Tomo-Chan Is A Girl!: Season 1/ Episode 13 “To Stay by Your Side…” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers) | Season Finale

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The end of “Tomo-Chan Is A Girl” will likely bring a tear to your eye, even as Jun pushes back the goalpost.

Aired (Crunchyroll)	March 29, 2023
Director(s)	Takurō Tsukada
Writer(s)	Megumi Shimizu
Previously Noted Characters
Tomo	Rie Takahashi
Jun	Kaito Ishikawa
Misuzu	Rina Hidaka
Carol	Sally Amaki
Akemi	Kumiko Watanabe
Goro	Kenji Nomura

Recap

This content contains pertinent spoilers. 

The Power Dynamics Aren’t In My Favor – Tomo, Jun, Misuzu, Carol

With Jun’s walls coming down, he is saying all the right things, and Tomo is constantly blushing. She doesn’t like that because she feels like she lost now. Note, this isn’t Misuzu pressuring her to even the balance or Carol teasing; on her own, Tomo doesn’t like the imbalance, so Misuzu recommends doing the only thing she knows to right the scales: do what gets Jun flustered.

You know what that means, getting cute, a bit feminine, and taking advantage of Jun being a teenage boy. However, with Tomo still adjusting to being treated as a girl, compliments lead to the same imbalance she was trying to avoid, and honestly, she just isn’t prepared to do the ultimate act with Jun: kissing.

Hold Up, We Aren’t Going Out? – Jun, Tomo

But, by the end of the date, things end up in Tomo’s favor when she learns Jun doesn’t think they are dating. Why? Because while Tomo’s mom has given her blessing, her dad hasn’t, thus setting the goalpost further back from beating Tomo at something to now beating her dad in a fight.

I Just Want To Be A Man She Deserves – Jun, Tomo, Akemi, Goro

Luckily, they don’t have to wait for years for Jun to get the strength required to beat Goro. Akemi shows up to the fight, automatically throwing Goro off, and Tomo shows up too. Add in, Jun understands why Goro wants the fight, and him studying Goro enough that he is able to land a punch, and Jun wins. Not enough to say he knocked Goro out, but at least to throw Goro off balance enough to get a technical victory.

With that, Jun beats Tomo to ask the other out, and she kisses him to get the upper hand. Leaving us seeing the two in bliss and wondering what’s next for them?

Things To Note

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. WHERE THE HELL IS JUN’S MOM?

What Could Happen Next

1. Things end on their first kiss, and them publicly dating, so a time jump to graduation and seeing if this will remain in high school or be for a lifetime could happen

Review

Notable Performances or Moments

Tomo and Jun’s First Kiss

So much in “Tomo-Chan Is A Girl” feels earned. We’ve spoken about this in nearly episode, and the kiss is no different. It isn’t just done for the sake of a season finale; it is the culmination of Tomo and Jun having suppressed feelings for each other for ages. It is Jun, who has definitely had urges, embracing that he has a girlfriend now and he can not only let his guard down but communicate more. Never mind, get a positive response.

For Tomo? She gets to explore and be all sides of herself. She can be the tomboy whose greatest rival is also one of her best friends. She can kiss, hold hands, have a level of intimacy that, even though her dad loves her, he may not necessarily provide. Heck, considering how rare it seems Jun’s mom is around, Tomo could provide him with the hugs, love, and reassurance she may not have the time to have.

Either way you slice it, there was a place in their hearts for one another, and you can foresee both feeling so full with the other person now a member of their life.

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