夏のあらし！春夏冬中 Episode 12 Review
Summer Storm! Open for Business Ep. 12
Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chuu – 12

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

A female manga-ka visits Hakobune and when Yayoi goes to serve her, the manga-ka speaks of kissing. This shocks the ghost-girls so Arashi heads over to set this manga-ka straight, only to be taken aback by the girl’s apparent strong desire to kiss. Eventually, she explains that her desire is to capture a kissing scene for her manga and she wants Arashi to model. It is only when the the manga-ka’s editor arrives that Arashi decides to help the manga-ka, Anamori.

Hajime refuses to kiss Arashi, so the manga-ka goes through various pairings, each not meeting with Hajime’s approval. When Anamori decides on Jun and Arashi, Hajime decides he’ll kiss Jun (man-to-man in his mind) so as to preserve Arashi’s purity. This does not meet with Arashi’s approval. Eventually, things come full circle with Anamori feeling that Hajime and Arashi would be best, something they both protest is impossible. Anamori decides to kiss Arashi herself and is prevented by Hajime. Hajime goes to kiss her but is prevented by Arashi. Anamori has her inspiration and her manga can be completed.

Anamori leaves in a car with her editor (Umeyashiki), who addresses her as “Sogoru-sensei.” Sogoru-sensei undoes a zipper and puts on the older man mask of the customer who’s been coming to Hakobune all along. Meanwhile, Hajime finds Arashi on the roof and tells her it is time for the summer festival. After a brief talk about things, Arashi kisses Hajime on the forehead and departs to get ready, leaving Hajime to think that their first kiss is better done in private and not in front of everyone.

Thoughts/Review:

You know, it was always a bit distracting having Master dance all the time in what were clearly moves that Japanese female singers and idols would perform. Adding Yayoi and Kanako to the mix just made it worse as SHAFT crossed into the cringe territory. Way to go SHAFT — don’t forget to go everywhere, funny or not.

Regardless, SHAFT seems to be on a serious yuri kick, desperately wanting to see the various female characters in symmetrical docking poses. *_* For me, the humor came from Arashi and Hajime’s reactions to the idea that the other person would kiss someone else. Hajime acted pretty much like a kid would when it came to kissing Arashi and Arashi was pretty much just as immature when it came to kissing her first love. However, that’s where the humor started and ended for the whole “gotta have a kissing inspiration” element of the manga.

It also shows a sweetness in that neither Arashi nor Hajime could bear the thought of another kissing the one they love (each other), yet they could not kiss each other in public. I liked how Arashi kissed Hajime on the forehead and made him want to just forget the summer festival. *lol* Another sweet and humorous moment to be sure. Considering how Hajime is her first and only love, it makes sense too.

The Jun-Hajime element is still in play with Hajime going to kiss Jun and her blushing over the thought of it. It is humorous as Hajime thinks Jun is a guy and humorous still when Arashi stops them from kissing.

For some reason, I did get a laugh at Murata being on a stakeout and trying to get Yayoi to hang up.

Speaking of humor, SHAFT made fun of themselves in a manner of speaking when they had Umeyashiki sitting with the salt guy and teasing him with the salt shaker. I think this is the first time that a salt joke actually made me smile.

Shockingly absent from this episode is the oh so tedious “I read a book” short that SHAFT always has Yayoi and Kanako do, sometimes more than once an episode. I guess SHAFT had enough story to work with that they couldn’t squeeze in their horrible stuff.

The biggest shock is that “Anamori” is actually “Sogoru.” There goes my theory that the old man is actually Hajime from the future since the old man face was pretty clearly a mask. I don’t know what the deal is there though with only one more episode, we may find out very soon.

As this episode dealt with drawing a manga, it really felt like one of Kobayashi-sensei’s stories since manga work often came into play in School Rumble.

Despite the attempts to get the otaku worked up with yuri kissing, the episode was amusing and sweet on the whole with one major surprise. I look forward to seeing how this series ends.