Kei is still struggling with her love/hate relationship with Kusuda!

Katt: My turn to provide my own fangirling of Hatsukoi Limited! Not that Minnie is too busy to blog this series this week–I just wanted to steal this one. Why? Because I love Kei like Minnie loves Misaki, and this episode is Kei and Kusuda-centric~ I’m a little disappointed that this wasn’t updated yesterday because now I have to delay my Hanasakeru Seishounen post, and I’m also disappointed that I accidentally deleted my screenshots and had to re-take them…BUT it’ll be worth it.

Katt’s love-metre for Hatsukoi Limited episode 6 measures: 9.5/10

Katt’s love-metre expects Hatsukoi Limited episode 7 to be: 10/10

Thoughts: The vast majority of this episode is so depressing. Of course, I knew that going into watching it and I enjoy the fact that not everything is lighthearted in the world of Hatsukoi Limited. When Kei and Kusuda are fighting in this episode it is so very different from their regular banter; you can feel just how awkward it is and I can completely sympathize with Kei in knowing what she wants to say but being unable to say it because she’s waiting for the right moment. Right moments are really hard to stumble upon, so it’s a good thing that Kei made her own so that it was a happy Christmas for her after all.

In-Depth Fangirling, Katt-Style

It is a week for Christmas episodes apparently, with K-ON!’s Christmas episode this week and now Hatsukoi Limited’s. I guess it can’t be helped since they are following the manga and there just so happens to be a Christmas chapter in it, but man, it is weird looking outside at the green grass and the sun and then looking at the snowy landscape in this episode.

While the girls chat about the upcoming holiday, Sogabe is plotting! According to his undeniable logic, if he sits nearer to Chikura such that she has to stare at his back, she will fall for him. Horrible logic, man, unless Chikura happens to be a girl who enjoys checking out guys’ backsides. From what I’ve seen in real life, that is much more of a guy thing.

The first plot having failed, Sogabe moves on to plan be: spend Christmas with Chikura! Another plan without much logic, although a typical TV thing, no? When it’s in a script, people often find themselves in ~romantic situations~ on holidays. Really, it’s just another day. Sogabe deludes himself way too much–but that’s what makes him hilarious!

Kusuda thinks he’s pretty ridiculous, too, until he mentions that that would mean spending the holiday with Kei and company. Not that Kusuda says anything really, but I am sure that his inner mind is shouting, “In that case, can I come too?!”

Operation everyone-needs-to-hook-up commence!

Hmm, well that’s one way to start operatin everyone-needs-to-hook-up. To think that this episode starts off with them happily bickering…aw well,the fight ends up being for the better. But ahh, getting ahead of myself!

Well, that drops Koyoi and Doba-chan from operation everyone-needs-to-hook up. Koyoi’s excuse is obvious, but there is certainly something cryptic about Doba-chan’s refusal. What other plans could she have, after all? She doesn’t specify what her possible ‘other plans’ are, so is she hiding them–or just being Doba-chan who doesn’t feel it is necessary to say what they are?

Those two were never really part of the operation to begin with, though, right? The obvious people that the teens would want to hook up aaare: Ayumi and Mamoru, Kei and Kusuda, and Chikura and Sogabe. And they are all in for the party (after some persuasion)! Triple date?

Those two are completely satisfied with the guy-to-girl ratio. Honestly, how is it possible that there is anyone who hasn’t realized the intentions of these two yet?!

“But you’re seeing me right now in this delusion, so that means you’re interested in me!”

That night Kei ponders the upcoming party. In other words, she ponders being at the party with Kusuda. I love Kei’s struggle with her crush on Kusuda! It is so true to reality. You can find yourself saying that you have no interest in someone, no way, but then you sink into intricate fantasies about that person. Stop lying to yourself, Kei. The Kusuda of your delusions has analyzed you pretty clearly in the above quotation.

Not to mention that your fantasies of Kusuda have led to you rolling around naked on your bed and groping your breast. Lock your door next time, Kei.

See? Even when she is shopping for a gift that could easily go to any of the boys, she has Kusuda in mind! Even if her logic behind picking that scarf is that it is plain enough for Kusuda. Kinda harsh.

Oh hey, speaking of Kusuda: surprise! He’s here! And this time Kei isn’t fantasizing.

“Why? Why does he treat Chikura and Ayumi like girls, but not me? But not me!”

Unfortunately, when Kei encounters the real Kusuda, things don’t go as smoothly. Damn! This is the tragedy of a love-hate relationship: misunderstanding. Aaaand so Kei uses her self-defence mechanism…

She insults him. I adore you, girl, but open your eyes! If he is hurting you with his insults, then whyyy would you throw some more back his way? You’re doing the same thing! If I were your friend, I would yell at you. But wait, none of her friends even realize that she likes Kusuda, do they?

So Kusuda throws the gloves she insulted to the floor and leaves. Kei’s struggle to admit to herself that she likes Kusuda was trouble enough–now this conflict shows up. This isn’t playful bickering. She really hurt Kusuda. Oh no! Kei is bright and knows that she has to apologize to make things right, although that is one of those things that is easier said than done.

Her first attempt at an apology fails because she notices the hole in Kusuda’s sock mid-way through. I used to have so many socks with holes like that! They were always my favourites. I don’t even know why, but I always loved my holey socks. Although my mom didn’t, and she threw them away… A-Anyway. The two share a laugh at the sight, though it isn’t at all the same as it used to be. It’s a forced laugh, the complete definition of awkward.

