The best episode yet. I only get this full, emotional feeling in my chest from the best shows: Simoun, NANA, Bokura ga Ita. If this keeps on, Hitohira may be on its way to joining them at the top of the list.Great direction, pacing, and use of music, sounds and silence. And fine voice acting, not only from Kawasumi Ayako (Nono) and Kimoto Orie (Mugi), but from everyone. Katsuragi (Narita Ken) was great in this episode. And the unique, somewhat harsh tones of Risaki (Hikami Kyouko, who played Rabi-en-Rose in Di Gi Charat, and Momoko in Wedding Peach) showed their worth.And one of the subtlest, sweetest anime confessions yet. Summary begins after the first set of pictures.The Drama Study Group is on its way to a sleepover and practice session at the seaside. Chitose longs to join them, imagining fun in the sun with Katsuragi-sempai. But Drama Club president Sakaki-san is there to drag her away to a hot practice on the school roof.At the seaside, it's all work and no play. Nono has the troops lined up practicing enunciation. Back home, Mugi's friend Kayo is enjoying her photography and thinking encouraging thoughts toward Mugi. Meanwhile at the beach, Mugi is enjoying working with the group to make a meal of curry. Nono breaks the mood by saying that they will meet for practice after dinner. Mugi thought the seaside would be more fun.Chitose drags herself through the school halls after practice, and Sakaki upbraids her, saying she can't appear on stage like that. Then Sakaki surprisingly tells Chitose she is to have a major role in their play, as Sakaki's sister, and she should not betray Sakjaki's hopes for her. Chitose brightens up.At the beach, Nono is putting her club through its paces. She has them hold their breath under water, to improve their lung capacity. Katsuragi says this is hard after eating curry. Risaki says it's no fun. Nono tells them not to complain, and to do it again. Risaki asks why Nono isn't doing it, and suggests it's because she's scared of the water. Nono immediately plunges in and swims strongly into the distance. Katsuragi tells Kai and Mugi: never get her mad.Back in town, as evening falls, Kayo is looking through her photos, especially enjoying one of Mugi. And Chitose is thinking of the seaside, but has been reading through her script.After dinner at the seaside, Nono asks the club if they liked the script she wrote, which is called "Hitohira." They all liked it. It is about a high school girl who is so depressed by her troubles that she even tries to commit suicide. But three fairies appear to her. She tries to drive them away, but they enable her to revive a love she had given up on. On the day she achieves her happiness, they disappear. She says to them: Thank you. If not for you, I would never.... Mugi is moved by the story, and imagines how well Nono will play the lead.Then Nono tells her that she, Mugi, will be playing the lead, that she wrote the part for her, and that the other characters were written to suit the other members of the club: she and Risaki and Katsuragi are the fairies, and Kai is the lover. Katsuragi thinks: Nono has very few lines. Is she worried about her condition?Mugi says she can't do it. Nono says not to give up before she begins. Mugi seeks the support of the others. Risaki says that although she agrees she doesn't have enough experience, if Nono has made the part for her, she should be able to play it. Kai says that when the fairies are flying all around her, the character is just like Mugi. Risaki says all she has to do is memorize the script. Nono says that it wouldn't matter which part she played, it would be the same. Mugi thinks: But I don't want to be an actor.They are reading through the script, and Mugi's line is to the effect that she can't do something. She says it quietly and haltingly, but Risaki says how well she said it, just as if it were real. Nono says she should just speak louder.Katsuragi asks Nono to step outside. K: It's nice and cool out here. N: I know what you're going to say, so make it brief. K: I was going to ask you for a date. N: We don't have time to kid around. K: This is too much for Mugi. She'll break under the pressure. N: She can do it. I've decided. K: Okay, I'll help. But don't push her too hard. N: I won't.They continue to practice. There is a bottle of cold mugi-cha (barley tea) on the table. Risaki goes through her lines mechanically and Nono gets angry and tells her to do it again with some feeling. Risaki says it's late and they should rest. Mugi says not until midnight.Nono tells Mugi to read her lines again, in a louder voice. Nono: Don't make me say it again. I chose this out-of-the-way place for your sake, so you wouldn't be embarrassed. Mugi thinks: She's so harsh. What am I doing here? Katsuragi encourages her and says she has a great voice. Mugi: But what if I can't get it out when I'm on stage? Nono: That's why we're practicing. Maybe I'm being harsh, but try harder.Mugi: I can try and try, but if I can't do it I can't do it. She says Nono can do anything and can't understand Mugi's feelings. "Can do anything?" says Nono. You don't know anything about me if you can say something like that. Mugi: I understand you. You are strong enough to start a club. You can write a script. When people who can do anything tell me to try harder....Nono stands up angrily and throws her script on the floor: If you think like that you'll never be able to do anything. Okay, just quit drama. You can go home and be Asai Mugi, who can't do anything. Mugi accepts and thanks her formally for everything up to then and runs out. Risaki sends Kai after her.Risaki says to Nono: What are you doing sending her out there in the dark? She'll get lost. Nono: She chose to go herself. It's her own weakness that's to blame. Risaki punches her to the floor. Katsuragi tells Risaki she gets angry too easily. Nono, from the floor, trips Risaki down and then they start fighting.Out on the beach, Mugi is running, falls and hurts herself, cries, throws her script into the surf.In the cabin, Risaki asks Nono what she thinks she's doing. Nono says that Mugi has to play that role. Risaki says: For whose sake? You're putting your own wishes on her and causing her a lot of trouble. This gives Nono pause. Risaki knocks her out, but as Nono is falling, her leg flies up and knocks Risaki out. Double knockout, says Katsuragi.Kai finds Mugi and picks up her script. K: Let's go back. M: I can't. There's no place there for me. It's like Nono said. I can't do anything. I just get led into things. That's not so easy to change. Kai: I'm here. Mugi: It doesn't have anything to do with you. K: I can't let you go home alone. And anyway, don't say it has nothing to do with me. (That's the confession.)Mugi: What am I doing here? Kai: Look up (at the stars). You can't see that from the city. Maybe that's why you're here.Kai and Mugi return, Kai holding Mugi's hand. Katsuragi is waiting. He thanks Kai and welcomes Mugi back. Mugi apologizes for causing them worry. Katsuragi apologizes for not being able to support her better. Then he notices their hands and things: Ah, youth.Back in the room, they are shocked to see the two women laid out. Kai: What's going on? Katsuragi: In early times, women were tough. Then they set to work tidying up around the fallen bodies. They turn out the lights. Nono awakens enough to hear Mugi's voice. She thinks of what Risaki said: For whose sake? Then goes back to sleep.
Read the rest of this entry Entry meta