Honey and Clover II – ep 08

There are many ways to look at this episode. So I guess I’ll just talk about it as a student in his final year in University. It’s basically summed up in an ironic line that Shuu said. “I was just thinking that the festivals are coming to an end”

Shuu knew that the hamabi festivals would last another 3 days, so he must have been referring to something else. Or more accurately, to the good times they all had together.

The episode started off with Hagu reflected that she had apparently saw God once as a kid. Then, she realised why she was meant to draw, and she prays that if she ever stops drawing, she’ll give her life back to God.

Later, Hagu is admiring Takemoto’s tower. Takemoto returns, commenting that he had just finished working on it. Hagu praises the work, for looking so simple from afar, yet when up close, you can really tell how intricate the work is. Takemoto becomes bashful, for he is rarely praised. He proceeds to inform Hagu that he intends to to work as a temple restorer, for he really likes the procees needed to restore the buildings, with no blueprints to follow.

Hagu comments that soon the Hamabi festival will be over, and graduation will draw upon them quickly. Takemoto will be somewhere in Japan, Yamada will be in Tokyo, Hagu will be in Nagano. Soon it’ll be hard for them to contact one another, and talk about things that they used to, like where to go for lunch. Takemoto asks if Hagu is fine with going back to Nagano, and why she wouldn’t tell Shuuji about her true feelings. Hagu explains that she’s afraid, especially so because she knows that Shuuji will sacrifice everything for her.

Back at Shuuji’s office, Yamada is surprised that he’s in the office early, but he explains that he woke up early and had nothing to do. Meanwhile, a storm is starting to brew outside. At the same time, Hagu is reflecting on whether going to Nagano will be the right choice, when a work of art is blown against the wall, throwing glass shards all over Hagu.

In Spain, Mayama and Mac Carlos are insulting one another in their own languages. A friend Ema comments to Rika that she looks a lot better these days, and that it must be due to the friend from japan. Rika admits that it’s true, especially since they party drinking everynight, leaving her to a peaceful sleep each night.

That night, mayama walks back after a session of drinking again, to find Rika’s door locked. He feels cheated, having thought it was a “two-bed room”, only to find that it was “two bedrooms”. Not to mention, the rooms had locks to their door too. Mayama contemplates breaking the lock, but decides if he does that, the door to Rika’s heart will be closed. Mayama then sits outside laughing like a devil, giving Rika nightmares inside. Back in Japan, Mayama’s cactus falls over, causing Yamada to wonder if Mayama is alright. But Shuuji thinks that most probably it’s just recieving impure thoughts from Mayama, and worries for Rika.

miwako wasn’t wrong when she feared for rika’s safety with mayama going over.

Meanwhile, Yamada hears the students outside talking about an accideny, when Shuuji recieves a call, saying Hagu was injured. Takemoto also overhears about a oil painting senior who was injured, and rushes to the scene of accident. There, he hear’s people mention about Shuuji’s cousin, but still doubts that it was hagu. But his fears were confirmed when yamada came to tell him about what happened. To Takemoto, this is what reality is after all.

“this is reality”

At Floyd Electric, Matsuda is reporting to the president that growth are all 12-15% at all sectors, except for a single factory. The president decides that they should reduce the number of workers, and increase working hours, until cost performance is met. Suddenly, Kaoru arrives and tells him that only stupid people who retrench experienced workers.

Startled, the preseident asks him who he was, to which Kaoru replied that they were here to deliver a birthday present. THe president is confused, as his birthday is still far away, and opens the package to find a coverall inside. Kaoru comments that this is the day where he will start over from where he first began. In fact, Kaoru has been researching the president’s family background, that both he and his father were technicians. But he has since forgotten the joy of creating things. Anyway, Kaoru announces that they are now the new board of directors.

Matsuda is very glad, for he has waited a long time for his day, fearing that he would have retired first. The president says that it’s impossible for Kaoru to have taken over the company, espeically since Digital Lucas Arts still owns 35% of the shares. But Shinobu replies by taking out a shirt with Peter Lucas’ face, saying it’s a gift, and that the president can wear it since he is going bankrupt.

The president starts to get worried, and starts to beg saying what will happen to his family. But Matsuda takes out a photo of Morita Technical Research Institute employees, saying that they too were one family previously. The president points out that happened long ago, but Kaoru doesn’t care. Kaoru wants the president to move out of his house by today, since it is owned by the company, and to prepare lots of money, since he is going to sue the President plenty. kaoru swears to be prepared to fight, when the president’s children and grandchildren come back to fight.

But as the president is defeated, Morita remembers his father and the kabu-tan robot, which moves straight on towards the light. In a park later, Kaoru seems very satisfied, and laughs hysterically. “you’ll get what you deserve” But he realises that he has not kept his promise to his father to walk towards the light and not hold grudges, breaking down in tears.

In the hospital, it is revealed that Hagu’s hand was cut, so were the tendons and nerves, and it would take 2 months of rehabilation to prevent the nerves from fusing while healing. Hagu comments about how she wished her hand hurt from pain. She probably wanted to ask about the chances of healing, but just couldn’t bring the words out, with Takemoto and Yamada listening from behind the curtain.

Thoughts

As a university student taking a 4 year course when most of my friends are taking a 3 year course, I felt plenty when Hagu was reflecting that everybody would be gone. Most of my friends graduated last year. I seemingly don’t get to talk to them anymore. I miss them still, and sometimes when I walk to certain places in the university, I still think it might be possible to see them. Then I remember again that they have graduated. Just 5 months ago, I was feeling the same way Hagu was feeling. Fearful that I would totally lose touch with the friends who are graduating, and in some ways, I guess it happened.

The good point about Honey n Clover is how real it is. I often have a phrase to my friends regarding anime. “It’s just anime… fake one. don’t think too much.” Yet Honey n Clover is as real as it gets. We’re reminded that the president’s children will be affected. It’s not just a simple victory for kaoru. We’re reminded by Takemoto about reality.
Anyway, we’re all preparing for everybody to seperate already. I wonder if Hagu can draw again, and if she can’t…. what then…