There were definitely a couple of times during this episode of Domestic na Kanojo where I thought “that’s it, the dream is over”.  Maybe one could argue that when you’re always expecting that moment to come you’ll see it even when it isn’t there, but this was for reals.  So in the end, I guess I’m relieved that we didn’t get to that point – yet.  This series has a way of drawing you closer with one hand even as it pushes you away with the other, and that was certainly on display this week.

Kiriya Reiji, as played by an oily Midorikawa Hikaru, was trouble from the moment he entered the picture.  Teachers like this do exist in the real world I suppose, but he really comes off as a narrative construct – I mean, who the hell is going to do what he did to Natsuo up on that rooftop?  And of course there’s the fact that he’s almost surely the mysterious author whose books Natsuo admires so much – Domestic Girlfriend’s love of coincidence pretty much guarantees that.  So I guess what I’d say is that Kariya is a character who plays to this series’ more undesirable tendencies – and he was just getting started.

The other new character here is Ashihara Miu (played by Kohora Konomi, who seems to be getting traction as a rising star in the seiyuu game).  She’s the president of the literature club, and one supposes it was a unanimous election as she’s the only member.  When Rui asks Natsuo to come along while she looks for clubs to potentially join (which is actually a pretty titanic character moment for her, though it kind of gets glossed over) – Natsuo’s pals tag along in a generally pretty degrading sequence, but bail once the sports clubs are checked off – they find the lit club’s room empty, but the shelves full of books by one Hasukawa You, one of Natsuo’s favorites.  He borrows one without permission, and thus sets off one of the more unpleasant sequences of events in the series so far.

I disliked pretty much everything about Kiriya here, but the whole business about forcing Natsuo and Miu to kiss was especially degrading.  In every sense it’s awful – it’s an awful thing Kiriya is doing, his logic is awful, and it’s awful as a dramatic device.  The only thing that isn’t awful is that Natsuo (thank goodness) refuses to do it, but I have much trepidation over Kiriya’s role in future events – I fear we’re expected to see him as some sort of multi-dimensional emotional chess-playing genius who’s masterfully shaping young lives.

As for Miu, she’s fine, and while I dislike the whole harem concept with some or other passions, she at least is someone who makes sense as a potential partner for Natsuo.  When you’re a teenager who loves books, finding other people to discuss them with is like striking gold, and the bond that forms can be quite a powerful one.  Rui decides to join the club too (her love of books certainly not the reason) and Momo tags along.  I continue to loathe the seiyuu performance with her – fingernails on a blackboard – but at least her character gets some development beyond what you’d expect.

The most redeeming part of the episode is Rui’s development, which culminates in a trip to Masaki’s kissaten to escape her frustrations at home.  This was all handled with considerable insight, something Domestic na Kanojo is clearly capable of – her consternation over what actually starting to care about her relationships to other people is making her feel was very genuine.  And as overplayed a character as Masaki is, his flashback was handled with more sensitivity than it could have been.  Unfortunately the episode ends with a reminder that the quota for drama with Natsui and Hina was running low, so that has to be cranked up again.  This series is frustrating and makes one feel conflicted to be sure, but it hasn’t gone over to the dark side yet, so small victories should be treasured I guess.  And caring enough to be frustrated in the first place is an acknowledgement that Domestic na Kanojo does a lot of things very well.