to finish. The event prompting Kerori’s assertive attack is the New Moon Even Dem-Doll Games. These seem to be a chance for idols (female and male, I believe – not counting Lindy and Irumi) to compete in athletic events. For some reason. And perform of course, presumably. And it all happened on the biggest party night of the year and everyone watches on TV, which makes me think it’s the Underworld equivalent of “Kouhaku Uta Gassen”.
That trump card Kerori hooks Lindy with is the news that Gyari is going to be performing. Lead, all-Underworld boy he is, naturally is a huge fan of hers and is willing even to skirt up and dance on TV if it means meeting her. It takes four to tango dem-doll style, though. And the fourth member of the group is one Melun-san, an appropriate name for the farm girl she is. Problem is, Gyari – who likes girls – seduces Melun on her way to the dressing room and lures her over to her side. And, as Lead informs Iruma, that’s a big deal since she and Kerori used to be partners until Gyari quit to a rival agency.
Gyari is another of those massively over-the-top guest characters this series is so adept at producing. She’s no cutie-pie, this one – strictly badass. And what she wants, it turns out, is for Kerori to be her wife – her “main” wife, anyway. Kerori being the idol of pride wants no part of this, of course. But Irumi being Irumi, this is enough to get him amped as Hell for the challenge. It does leave a problem of who to get for the fourth member. It did initially occur to me that it could be the other Boku Alliance member, but he never enters the conversation. The idea of Kerori’s sister Chima is floated, but as she’s like six that’s clearly not going to work. And Manager-san is not even an option.
No, almost immediately I knew who this was going to be. The only question was how Osamu-sensei was going to contrive for it to happen. As it turns out she doesn’t even bother trying, really – Ameri is a volunteer at the event, conveniently, and when she knocks at the door (that Gyari had just kicked off its hinges) the die is cast. Ameri’s abject discomfort at this turn is already providing amusements, and promises many more, All along I kind of found myself hoping some way would be contrived for Ali-san to join the party, and huzzah – they went and did it in the omake.
Su…ki…ma
