Recap

With Konoha learning about Kobeni and Hakuya’s engagement, it’s damage control time. Mashiro plots an ill-fated blackmail scenario while Kobeni wonders if a cover up is even necessary at all.

Jel’s Thoughts

There was just way too much common sense going on this episode and I like it. It’s great that Kobeni has a choice of whom should would like to date or marry, but the question of how long she should be keeping Hakuya on the hook has loomed larger with each episode. I’ve been willing to give her a hefty amount of leeway considering how abruptly the circumstances were dumped on her lap, but I think enough time has past for her to at least decide if she wants to totally cut the line and move on. I was pleasantly surprised to see not one, but TWO of the characters figure this out on their own, and having Konoha around to give Kobeni a nudge finally validated her role in the story.

This made for a pretty strong, emotional scene between the two girls as Konoha brought up the issue. Engaged has done very well in blending in the more dramatic elements of the story, never taking itself TOO seriously, even if Kobeni does tend to break down into tears easily. Konoha’s logic about stringing along Hakuya was surprisingly sound, so it wasn’t like dropping random drama bombs to get girls to cry. Instead, it’s been a pretty pleasant process of figuring out a potentially unpleasant, complicated situation. I’m still not willing to go too far in my praise for the series’ storytelling as the high dosage of Benio and the occasional weird 4-koma-esque pacing I mentioned last week continue to make the show feel like it’s slightly in over its head. But it does tackle its problems head on and in a relatively believable fashion, so I do appreciate that.

The final scene as Kobeni tries to smooth things over with Hakuya was their most adorable moment yet and really raises my hopes for the final stretch of episodes. Having Mashiro blurt out what everyone was thinking made for a very cute and unique confession scene, and I hope they stick to Kobeni’s implied decision. I imagine things can only get hilariously awkward as the two enter the “lovey-dovey” phase and so long as we can keep Benio in some kind of check I’m really looking forward to it.