上伊那ぼたん、酔へる姿は百合の花

I guess I'm kinda well off but I could afford the odd fancier night at the Belgian Beer Cafe. Every now and then the odd bottle of absinthe will show up. We weren't very classy about it though, we'd get off our faces and be up to no good. Absinthe was there for the ABV rather than appreciation.... nights always ended badly when a bottle of that was involved. Being an international student, we had the advantage of bringing in duty free so in a way our booze was 'subsidized'. That said these girls are drinking some pretty fancy stuff. I look it up and it's all small microbreweries and local breweries and stuff. They mostly ain't drinking commercial stuff. I don't know if that stuff is necessarily expensive, but is probably difficult to acquire. I wouldn't have the mind to seek this kinda fancy stuff out back in my uni days, and I'm sure Australia has no shortage of similarly fancy stuff. I did look up the Alchemiae Gin they had, 8.6k yen for 500ml is expensive but still affordable as a rare treat. When you start aiming for quality, you're fine with like having one nice craft beer over having 3 cheap beers as well.

Eyecatch 1 | Eyecatch 2 Is that a naked Botan calling out to Ibuki? Why the fuck was Ibuki thinking about that? Did something happen off-screen after last week's episode? I feel bad for Kanade, tho . Ibuki saying that drinking with Botan was the fun part might as well be a rejection. Even Chin-Lan understood what just happened. Speaking of Chin-Lan, this girl really needs to pick her words. Girl would not stop mentioning Botan and Ibuki when they were on their muntain date. And that final scene! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! When they said they want to stop being friends, they meant they want to become lovers next, right? RIGHT?!

My interpretation is that this ED is after this episode because this episode was a big step in Gujo and Ibuki reconciling. It opened with Ibuki actually drinking with (read, opening up to) Gujo and Chin Lan, something she has never done before, and without Botan, likely would never have done in the first place. Moving on after rejection is a long and arduous process, especially if you intend to stay friends. But this episode was a big step towards it. And the ED shows the ideal end result, them being able to go on a hot springs trip together without it being awkward and just having fun. As someone who is divorced but still good friends with my ex, I could actually relate a lot, but it could also always be projection

Is that a naked Botan calling out to Ibuki? Why the fuck was Ibuki thinking about that? Did something happen off-screen after last week's episode? I think Ibuki is just down bad at this point. She was thinking of Botan for emotional support, but because she's so down bad her thought of Botan quickly took a turn into the NSFW. Those 2 really need to get a room asap. Good thing they got one at the end of this episode

Is that a naked Botan calling out to Ibuki? Why the fuck was Ibuki thinking about that? Did something happen off-screen after last week's episode? Either that is how she remembers the first time Botan encouraged her to drink (which would be funny as fuck and cement her as one of the horniest anime girls of all time), or the implication is that they fucked somewhere between episodes and she's remembering that.

They went to that open air seaside bath place before, so Ibuki has seen Botan naked, even if they were both going as friends. I don't think they've slept together yet though, because they are only now saying they will stop being friends. I think it's pretty clear that means a step forwards, nothing else makes any sense. You don't say "I want to keep you all to myself", and then end the relationship.

It was a very minor scene, but when Ibuki leaves the room and the yellow drains out leaving Gujo in just dark blue hues, followed up by Chin-Lan offering Gujo a drink and a yellow hue coming back into the background was such great visual storytelling Today's episode was very quit, calm and slow paced. Barely any music or even movement. But it didn't come over as bad animation, but instead an artistic choice to emphasize a certain mood. It's quiet, and a bit uncomfortable Botan has been downcast this entire episode, but I noticed that when Ibuki said that she was really happy right now, Botan smiled. And that smile was incredibly well drawn to look relieved happy. God the small details in this show are so fucking good. It feels like having to deal with actual people where sometimes you just have to pick up on small details in their behaviour or facial expression This show does the most interesting confession scenes as well. Completely different than anything I've seen before. I NEED NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE NOW! The ED was cute as well, just Ibuki and Gujo going on a trip having fun together without any of the drama. It's cute. I interpreted the ED as the ideal end result of what this episode was a first step towards, Ibuki and Gujo reconciling and staying good friends without any awkwardness between them. Ibuki agreeing to drink with (read open up to) Gujo and Chin Lan was a big first step on a long and arduous journey to achieve that

Yes the subtle visual storytelling in this episode was amazing. To me it all combined to escalate the restrained sexual tension through the roof. Even things like the strangely super close up shots which almost felt like something was being censored, all made the tension escalate even amid the calm but uncertain mood as our pair decides whether to strip off the cliff and be true to their feelings or avoid it and keep things comfortably (but sadly) as they are.

I like how this anime is showing sex and sensuality as a fundamental part of most human experiences without being blatantly fanservicey about it. I do enjoy a bit of fan service, but in this anime the restraint really elevates it. The brief flash of naked Botan felt like it was for the sake of developing our understanding of Ibuki’s character and growing feelings, rather than something to linger on so the audience can say, “Ooh, Tiddies.”

Even though the focus of the episode was definitely Ibuki's confession I feel like the episode being bookended by Ibuki and Gujo's friendship is important too is showing off just how much Botan has changed Ibuki. Botan made her feel safe and accepted for the "weird" parts of her that got her judged and made fun of. Ibuki would've never been able to have a drink with Gujo and ultimately become closer as friends if it wasn't for that love. She mentions how there's a limited amount of times friends can drink together but I believe Ibuki will remain friends with her housemates for the rest of her life because Botan opened up her emotional walls. To me that really shows off the depth of their love, and Ibuki has honestly been my favorite new character of the season.

She mentions how there's a limited amount of times friends can drink together but I believe Ibuki will remain friends with her housemates for the rest of her life because Botan opened up her emotional walls. When she first mentioned that I was worried someone had gotten a damning diagnosis off screen and I had been tricked into watching Your Lie in April 2. I think in the end it was set up for them wanting to confess, thus ending their friendship, and worry that said confession could change everything (I doubt it tbh, they already acted like a couple beforehand, but I can understand the fear) The other interpretation I have is that she was scared that if they remained just friends they would eventually drift apart, which realistically does happen. Not many 40-50 year olds still hang out with their university friends. And she cares too much about Botan to risk that happen, so it was a lead up to confession again Because this is a work of fiction however I believe that this group will be tight knit for the rest of their lives

Okay I hadn’t even considered that possibility, and now that I think about it if it was true why is it always the love interest and not the MC with a diagnosis like that in romance (Your Lie in April, Insomniacs after School, I want to eat your Pancreas). I can’t think of an example of the reverse off the top of my head. I first thought she confessed because she was afraid of losing Botan in the future which contrasts with how Botan was worried about if she confesses and their feelings aren’t the same she will lose her in the present. And that is more realistic of most friends eventually drifting apart, but I believe because Botan has influenced Ibuki to be more open she is able to make stronger connections now which might help those friendships persist.