life line by line

Sakura and co’s class are off on a field trip somewhere in the mountains. The usual fun and games are played including playing around in the river, eating curry, and the Courage Test. Sounds fun right? Normally yes, but since Dokuro is around every event turns to a life-and-death struggle for Sakura to survive.

… and what’s this? Some Sakura and Shizuki alone time?!

Dokuro is playing in the river having a good old time when Sakura comes in looking for her. She tricks Sakura to come closer to her with some unique moaning before trying to water-gun him. Good laughs around until Sakura notices that Dokuro’s water-gun attack destroyed a huge boulder behind him. Dokuro decides to continue her attacks while Sakura runs for his life pleading to her to stop; expectedly she’s enjoying and laughing too much to care. Eventually Sakura’s luck runs out and ends with him being 20-hit combo-ed by Dokuro’s water attacks!

Sakura’s lifeless body is floating down stream when a beachball falls nearby. His classmates (and teacher) are playing as bouncing Shizuki comes to Sakura to fetch the ball. Some awkward moments with Sakura being embarrassed and Shizuki asking him to join the group go by until Sakura’s worry about Dokuro picks up again. They hear her voice and eventually find her at the top of the cliff near a waterfall. Sakura yells for her not to jump but Dokuro being Dokuro does it anyway, first going straight down then rolling in a ball for awhile finally ending up landing stomach side down. Sakura rushes to Dokuro’s body as he debates whether to do CPR; different style animation, some teenage horomones, and interal conflict give way to Sakura doing it. Just as he’s about to do CPR, Dokuro’s eyes open… awkward couple of seconds until she bursts out laughing like a maniac with Sakura lamenting he was worry about her. He doesn’t get to say much more as she clubs him to death as is becoming the norm. Once back alive Sakura tries to lay down the law but Dokuro wants to beat the crap out of him again, just for the fun of it! Sakura turns tail swimming away like an ace while Dokuro runs across the water. The man knows he’s screwed but keeps at it until Dokuro lauches her bat (while smiling the whole fricking time!) as a missile giving instant pain to Sakura.

Later that afternoon, Sakura’s class is outside (assumingly) the hostel they’re staying at all waiting for him. Sakura comes back worse for wear as he relates his story of a old man being his savior of sorts (if I understood correctly). The class acts real worry and relieve about Sakura, saying they’ve been waiting for him to return so they can eat dinner together. Even the teacher is moved as he kisses Sakura on the cheek with tears in his eyes saying how happy he is to have such students. Everyone is around Sakura as he’s about to eat the curry meal, tears of joy over how his classmates are so caring. As Sakura takes his first bite, everyone’s eyes are closely watching his reaction… surprised that he’s still alive with no effect… all that changes as suddenly his right eating hand starts shaking uncontrollably. Things get worse as his skin starts to show purple spots, confirming Sakura’s classmates suspicion about the food. He’s lately informed that Dokuro found some weird ingredient so they weren’t positive if the curry was edible or not. Soon after another classmate comes by saying the real food is ready and everyone leaves Sakura to suffer while he cries for help. Only Dokuro sticks by as he begs her to use her powers to help him. And what does he get? Some yellow track suit with the words “loli” and “con” on it! Dokuro leaves much to Sakura’s charging when he notices the pot of curry start to move… there are springs of curry coming out of the woodwork as curry monsters surround Sakura. Sakura begs the curry god for forgiveness as he’s surrounded…

