A surprisingly (and thankfully) Haruka-filled episode.

Cosplay cafe. Fitting. Oh, so-o fitting. I already have my “stuff I to see Haruka cosplay as” wish list written up. What would YOU want to see Haruka cosplay as? Going with a Noto Mamiko theme, I’d be all for School Rumble or Witchblade. The choices are so infinite. Personally, I’d get a kick out of Haruka cosplaying Shimako from MariMite. She’s already got the hair, voice, and ojousama image. Toss in that dark-colored seifuku with tidy white collars and clean pleats and you’re good to go. I’d drop a month’s salary on lukewarm tea and hard baked goods in 2-1’s setup easily.

“Damn, not that cut-n-paste girl again!”

Things played out just as I expected with Haruka being unaffected by Yuto working with Shiina initially, but then starting to feel left out when she couldn’t be with him as much. I’m sure everyone anticipated that plot development like a screwy ending to a Gainax series or the plummeting of some Gonzo shows. It’s Shiina’s time to shine as generic rival character!

<3 Mika

You would rather have Haruka do what to you?

(A) Make you a love-filled lunch
(B) Make you a love-filled bag of cookies with tea
(C) Kidnap you (in a love-filled way of course)
(D) Give you a love-filled massage
(E) All of the Above

Really, if Yuto wanted to experience cosplay (beyond all the cosplay he’s already experienced), he should have just asked Haruka from the start. If she has the Shana outfit ready to go, I’m sure she has others ready to go. Plus Mika, Hazuki, and Nanami have their own stash. Instead of visiting Haruka’s place to make pancakes, he might as well experience both a maid cafe (again) and a cosplay cafe. The staff and equipment are ready to go. Knowing these characters, the four of them would be happy to oblige. Who needs Akihabara when you’ve got the Nogizaka Cafe ready to serve? Plus, you would save yourself some cash.

“But it’s my… first time…”

Yuto takes initiative for a change and puts what he learned from Midnight Sleazy Train to good use. I’ve seen some cramped fitting rooms in anime before, yet it always amazes how small they become when someone needs to hide in there. A truly organic experience.

That must have been an expensive thank you gift! Not Hermes teacups, but definitely expensive. But then again, why be like everyone else and go with key chains, cheap jewelry, or hair accessories when you can spend a big chunk of money on an Aki-chan music box. He should have bought her an Aki-chan dakimakura and she’d love him forever.

(*´Д`) (*´Д`) (*´Д`)

Now there is an image I need to get on my phone. My love for Mika grows and grows. Sexy Mika-chan is golden!

Reason #74 for loving maids: Battle Prowess. Only maids can wield mops and a chainsaws with such strength and grace.

Yuto and Haruka must be the only people in the world who don’t see that the two of them are retarded for each other. If you were in Akihabara that day and saw those two conversing like they were, you’d probably be rolling your eyes and shaking your head just like you would at two people being overly lovey-dovey in public. Then again, if those two actually realized their own feelings, this series wouldn’t be a romantic comedy, nor would it have its “charm.”

Ponytails turn me on… Pony. Pon-pon-p-pony. Pony! Ppoonnyy! Pppooonnnyyy!

A Kashimashi moment. Really, for all the Haruka goodness this episode had, there was an equal amount of cliche that brought things back down to Earth. While I have conceded to the fact that this series is going down that route, it doesn’t make watching it any easier. Without question, the Yuto-Haruka relationship moments and the Haruka otakuness are always the high points during episodes, while all the cliche moments act as the proverbial wet blanket. There are other series when it’s acceptable or much less noticeable, but here, it’s a downer. I bring it up with each episode because it is so noticeable. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu, unfortunately, is a two-headed monster. There is a lot of good, but also a fair share of meh. Luckily, the good has outweighed the bad so far.

I don’t usually go nuts over the references in the previews, but Onegai Sensei 4TW! That’s a series that seems to have vanished from people’s minds for some reason. It’s not the greatest sereis by a long shot, but one that I have a lot of sentimental attachment to it. Saiyuusen jikou yo!!