Badminton-chan gets her introductory episode this week.

She’s nothing like Taichi in Tari Tari, but she sure is cute! In this episode of Tamako Market, we are introduced to the shy Asagiri Shiori. She plays Badminton, while Tamako and friends are in the Baton Club, so they often get to see each other during practice. Talking to each other is another issue.

Spring has begun in its full glory, as Dera puts it twice in the episode. New classes are assigned to the students. To Tamako’s dismay, Midori is in class B while Tamako and Kanna are in class A, the same class as Shiori.

Much to Mochizou’s dismay, he is once again in a different class than Tamako.

Meanwhile, Dera is still on the hunt for a bride for his prince. It doesn’t seem so odd that he’d come across Shiori during her introductory episode. Although, I sort of wish this bird had some other motive that didn’t involve finding a waifu for his Ouji-sama.

In addition to a new class for the new year, Tamako’s class has a new homeroom teacher, who just got married and is all fired up! Good enthusiasm.

A lot of this episode focuses on Tamako wanting to make friends with Shiori, and Dera wanting to get to know her better to make her a possible candidate for the bride. Thanks to Dera having Shiori bring him home to Tamako’s shop, she gets to be friendly with the Badminton playing girl and offer her some Sakuramochi. Although Shiori seems to be reluctant to stick around, she ends up staying for dinner and a bath. The night ends with her bailing on Dera during his farewell speech.

Not that his speech really mattered or anything.

From here on out, Tamako continues to be friendly with Shiori, though it seems the cute megane girl doesn’t want anything to do with her. At first, I thought she’d be the type of character that always wants to be alone with no friends. It isn’t until Midori walks in on her in the bathroom that we find out she was just incredibly shy with Tamako and doesn’t know how to show her gratitude.

And then she became my favorite character.

Not to mention, I really love her voice. Apparently her seiyuu, Yurie Yamashita, has had very few roles in the past, mainly as supporting characters. I’m pretty curious as to whether or not she plans on doing more roles in the future.

By chance, Shiori meets Dera on the way home from school and while Dera hints to her that she should come over again and encourages her to thank Tamako for the previous day, she ends up at Tamako’s house anyway to guide their homeroom teacher for a parent-teacher meeting. I guess teachers do come to the house for that type of thing? Must be a lot of work. At least the shop owners seem to like him.

While in the tea/coffee(?) shop, Tamako and Shiori sit down for an afternoon drink, excluding Dera from the outing. The shop owner conveniently begins to play some music fitting the mood of the moment, while giving some wise words of wisdom. It’s at that moment when Shiori musters up the courage to thank Tamako for showing her kindness and having fun with her the other day. At this point, the two finally become friends. How sweet!

Unfortunately for Dera, it seems that Shiori rejects his advances or seems to misunderstand him? I’m not quite sure if this moment was a translation issue?

And that is that for this week. While Shiori doesn’t seem to have much of a story, she really makes up for it in personality. Although, that is mostly my preference. She is way cute!

Next episode seems to focus on Tamako’s cute sister. Possibly something about her having a crush? It may even have to do with a festival too. Let’s hope it’s just as good next week!