In the second half of the episode, some war has broken out with curry used as ammo. Sakura is in the middle of it hit from a explosion. The Sergeant, whom is exactly like the guy from Sakura’s interal battle last last episode, comes in to save his sorry ass eventually get hit himself. Sakura mourns over the sergeant’s hit as the guy tells him to live on for the Courage Test, ending with Sakura crying over his death with curry and rain everywhere. Sakura wakes up out of his funk, realizing its now his class’ courage test as a female teacher explains the rules. Dokuro ask about the courage test and why he was out of it, Sakura yelling it was her fault about the curry business and explaining the benefits of the courage test. Somewhere along the lines Dokuro kills him because he was getting too annoying but anyway, Sakura hopes that he’ll be paired with Shizuki. Sakura’s fantasy goes off again as the courage test will lead to a night of romance in front of the fire that will lead to their marriage and to a very big family. Around this time he hears Shizuki goes up for her turn to randomly pick out one of the guys’ name from a box. Just when he thinks he hears his name it’s actually some other guy… Sakura hopes and dreams are ruined as he mentally apologizes to the sergeant for not fulfilling the man’s last request. Right after, Dokuro kills him yet again as she explains (once he’s back alive) that she was killing a small bug on his back and some other random stuff that was lost on me. After Dokuro’s nonsense speech it’s her turn to pick a partner. Sakura is praying beyong possible praying that he’s not her partner and much to his relief, he isn’t… that is until Dokuro turns the guy she picked into a dog that leads to him (the dog) and the monkey (class president) fighting each other and humping Sakura. Dokuro gets Sakura to be her partner instead as he’s dragged off truly wondering about his class’ sanity.

The two are walking through the woods as it looks like Sakura might be more afraid that he initially let on. Dokuro thinks he’s just being silly as he goes on to explain the possibility for Doraemon (from Doraemon), Chopper (from One Piece), Kogumi (from Nurse Witch Komugi), or some teapot thingie (from FLCL?). Sakura finally breaks down and ask Dokuro if they can hold hands together, whom surprisingly allows it without doing anything to him. Dokuro mentions it’s a lot better now that the three of them are together… three she said? Sakura freaks out as it was all a joke by Dokuro… until Zansu chimes in with her. No clue why Zansu is around but Sakura gets rid of him post-haste.

Meanwhile Shizuki and the guy she’s with are merrily making their way through the forest until something comes out of nowhere scaring the two. Dokuro and Sakura finally make it to the temple, which is apparently the goal, as everyone else from the class comes out. The guy Shizuki was with comes running up to everyone asking if Shizuki has made it yet, explaining the two got separated before. Sakura quickly dashes off to look for Shizuki, temporarily running into a nude Zansu (don’t ask) before sending him off once again. Sakura goes through the usual hell of looking for a missing person before finding Shizuki behind a tree sort of curled up. The two are about to share a moment when they hear some bushes moving. Sakura thinks it’s Zansu, even calling him out to stop but the bushes are still moving. Sakura and Shizuki start to get really scare eventually hugging each other out of fright as the thing behind the bushes pops out! It’s Sabato of all people! She somehow got lost and is surprise as the other two in finding people… all the excitement of the recent event finally get to Sakura as he suddenly passes out…

Everyone is back on the bus going back home as Sakura and Shizuki talk about what happened before. Some small tender moment between the two until Dokuro ruins it by literally falling on top of Sakura. Apparently angels get bus sick easily as it looks like she’s about to seriously throw up. The situation only gets worse for Sakura as Sabato too is sick and the two angels are about to puke! Ends with the two puking inside Sakura’s shirt as he does a play-by-play of it… the bus is seen passing hills as a SFX for the puking smell is seen.

Not a bad episode I guess. Usual Dokuro-chan zaniess that is to be expected from the show with highlights of Dokuro (and Shizuki) in school swimsuits and the small Sakura & Shizuki moments. I can’t believe I’m going to say this but my only real problem was that Saeko Chiba’s voice got really annoying after awhile, especially with all the laughing Dokuro did. I just hope this doesn’t pop up in future episodes and roles, like Ichigo Mashimaro where she also uses a high-pitch “young” voice. I still can’t believe I’m badmouthing Saeko Chiba but I guess even I have my limits. Saeko Chiba, stick to more “normal” roles like Natsuki from Mai-HiME please!