As a former Starbucks manager, I can tell you I hated all those damn pumpkin drinks.  Not just because the sheeple went nuts for them and made our lives hell (though that would have been enough).  I also couldn’t stand the taste of any of them.  Sickly sweet, kind of gamy, just the worst flavor complement to coffee.  But in the fall they drove ridiculous amounts of business, so who am I to judge?  Not that that’s ever stopped me before…

Nonetheless, “Starbecks” seasonal pumpkin can serve as a cuteness vehicle for Koori Zokusei Danshi to Cool na Douryou Joshi because, let’s be honest, this show can kawaii anything it touches (even a Pumpkin Black Pepper Frappuccino – yuck).  That whole “one billion Yen” cliffhanger turned out to be a complete misdirect (a lottery prize starting a conversation).  Instead talk turns quickly to the aforementioned frapp, which Fuyutsuki says she’d buy (along with all the other Starbecks seasons drinks) if she won it.  But the lines at the office-adjacent location are always long and she’s never had the chance to try one.

Since both Futsuyuki and Himuro wind up buying a round for the office (he needs no dry ice, LOL) there’s extra left over for Otonashi and Katori-san, and even one for Buddha-san too.  That still leaves an extra, which winds up being offered up to the president (Fuji Takako), who just happens to be descended from a Nurarihyon (what a an interesting company this is). As such she loves night parades – or parties, in the human lexicon – and she’s throwing a Halloween bash for the company.  Complete with a costume contest with a ¥100000 first prize.

The rest of the ep is basically another kawaii attack, this time around the concept of Halloween costumes.  Artist Katori decides to make an original for himself and Otonashi (they’re in a different department), while the gang get together at Starbecks to decide their own strategy.  That winds up being a jack-o-lantern getup, though I think the vampire theme they settled on after the former was sold out everywhere is a better direction.  Himuro looks a veritable ikemen in his getup, while Fuyutsuki’s stage blood is just the accent to put her costume (and Himuro) over the top.

Compared to Christmas (which does indeed start right after Halloween in Japan, just like in the States), Halloween is barely a blip on the romance calendar here.  Still, Fuyutsuki sticking behind after the party so she and Himuro can leave together in-costume was certainly an act of courtship if ever I’ve seen one.  Koori Zokusei is just blazing through the calendar, and Christmas is already on the docket for next week.  It’s blazing through the pre-lationship phase too, indicative of a show that knows it’s a one and done (though it may be that way in the manga too, for all I know).