Uchi no Otouto-domo ga Sumimasen has a very particular ability to make me feel conflicted (though judging by the lack of comments, not many others). I’m genuinely happy Raku is getting a subplot, after essentially having had no role beyond that of a catalyst in the first cour. But – like the whole Gen-Ito thing – it’s an uncomfortable one. In addition to everything else this show is also good at muddying the waters about just what it’s trying to be. I’m certain this obfuscation is intentional at this point. And while it’s kind of annoying, it’s also interesting.

Raku is both interesting and annoying (so he fits right in). He loves to meddle with other people but seems broadly to have little interest in individual pursuits. It’s suggested he’s had girlfriends but we get no specifics. his favorite subject to meddle with is of course Ito and Gen. Ito especially – he really enjoys messing with her. Is he just being a troll or does he genuinely believe the pair of them hooking up is a good idea? Despite how he acts Raku is a zygote so doing dumb stuff for lulz is certainly not out of character. But he’s not wrong that trying to just ignore one’s feelings is not a recipe for peace and fulfillment.

So yeah, Ito probably should stop obsessing over being a perfect sister and just come clean. Then we have the question of Gen, and just how obtuse he is or isn’t. In general terms I do vibe that he’s pretty dense where feelings are concerned. On the other hand, his blasé reaction to Ito’s cabbage roll confession had to at least have been partly an act. No guy is that dumb, not even a 16 year-old. I think he just went into panic mode and decided to act like it never happened.

Then we have the whole Raku-Azusa thing, which has none of the ambiguity of the Gen-Ito drama. It’s absolutely, unequivocally out of bounds for them to have a relationship and there’s no debating it. As if a 24-15 age gap wasn’t reason enough the whole professional aspect is equally taboo. Yet why tease it like this if the series isn’t at least using the possibility for narrative fodder? Raku grabbing her phone and posing as her boyfriend was wrong on every level, even if he was obviously doing her a favor. Her being an idiot doesn’t make it right, nor is it his responsibility.

There was at least lip service given to nipping that in the bud, but I have no reason to think Uchi no Otouto is just going to leave it there. Bringing the whole thing up in the first place makes little sense otherwise. At least with Gen and Ito we see some progress, as he makes it clear he understood what she was really saying. And then Raku interferes again, setting the two of them up on a date to the ultimate teen date spot, an amusement park. Is he just doing this for fun or does he genuinely want to see the two of them as a couple?

End on the ferris wheel – and stuck on it, no less? Why not. If we’re going down this route we may as well have something definitive come of it, I suppose. All the reasons why this is a bad idea make ignoring it now effectively impossible. In a sense the whole new step-sibling romance angle has the air of a workplace romance to it – you know it’s probably disastrous but it’s hard to tell your heart something it doesn’t want to hear. If it all goes bad you’re still stuck together – and these two don’t even have the option to quit.