life line by line

High school entrance exam results, junior high graduation, and a reunion with the past.

Any positive feeling I would have had for this episode of Ichigo 100% was destroyed by the continual cheap-ass quality of the animation! WTF are you doing Madhouse?!?!

Scott, Stripey, and Matthew all know of the greatness that is Ichigo 100%. Too bad the anime does such a horrible job presenting it

Day of the Izumizaka exam results and boy, Komiyama and Junpei are sweating bullets. Ookusa, who has already been accepted to the school via soccer/sports scholarship, checks for everyone. Tsukasa’s number is 168, Komiyama’s 171, Junpei’s 172, and Aya’s 173. Looking up at the board listing, Tsukasa and Aya have been accepted but the two guys haven’t! Komiyama and Junpei go instant pale until Aya happens to find their numbers! The two go at lightning speed and do see their numbers too… on the waiting list along with someone else! Junpei and Komiyama are hopeful, at least, if nothing else as they cheer and pray they’ll get in. Meanwhile, Tsukasa is watching the group worried…?

A couple of days(?) later, it’s their graduation. Seems like somehow, Junpei got accepted into Izumizaka which Ookusa congrats him on but.. Komiyama is still a no-go… the man is lost.. Ookusa and Junpei try to cheer Komiyama but no luck. Junpei notices Aya nearby with some friends as he thinks Aya and him can now make movies together though it was pretty surprisingly Aya decided to go to Izumizaka too. Fantasy mode soon kicks in as Junpei ponders after graduation, if the two can “share a moment” so to speak We see Junpei acting out kissing Aya while everyone else in the hallway just stares; much to say he embarrasses himself thoroughly.

Graduation ceremony with Komiyama continuing to cry over his misfortune, Junpei thinks over his relationships with Tsukasa and Aya. Does Aya really like him, even though he’s going out with Tsukasa? What should he do…? Junpei’s thoughts get left as is as it switches over to Ookusa being literally carried away by a bunch of girls wanting to take photos with him or get his second button (some Japanese thing about memories and giving it to someone you like). Komiyama and Junpei just watch as Komiyama mentions “well that’s that” and is ready to head out. Junpei tries to sneak off, but Komiyama notices as Junpei says he has to do something… Komiyama vaguely gets the idea and stomps off to make sure he gets into Izumizaka. Junpei is just wandering around thinking he really doesn’t have a promise or anything to meet up with anyone and notices Aya surrounded by a bunch of guys. Pisses Junpei slightly as he complains Aya isn’t just pretty looking and there’s a lot more to her… but he can’t really do anything since he’s not her boyfriend or such.

Eventually, Junpei bumps into Tsukasa who looks worse for wear ^_^;; Tsukasa is well-liked apparently, based on all the flowers she has! She notices Junpei’s second button and goes for the grab… via biting it off with her mouth, surprising Junpei no less! Junpei still somewhat astonished, hears Tsukasa explain the button will be her junior high memory as Junpei replies “memory.. well we’re going to the same High school too.” To Junpei’s shock, Tsukasa says she’s not going to Izumizaka with the rest of the group. She pinpoints that Junpei must have someone else in his heart beside her, and how it’s Aya… slight awkward moment that Tsukasa slides through by asking Junpei which school does he think she got into? Oumi of course! Tsukasa goes off to leave as she’s going karoking/partying with the rest of her class… Junpei runs after Tsukasa wanting to say something but is tongue-tied. Tsukasa goes on to tell Junpei her reasoning behind going to Oumi: She’s still going to go after Junpei (I think, I’m somewhat relying on the manga since I’m watching the raw), even though Aya and him will be close to make movies together. Realizing that she doesn’t have the same interest as the two, Tsukasa hopes to find something she wants at Oumi instead. Junpei doesn’t completely understand but ask about why she decided to go out with him even though he asked her in such an uncool way. Tsukasa agrees too (much to Junpei’s charging), saying that at the time she was moved and one can’t always know who you’ll fall in love with. Junpei somewhat agrees when Tsukasa initiates some physical contact, saying something about falling in love too blah blah. It’s okay now though, since Junpei is a nice guy and all so… congrats on graduating! Tsukasa leaves shortly after…

Junpei is now on the school’s roof as the sun sets, pondering over his feelings and relationship with Tsukasa. He hasn’t known what he has been doing and beause of that, didn’t understand Tsukasa’s feelings hurting her in the process. He drops his diploma which gets picked up by Aya, who apparently has the making of a ninja. Aya notices the beautiful sunset and how next year/term, they’ll be high school students at Izumizaka. Junpei realizes that where they are now, it’ll be the last time he’ll be able to look at such a scenery; Aya agrees. Aya liked the roof (for the scenery and wind) and asked if Junpei liked it too, he agrees, which is how Aya figured he’ll be here too. Aya then notices that Junpei’s second button is gone and Junpei tries some lame-arse excuse saying it must have fallen off while internally thinking he shouldn’t need to make up an excuse. Aya whimsically replies, “second button huh… how nice it would have made for a memory of something… I too want something to remember this time by” Junpei thinks Aya is asking for something er.. more “personal” and just as the mood gets good between the two, Komiyama comes busting in saying he got in Izumizaka! Moment definitely ruined but Aya did looked very cute at the end!

