Manabi Straight – ep 09
If what you set out to do together with your friends fails to achieve its purpose, does that mean the whole process was meaningless? This is basically what this episode is trying to tell us and I must say it was a good reminder for myself.
The episode starts with a flashback to the time when the school principal was still a student, the very first day where she arrived at the school dorm and was warmly welcomed by her seniors. Meanwhile, things arn’t going well for the petition signing, leaving everyone frustrated. Even momo finds that she can’t report about strong opposition to the school merger as compared to reality.
Shimoji finds the school principal, who recounts about the time when the dorm was closed. It was her last year of school, and there were less and less students staying. They tried to organise a protest, but to no avail though. In the end, only the school principal was left. However, Shimoji questioned whether the school principal felt that the protest was meaningless.
Silly ideas are thrown out at the school council meeting, like manabi’s dolphins and Mei’s illegal pyramid scheme. However, things remain bad, especially as students are more excited by the new school uniform. In the end on day 3, Mutsuki decides to go for softball meeting instead, while Mei gives the council meetings a skip too. This causes Manabi to remark that things seem to be back to how it was at the beginning, when it was just manabi and mika. In the end, mika could only excuse herself to cry at the council room while Manabi waits for her at the front gate. Her lonely figure can only be watched on by the school principal, and momo as well.
Lunch time special the next day had a preview screening of the new school song. However, midway through, the screening was hijacked by a supposed alien. But obviously its momo, thanks to the identifying cockroach feelers. Instead, she plays a film of the school council. It’s a mix of candid shots, as well as the members doing silly introductions of themselves (candidly), with the old school song playing in the background.
Momo is soon “arrested”. But not before the video leaves mika in tears. Mutsuki and Mei too are inspired, and decide they should be in the council room, not in the classroom. Sprinting to the council room, they zoom past shimoji, and momo, before a wonderful reunion take place in the council room.
Everybody is re-energised. But there’s still work to be done though, and petitions to be signed! It was here, that the principal gives an answer that her protests 30 years ago was not totally meaningless, for she still remembers the names of those who protested together with her. Thanks to momo’s broadcast, some students decide that the old school song is quite nice too, and finally, a group of students start to sign. But is it enough?
Thoughts
I think many people will be very happy that Momo saves the day. haha. She did a very good job as well I must say.
Focusing on the episode, I thought the pacing and atmosphere was outstanding. When shimoji asked about the failed protests of the principal, I thought it was some foreboding of how Manabi and Co will fail too.
And you can just sense how Mutsuki and Mei and everyone was just getting discouraged. And as an audience, you just feel like telling them “okie.. it’s enough.. you’ve tried your best… but it’s going to fail, so don’t keep pouring so much effort in”. The part where Mikan ran to the council room to cry…. awwww!
Well… but Momo saves the day!
The video collection was another well done part. Even if it didn’t work to inspire the students, it worked to inspire the council members. And it’s so happy to see them get back together!
I still can’t tell whether they will succeed in the end. I guess they will just like a fairy tale ending, but even if they don’t, we sure learnt alot about friendship from them.
