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Episode 5: Crying Doesn’t Mean You’re Weak. Enduring doesn’t mean you’re strong

Overview

In episode 5 “Crying Doesn’t Mean You’re Weak. Enduring doesn’t mean you’re strong.” We watch as the cast grieves over Manato’s death, and begin the process of moving on. Something they all struggle with for Manato had a multifaceted position within their party.

Trigger Warning(s): Depiction of Open and Bleeding Wound

Characters & Story (with Commentary)

Topic 1: A Time To Mourn and Be In Despair (Ranta and Haruhiro)

With Manato’s death, the group damn near falls apart. Haruhiro is dealing with the guilt of being a component of Manato’s death, as well as this assumed responsibility of keeping things together. Which he is finding rather difficult. He isn’t much of a leader and while he gets along with everyone, emotions are high. Ranta, for example, is ready to move on quickly and this offends Yume to the point of her smacking the hell out of him. Something which perhaps knocked some sense into him, in hindsight, but it seems that was really just his way of dealing with things.

But since he wasn’t allowed to grieve the way he wanted, he decides to drink instead.

Topic 2: Mary & The Absence of Teamwork (Haruhiro and Ranta)

Something which Moguzo and Haruhiro join him in, and their drinking, and eventual arguing, leads to the familiar face known as Kikkawa joining them. He was one of the handful Renji decided to take with him, but Kikkawa has long since disbanded from Renji and joined someone named Tokimune’s group. What is most important about Kikkawa’s visit though is him providing information and helping the kids network.

Now, as for what information? Well, that goblins, and enemies in general, aren’t stupid. They know priest heal so they are often primary targets. Then, in terms of networks, being that Kikkawa is a bit of a social butterfly, he happens to know a priest which could work with Haruhiro’s group. Said priest’s name: Mary.

Someone who is almost the complete opposite of Manato when it comes to temperament. She isn’t cooperative, doesn’t heal every single wound received, and isn’t at all interested in combat. In fact, she has enough conflicts with Haruhiro, and Ranta especially, that you have to wonder will she stick around? For unless she is a reject like the rest of them, you’d think priests would be in high demand and Kikkawa’s little introduction wouldn’t be enough for her. Though, considering the next episode maybe about her backstory, hopefully we may soon get some answers.

Topic 3: A Super Calming Feeling (Haruhiro and Yume)

For quite some time it seemed that sooner or later someone would fall in love with someone else. After all, Shihoru had a crush on Manato, and he seemed to have some sort of feelings for her. But, alas, he is dead now. Yet Yume and Haruhiro aren’t, and they share a cute moment together. One which was caused by Haruhiro, without talking to Yume or Shihoru, having Mary joined and him wanting to make sure she wasn’t mad.

Which, in general, she wasn’t about that. If anything, there was just this internalized anger dealing with the inability to save Manato and not being able to fully blame anyone. In a way, it seems there is some hint Haruhiro could be blamed, but then she places the blame as the party as a collective, and with time all they can both do is cry over their lost friend.

Perhaps leading you to wonder what is this cute moment spoken of? Well, all this crying comes with them in the arms of each other, and eventually it is just Yume in Haruhiro’s arms, almost like a loving embrace. One which Yume says gives her a “Super calming feeling.” Which doesn’t become a big deal until Shihoru sees them from the bathing area and Haruhiro realizes the perception their embrace could have given. Yume does too with time but it is hard to say if her embarrassment comes from being caught, being that vulnerable with Haruhiro, or simply having such an un-inhibited intimate moment with another person.

Highlights

The Grieving Process: I’m not speaking of the whole “Bargain, accept, and etc.,” grieving process, but I just feel like in too many shows like this, there isn’t really much grieving on display. If anything, there is usually a 5 – 10-minute cry, at most, and then after that people quickly move on as if the person wasn’t a major force in their world and while, granted, usually there is an outburst here and there, the weight of the death doesn’t often get exhibited. However, with this show, it is well established that life without Manato is going to be a long adjustment. One which will force them, Haruhiro and everyone else, to communicate more, fight more cohesively, and also help Mary to integrate into the team. Especially considering what she is and isn’t willing to do.

A Few Familiar Faces and One New One: Though Kikkawa is a completely unfamiliar face, Renji’s isn’t, and it was nice to see him pay his respects and acknowledge the people he left behind. It shows, in some small way, he didn’t just abandon them and wipe them from his memories. Someone had to be keeping tabs and him just dropping that gold coin showed he isn’t just about his group and who cares about the misfits?

Then, in terms of Mary, you know there is something interesting there. Granted, likely she is either new, discarded, or her entire party got killed, hence why she wants a certain emotional distance between her and the group, but I could be wrong. Either way, her working with this team should be interesting. Especially as she fills the role of an important member in their group.

The Awkwardness of Intimacy: Maybe it was nothing, maybe it was the start of something? Either way, the moment between Yume and Haruhiro was quite cute and I loved it. Probably because, it was more about intimacy than sex, making it seem a bit more pure, for a lack of a better term. For while the moment was started due to shared grieving, it seemed to evolve in time with Yume’s realization of how comfortable she was in Haruhiro’s arms, and him seeming fine with her compliment of how calming he made her feel.

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