In this weeks episode, Tamako’s cute sister gets her spotlight!

Maybe next week we will have cute boy Mocchizou? That poor guy has some bad luck.

Another festival and yet, another reason to eat mochi! Last week’s episode wasn’t exactly holiday or festival-related, like I thought it would be, unless the beginning of spring was the theme. This week, we get to see Bunny Mountain shopping district gear up for the upcoming festival and make it a huge success.

One thing I noticed about the shopping district that I probably could have mentioned in previous posts, was how tight-knit the shop owners are with each other. Although Tamako and Mochizzou’s fathers may have that rivalry, the other shop owners seem to get along very well with each other, often handing out freebies to each other. It must be great to be Tamako and Anko. I’d like a free croquette every once in a while! Plus, they get to wear cute outfits together.

Initially, I thought this episode would be a background story involving Anko and her mother. Judging by the flashback we had, I thought it would touch on the subject of their mother. I expected tears! Lots of them!

I was wrong. I honestly expected profound sadness from such a cute KyoAni show. Do KyoAni shows even make people cry?

Instead, it was mostly about Anko wanting to skip her mochi shop duties to go to the museum with a couple of friends and a boy she likes, but is too afraid to face. Tamako is too dense to realize that Anko is crushing hard on someone, while the rest of her friends understand immediately. For all we know, Tamako would probably be completely oblivious to Mocchi’s feelings for her as well. Anko tries desperately to get someone to fill in for her during the festival, even unsuccessfully recruiting Mocchi to make mochi with Tamako. Eventually, her grandfather agrees to take her place and her father approves.

It’s the 21st century, Mochizzou. Just buy a dang phone already!

Meanwhile, with the ornament used for the top of the shrine broken, the shopkeepers have no other choice but to make Dera into a replacement. He somehow willingly obliges. Mocchi also tries to impress Tamako by helping with the carrying of the shrine, but even he is too weak to help in a group effort.

Worst luck, I tell you.

Even Anko gets caught up in the festival. Aside from helping her family make the mochi early in the morning, she also misses out on her chance to visit the museum with the boy she likes when the cute florist asks her for her help with the children. Much like in the flashback, little girls prepare to be dolled up for the festival. Anko helps a crying girl to calm down, using the same words her mom used on her when she was young enough to dress up: “Close your eyes and count to ten”.

In the end, Anko never got to go to the museum. Instead, she helps try to sell the remainder of the mochi, but quickly becomes embarrassed when the boy she likes approaches her with his friend. In a panic, Anko retreats to her room and locks herself away in the closet. A little drastic, wouldn’t you think?

Turns out that the boy she liked was just some nerd in glasses wearing a theory of relativity sweatshirt, so there was really nothing to be embarrassed about in the first place.

Next week’s episode looks like it might be a summer episode with beach fun! It might even be a Mocchi episode, based on the scene of him blushing and the episode title. I can’t wait to see it!

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On another note, remember Hyouka, the KyoAni show about mundane mysteries that CC-K wrote about in Spring?

Well, I decided to pick it up again after running out of things to watch. I actually almost regret dropping this in the first place. The second time I tried to watch it, I felt like I appreciated it a lot more. Now that I’ve gotten past the movie arc, I can enjoy what’s left of the show with high anticipation.