Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

[ Episode 12: Truly Ephemeral ]

SUMMARY

Daitetsu finds Nagi’s staff left on the roof, returning it to Jin. Jin visits a few elders to learn more about the Kannagi deity, but gets little out of it. After that, Jin goes to Zange and asks about her and Nagi being gods, hoping to get some additional information. Jin returns home to find a letter, left by Nagi, saying she’s been lying ’til now and is sorry. Distressed, Jin loses sleep, but goes to school, despite his eyebags. He writes on Nagi’s note that reads “If you come back, stay home. I’m not mad.” Jin’s depressive state only gets Tsugumi concerned for him, but he is not in the mood to talk to even her. He concludes that Nagi may not be returning ever.

REVIEW

I stand corrected. This was clearly the most serious episode now. Seriously gloomy and moody. Not sure if the finale will follow suit, but we shall see. Well, I guess you can say the only bit of light humor was the elder people Jin went to go see. The old man and his questions that he doesn’t bother waiting to get an answer for. But I guess they really just are very old now. I didn’t think I had to hear Kujira’s voice again either. At least she wasn’t intentionally used to voice all random background characters. Heck, the elderly woman wasn’t really a background character at all.

Zange got more respect from me this episode. I think it’ll probably be the only time. Beating up a bunch of guys single-handedly is deadly awesome in my book, and Zange handled that situation well. So why didn’t she use it the first time? Perhaps she was holding back as an excuse for Jin to rescue her. Or maybe she actually learned a few moves after said incident. Whatever the case, her godly fists were definitely the best thing I’ve seen her done. Seeing Jin talk to her is much different than when Jin and Nagi talk. In Zange’s case, she’s more calm and speaks out more, whereas Nagi’s nothing more, nothing less response. It didn’t look like she was all that more informative than Nagi was, but still a bit more than what Nagi said at least. Though, seeing Zange with her eyes just like Nagi’s the time Jin asked her about herself, it was kinda freaky.

Seeing Jin all depressed at home is really say. Without Nagi, it feels rather bleak and dull for Jin, but I think the problem is knowing she’ll come back or not due to their prior engagement. I can understand how he’s feeling at the moment, but not talking to Tsugumi, let alone deliberately ignoring her when she’s trying to help, is uncalled for. She’s his childhood friend and he should know better than to treat her like that. He’s acting really self-absorbed right now, blaming everything upon himself that he’s disgusted with himself. More or less, this is what he thinks from my observation. I think that he doesn’t even care anymore about who Nagi or what or why she’s doing things. All he wants is Nagi to be come back, and I’d like the same very much. Speaking of which, just where is Nagi?!

Like the last episode, the music is totally right with the scene. First we can hear a violin-arranged version of the ED theme Musuhi no Toki, now I hear even a piano version of motto Hade ni ne! in a beautiful ballad-ish piece. You can hear this part when it starts pouring and Jin is walking his bike. Near the river, he hears out Nagi calling to him, but it’s just his imagination. This is most likely referring to the time he was walking on this same path and Nagi called out to him so she could catch up to him after her shift at Maidia was over. Kousaki’s music has always been awe-inspiring to my ears, and I really can’t wait to hear this fully on a soundtrack.

The ending illustration for this week comes from none other than the awesome Azuma Kiyohiko, well known for his Azumanga Daioh series, and his latest work, Yotsuba&!, my favorite manga at this moment. The distinctive style of Azuma-sensei is generally clear in this vivid illustration. Nice choice of clothing and position of Nagi. Can’t forget the staff too!

I’m eager to see how this all plays out in the end. No telling what may happen, but surely there’s gonna be a happy ending between Jin and Nagi.