Futakoi Alternative 7
Sara and Souju look through a phonebook, seemingly for a detective. They don't have time, so they have to find a place soon or... They find Rentarou's dad, Ainosuke's, office...
However, Rentarou's dad died. The only memento of him Rentarou keeps is a lighter with ζ (also the first character of ζδΉε© Asinosuke) written on it. After he quit college everyone thought he'd follow in his dad's footsteps and become a detective, but he's not sure what to do as the winter comes. He remembers his father's words: "What are you doing to do?". But one day, Sara and Souju show up, asking him to do a job for them. He tells him that his father died and he's not really doing things now.. Sara says that if he can solve their case, he should become a detective, otherwise don't.
Sara was like that from the beginning. Change to a scene with Sara and Souju in a bathhouse with a rather crazy looking person with a big gun pointed at them who rambles on about putting metaphysics ahead of physical science and using the 90% of the human brain that's not utilized, so on (with Beethoven's 5th playing). Rentarou's there as well, underwater. Sara waits for her chance to come. The commotion outside gives her that chance, and she jumps out of the bath, unleashing a rather strong kick. Sara's always been like that ;)
Gen-san and Rentarou try to work out some writing that's written in a code on a piece of paper. Gen-san figures it out and Rentarou goes to the park that's mentioned, but nothing seems to be there. But there is something there written in the sand when seen from high above, telling Rentarou where to go next. Seems the case Sara and Souju had for him was finding them, now hiding somewhere in Futagotamagawa, before six o'clock. Rentarou heads to the bathroom of the department store mentioned and grabs the next clue, narrowly evading capture, and continuing to follow the trail, which leads him to a house with a crazy mean-looking dog. The next clue is on the dog's doghouse... seems like it'd be impossible to get...
Rentarou gives up and heads to the local Wos Burger before heading back home. He runs into Midori-san there and they talk about things. She's glad he finally got some motivation and became a detective, but Rentarou says he's quit. Back home he reflects on things as the rain falls outside... Midori told him he doesn't need to apologize for anything, just be himself... He spots a note left under a cup on the table... After reading the note it seems he's gotten his motivation back, as he turns the table over and throws his computer monitor to the floor (^^;) He heads out, borrowing Gen-san's bike. He's Futaba Rentarou, and he's off to solve his first case. His father's words come back again: "What are you doing to do?". Fight the dog, of course! That note was written by Souju.. she's already left his payment in his mailbox and asks him to do his best at his detective work. That's Souju for you ;) Rentarou rides up to the dog on the bike, with bat at hand, and presumeably goes totally FLCL-crazy on it.
Meanwhile, Sara and Souju wait. Souju suggests they go home, but Sara wants to wait a bit longer. She doesn't want to go back into that darkness, where they were always afraid, unable to decide or do anything for themselves. There's a future out there for them that they can decide... And as the rain stops... Rentarou comes speeding along. He's found them, and the snow starts to fall.. It's winter. From a college student going through tough times to a detective going through tough times, nothing much has changed for him.
Back to the present, Rentarou embraces Sara and Souju with a determined look on his face. Just this bit has changed...
Once again, excellent stuff all around, with the mix of mostly serious along with that ridiculous scene at the baths. Is it just me, or is ufotable seemingly favoring Sara? (^^;)
We didn't get very much in the way of details on what exactly Sara and Souju are trying to get away from... but what we did see was Rentarou finally deciding who he wanted to be, making the search for Souju and Sara really a search for himself. He actually turned out to be kinda cool, like his dad ;)
Only Rentarou spoke during the next episode preview so that worries me, and the title, "Sa is the sa in sayonara", even moreso. So someone's going to be saying "sayonara" here. Perhaps it'll be what was hinted at in the preview trailer...
I thought the Gainax nod was kind of cool in this episode, when Rentarou's wallowing in his own lethargy he hums the ending theme to karekano. With the Gainax-esque Tako fight (or was it Ika? I don't remember...) that makes two it might be interesting to go back and look for more....
I love this show but there isn't enough of Dirty Harry (though I'm sure some will argue there was 'too much' of him in this ep lol). That guy cracks me up everytime. Noticed Lulu and Lala made no appearance this time. Although with the whole episode being flashback I suppose that was unavoidable. Having passed the halfway mark, I wonder if we'll start getting some answers as to what's going on.
Matthew: I don't think that ufotable is "favoring" Sara. It's just that due to her tomboyish-forceful disposition she is capturing the "spectacular" scenes. She's the irrepressible (and often enough irresponsible) force forging ahead.
Souju on the other hand is the glue keeping everything together. Not only with her cooking skills, but especially in balancing out Sara and Rentarou (example from this episode: Tugging Rentarou's clothes to quietly point out Sara's condition).
No, the Shirogane twins only "work" as a couple. You can't single out anyone. And there's no way in hell that for example Rentarou could ever end up with only one of them. It all comes as a pack.
What a great, great series that is!