Ah, that’s the Fumetsu no Anata e I love – and hate. After an uncharacteristically focused and tight premiere, we get something a lot more typical this week. To wit, an interesting, disjointed mess of an episode that never seems sure of where it’s going. Not bad mind you – and this series is capable of being seriously bad. Just a mess. The weird pacing and jagged narrative structure are just things you get used to with Fumetsu over time. But that makes exceptions like last week stand out that much more.

Mizuha nee Hisame is the main focus this week. Though “focus” is a relative term where To Your Eternity is concerned. Is she a reincarnation or a descendant? I’m not sure at this point – I was leaning towards the former after the first episode, but now the other way. The ghosts of the past are never far from mind with this show, and that’s certainly the case when a bunch of Fushi’s old running mates (“from the middle ages” is how Aiko describes them) start popping up all over the place.

Pretty much all the main players are here. Bon is a critical one, since his descendants have been preparing for his return in the form of the “Tasty Peach Society”. The TPS has a lot of dosh and acts as a coordinator to get the old gang together and reunite them with Fushi. But what to do with all of them? Yuuki’s grandpa naturally isn’t keen on the idea of “about eight more people and two animals” joining the menagerie at his little house, even after Fushi offers to build more rooms. All the big names are here, including of course Gugu and March (who the Peaches collected from her new fam). Some are more welcome than others (I really don’t need Tonari back in my anime life) but that’s symbolic of the bargain watching Fumetsu demands from you.

I can’t think being so open about Fushi (who Yuuki estimates to be 800) and his magic rat pack is a good idea – that has to draw attention. As for Mizuha, as soon as word comes that Fushi is around (though she doesn’t refer to him by name) her mother declares that they’re moving. It’s also revealed that Mizuha and the club president Hanna have a thing for each other, which rather puts the lie to the rumor that Mizuha steals everybody’s boyfriends. Mizuha is the joker in this deck, her role in the current narrative a bit unclear, but that’s surely going to start changing very soon.

I’ve pretty much despaired of ever being able to quit Fumetsu no Anata e, because every time I’m close to the edge is does something to draw me right back in. I still see a lot of potential in the new premise and I like some of the new characters, but as always the range of outcomes with this series is spectacularly wide. I try not to get too committed emotionally or otherwise, knowing that its always capable of disappointing me. But I’m certainly interested in seeing where all this is going.