Warning, if you want good non-biased reviews and final impressions of Futakoi I strongly suggest looking into Stripey’s and Matthew’s blogs. You will not find anything positive in relations to Futakoi in this entry. Expect a lot of bashing, ripping on, and just plain pissed-off biased author ranting in the following entry. Continue on at your own risk.
I’m definitely not as kind as Matthew is on his view of Nozomu and Futakoi. After re-watching this episode to screencap, I realized my true hatred for Futakoi came about while watching the final episode. The final episode was what really left a bad taste in my mouth in how the staff handled the situation as an whole for a “happy” ending. Anyway, episode 12 centers around Nozomu still being indecisive as ever as Valentine’s Day approaches and the twins feelings finally burst to the surface.
Kira shows she is the gustier of the two Sakurazuki sisters as Kenmochi will not move an inch on his decision to transfer the two back to their original school. Kira and Yura are determined no matter what to see Nozomu and tell him their feelings for him on Valentine’s Day. The two decide to make Valentines chocolates anyway, without the help of the staff, and give them to Nozomu even if they have to sneak out!
Sumireko and Karouko are out shopping for supplies to make choocolates when Sumireko drops the bomb on her sister: she plans to confess to Nozomu on Valentine’s. Karouko try to convince Sumireko not to for various reasons (including her own budding feelings for Nozomu) but Sumireko is determined to do it. Nothing else can be said as the two continue shopping but Karouko stops to look at the department store of fond memories while Sumireko figures out Karouko might actually like Nozomu too.
And the man of honor? He’s home lost as ever and not sure what to do. His feelings for the Sakurazuki twins are sort of there but then he also feels something for the Ichijou sisters too. I actually have to say “go Billy!” for kicking Nozomu beforehand; Nozomu just isn’t doing anything to help his situation at all.
The Ichijou sisters are preparing to make Valentine’s Day chocolates when words are said and everything starts to fall apart. Sumireko calls Karouko on her feelings for Nozomu while Karouko throws back in her face how hard it is to not say when her sister feels the same. More yelling about how each envy the other (for some reason, I thought back to Yui Horie’s role as Touru from Fruits Basket. Touru’s lines about people being similar to riceballs would have been perfect right about now). Somehow Sumireko and Karouko resolve things and the two are going to confess to Nozomu no matter what on V-Day.
Valentine’s Day. Nozomu’s day when his harem finally comes back to bite him in the arse. Yura and Kira have escaped their home to deliver their chocolates to Nozomu at school, but not before they see the Ichijou sisters do the same. Nozomu is shocked that both Sumireko and Karouko likes him (too bad for Yuuya), and all he can do is silently take their chocolates without totally breaking down. To make Nozomu’s day just perfect, he spots the Sakurazuki twins and realizes they must have seen what has just happened. Yura and Kira are desperate, pretty much begging Nozomu to take their chocolates to prove he still likes them too. He sort of accepts as Kenmochi comes rolling around to take the girls back home… all Nozomu can do is stand there still completely shocked over the past five minutes.
Nozomu completely lost and confused, especially after hearing Kenmochi telling him the Sakurazuki sisters will be transferring again, runs back to the temple going straight to the Twins Rock Shrine thingie. Obviously he thinks part of his problem is because of the legend / curse, and breaks down right there.
Well, that was fun watching Nozomu drop the ball once again. I don’t think I need to say my feelings regarding Nozomu anymore, but I will admit he does a good job being clueless. The twins on the other hand, I’m still not sure what to feel about their strong feelings towards Nozomu. I must have mentioned this 11x over, but I can sort of understand the Ichijou sisters since they’re his childhood friends (you japanese and your weird fixation on childhood promises). It’s really the Sakurazuki twins I can’t figure out. Nozomu hasn’t done anything particularly special to warrant their feelings for him. I can understand Kira and Yura leading sheltered lives but still… something is just off. I can’t describe what exactly, but it just is. I guess I’ll leave the reason because it’s an harem series and the girls in them don’t need a reason to be in love with the main protagonist; they just do. blah.
Now that I finished and watched the rest of Futakoi, I can finally look at Matthew’s thoughts about them. I pretty much avoided reading his reviews and feelings about the last four or so episodes so I wouldn’t spoil myself until they were translated. And boy, agreeing with Matthew, Futakoi 11 continuously proves just how much an indecisive jerk Nozomu is!
Kira and Yura get all dolled up for the New Years shrine visit with Nozomu while the man himself is still depressed and lost over the whole Yuuya and Kaoruko situation. Throughout the whole time he’s with the Sakurazuki sisters, Nozomu is just blanking out even as the sisters try to cheer him up. It doesn’t get much better when they actually run into the Ichijou sisters and Yuuya at the same temple.
Yuuya and Nozomu get some alone time to talk about Yuuya’s confession to Karouko but Nozomu already thinks Yuuya has “won.” In come the Ichijou fanclub to bring some pain to Yuuya. Few mintues later Yuuya walks out untouched and meets up with the twins while Nozomu checks up on Gonda. Apparently Yuuya practices aikido and totally kicked Gonda’s butt! His crew tries to help him up but he wants to be alone… thereafter Gonda gives one heck of a moving speech of his pure love for the Ichijou sisters, putting Nozomu in his place. I really have to hand it to Gonda, I was a bit moved with his undying love for the twins and how he’ll just be happy to be as close to them as possible. He knows he doesn’t have a chance but still tries his best, unlike the undeserving Nozomu.
