As the class talks about their upcoming play, Cinderella, even though it breaks his heart, Aoki contemplates how to help Hashimoto and Ida fall for one another.
He gets his chance when the class starts assigning duties. Hashimoto has been assigned to stage setup, but when Aoki tries to convince Ida to sign up for the same assignment, Ida mistakes it for Aoki wanting to work with him. Frustrated, Aoki raises Ida’s hand and is assigned along with him.
However, once they all start working together, Aoki tries his best to get the two together, even though Akkun (ignorantly) keeps interfering. Ever clumsy Aoki spills paint over the carriage, and the four friends stay late to ensure everything is fixed up.
As everything is wrapping up, Aoki and Ida have a short conversation, where Aoki apologizes for running the props. Ida knows he didn’t do it on purpose, and tells him he knows how hard he was working and that he shouldn’t beat himself up about it. Then, he touches Aoki on the head, a gentle, and often romantic, type of gesture.
Akkun, once again interfering with Aoki’s plans to get Ida and Hashimoto alone, offers to walk her home, since they live in the same direction, Aoki is then left to walk with Ida, where he once again tries to push him towards her. Confused, Ida asks him why, since, as far as he knows, Ida likes him.
Aoki plays it off by telling Ida how perfect he and Hashimoto are for one another, because of how kind and helpful they both are. Ida then tells Aoki not to sell himself short, that he too is incredibly kind. The gesture makes Aoki tear up, which surprises Ida, but Aoki rushes off before another word can be spoken.
At home, while he’s taking a shower, Ida keeps popping into Aoki’s head, making his heart flutter. This confuses him and he doesn’t know what he’s going to do if he actually starts to fall for Ida.
The next day the class learns that the leads, who were supposed to play Cinderella and her Prince, worked so hard on the role that they made themselves sick. While looking for replacements, the class president and vice-president ask her to take on the role of Cinderella, even after she tells them how nervous she is. Aoki rushes to save her, telling the class that HE will become Cinderella. Akkun then volunteers Ida to play Prince Charming and the class all agrees that they will be perfect.
Before going on stage, Ida and Aoki share another tender moment, where Ida tells Aoki how gallant it is of him to take on the role of Cinderella to help his friend. Aoki is almost breathless at how handsome (and princely) Ida truly looks. Though he doesn’t want to admit it, he’s starting to fall for him. Later, during the production, he literally falls. Luckily, Ida is there to catch him. Looking up into Ida’s dark, beautiful eyes, it’s getting harder and harder not to admit the truth.
After the production, Aoki, Akkun, Hashimoto, and Ida take a selfie together. As he looks at it, Aoki again, though only in thought, states how perfect Ida and Hashimoto are for one another. With a sigh of realization he finally admits to himself that it’s not Ida he is jealous of, but Hashimoto.
The Class president shows an image that was taken when Ida caught Aoki, and they not only talk about how Ida looks like a real prince, but how Aoki looks like he really is in love with him. The class laughs, and Aoki tells everyone to knock it off, but they continue to tease him, saying it’s only a joke. But Ida isn’t laughing. He tells them how Aoki went out of his way to help the class, and all they’re doing is making fun of him, which makes him angry, seeing that Aoki jumps in on the joke, trying to keep the mood light.
As he walks home, Aoki is so distracted by his thoughts, that he almost walks out in front of a bus, and would have if Hashimoto hadn’t rushed to pull him back. As the two friends walk together, Aoki reveals to her that he has a crush on the same person she does.
Her reaction is saved for episode three….
Once again, this episode follows the manga pretty closely. Michi’s realizations, and his internal struggle, are pretty close to how Aruko drew Aoki. And one of the things I love about Michi is just how animated he is. He’s got great comedic timing. Also, seeing Ren dressed up as Prince Charming, is when I myself started to fall for him. He’s stunning. Though the classes teasing of Aoki was hard to watch, it was pretty acurate to how teenages act.
10/10 No notes.
How will Hashimoto react when Aoki tells her they like the same guy? Can they be best friends and love rivals at the same time? Find out in episode 3!
More My Love Mix-Up soon so…
Stay Tuned!
Life In Cartoon Motion 