うさぎドロップ Episode 10
Usagi Drop – 10

Daikichi heads to Rin’s school for a parent’s day event and gets to see Rin’s artwork, where he hears how Rin is so good, she could be a manga-ka. This makes Daikichi think of Rin’s mother, who is a manga-ka.  After meeting some fathers and exchanging information, he finds Nitani making her own visit.  Nitani, Kouki, Rin, and Daikichi walk home, but Rin clings to Daikichi rather than walk with Kouki.  Nitani notices that Rin is flushed and feeling Rin’s forhead, determines that Rin has a fever.  Daikichi becomes concerned and immediately takes Rin to the doctor.  The doctor assures Daikichi that Rin doesn’t have the flu, but advises Daikichi to wear a mask and gives some medicine.

At home, Rin’s fever gets worse and the following day, she’s worse still as Nitani and Kouki pay a visit.  Daikichi starts to panic, forcing Nitani to take him aside and tell him that he has to be strong for Rin’s sake.  She gets Rin to suck on some ice before taking her leave with Kouki and Daikichi calls into work to let them know he’ll be out the next couple of days. Daikichi tends to Rin and that evening, Nitani comes back by with Kouki and prepares a rice porridge for both Rin and Daikichi. She gets Rin to eat it by explaining that this is what she feeds Kouki when he’s sick. They leave and the following morning, Rin’s fever has broken and left her feeling better, though weak.  However, Nitani is now sick.

As I watched this episode, I couldn’t help but think about Clannad: After Story, where a certain child, female character became very ill.  I tell you, if this story follows the Key model when it comes to Rin, I may have to hurt someone. ^_^;;;  I don’t think I could handle such a tragic tale after other tragic anime stories I’ve seen.  It was hard enough for me to see Rin sick.  I could certainly appreciate what Daikichi was going through because man, you don’t want to see your child suffering, even if she is adopted (for lack of a better word).  It was nice to see Nitani take a lead role here and help Daikichi. After all, she has had more experience in parenting.

I liked seeing how Daikichi met up with some other fathers.  I know he has his work crew (and having just read volume 3 of the manga, I’m a little disappointed they haven’t had as big a role in the anime as they did in the manga) to talk about parenting stuff, but having some additional fathers to chat with is nice as well.

It was amusing to me when Rin was being complimented for her artistic skills and told that she could be a manga-ka.  I wonder what Rin would do if she learned her real mother is a manga-ka.  I kinda think that Rin might choose not to go down that career path. I don’t know why, but that’s just the feeling I have.

So, while the episode was pure slice-of-life, I loved ever moment of it, even if I did get a sniffle or two at Rin’s illness (and I’m totally blaming Key for this ^_~ ).