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Episode 2 “How to Spend Your Summer Vacation” Details

• Available On: Crunchyroll
• Public Release Date: April 14, 2025
• Director(s): Takafumi Fuji
• Writer(s): Keiichiro Daichi

Episode 2 “How to Spend Your Summer Vacation” Recap (With Spoilers)

Am I In Trouble?:  Nomura, Takahara, Mitani, Tenzen, Ao

With Takahara being the newest kid in town, he doesn’t get to move about unseen and as a stranger. There are less than a dozen people his age, and one of the girls, Nomura, makes it a point to have a welcome party with him and another new kid, Tenzen. They get together with Ao, and Mitani, the shirtless guy who Nomura always shoots with her water gun.

Together, they seem like a good time and while Ao does have some deserved side eye towards Takahara, it seems they can be cool.

Focus On Being a Kid: Takahara, Ao, Shiroha, Umi, Grandma Kido, Misaki

With all the fun he is having and people he is meeting, Takahara finds himself having to question what is he there for again? Misaki often dismisses him regarding helping to clear out his grandmother’s things, Umi is usually out and about so it isn’t about connecting with her, but then Grandma Kido reminds him of what he said on the boat and his need to question things ends. He felt like he couldn’t fly anymore, that he hurt or broke his wings.

Now, while poetic to him, the way Grandma Kido painting a picture, some see Takahara as Lucifer, which is a bit comical. But the truth is, something happened back home and he may not be alone. Umi, as much as she might be off doing her own thing, it seems like her home life wasn’t that great and included eating alone a lot. So, having Takahara there is nice.

But, there is nothing good about a vacation if you don’t grow or learn something from it and between conversations with the shy Shiroha and getting to be a bit of a naughty teenager with Ao, it seems Takahara may have felt he was drowning in the passage of time at home, but things are different now.

New Cast and Characters

Nomura (Saku Ichimiya)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
• Character Summary: Nomura, while being head of the youth welcoming committee, is also a bit of a hard-ass when it comes to rules, especially people not walking around with their shirt off unless at the beach.

Mitani (Kentarō Kumagai)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
• Character Summary: Mitani is one of Nomura’s closest friends and the person who breaks her rules the most.

Tenzen (Yōhei Kamada)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
• Character Summary: Tenzen is another new person to the island, who hangs out mainly up in the mountains exercising, unless someone wishes to play ping-pong.

Grandma Kido (To Be Determined)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
• Character Summary: A community grandma, Grandma Kido is a friendly face and a little bit of a gossip.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

Seeing Takahara Experience Life [83/100]

With Takahara noting he went to an all-boys school, and the push that perhaps his entire life was dedicated to the swim team and maybe academics, it helps you understand why sometimes he has this fish-out-of-water persona. He potentially hasn’t developed or come to understand who he is, what his interests were outside of swimming, and now, with no task or goal in front of him, especially since Misaki keeps dismissing his help, he is forced to wander and see where his curiosity leads him.

This makes, even if it has slowly growing harem vibes, him talking to Shiroha, having fun with Ao, something of interest. Especially since, with Ao, he has these naughty moments with her, but he doesn’t come off as a pervert, but a teen boy playing with a girl who may share mutual interest, but also doesn’t want to be perceived a certain way. Meanwhile, with Shiroha, he gets what could be seen as something that could be serious, thus giving him the best of both worlds.

Now, whether or not he is ever given an ultimatum is hard to say, but it seems undeniable that he is having more fun now than he might have had in years.

Wanting To See More Beyond The Facades [82/100]

After getting a glimpse of Umi’s life before summer, admittedly, I thought we’d see what we usually do for shows like this, where it develops a character per episode, to show it isn’t only our lead going through something. However, rather than relegate Takahara into a Trojan Horse, he held the focus strongly, and Umi was only allowed to give us a peek.

Now, with interests piqued, I wonder what everyone else could be hiding, trying to work through, or past?

Overall

Our Overall Rating [82/100]

While unquestionably slow and steady in how it builds its characters and progresses in story, Summer Pockets also holds onto your attention and makes you want more and if it means getting to savor watching someone grow, you find yourself willing to have patience.

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