Mahoraba 22

On the way home from shopping, Kozue and Shiratori talk about Sayoko and Asami. Kozue says the things she took for granted were special. Having fun every day with everyone who lives in Narutakisou. She though those days would continue forever.. but now, with Sayoko and Asami gone... They'll come back, Shiratori says. He has this feeling that they will. Kozue trusts his feeling and seems a bit happier.

After having her fill of sweets, Asami goes searching all over the mansion for her mother, eventually running into Mahiru outside. They both play with a ball for a while as Asami tells her story. She knows she really isn't Sayoko's child. Her real mother died soon after she gave birth to her. After Sayoko and her father left the house, her father died as well.. Mahiru cries (I did too) after hearing Asami's story... The reason Asami's been able to get through everything is her mother. So being without her for even one day is tough.. she wants to see her. Mahiru understands her feelings and says she'll take her to see Sayoko.

But when they get to Sayoko's room she's not there. Asami finds the pictures of potential suitors for Sayoko... she cries. But her mother's still young, it'll be happier for them since she'll choose someone good, right? Mahiru says she'll stop it from happening..

Sayoko stands up, saying she's got something to say.. Mahiru and Asami come outside the room where Sayoko's talking to her parents where Tachibana's standing guard. They can't go in.. but they can listen... Sayoko won't remarry -- her feelings haven't changed since then. Ushimitsu tells her to stop being bound by her feelings towards that guy (Kurosaki) and put him behind her. That guy'd probably feel the same.. Would that be so? If she had died first, then she wouldn't want him to forget her. She'd always want him to love her. And if that person fell in love with someone else.. she'd despise him. She'd curse him (scary...). There's only one person she'll love for her whole life -- that's not going to change. That's what she thinks it means.. Others might say she's wrong, but she can't think of it any other way. So she won't remarry...

Ushimitsu completely blows up -- has she really been happy living while still keeping her feelings towards that person? Ever since he died, she's wanted to die many times... but she's thankful that she's alive. That's because she was there -- because Asami was there with her. She Asami wasn't with her she would've died long ago... Asami's her life.. she can't even think of being without her. So that's her reason for not wanting to remarry?, Ushimitsu asks. Does she even know? That girl's not Kurosaki's real child. Asami hears the truth and is visibly shocked... But Sayoko knew that long ago -- Kurosaki told her. It doesn't matter if she's related by blood or not -- Asami is Asami, she's Kurosaki's child and she's her child. Just like her love for Kurosaki, her feelings for Asami won't change for as long as she lives.

Is that all you had to say? -- Ushimitsu stands up, angry. He thinks Sayoko only thinks of herself and doesn't think of others' feelings. Has she even thought of what Asami feels?.. Asami throws open the doors to the room, crying, and rushes in to embrace Sayoko... her mother. She's happy so long as she can be with her mother. Ushimitsu tells Sayoko to get out... but as they leave, he says she's welcome to come back anytime she's gotten weary of life... for Sayoko to strongly state her own feelings like that.. she's gotten stronger.

After bidding goodbye to Mahiru and the others, Sayoko and Asami return to Narutakisou. There, everybody's waiting to welcome them back home...

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So, everybody had their share of crying out of Sayoko and Asami's story these past two episodes? ;) Putting that aside, as Ushimitsu said, Sayoko's certainly gotten stronger to be able to stand up for herself like that and cleary state what she believes. She really can be a good parent, can't she? While I'd like to say things are going to change a lot after this, Sayoko pretty much stays the same Sayoko after this, leaving Asami to do most of the work ;)

These past two episodes were a very faithful adaptation of the corresponding three chapters in the manga -- the Mahoraba staff doing an excellent job as usual. However, I would recommend seeking out volume 2 of the manga and reading chapter 11, "Kizuna" ("bonds") to get a few more details of the backstory for Asami and Sayoko. And the whole "I wanted to die" thing makes a bit more sense in the manga, as Sayoko actually does try to kill herself as I've mentioned before. Not a huge complaint, though :)

Mahoraba will be taking a week off, so the next episode will be on June 12th. The gang will be going on a little field trip to check out the fall colors... then things should start to get "interesting" after that, if you know what I mean ;)