Recap: Banri starts to see what it’s really like to be at college while Koko’s dogged pursuit of Mitsuo and her upper-class style has made herself isolated from the rest of the school.

Marlin’s Thoughts: I can only attest to the way the Film club ran their drinking parties. I’m sure Tea Club-like stuff exists, but I’m also pretty sure no drunk freshman would have been scared at the opportunity to hang around a bunch of half naked girls. Sure, they were crazy, but that’s kinda what happens when certain girls get wasted. It’s definitely the kind of levity I was hoping from a college story. People drink in college, and do stupid things in college. To gloss over that fact would be a disservice to the institution.

Koko is continuing to be adorable, but it is hard to see if she’s simply lonely or if she really is trying to garner Banri’s sympathy so he’d be more willing to help her. The idea of ostracizing by beauty is common in these kinds of stories, but I’ve always felt that as more of a petty high school concept than a college one. If this is something that did extend back into high school, it would explain why she’s so fixated on Mitsuo. He was the only thing she ever really had, and she’s afraid she’ll be left alone without him. I’m hoping we get to see her open up as the two of them go on this camping trip. Nothing like a good club event to bond with a crush, eh?

Lifesong’s Thoughts: It’s funny how this works, but I am finding it much easier to fall this Yui Horie heroine than I did for Toradora’s Rie Kugimiya heroine. I like the way we are made to sympathize with her without just being asked to ignore the fact that she is crazy. I do wonder what will happen to Banri’s friendship as he starts to bond with Koko. I’m also curious to see where Linda fits into all this.

The college aspect of this story does seem to be somewhat unimportant. One thing is obvious, this school is very party heavy… Beware the “tea” club girls, they are scarier than Koko by a long shot.