How true is that? You avoid it and avoid it and then you start to wonder, “Have I waited so long that an apology won’t do anything? Will I just look stupid?” On the flip side, if you don’t apologize, then you’re just going to drift apart. That can’t happy when you and Kusuda haven’t even gotten together, Kei!

Maybe Doba-chan can give Kei some advice and a comforting pat on the back! Er…make that a painful pat on the back. There was an athletic girl in my high school who did something similar to one of my friends once. I enjoy seeing some girl bonding in this show, too, particularly the friendship between Kei and Dobashi. They pick on each other sometimes, like in the sports day episode, but they can also share moments like this.

“Huh? Did Dobashi…just smile?”

Brief interlude from the Kei/Kusuda drama: are we seeing Doba-chan’s love interest?! Do you guys remember the guy who shared a glance with Dobashi after she won her race on sports day? That’s him. Can’t help but wonder if this connection between the two of them is linked to that earlier question of what Dobashi’s Christmas plans are, hmm.

While talking about the approaching party, Ayami remarks that pink is Kei’s favourite colour. Kei’s mind immediately goes back to the gloves that Kusuda had picked out–they were pink. Did he realize that pink was her favourite colour? Was he thinking especially of her when he was shopping just like she was thinking of him??

The party finally arrives, and along with it, some unforeseen circumstances… This flashback is my favourite of those circumstances. Before Kei arrived, Santa had collapsed and Mamoru went into paramedic-mode and carried him to a taxi to go to the hospital! Ayumi went with him to the hospital, of course. The flames that appear in the background when Mamoru goes into paramedic-mode are amazing. Not to mention the look on Ayumi’s face when he picks up Santa Claus. In this dramatic episode, this brief comedic intermission is fabulous.

This scene is not without laughs, too. Chikura gives Kei a call to tell her that she is sick and can’t make the party, which essentially breaks Sogabe’s soul. He runs of to save Chikura from her cold! Yeesh, Sogabe, it’s just a cold. And if she has swine flu you could be in trouble; better wear a doctor’s mask. Oh hey wait, now that Sogabe is gone…

Uh-oh! …Or rather, HOORAY!! If only they weren’t fighting.

“I thought Christmas was a time when everyone in the world could become happy.”

Kei’s powers of persuasion manage to convince Kusuda even though the party has seemingly become nothing more than two people hanging out on Christmas Eve. They go to a restaurant (where we get a cameo from Meguru) and Kei is very displeased with the way that things go. I think that she has Sogabe’s Christmas-idealization syndrome, like she thinks everything should work out just because of the day that it is. Instead, Kusuda checks out waitress!Meguru and barely speaks a word to her. Now would be a good time to apologize, Kei.

“Wait for me! I still haven’t apologized yet.”

But she still doesn’t apologize. Even after leaving, she just thinks of how she has yet to apologize. She should obviously be screaming at the top of lungs: “Wait for me! I still haven’t apologized yet! I love you and want to have your kappa-faced babiiiiies!!” Uh wait, that last line wasn’t in the script, was it?

Kusuda’s spirits brighten when he finds a playground full of fresh snow. Is is bad that I am associating with Kusuda in this episode? First with the holey socks, and now with this. A fresh sheet of snow after a snowfall is the best thing ever. It would make me smile to run through it, too. But it’s just a temporary solution to misery; Kei and Kusuda need to confront each other!

“You were walking so fast all by yourself! This isn’t Christmassy at all! And you’re so perverted! And you look like a loser! Why are you always…so cold to me?!”

“I can’t believe you said that. You’re always so difficult with me.”

Erm…well, a snowball fight is one means of confrontation. Honestly, I think that this confrontation is amazing. Kei finally vents about all of the things that have been bothering her and she doesn’t do it in the meek way that she has been internally struggling for so long. She shouts it out and throws snowballs at Kusuda, and Kusuda does the same thing. Even though we haven’t seen into Kusuda’s mind in this episode, I guess that he has been enduring exactly the same struggle as Kei.

After throwing all of those snowballs, Kei throws a present at Kusuda. It is the scarf she had wanted to buy for him–She went through with it after all. This time, Kusuda knows better than to insult it; he probably liked it in the first place, just like Kei liked the gloves. He has a present for her too. Will it be romantic? Will he have gotten her those gloves? …Nope, Kusuda ruins it. He bought something more suited to Kei’s expectations from him: a sexy Santa suit. Is this where she yells at him and they go back to their regular lighthearted bickering?

No?! Kei doesn’t get mad; she gets sad and finally apologizes as she has meant to do all along. She did like the gloves, after all.

This time Kusuda does the right thing. He got the gloves for Kei after all, and he gives them to her. Aww! With both of them showing a softer side, will they share a romantic moment on this holiday?

Hmmm, not quite romantic. But things are back to normal, and at the very least the two of them are friends again. They have gotten to see sides of each other that they hadn’t before; Kei isn’t only shallow and Kusuda isn’t only a pervert. They have feelings that apparently can be pretty badly hurt, at least when it comes to the other person doing the hurting. I think that you are definitely more likely to be hurt by someone that you care about than someone that you don’t–with the way that Kei and Kusuda were hurting in this episode, it’s safe to say that they care about each other a lot.

Special Christmas ending~ It looks like there were a lot of happy endings after all, although this is just the halfway point. Will those who are happy and those who are dejected be the same at the series’ end? I know, and Minnie knows–but anime fans are just going to have to wait to find out!

Next episode is about Dobashi and her mystery boy toy! I am so excited for this one. I won’t say much aside from it’ll be so cute.