I guess we have our answer, since my memory didn’t have it. Despite some hinting to the contrary, Arata hasn’t figured out that Kuroe-chan is Harugon. By the end of this episode he’s certainly realized there’s a “connection”. Though just what that might mean in his head I don’t know (he wasn’t too impressed with Manatsu’s “priestess” hypothesis). But the same can’t be said for the second male character to rise to prominence in this series – though to be fair, he’s got a lot more experience with this sort of thing (and generally).

Hibino Koutarou brings Konishi Katsuyuki’s voice and a lot of kaijuu experience to the story. As for his relationship with Rinko, they were definitely colleagues – naturalists who went on expeditions together. Friends. Were they more? Her attitude her certainly doesn’t rule that out. Koutarou is a bit of a player, that much is obvious. He also has a strong bond with Kuroe, who views him as her fun uncle. He shares her love of death metal – might even be responsible for it. He offers her the chance to go the “Bakuon Festival” where her beloved Spree Killer are playing. Rinko isn’t thrilled at the idea, but smart enough to realize there’s no way she can stop it.

What this outing does is allow us to see Kuroe completely at ease and being herself – for the first time on-screen. She’s with her people, she trusts Koutarou, and has zero romantic interest in him. This of course is strikingly different than when she’s with Arata – which is all too obvious to him when he sees them together, since he’s working concessions at the festival. As soon as their eyes meet and they connect Koutarou picks up on the vibe. He goes into full protective mode, even offering that he’s Kuroe’s boyfriend (which she vociferously shoots down with haste).

This is an interesting scenario here. Koutarou knows about Kuroe’s condition, at least as it manifested at the start of the series. He’s already told Rinko that he thinks Harugon is a female. But at this point in the episode he doesn’t seem to have made the connection directly to Kuroe yet. So is he being protective because he knows the risks being around a boy she likes poses for Kuroe (and everyone else), or is he just someone who knows from experience that boys are all after one thing and can’t be trusted (which isn’t actually true but may have been for him)?

Seeing Kuroe like this is rather painful for Arata. And if he hasn’t closed the loop in his head, he can only assume he knows the reason. So when Koutarou hits the head he moves in to grab some face time with Kuroe, just as Spree Killer are about to take the stage. She wants desperately to tell him the truth, because she knows exactly the misapprehension he’s operating under. But she can’t quite bring herself to do it yet – her self-loathing is still too strong. Unfortunately a hug from Arata has predictable results, and a music festival is not the most low-stress place for a mega-kaijuu to make her appearance.

Harugon is soon followed by the JSDF. And Manatsu in a pink helicopter, who finally gets her close-up. Harugon and Arata have intense eye contact and he still doesn’t connect the dots, though he does realize this beast is interested in him and has a kind heart. Eventually he lures it away (how they got to Mount Fuji that fast I have no idea) and after she rescues him from a no-parachute chopper jump, he survives a slightly too enthusiastic squeeze. When he awakens it’s Kuroe beside him – naked again, this time draped in a parachute.

If ever there was a time this should have been it – and I really thought Kuroe was going to get it done. But no, not yet – though we do get a mutual confession, which under normal circumstances would count as good progress. We also get Koutarou witnessing all this, and in his case there’s no question that the truth is revealed. Not only has he worked with Rinko but he works with the government’s X-Files boffins, so he’s going to be facing significant test of loyalty here.