Onzoshi ni Koi wa Muzu Sugiru Episode 8

VIP (Very Important Past)

Sorry. This review is a little long. Another wonderful episode. Rihito boldly declares war with Subaru over both Fukuten and Madoka. Subaru accepts the challenge. At a children's clothing buyer's exhibit, Subaru scolds a boy who uses a marker to draw on a jacket. Madoka is impressed with Subaru's attitude and reasoning- it's the same way she felt towards him when he first joined the company. But the exhibit turns out to be a failure. This, combined with declarations of love from both Subaru and Rihito, cause Madoka to develop a stress headache. In an attempt to cheer her up, as well as win her heart, Subaru takes Madoka to see her father in Yamanashi. He has remarried and now has twin baby girls. Subaru tells the father that Madoka is very special to him. And then, in the last ten or so minutes of the episode, the real magic begins. Subaru walks by himself to the local gym in Madoka's home village. Madoka asks her father why he went there, and he replies "Madoka, you don't remember, do you?" He hands her a small, brown mitten with the name "Subaru" on it. We've seen this same mitten before in an earlier episode, except at that time, Subaru held it. At the gym, Subaru recalls the time when he visitied this very same place as a ten-year old boy with his grandfather. In a very cute and tender scene, ten-year old Tendo notices a girl sitting on some steps outside the gym, trying to warm her bare hands. He walks over to her and offers his mittens to her. She takes them, but gives one back to him as a sign of sharing. The two eat "houtou" flat rice noodle soup together. The girl happens to be Madoka. Rewatching this scene brings tears to my eyes...Madoka catches up with Subaru, and they recount that time fifteen years ago when they first met, while sitting on those very same steps. Subaru tells Madoka how he understands her feelings of fear in regards to love, as they both lost loved ones as children. Then he declares that he'll stay by her side, as a gesture of lasting friendship, I'm guessing. To which Madoka replies, "Why would you want to do that? I'm a lot of trouble, you know. " And Subaru says, "I know. But it can't be helped. I love you." After looking at the mitten once more, Madoka says "It's too late (for being friends). Before I knew it, you had shown me so much love and kindness. During that time when there was a fire, my body just moved on its own to be by your side. I was afraid of losing you...I didn't want to fall in love...but it's already too late." Subaru leans forward to kiss her. Then, with the theme music 「HEART」playing in the background, the two share another kiss. This scene was at once romantic, tender, and triumphant for me. Subaru's efforts at love have paid off, and at the same time, Madoka's frozen heart of love has melted.MEANWHILE...we learn that the company president, Shinonome Kaori, is Madoka's real mother. She is the one who left Madoka when she was still a young girl. More intrigue to come!There is one bad thing I must confess to about this otherwise fantastic episode. And that is that THERE'S NO LILY!!! Nakamura Riho's absence is not lost on me. PLEASE bring her back in the next episode!!!

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