Coming back down to reality after realizing Aida’s true feelings for him, Aoki gets a message that Hashimoto was rejected by Akkun. He rushes to her side, even pushing off a conversation with Ida to make sure his friend is ok. She reveals that while at the camp, when he and Ida were basking in the enjoyment of their newfound love, Aiada was revealing that he didn’t remember the moment when he and Hashimoto met, in fact, he believes that she has him confused with someone else.
She didn’t want to tell Aoki at the time, because she didn’t want to damper his happiness by becoming a couple with Ida. She’s very happy for him. She tries to play it off as strong, but she is heartbroken. She then asks him if he’d prefer her in a pompadour or with a shaved head. Once he realizes the gravity of her question, he tried to assure her how pretty she is, as is. However, his words are lost on her and she decides a pompadour is the way to go.
Aoki rushes to Aida to tell him that he broke their friend, whom he loves very much. Ida overhears a part of a conversation and mistakes Aoki’s past crush on Hashimoto as current feelings. He rushes after him, but not before telling Aida he better fix what he did.
As Aoki clears the air with Ida, the two realize that neither one of them have any idea what to do with each other now that they are a couple. Neither one of them has ever dated anyone so, they’re clueless. Of course, Aoki’s mind rushes to Ida leaning in for a kiss, which suddenly makes him incredibly shy. With Ida able to bring him out of it, Aoki finally musters the courage to ask him to lunch on the roof.
After texting Aoki that Aida remembers the first time they met, he also reveals what negative attention Hashimoto left on him, which she overhears. The two start to argue. Aoki tries to step in and stop them but they (very rightfully so) tell him to butt out. It’s none of his business.
Finding him just before lunch, Ida takes Aoki to the roof and asks him to tell him what’s on his mind. He wants them to be open and honest with one another. On their way to the roof neither one of them see Shun (Mochizuki Ayumu), catching them on their way to the date. When the rest of the volleyball team shows sup looking for Ida, he simply tells him their friend has other plans and they go to eat in the team office.
On the roof, Ida and Aoki chat. He can tell Aoki has something on his mind. Aoki tells him, the full story about what’s going on with Hashimoto and how worried he is about her. Though he does reassure Ida that while he no longer has feelings for her, she is a close friend and he’s worried about her. Ida knows the truth, and he’s glad that Aoki is such a good friend.
Their lunch is interrupted by the class president. Aoki rushes from Ida’s touch, as he’s worried someone will find out they are a couple. After the president is dragged away by the vice president, Ida tells Aoki to run to his friend, even though they’re having lunch together. Ida tells him “When I see you helping other people, that’s when I like you the best.
Hearing his words, Aoki rushes to help his friend. Unknown to them, Aida has also rushed to her side to try to convince her not to get a pompadour. Aida gets to her first, he begs her not to do something she’ll regret. To their surprise, Aoki also rushes to help her and says he’ll get the pompadour instead.
Hashimoto ends up just getting her bangs done, and thanks her friend for worrying about her. As Aida walks her home, he tells her that he remembers their first meeting now as well as other instances where he felt like she didn’t really like him. As they continue to talk, Aida tells her that while she may not like her in that way right now, he defiantly likes her as a friend and wants her to stay in his life.
The next day Aida, who hasn’t been told that Hashimoto decided NOT to get the pompadour shows up in a wig to support her. As the two watch Hashimoto and Aida interact, Ida tells Aoki to come to him if he ever has a problem. Now that they’re a couple, he wants to (at the very least) help him with his problems. Then he asks him to have lunch with him on the roof.
One of my favorite parts in this episode is Shun. In one, simple two-second interaction, it’s revealed that not only does he know Ida and Aoki are in a relationship, but that he’s also going to protect his friend. He’s the silent hero and I love him for it.
While I do think Hashimoto’s jump to trying to impress Akkun is a bit much, it’s also how teenagers (over) react when they get their feelings hurt. The best part of this series is just how realistic (and funny) the characters are.
9/10. No notes.
What’s next for Aoki and Ida? Will their lunch date lead to dinner? As their relationship deepens, will Aoki still not want to let people know? Find out in episode 8!
More My Love Mix-Up soon so…
Stay Tuned!
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