life line by line

Satsuki Kitaooji! Satsuki Kitaooji! Satsuki Kitaooji!

Thank you whichever deities are listening for making Ichigo 100% episode 4 an good episode that showed off the coolness of Satsuki (VA: Sanae Kobayashi), but also the sexiness that is Kurokawa-sensei (VA: Mitsuki Saiga!) and the total hotness of a pissed off Aya!

… now only if the animation staff could be more consistent in quality…

Mina, abq, Stripey, and Jehuty all also have great entries on this episode. Do not forget to check out their blogs for their views on what has to be the best episode of Ichigo 100% so far!

Junpei finally has his video camera and lets everyone within shouting distance know of his good fortune! Like any typical child with a new toy, Junpei goes off to see what his new baby can do and finds his way to a local park where the sakura are blowing creating a very beautiful scene. Junpei then notices a very beautiful girl as the wind plays with her hair… and her skirt, giving Junpei and his camera an eyeful! The girl instantly sees what Junpei’s doing and one can tell by her pissed face (so cute~!) she ain’t happy about it. Some playing hot potato with Junpei’s camera eventually ends up with the girl on top of Junpei while one of his hands get to touch heaven for a few seconds (btw, the camera is safe from the fall) One mega sounding slap to the face later, the girl calls Junpei a pervert, grabs his camera and chucks it into the nearby river. She leaves saying she never wants to see his perverted face ever again. Junpei, meanwhile, looks on helplessly at the river and swears never to forgive that girl for what she has done!

Next scene Junpei and crew are at Izumizaka’s opening ceremonies (once again, a Japanese/Asian thing I think) as the students hear the usual BS about school, studying, blah blah blah. Aya and Junpei are walking together as the ceremony ends, with Junpei mentally thanking the gods that he and Aya are in the same class since he’ll feel worried without her around (doki doki?). Komiyama and Ookusa shortly join the two as Komiyama laments how lucky Junpei is to be in the same class as Aya. Ookusa idly comments Junpei better not let his guard down since word of a very kawaii girl being accepted into their school has spread. How bad could it get right…?

In classroom 1-8 (if you didn’t know, the Japanese usually label their classrooms by year # followed by an letter or number. So 1st years (i.e. 10th graders to Western folk), room eight), a bunch of guys are crowding the windows to get a look at the goddess that is Aya. Aya just sits there, shyly embarrassed as Junpei mentions how troublesome it must be for her. We then hear some girl telling the boys to leave since it’s annoying as the girl from the park comes walking in, annoyed how all boys are perverts and morons if they see a cute girl. Junpei definitely recognizes the girl as he all but shouts and points at her with the rage of someone un-rightfully wronged. The girl isn’t happy to see Junpei either as the two quickly get into an agrument over “damages” inflicted by the other. While Junpei and the girl continue arguing (with Aya watching), their hottie of a homeroom teacher comes in (yes, Mitsuki Saiga in a female role for once!) bringing order to the class. Unfortunately for Junpei and the girl, who we learn is Satsuki Kitaooji, they’ve already wronged against the teacher and as punishment are forced on cleanup duty! Much to say, Satsuki and Junpei aren’t happy for many many reasons.

A little later, Komiyama is telling Junpei how jealous he is for Junpei having the hottie that is Kurokawa-sensei as his teacher. Komiyama too, wishes to be punished by her anytime Junpei remarks about already being punished as Aya tells Komiyama how he and Satsuki got stuck on clean up duty. Hearing this, Komiyama being the great friend he is, abandons Junpei and takes Aya away saying the two should walk home together. Great friend, as I said. Junpei, pissed over various things, can’t believe his bad luck and how it’s all her fault. Person in question, Satsuki, almost dumps the water they’re using to clean the halls on Junpei as she too isn’t very happy with their current situation. Satsuki continues to complain about all men being weak in front of cute girls as Junpei picks up her jab about him and Aya. He’s quick to defend Aya and shoots back at Satsuki how he has known Aya in middle school, so Satsuki shouldn’t talk smack about her. Satsuki doesn’t take Junpei’s comment about herself lightly and gets ready to deliver some divine justice but suddenly slips on the mop water they’re using. Junpei goes in for the save but also slips too (or as Stripey refers to, the “tripping gene”) and the two end up in a tangle mess of arms and legs. Junpei notices one of his finger is slightly bruised but Satsuki’s cry (OMG, so frickin’ cute sounding for some reason) of pain distracts him. Apparently Satsuki twisted her ankle when the two fell, and Junpei being the gentleman offers to carry her on his back to the nurse’s office. Satsuki, given her view on men, declines saying he’s doing that just so he can feel her up but Junpei shoots back he’s just trying to be helpful. Satsuki tries to walk on her legs but the pain is too much… Junpei once again offers a piggyback ride, which Satsuki grudgingly accepts.

