It’s sort of fun that the two (among seemingly endless) “Ao” sports sequels are airing more or less simultaneously this season. But they provide much more contrast than common ground. I do think both series are serious about presenting the sports in a realistic way, to their credit. But Ao no Hako is much more heavily weighted towards the romance and general character drama. In terms of that balance it recalls Adachi Mitsuru (a comparison I’ve made before) though there too I think the resemblance is more superficial than substantive.

I can’t deny that one notable element about Blue Box for me is its ability to present tremendously annoying supporting characters. There’s lots I love about it but that is definitely a thing. Taiki and Chinatsu, great – and we open the episode with the close if their date. The Yumeka encounter has obviously killed the mood, but there’s still a cute moment on the train home where Chi’s shoulder bumps against Taiki’s and he freaks out. This is a topic Taiki realizes is a painful one for Chinatsu, but he also senses that it’s a big enough burden on her that she has to work through it.

Taiki winds up with a cavity (I swear, his mom comes off as the most consistently uncaring mother in the world). And because his old dental clinic has closed, he has to pick a new one. And naturally, because this is Ao no Hako and coincidence is queen, Yumeka is working part-time there as a receptionist. This encounter is just as uncomfortable as the one at Shibuya Sky, and she makes only the barest minimum effort to keep it professional. It’s not every dental visit when the time under the drill is the most pleasant part of the day, but that’s the Yumeka experience in a nutshell.

I gotta say, any way you slice it Yumeka is a pill. I get that she’s important in Chi’s life and I get why. But spending on-screen time with her is just a chore. And because Taiki runs into her yet again at the park – playing pickup basketball with a little kid – we have to endure quite a lot of it. One thing about Taiki is that he has quite a firm resolve when it comes to dealing with unpleasant things if he thinks it’s necessary. And clearly he thinks understanding Yumeka is necessary to understanding Chinatsu.

Yumeka and Chi’s relationship begins with Yumeka saying she “looks like a board game piece” (I’m not even sure what that means but it did make me chuckle). Yumeka was the star child, and Chi walked in the door with no skills whatsoever. Apart from, that is, her stubbornness and willingness to put in the work. When that buys Chi a spot on the team ahead of more senior girls who seemingly have more natural talent, the sniping begins. And Yumeka comes to Chi’s defense, noting that she earned her spot with her work ethic and dedication.

So clearly, something happened between that and Yumeka walking away from the game in middle school and not only that, telling Chinatsu she hates her. Yumeka implies to Taiki – who’s presses on despite his better judgment – that it was because she realized there were better players than her and didn’t see the point. One can put two and two together and conclude there might have been one specific player who was better than was the real problem. I will say Taiki was out of line in being so judgmental and offering unsolicited advice. It was sanctimonious and presumptuous of him. But it’s also true that Yumeka is pretty much a psycho for slapping someone out of the blue like that. But that’s the Yumeka experience. Buckle up, buttercup – this is a dark ride.