Recap: Kobato’s birthday is approaching and the girls try to parlay buying her a gift into a date with Kodaka. After partying with the Neighbor’s Club, Kodaka and Kobato find some surprise visitors waiting at home.

Jel’s Thoughts: I’m not the type of guy that automatically equates “harem” with “terrible”, but I couldn’t help but roll my eyes a bit at the obvious harem setup of this episode. I am kind of afraid it may only get worse from here as the girls are getting more aggressive. Fortunately the girls’ odd personalities help save this from being totally paint-by-numbers, with bits like Yukimura’s preposterously formal text message or Yozora’s misguided plan to dress like a little boy retaining some of the show’s unique attitude.

Still, I don’t like everything I’m seeing, especially when it comes to Kodaka. I always liked him since he seemed to have a bit more confidence and common sense than your average harem protagonist. He even has his own agenda, genuinely wanting to join the Neighbor’s Club as opposed to getting dragged into it against his will. That’s kind of going out the window as the girls are quite literally calling him dense and settling into his role as a practically mute slab of meat for everyone to fight over.

Topping things off was the episode ending with more Kate and Maria, whom I still have no great affection for. I understand Kate is supposed to give Kodaka someone to commiserate about being a caretaker with, but I can’t help but think she was really just there to walk in on in the bath and say “Onii-chan no ecchi!”. My ultimate concern moving forward is we’re going to get more of that kind of thing and less of Haganai’s irreverent attitude to balance it out. The series has always simultaneously laughed with and at the notion of a harem comedy, delivering the fan service and romantic teasing you’d expect then immediately projectile vomiting all over it. So I guess I’m saying I want more projectile vomiting? There’s probably a better way to say that, but that’s what I want.