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.
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Episode 15 “The Girl Who Forgot Summer Vacation” Details
- Available On: Crunchyroll
- Public Release Date: July 14, 2025
- Director(s): Takashi Aoshima
- Writer(s): Shota Imai
Episode 15 “The Girl Who Forgot Summer Vacation” Recap (With Spoilers)
Hesitant, But Slightly Willing: Shiroha, Takahara
Shiroha is hesitant about getting close to Takahara. We’ve seen it in past arcs; she generally sticks to herself, pops up and stares before disappearing, and Takahara interrupts this routine by showing up when she is swimming, fishing, and trying to enjoy her solitude. But, the more he shows up, in some ways, the nicer it seems to have someone there, but both in the back of her mind and out of her mouth, she tries to get Takahara to see that this isn’t going anywhere.
4 Years Ago: Shiroha, Takahara, Tenzen, Mitani
So, you might be asking yourself, “Why is Shiroha this way?” From what it seems, it isn’t her grandfather. He is her guardian, but as shown by her late-night swims and her tendency to wander about, he isn’t against her socializing and leaving the house. You could say it is because her parents died, but even in the private moments we see of her, she isn’t dwelling on that.
No. It’s something that happened four years ago when a classmate, not Ai, a boy, fell off a cliff, and Shiroha allegedly cursed him. The way it is presented, Shiroha’s family used to manage the local shrine and handle the rituals and festivals of the island, but have long stopped. So, the rumor is that good and bad things come from being around them too much, which includes the threat of violence.
With internalizing that, Shiroha just isolates herself out of worry that something bad could happen if people get too close to her. But, with Tenzen and Mitani seeing Takahara making inroads, reminding them of how Shiroha was before, they ask for him to stay persistent in hopes that he may break through and help them get their old friend back.
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Review and Commentary
Highlights
How Past Arcs Give Context – Sometimes [83/100]
One of the things we appreciate about these resets is how they give context to characters who exist on the island but aren’t consistently focused on. Ao is perhaps the only example right now, since Tsumigi, Shizuku, and Kamome aren’t around, but even with them, we can’t discount now, after Ao’s arc, Takahara’s talents with the butterflies allowed him to see Kamome in the flesh. Heck, maybe when it comes to Tsumigi and Shizuku, too, perhaps the reason we haven’t seen them is because they are butterflies, too.
Granted, I can’t prove this theory with the way Summer Pockets rolls out, but I am starting to appreciate the second arc more, Takahara’s challenges, and the mystery of this island more. And now, with a focus on Shiroha and the mention of her family’s shrine and former duties, it leads me to hope that the comment Ao made about the three great families, and was touched upon in Tsumigi’s arc, will be explored, and how that plays into Shiroha’s home life and personality.
For now, given that there are 26 episodes in this season, according to MyAnimeList, I’m left hoping and believing that many of the things that haven’t been explored, such as Umi and Takahara’s lives, or even what would happen if Takahara never showed up, might be developed. Never mind characters who have appeared, but mainly played supporting roles, being developed to be more than the guy who likes ping-pong, the one who always wants to show his abs, or the girl who enforces decency laws.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [83/100]
Shiroha is not the last arc of the series, but has the potential to meet Ao’s in terms of Takahara creating a notable and genuine connection that can make you swoon. Now, is it likely he’ll get lost in this relationship and make it all about Shiroha? Yes. But, considering how much of a mystery she has been since episode one, Takahara taking a backseat isn’t the worst thing – in this case.
Check Out Our Past Coverage Of This Series
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 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.
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.