Junpei, realizing his finger might be broken, with Satsuki on his back try for some idle chitchat to past the time. Satsuki gives her last name (Japanese thing) as Junpei tries to remember but fails… he says her last name is kind of hard to say, so Satsuki says it’s okay just to call her by her first name (normally, one would only do that with close friends and family or someone they’re imitate with). Anyway, Junpei tries to clear up the mis-understanding from a few days ago when they initially met. Mentioning how his parents bought him a video camera for graduating and how once he saw her through the camera, thought she looked good (scenery… “feel” I guess). Satsuki doesn’t say anything but her slightly blushing is probably a good sign ^_^

Next day, Aya has her once-in-a-blue-moon bad hair day unable to get it like it usually is plus having no time to put her contacts on. With little choice since she’ll be late for school, Aya goes “old school” back to her nerdy looking self. At school the usual crowd of boys are waiting for Aya to arrive as she rushes to make it into the room, accidently crashing into two “tough” looking boys. The two notice how “ugly” she is and how she should apologize for bumping into the two… more BS about how she looks nothing like Aya blah blah blah when Satsuki comes to the rescue! Giving what I like to consider a somewhat standard Sanae Kobayashi-like speech (still awesome nonetheless), she basically tells off the two boys. Of course they’re not going to take it lightly as the shorter of the two goes to give a lesson to Satsuki… no problem as Satsuki uses her finely long legs for some divine female justice via her “infamous drop kick” (so cute here too!). The other, taller and bigger, friend goes in to get revenge for his fallen comrade as Satsuki goes in for another kick but thanks to the accident the other day gets stopped by the guy. The guy pretty much has Satsuki caught via her leg (and showing off a good amount of panties) as Junpei comes in on the scene with his bandaged finger noticing Satsuki and Aya in trouble. Junpei rushes to help and goes in for a fierce right but at the last second decides to use the “self-sacrificing martial arts” to accidently headbutt the guy holding Satsuki. Unfortuntately, Junpei’s face first landing also injuries his finger even more! Satsuki wonders if Junpei came to the rescue for her sake as Aya goes in to check to see if Junpei is alright and updates him on what happened before. Junpei says he’s fine and asks if she’s alright… surprising everyone as he identifies the nerdy girl as Aya herself! Anyway, she’s fine and Junpei goes on to ask if Satsuki is okay too… Satsuki blushes (too adorable) as she turns her back on them saying she’s fine. Satsuki realizes then that she might have fallen for Junpei…

Kurokawa-sensei is teaching math as Satsuki notices Junpei is having problems copying since his right hand is bandaged up. Realizing it might have been her fault, Satsuki decides to help out Junpei a bit and tries to take his notebook for her to do it instead. Junpei’s pride will have none of it as the two get into another argument leading to Junpei accidently getting another free feel, Satsuki showing off her martial arts (and panties) again, Aya looking on somewhat jealous, and Kurokawa-sensei trying not to get mad as it’ll be bad for her skin. Obviously Satsuki wins in the end and Junpei gives his thanks. After class, the two are becoming pretty buddy-buddy as Junpei compliments Satsuki on her surprisingly good handwriting. Satsuki takes the bait (like anyone would) and etc etc etc.