Anyway, the Ichijou twins, Sakurazuki twins, Yuuya, and Nozomu are all chilling at a local fastfood joint where the rocketman impress everyone yet again on how pimp he is. Nozomu pretty much feels like crap and all the self-hate is pretty obvious, going so bad that he even mixes up which Sakurazuki sister is which! Everyone eventually goes their seperate way, with Nozomu apologizing and saying bye to Kira and Yura. The two girls wave it off as nothing, but bulter dude can tell something is up.
Kira and Yura stop showing up for prep and regular school. Nomozu is getting a tad worrried. Kenmochi stops by and has an heart-to-heart with Nozomu. The girls are currently sick but should be better in a few days; the real problem is Nozomu playing around with their emotions. The bulter bluntly tells Nozomu to clear up his feelings, and if he has any feelings for the Sakurazuki girls it better god-dang be real! He leaves leaving Nozomu more screwed up than ever!
Speaking of the two sisters, they’re still studying hard and can’t wait to go back to school. They want to see Nozomu bad and know their feelings for him are real and true. Now if only Kenmochi would let them go back! Ironically, Nozomu is right outside mustering up the guts to talk to the twins but at the last moment chickens out with Kenmochi watching the whole time. Kira and Yura are about to leave but Kenmochi stops them, saying they won’t be going to that school anymore. The two think he’s joking but he breaks the news to them: he got the approval of their father to transfer them back to their old school! No more Nozomu for them!
I just don’t understand the Sakurazuki sisters’ feelings for Nozomu. Throughout the series, he really hasn’t shown any real “qualities” that explains why he knows so many twins. If it wasn’t for the fact this series is an harem series and Nozomu is the main protagonist, I seriously doubt he’ll have any luck with the ladies. Nozomu gets way too self indulged in his own luck and doesn’t do anything to foster his relationships with the various girls. He pretty much lets them do all the work and throws them the occasional “bone” every now and then. I even felt Gonda made for a better character at this point; at least his intentions were clear and to the point. Nozomu inability to do anything has led him to his current problem: he has to drop the harem but doesn’t want to! So what does he do? Wallow in self-pity and depression, until everyone around him either leaves or slaps some cold-hard reality into his face.
I want to say Nozomu got what he deserved and shouldn’t get an happy ending, but since I’ve seen the end already… well, let’s put it this way. I was completely pissed at the end and could not believe I wasted my time on this series. If it wasn’t for Sara and Souju plus some veteran vocal talent, I would have called Futakoi a complete waste. More on my bitching about my final impressions of Futakoi after the final episode review.
Seriously, I can break down this episode into three points:
- Sumireko realizes her feelings for Nozomu and voices them to Kaoruko. Kaoruko, obviously also having feelings for Nozomu, backs down and pretty much let’s Sumireko have her chance.
- Yuuya confesses to Kaoruko that he likes her, but gives her time to decide as she obviously has other things (i.e. Nozomu) on her mind. The two stil remain “friends” as of current though…
- A little jealousy over Yuuya tips Nozomu towards Kira and Yura ending with him spending chirstmas eve alone with the two for their first christmas ever.
“Yay” for Nozomu for being such a pussy that he backs down from the Ichijou sisters and goes with the Sakurazuki twins.. for now. The boy just cannot decide which girl(s) he wants… I hope he suffers more as Nozomu clearly does not deserve ANY OF THEM! Another “yay” for how cute Sumireko was when she confessed her feelings to Kaoruko about Nozomu; that was just too sweet! Also props for Karouko for being the “bigger (wo)man” and letting Sumireko have her shot at Nozomu, even if he doesn’t deserve either of the two. And a big “play on playa” to Yuuya for using “I need help buying an gift for my sister” trick to get Karouko to go on a date with you. A little weak though when you confessed you playa… but I think you Yuuya already knew you lost to someone else, though good try in trying to get some booty anyways 
With only three episodes left in the series, I can pretty much predict how things will turn out but I’m hoping Nozomu suffers a lot more before he gets his good ending. We all know he’s going to “dump” Kira and Yura and go for the Ichijou sisters at the end… what with, childhood friends plus marriage promise ALWAYS EQUAL final “choice.” The bastard, however, truly does not deserve the interest of any of the girls and it is beyond me why any of them like him!
The ending of one of my favorite mini-arcs, Souji and Sara spend some quality time with Nozomu before they’re shipped off to the military er… before they move to another place. The episode pretty much centers around Souji and Sara, the love they have for each other, and whatever budding feelings the two might have for Nozomu.
All that mattered in this episode, for me, is the Souji and Sara goodness. It was pretty cute seeing Sara being overly protective of Souji, looking out for Souji’s best interests. Especially everytime Sara would try to stop Nozomu from flirting with the various twins right in front of them Also seeing Sara’s scared side was pretty cute too (ghosts? who knew). Souji’s sisterly love for Sara also brought tears in my eyes as exemplify-ed by the whole pastel incident (lost color, Nozomu and the crew going garbage diving, etc). Nice to see such deep sisterly love for each other!
Tis very sad that the two sisters only showed up in this and the previous episodes, as I thought they had a lot of potential (i.e. Souji moe-ness and Sara’s “tough” exterior) and could have been expanded more. Oh well. Pretty much after this episode, Futakoi finally gets serious as it’s crunch time for Nozomu to sort out his feelings and decide which twins he really wants. Is it the Sakurazuki twins whom confessed their love for him and are currently showering Nozomu with gifts? Or is it the Ichijou sisters whom have been his childhood friends and apparently, each have feelings for the others?