Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun (Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun) 2 – 15

One lesson we can definitely take away from this episode of Hanako-kun: Kou is way too trusting for his own good. Of course that’s hardly news – he’s serially nice and clinically naive. So far he’s managed to skate by relatively undamaged by this, but anytime Natsuhiko gets involved you know trouble is at hand. Between events on the surface and a thoroughly brainwashed Aoi wreaking havoc below (I don’t know whether Number Six’ domain is “below” but for poetry’s sake let’s say it is – and there was that elevator thing) events have taken a rather unsettling turn.

Kou in fact is feeling rather guilty about not having done anything to avert Nene-chan’s fate. This makes him useless in sleepover prep work, which in turn makes him feel guilty about that. He’s such a sad sack Mitsuba is worried about him. Mitsuba knows the reason why Kou is off his game, though Kou doesn’t listen to him and assumes Mitsuba is worried about himself (which is kind of telling). The pair of them hear a scream, and follow it to find the aforementioned Natsuhiko-sempai being swallowed by an apparition. Kou doesn’t know him but Mitsuba of course does, and is rightfully distrustful of his offer to help with the Nene situation.

Meanwhile Aoi has intercepted her rescue party. And if there was any question of her having somehow resisted Shinigami’s mind control and putting one over on him, that’s put to bed pretty quickly. Hanako is (rightfully) suspicious, but Aoi distracts him by revealing that Nene said she had a crush on him. This sets the cat firmly among the pigeons, especially when Nene too-vociferously denies she said it. The resulting confusion is enough to get the pair of them in place to spring her trap – a pit with nasties at the bottom of it. And a pit in a Shinigami’s lair is certain not to be a good thing.

That’s not the only bombshell Aoi drops. She tells Akane-kun she loves him, which prompts the expected reaction. But in truth Akane sees better than anyone else that this is not the Aoi he knows – he grew up with her and is totes infatuated with her after all. He’s onto her and fights back (though making no move towards saving Nene and Hanako). Aoi has no sentiment in her at this point – Akane is just another obstacle in her way. He resists well enough, but eventually one of her beasties runs him through with its stinger (or tail, or something). Eventually he takes her into his arms and pulls both of them down into the pit.

There’s a lot we don’t know here, to be sure.  Aoi speaks of the “clutter” (a recurring theme) #6 removed from her mind to allow her to see her true wish. But why would Aoi have a wish to go somewhere “far, far away” – much less the farthest shore? Nothing we know about her would explain that, as far as I know. And Hanako-kun is uncharacteristically passive during this whole chain of events, crush-bomb notwithstanding. There’s an Imelda-sized closet of shoes still to drop in this scenario.

As for the boys in the world of the living, Natsuhiko manages to BS Kou into being his admirer. Is is possible that Natsuhiko was even slightly moved by his earnestness, to the point of feeling sympathetic towards him? Color me skeptical, but on the surface (no pun intended) his sneak preview of the secret way to help Nene – get Shinigami’s help – seems logical enough. Natsuhiko and his slithery crew always have an endgame and we don’t yet know what it is here, but you worry almost as much for Kou and Sousuke as the ones in the pit – I think that quartet are in better company.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Leave a Comment