Junpei and Aya are now walking home together as Aya mentions to Junpei how him and Satsuki are getting along pretty well. Junpei doesn’t notice Aya’s real worries and just brushes Satsuki’s and his “friendship” as nothing big. Aya comments about it but leaves the topic in the air as the two part ways…

Next day Junpei gets another shock of his life as Kurokawa-sensei informs him that there is no film club anymore. More exactly, there is but since there are no members it’s currently inactive. Junpei ask if there’s anything he can do, and is told if he can get at least five members the club can be started up again. Kurokawa-sensei wonders if he can actually do but Junpei is more than gun-ho for the task! Junpei is wandering through the hallways thinking who beside himself and Aya can he get to join the film club. He sees Ookusa outside training with the soccer team as Junpei crosses him off from the possibilities. Switch to Komiyama ogling the girls’ tennis club as they exercise with his face pressed heavily against the fence. Junpei comes running to Komiyama, and all but begging for him to join the film club, though Komiyama has no interest to do so. In comes a new guy eerily laughing (got to love the Yuji Ueda laugh) saying he’ll like to hear more about the club. Komiyama and Junpei are clueless as to who the guy is as he introduces himself as Hiroshi Sotomura, who’s actually in the same class as Junpei.

The three guys are now in their classroom (Aya is actually there too) as Sotomura shows off his “Beautiful Girls I’ve Found” homepage to Junpei and Komiyama. Komiyama is… very impressed to say the least. Anyway, Sotomura goes on to mention that he needs to expand and the film club would be a perfect opportunity to meet and take more girls’ photos. Komiyama becomes his instant lackey #1 as he wants to meet many cute girls too! Junpei realizes that Sotomura just wants to turn the film club into a pervert’s club, which Sotomura doesn’t deny. He goes on saying it’ll be a good idea for them to team up anyway as Sotomura will use the film club as a disguise for it’s true purpose: idol club! This way he’ll be able to use school funding and computers to help further his hobby but they’ll need to make a movie for the cultural festival to help convince the school board (this is where Junpei comes in). Junpei, given no choice, figures while they all may have different reasons as long as he can make movies with Aya then all is okay. Now they have four members, but wait… they still need a fifth! Satsuki comes in saying she’ll join as making films sounds fun, so she’ll let Junpei take care of things. Junpei thanks Satsuki and more than welcomes her to join as we see Aya shocked over hearing everything. The four sort of bond (well, more like Komiyama drooling over Satsuki with her taking poses for Sotomura to take photos of) as Junpei says now he and Aya can finally make movies together.

… or not. Aya and Junpei are on the roof as she informs Junpei that she has joined the Liberal Arts/Writing club so she can’t join the film club. Junpei is mighty surprised as he tries to reason with Aya about why she joined, and even though they never had a actual promise he thought the two of them were going to make movies together. Wasn’t it the reason she decided to go to the same school as him and also, didn’t she believe in them making films? What has to be one of the best Aya scenes so far, a very pissed/angry/sad Aya venomly shoots at Junpei, “was it so bad that I decided to join a club on my own?” Junpei is just shocked and speechless to the core as Satsuki finds the two on the roof. Junpei is surprised about Satsuki as Aya looks away… Aya slowly walks away as Junpei calls her out to try to stop her. “Manaka-kun wouldn’t…” she somewhat angerly says to Junpei as she walks off while internally finishing the sentence, “Manaka-kun just wouldn’t understand my feelings at all.”

Satsuki catches up to Junpei as Aya walks off, noticing something definitely went on between the two. Junpei finally realizes that all this time, he was only thinking about the film club for himself and nothing of Aya’s feelings. He tries to walk away to get some time to himself but Satsuki constantly tries to make him talk. In what becomes typical of their relationship, the two get into a shouting match as Satsuki wants Junpei to confine in her his problems if it’ll help make him feel better yet Junpei himself can’t figure why she must be so persistent about it. Satsuki eventually let it drops it’s simply because she likes him! Realizing it herself only after she said it outloud, Satsuki becomes extremely embarrassed and runs off screaming as Junpei gives chase. The two run thoroughout the school as Satsuki tries to get Junpei to leave her alone but he can’t, especially after hearing her confess to him all of a sudden. He asks her what’s so good about him as she replies she just likes him a lot and how she has the most fun when around him.. isn’t that good enough reason? It’s okay if he doesn’t reply back as long as she can continue to be by his side everyday for the rest of her life. Also doesn’t matter who he likes, as long as the two can fun everyday (Junpei you lucky bastard~!). By now the two have ended up at the front of the school as Satsuki gets off her shoulder everything she wanted to say; switching gears she races against Junpei to see who can get back to the classroom first.

