There is nothing I hate more than a dense main character, unless that main character is Nishikata. His pure innocence is something that each week makes me laugh. You cheer for him and even watch as Takagi tees him up, only to watch him crash and burn.

Yet again that happens this week. Nishikata thinks that he is going to get the upper hand on her with him having a new phone and sends her a scary video. He swings, and misses. He tries again to get a funny face of hers, and misses. He tries another video, and misses. Finally he manages somehow to blunder through getting her phone number and the two swap contacts.

This anime is so damn wholesome. When the world is ridiculous and it feels as if it is against you, there is something about karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san that is so refreshing. Nothing feels forced or contrite, it wholesome, youth romance. While modern Japan is probably nothing like that anymore thanks to technology, KJNTS is a glance at what romance could be. I love this show.

I wasn’t sure about writing about Sora yori mo Tooi Basho this week since I already wrote about it, but when I saw this episode. I knew it had to be the one I brought up for my hot moment of the week! Oh man, this week’s episode really stirred me up inside after last week’s rather tame episode. The moment I am talking about is when Gin, the captain of the ship, begins to remember the first expedition with Takako. She remembers that Takako went missing and despite her attempts, Gin could not find her. Then, as Gin is losing hope, Takako’s voice comes over the radio, shaking from the cold, saying how beautiful it is outside.

This scene really shook me on the inside. Imagine having to put an end to a search for one of your best friends because you were running out of supplies and options. Imagine hearing your best friend’s voice as she is out there but being unable to run out and find her, knowing full well she is within a certain radius to use the radio. Can you just imagine knowing that you had to abandon your best friend out in the wild with the full knowledge that she won’t be able to survive the cold conditions without food and shelter? It’s a really hard thing to take in and knowing that Gin had to be the one to call it quits just makes this memory all the more emotional for me.

Things are never easy for Yuzu and Mei, but this love story gets better when a new challenger makes appearance. Introducing Matsuri, she’s an old friend of Yuzu and her first “little sister”, so it’s not that hard to find out where this is going: not only Matsuri has feelings for Yuzu, but she’s now jealous of Mei. If she was any other girl she wouldn’t stand a chance here, but being a pink-haired version of Mei this turns into a battle for power, love and lust. And don’t worry, because Yuzu is not an object and has a part in all this.

The best moment of this 9th episode is this little “game” the girls play, battling for Yuzu’s heart —and body— but in a twisted way. After all, you wouldn’t expect fair play when blackmailing is the first move, right? And even if you go on a date with someone special, I totally get the “you never cooked for me” part, which gets worst with the christmas factor. That’s how you know that even if you think you’re winning, you lost before it started. On Mei’s part, being harassed by Matsuri and going out with a random guy is just a small price to pay… because vengeance is fun and she was so cool about it. No, there’s no violence involved but a short monologue on how Matsuri is just like her, cold-hearted and manipulative, only softened by Yuzu’s personality. And it all while sharing a metro ride with Yuzu asleep between them! Chivalry is a girls thing too, so it all has a happy ending: with Matsuri admitting defeat, and casually hinting a threesome. OVA material, anyone?

In this week’s episode of Grancrest Senki, we had not one but two memorable moments! So it’s a bit long. Fist off, Theo and Siluca are sent back to their domain after failing to convince Villar of going to war against the Alliance. During this journey they’re suddenly caught in the rain and find shelter in a cave. Theo notices she’s hunched over and sweetly shares his blanket with her to warm her up. They get to talking and they each share that they’re thankful to be by each other’s side. Theo adds that he brought her with him to give her a break, though it didn’t turn out so well. And he was afraid she’d leave him for Villar. To which Siluca quickly responds that she would never do that! Not after he gave up his rank to preserve their contract. Siluca swears to serve him forever, as long as he needs her.

Theo realizes he’s being too subtle and turns and grabs Siluca’s shoulders and tells her that he wants to protect her and live up to her actions and that’s why he gave up his rank when Villar wanted to take her away from him.

Siluca realizes he also saved her from the Black Witch’s spell and, as he embraces her, Theo tells Siluca it’s because she’s important to him and he wants her to know that.Siluca blushes and asks if he knows how she feels about him, to which Theo responds he kinda suspected but thought he was just imagining things.

This is already a great moment. Two anime characters in an action anime actually talking honestly about their feelings for each other!? And holding each other!? No tsundere moment or anything!? Amazing! But there’s more!

Shocked, Siluca pulls back and says she wants things to be clear and asks “Can I take it that you’re in love with me?” (OMG!!). Theo then holds Siluca close and caresses her face softly and tenderly before saying, “yes, I’m in love with you” and kissing her in one of the most beautifully animated kisses I’ve seen in anime!!! (So romantic!!). Then, the camera pans away and we leave them alone…
What a sexy and romantic breath of fresh air that scene was!
And then there’s the other one…

Merrine is in her castle wiping away the blood from the battlefield and her ladies come to tell her the prince of Dartania asks to meet with her in private. When she goes out to meet the tall, dark, and nefarious man, he confirms with her that she wishes to ask for his help. Merrine says she does want his help to unite all the crests and end the era of Chaos, which she’s heard Lord Kuches wants as well.
Long story short, Kuches asks to make her his conquest for the night, and to only see it a ritual between allies before battle. Merrine is willing to do anything for her dream so she agrees. Her maids sadly disrobe her, and right then and there on the edge of a secluded cliff, Kuches grabs the naked Merrine’s face firmly and kisses her. A single tear floods Merrine’s eye, and then, the prince of Dartaina claims Merrine’s virginity in a very emotionally-charged erotic scene.

Boy... What an episode! Both these scenes are beautifully animated, the writing is intense and emotional, and we truly get to understand all the characters’ motivations and feelings. Best episode of the week!