Next/few days later, Junpei is waking up… but notices this LUMP in the sheets.. and it’s moving! Out pops out a blue-hair girl freaking the life out of Junpei! Junpei demanding to know who the girl is gets no immediate reply other than “morning Junpei” in her half-asleep (and half-dressed) state. Still not pleased with an half-dressed girl, Junpei once again ask who the heck she is. Said girl acts somewhat surprised that Junpei doesn’t know her… and gives him a hint with her reply of “crybaby Junpei.” Quick flashback of chibi-Junpei crying over some kid not giving back one of his games when a chibi-version of blue-hair half-dressed girl comes to give the game back. Basically tells young Junpei he’s such a crybaby and such, since a girl had to help him blah blah blah. Junpei remembers.. “Yui~!?” Bingo. Junpei continues on his rant remembering all the “bad” things about Yui beside her being his childhood friend from several years ago before she moved away. Yui isn’t going to take the bashing lightly and goes for some divine puishment via brotherly-sisterly wrestling

ANYWAY, the Manaka family plus Yui are eating breakfast as Junpei’s parents praise Yui for being proud and whatnot for coming back home to look for high schools to go to. More smalltalk about going to high school and whatnot until Junpei realizes that Yui might be living in his room when she goes to a school there! Junpei is definitely not pleased but Yui reassures him as she has already scouted some of the schools, one of which has a dorm for its students. Junpei isn’t so reassured… they finish breakfast and Junpei gets dragged into showing Yui around (including visiting the school she wants to go) since she hasn’t been around in 5+ yrs.

… and they end up at Oumi Academy! Yep, that’s the school Yui is trying for which is ironically the same school Tsukasa is going to go to. The two are walking home as Junpei can’t believe the possiblities of Yui wanting to go to THAT school. Yui ask if Junpei happens to know anyone who goes there since it’ll give her a better chance to get in and whatnot. Of course Junpei knows someone but after talking to Tsukasa at graduation, they haven’t really talked since so there’s no way he can ask her out of the blue. Yui doesn’t hear any of this but figures there’s no way since Junpei isn’t that smart.

The two end up seeing two scary looking dogs, with Yui really scared while Junpei tries to play it off. Yui eventually wins over Junpei in thinking the dogs might attack them… which the they do but thanks to Junpei throwing Yui’s meat buns, Yui and Junpei get the chance to escape. As the two are running away it brings back a memory of the two being in the same exact situation years ago as kids. A bit later, far away from the dogs Yui mentions how Junpei saving her was what brought back that old memory even though she used to always rescue him instead. Meanwhile back at the dogs, their owner find the two wondering where they found the food…

Back at the Manaka Mansion(TM) (joking), Junpei is in the bathroom ready for a relaxing time in the tub as he goes over the crazy day with Yui. Yui comes in suddenly, saying she’ll wash his back as thanks for showing her around Oumi and whatnot. Junpei tries to protest but Yui waves it off as they used to take baths together as kids… while Yui is scrubing Junpei’s back, he realizes that no matter how you look at it, Yui only see their relationship as brother and sister. Yui goes to rinse the rest of the soap off of Junpei but accidently gets herself wet O_O Junpei acts all freaked out, telling Yui to get out and change before she catches a cold. Instead, Yui starts to strip figuring it’s easier if she just takes a warm bath… Junpei understandably rushes out before he sees anything, off-handily commenting about Yui’s unique personality. Yui still in the tub with Junpei outside, he ask how long she’s going to be staying and to his mild surprise finds out she’s leaving tomorrow. She’s only dropped by to check out the schools anyway… Junpei seems a bit sad since it has been awhile since he seen Yui…

… next morning Junpei wakes up realizing Yui has already left… or not, as the lump is back again and out pops Yui! Wasn’t she suppose to leave today Junpei all but shouts as the half-asleep Yui mentions she overslept but wonders if she can still make the train in time. Junpei wouldn’t have a clue since she’s once again half-naked.. and what’s this, Junpei has Yui’s panties in his hand.. which means… O_O

“Animation, why art thou so bad?” is what I constantly think as I watch Ichigo 100% the TV series. Same complaints as last time though I’ll admit they did string together the important events pretty well (Junpei’s talks with Aya and Tsukasa). I do wish they kept some of the funnier moments from these parts, like Junpei’s mom running during his graduation ceremony announcing to all he made it into Izumizaka only to have Junpei fall off stage hearing the great news.

Nana Mizuki as Yui does an awesome job as always though her character came in wwwaaaaayyyyy early and different than the manga. Though I guess how the staff changed when Yui came in is okay, since it still works out okay (they should have kept the original bathroom scene though). Oh well. Nana Mizuki is always good in my book.

For some reason I have hope for next episode, even though there will most likely be crappy animation. Two reasons for my hope: Satsuki appears (my 2nd favorite Ichigo girl) and Sanae Kobayashi does her voice! All I want is some decent Satsuki scenes and I’m willing to forgive all the crap that I’ve complained about before…