We never find out who won as Kurokawa-sensei is too pissed about Satsuki and Junpei almost skipping out on her class. If the two don’t start to shape up, she might have to call in a teacher conference and she’ll now be keeping an eye out on the two. Junpei thinks this is the pits but Satsuki is all energetic mentioning since it’s the two of them, there’s no big deal. I think silently Junpei is cursing his fate while he notices Aya watching him and Satsuki, but Aya quickly goes back to looking elsewhere.

Finally the day is over as Junpei flashback to the two most important events of the day: Aya’s sudden seriousness and Satsuki’s surprise confession. “What a day” is all Junpei can feel and think when he suddenly notices someone coming in the opposite direction. If not to make his day all the more eventful than it’s already been, the person is soonly identified as Tsukasa! Doesn’t look like much has changed from the last time he saw her other than her hair growing out a bit (looked better in the manga) as the episode ends with Tsukasa saying it’s been awhile since the two have seen each other.

Awesome episode, period. I say this mostly because Satsuki and her seiyuu Sanae Kobayashi finally enter the scene! I’m more than happy that the staff kept Satsuki’s personality pretty much intacted and Sanae Kobayashi does an awesome job portraying the straight-forward tomboyish Satsuki. I like how she mostly uses her “gruff” voice ala Lucy from Elfen Lied and Akira from Mai-HiME while also using her “cute” girlish voice when need be. Best of both worlds in my opinion!

I’m also surprised that Mitsuki Saiga plays Kurokawa-sensei as I never thought of her as a choice. Then again, I’ve only heard her in male roles so it’s a nice change Too bad I keep thinking Wolfram from Kyou Kara Maou everytime I hear her speak (I just so waiting for Kurokawa-sensei to call Junpei a wimpy guy).

Lastly on the seiyuu side of things, I have to give a lot of praise to Mamiko Noto for the Aya and Junpei scene on the roof. I think she portrayed Aya’s emotions perfectly in the scene and made it that much more powerful because of it. I guess it’s just one example of how much more moving a scene can be animated compared to it’s image and text only manga roots.

I’m thankful that the animation mostly stayed constant thoroughout the episode, if anything, at least during the first half with the introduction of Satsuki. There was a definite noticable drop in the second half but luckily the really important scenes were “well” animated. If only the staff could keep constant animation for one full episode for once…

Plotwise, it’s been awhile since I’ve re-read this part of the manga, so I can’t say what exactly has changed but I think they kept the general flow and feel right. I did think they rushed how Satsuki suddenly liked Junpei compared to the manga, where the two had more time to bond. I also wished they kept how Junpei really got his broken finger thanks in part to Sotomura and his brillant plan of trapping Aya and Junpei together. Too bad the staff didn’t keep the typical joke about the film club turning into the CG club and the stereotypical nerds that are its members. hehe ^_^;;

Overall I’m pretty happy with this episode of Ichigo 100%. Now that all the main cast have been introduced, it’ll be interesting to see how the staff cuts and paste the various manga stories into the anime as they see fit. Obviously they’re going to have to have the cultural festival and one of the trips to film Junpei’s movie but I wonder how Junpei’s relationship with Tsukasa, Aya, Satsuki, and Yui will be played out. At least based on the previews for the next episode, Yui makes an appearance and we know something with Tsukasa will happen… Aya and Satsuki should also have some screentime since they’re both in Junpei’s class (esp after what has happened this episode). I can’t wait