Sweetness and Lightning 12 (Okonomiyaki)

Sweetness and Lightning 12
Amaama to Inazuma episode 12

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:

Sweetness and Lightning 12Kotori and Shinobu are out and about when Kotori sees Kouhei and Tsumugi dressed in black at the train station. That evening, Kouhei takes Tsumugi to Okonomiyaki Yocchan for okonomiyaki. However, Tsumugi is disappointed that they don’t get to make the food, merely take it from the griddle at the table. Because she makes a fuss, Kouhei ends up leaving with her. Tsumugi is still depressed the next day, so after Kouhei talks with Kotori, he agrees to come over to her mom’s restaurant (Megumi) to make okonomiyaki. Further, Kotori’s mom will be there. However, when they come by, Kotori’s mom isn’t there, but Shinobu and Yagi are.

Sweetness and Lightning 12Kotori and Kouhei make their okonomiyaki mix while Shinobu and Yagi make theirs. Tsumugi is watching Shinobu and Yagi, but accidentally knocks over a bowl of cabbage. She gives a weak apology after her dad prompts her. Since Tsumugi doesn’t like being scolded, she’s surprised to learn that her dad doesn’t like scolding her. However, after he explains things to her and apologizes to her, she apologizes back. She then makes a proper apology to Yagi. Tsumugi helps make okonomiyaki. Kotori’s mom shows up, so Kouhei and Tsumugi formally introduce themselves. After that, they all enjoy the okonomiyaki, where Tsumugi is taught that the food tastes good because of affection and love.

Thoughts/Review:

Man, am I hungry again! 😆 That’s the one terrible thing about this anime. It makes me hungry every time I watch an episode.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

By the way, Sweetness and Lightning 12 adapts chapter 19 of the manga.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

Spoiled Tsumugi

Tsumugi is often a very adorable, cute little girl. Lately, in addition to seeing this lovely side of Tsumugi, we also see the spoiled side of her. In this regard, Tsumugi comes off more like a real kid. I mean, how many times have any of us been someplace and someone’s kid is crying and acting spoiled?

Sweetness and Lightning 12

The episode highlights the difficulties of being a single parent. While Tsumugi is often a good child, Kouhei has had difficulty dealing with her spoiled side.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

The resolution to this part of the story almost plays off in a simplistic fashion. However, I recall how as a child around Tsumugi’s age, my parents would often talk to me after a punishment. I remember feeling better afterward, so I can believe Tsumugi would feel the same after the talk she has with Kouhei.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

Manga vs. Anime: Subtle Story Differences

I’m hoping to write a review of the first manga volume of Sweetness and Lighting in the near future. However, I wanted to take a moment to cite some of the differences between the manga chapter and this episode. I’m ignoring small changes being made sheerly for adaptation purposes.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

For starters, when Kotori invites Kouhei over to have a meal with her mom, in the manga, this comes off a bit differently than it does in the anime. In the anime, it is more of a casual inquiry. In the manga, Kotori looks like a nervous girl, asking the boy she likes to meet her mom. 😀

Sweetness and Lightning 12

Further, the manga has Kotori remember remembering seeing Kouhei and Tsumugi coming back from the grave site visit. So she thinks Kouhei’s spacing out is due to remembering his departed wife. I think that moment gives a tiny bit more insight into Kotori’s feelings.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

Kotori’s Mom

The biggest difference between the manga and the anime is the loss of the scene between Kotori and her Mom on the day of Kouhei’s and Tsumugi’s visit. I’m kinda disappointed this moment was dropped. Also, Kouhei didn’t introduce himself to her in the manga. Outside of volume one and the two chapters the last two episodes came from, I don’t know if they were introduced earlier. The manga has skipped several chapters for unknown reasons.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

I’m glad Kotori’s mom does finally show up though. I guess her name is Megumi, which would explain the name of the restaurant being Megumi. 😉

Sweetness and Lightning 12

I loved the explanation that Megumi gave to Tsumugi on why the food Kouhei cooks is so delicious. Of course it is filled with love. 😉 However, it is a shame the anime dropped Tsumugi’s hilarious conclusion that nasty food has no love in it.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Yeah, Tsumugi goes through her usual cute stuff to raise one’s blood sugar levels to dangerous levels. I laughed out loud at her clump dance.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

In the end, Sweetness and Lightning 12 is yet another enjoyable foray into food, sweetness, and fun.

Sweetness and Lightning 12

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7 Responses to “Sweetness and Lightning 12 (Okonomiyaki)”

  1. WMC says:

    OK I’m gonna bring it up. Who is Kouhei going to fall in love with, Kotori or her mother? I’m hoping for Kotori. There are more than one panels in the manga vol.1 in which Kotori has blushing, “excitement face,” indicating erotic arousal!

    • AstroNerdBoy says:

      Let me read more of the manga and I’ll get back to you. 😉 From what little I’ve read, it will be Kotori.

      Kotori has blushing, “excitement face,” indicating erotic arousal!

      I didn’t see it is erotic arousal. I did see it as an attraction to Kouhei, but not just some sexual thing. That’s what I like about the anime and what I’ve read of the manga. It has that wholesome aspect and zero ecchi! ^_^

      • WMC says:

        Yeah, it’s probably my warp, but on page 45, the title page of Chap 2, note that the wiener in the sandwich is almost in her mouth, and she’s looking directly at the reader. That graphic is so not-subtle that I wonder. Just food appreciation? Okay, but. Also, the middle panel on page 168 shows Kotori ecstatic from watching the katsuaobushi “sink all the way to the bottom.” Probably just her remembering how her mother used to make dashi, but.

        Anyway, the whole thing is terrific, ecchi innuendo or not.

        • AstroNerdBoy says:

          Hmmm. I hadn’t thought about those moments like that. Darn it, I’m still looking at this series as wholesome goodness, even if there were subtle undertones there. 😛

          • WMC says:

            Non-exploitative, non-abusive sex can be incredibly powerful and the trigger for love between the characters. Sex and love are not necessarily incompatible, but the author must use a light touch, as this one does. I like Kotori’s expressions in all of this work; they ignite many ideas and memories. One of the signs of great writing.

  2. WMC says:

    Picked up Volume 2. Same great stuff. We get to see Kotori’s mother dressed normally as she goes to work at the TV studio at some crazy early time. Hot babe! Apparently she leaves a little prepped food every day for Kotori with a little note. The empathic, subtly sexy Kotori is so attractive I’m already in love.

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