Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 13 “A Pair Of Butterflies” – Recap & Review
What led to Ai being in a coma is revealed as we approach what might be the beginning of the end of Ao’s arc.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Episode 13 “A Pair Of Butterflies” Details
- Available On: Crunchyroll
- Public Release Date: June 30, 2025
- Director(s): Mo Zihang
- Writer(s): Visual Arts
Episode 13 “A Pair Of Butterflies” Recap (With Spoilers)
A Tale Of Two Sisters: Ai, Ao
Despite Ai being older, it was Ao who first saw the butterflies. It seemingly wasn’t something her family spoke about when she and Ai were young, so the early discovery was surprising, and they seemingly played it down.
This, for Ao, was a bit offensive, for Ai was the smarter one, the more athletic of the two, so being denied this thing which made her special hurt more than anyone knew.
The Day That Changed Everything: Ai, Ao
But, lest we forget, seeing the butterflies isn’t a gift bestowed upon everybody. It could be that Ao’s parents didn’t know about them because they never saw them. Which does lead to the question of who taught Ao the family duties, but that’s a question for another episode.
What matters is Ao going onto the mountain, looking for another butterfly, in hopes of finding one, bringing it home, and proving to her family they exist. Ai followed, and Ao, still feeling like she wasn’t believed, ran away from Ai.
Now, here is when things get tricky. The way Ao tells it, she fell, Ai found her, and led her to the family tree, and then she wakes up to learn something bad happened to Ai. But, in Ai’s memory, she went searching for Ao and walked off a cliff by accident. So it is hard to say if Ao misremembered things or maybe Ai’s butterfly led Ao to the family tree, and something spiritual guided Ao to understand her duties.
It’s Easy To Be Blinded By The Thing You Want Most: Ao, Takahara
While Ai has been stable for years, she takes a turn for the worse, and Ao goes into overdrive to find her sister’s butterfly, fearing she may die if she waits another year. She does this without Takahara by her side, as he recovers from trying to help, by touching a few butterflies himself.
Thankfully, though, by the time he awakens and gets to Ao, she is still alive, but with her touching so many butterflies, they all seem to want to be felt, their memories in someone’s body once more.
Takahara and Ao’s pet try to shoo them away, but they phase through sticks and get closer – until one butterfly is able to get them to run away. That butterfly holds Ai’s memories, and the next day Ao returns her sister’s memories to her, through a kiss, and hopes for the best.
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Review and Commentary
Highlights
Just An Overall Good Arc [85/100]
Admittedly, there are some things regarding Ao that are a bit of a mystery. Based on this episode, there is a need to question who taught her everything regarding the butterflies and her family history. Also, considering what was mentioned by Grandma Katou, is all Ao had to do was kiss her sister with her butterfly on her skin? Some things don’t make sense or add up.
However, there is no denying that, with Ao being real, the romance she and Takahara share is cute, and it is nice that they aren’t a secret relationship; other people see them together, and Takahara proudly stands by her side. Now, has he gotten lost again in someone else’s needs to the point that his own issues have been put aside? Yes.
But, with Ao’s sister being given back her memories, and the question of whether she may awaken, there is a need to wonder if that means the scale, perhaps, will being evened out. Never mind, with whatever time the summer holds left, what will the two do together?
Note, they had their first kiss, held hands, and those memories have given Ao many ideas. But what if she chooses to explore the ones that aren’t naughty? Maybe see the regrets of many a spouse or significant other, and with all Takahara has done for her, ask him how he felt about losing his grandma, his life off the island, and things like that?
There isn’t potential here that feels unfounded or something you desperately cling to as you hope for better, but potential that feels real, warranted, and even if it doesn’t happen as hoped, you don’t get the sense it means you ultimately ended up disappointed.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [85/100]
I won’t say Ao’s arc is perfect, but it does set a standard that I hope, assuming this season goes to 18 or more episodes, whoever follows keeps up. It will certainly be difficult, especially since it is like Shiroha and she is an odd duck, but with seeing the worst Summer Pockets can offer, here is hoping it is only the best from here on out.
Check Out Our Past Coverage Of This Series
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 15 – Recap and Review
The long-awaited Shiroha takes center stage and, as expected, Takahara winning her over will be an uphill battle.
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 14 – Recap and Review
In what might be the final episode of Ao’s arc, a familiar ending could undercut the highs Ao brought back to Summer Pockets.
Summer Pockets: Season 1 Episode 12 “Priestess of Sorakado” – Recap & Review
As the butterflies we have often seen are explained to us, we also get to see further the layers of what makes Ao who she is.
