I’m sure it comes off as petty to criticize a series taking the turn this one has. But one can’t help be honest in this business. This whole turn of events isn’t really working for me strictly in narrative terms. But it’s a matter of execution more than substance. What really puzzles me is how many viewers seem to be angry because this turn of events has taken them by surprise. Really? For me the writing telegraphed all this about as clearly as possible without just stating it outright.

Among the biggest issues with me are Yuuko and Ushio, who I find extremely annoying. Things started to sour for me with the whole monjayaki incident, though how the show would finesse the inevitable turn to tragedy was always a worry. None of Ushio’s antics here strike me as funny and Yuuko is just… Yuuko. Whatever. The other big issue I had going in here was that whole secret addendum to the restaurant conversation between Koharu and Kakeru. It’s kind of deceptive not to have shown it to us in the first place. But an even bigger issue is, why was Kakeru behaving as if it had never happened?

But here we are, however we arrived. Koharu is a patient in the hospital, and straight-up says she has no memory of any of the trio. Yuuko sees an ad looking for volunteers to help with the pediatric patients, and suggests they all apply as a means of getting closer to Koharu without being arrested or something. I suppose this being Japan it really is that complicated to get permission to volunteer, but all three pass the cut and soon are helping out with kids’ time. And as someone who’s worked with kids here, I can verify that yes, boys that age still do the kanchou thing (though it’s not as widespread as it used to be, no pun intended).

At this point I think we take Koharu at her word that she remembers nothing, That said, her phone screen being smashed is likely not a total red herring. How much did she know when she read that message from Yuuko, and how much of a role did it have in pushing her over the edge? At the very least she picks up on the vibe coming from Kakeru and knows he likes her. She takes him aside and expresses concern that he seems to be missing so much school (it’s summer break). When he asks her about herself in that regard, she reiterates that she has no memory of being a college student. And then drops the bomb that’s been inevitable since Episode 3.

Again, not to be unsympathetic. This diagnosis is a very sad turn, and indeed such things do happen in the real world. I just find that the whole thing has been handled a bit clumsily and lost some of its emotional impact as a result . Not to harp on the light novel thing, but the hard truth is, follow-through is where these adaptations almost always go off the rails (if they were ever on them). Next week is probably the last realistic chance for Toumei na Yoru ni Kakeru Kimi to, Me ni Mienai Koi wo Shita. to turn things around, and I still have enough affection for it – and its two protagonists – to hope that happens. It would be defying the odds if it does, though.