Synopsis:

As expected this episode was a background builder for Kaoru and Shinobu. As hinted before, their father (Morita Tsukasa) once owned his own electrictronics company. The workers were laid back and happy, their products were top of the line, revered even overseas. With a fun loving, energetic and creative president and a stern, serious and dependable assistant (and childhood friend) the business was going strong. While the presidents methods were rather unorthodox (ie. declining interviews and instead using a practical test in which his son owned all employee prospects) they seemed to work.

However, all was not well, Tsukasa’s levelheaded assistant Tatsuo felt as if Morita’s company was being held back by his lack of seriousness. Coupled with a deep sense of envy and a lack of involvement on Tsukasa’s part, Tatsuo backstabs his friend and sells off the company. On the surface Tatsuo claims he did it for the benefit of the company and its workers, providing better pay and funding. However, the real reason was to test Tsukasa’s will, his unwavering love of integrity over wealth.

This decision by Tatsuo was made after some deep philosophical thought about the paths of life and the dividing line between those with skill and those without. Knowing that he was going to die soon from a terminal disease, he wanted to either overcome the barrier between Tsukasa and himself, or be completely defeated. As Tsukasa opted to stick to his morals and pursue a greater purpose than money, Tatsuo accepts defeat. On his death bed, Tsukasa vows that Tatsuo is an idiot and he’ll hate him forever, but still retains an air of friendship. He also instructs his two children to not bear grudges, that he will bear that burden, Kaoru declines but Shinobu obeys diligently.

Add the continuing theme of Kaoru being neglected and Shinobu being treated as the favourite and that sums up HCII episode 7…or does it. UNLESS YOU THROW IN A RANDOM FLASH OF HAGU SURROUNDED BY BLOOD STAINED SHARDS OF GLASS!

Thoughts:

As I said before, every single episode of this anime serve as a reminder to its awesomeness. The amount of emotion is perfectly conveyed whether it be direct or subtle. The backstory of the Morita brothers was done superbly. The personalities of the two in childhood reflect who they are in the present. Shinobu has always been the talented one, destined to follow in his father’s footsteps in terms of success. While Kaoru was the level headed one, watching out for his brother with all he had and facing neglect in return. The two also serve as a parallel to Tsukasa and Tatsuo, who shared a similar relationship. Whether Kaoru will end up in the same position of envy as Tatsuo did, is still unknown, though the two brothers seem to get along well enough for it not to happen.

The philosophical monologue in the middle really struck with me, I have always felt that one is either has talent in an area, or does not. It is true that with copious amounts of practice a student who is terrible at art can produce a skilled piece of art. But how can you compare that with a student who effortlessly creates masterpiece after masterpiece with little to no practice or instruction. To go against your talents is to swim against the tide, you may get there eventually, but it’ll take you much longer and require much effort.

I really felt for Kaoru in this episode, he’s always seemed like the cool and collected business tycoon. However, now I understand why he’s that way, it’s because he has no other choice but to adhere to his talents and use them to reach his goal. Having no siblings of my own, I can’t understand how it feels to be relegated to second best, but I’m sure it hurts. That’s not to say that this was intentional on their father’s part though. He most likely saw that Kaoru was capable of taking care of himself and would most likely grow to a mature adult even without guidance and therefore left him to himself. Whereas Shinobu was like him, and knowing the path that lies ahead of him, Tsukasa wanted to nudge him along in the right direction.

As for the teaser with the characters saying “No one could have predicted what came next” and then showing the teaser with Hagu and the broken glass…that’s just evil. Plain EVIL! But oh so brilliant >_

I have friends who would kill for one of these

Aww…poor Kaoru *hugs* …in a totally non-gay way

[philosophy] Two roads, one path, infinite decisions [/philosophy]

I know this is supposed to be a serious scene, but how can you not laugh at that face -.-

Hagu? Hagu? Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaguuuuuuu?

Victories

- Amazingly portrayed background on the Moritas
- Animation
- Multiple parallels between characters, whether intentional or not
- The “interview” scene, that was brilliant

Phailures

- Severe lack of screentime for the other characters (to be expected in a flashback ep though)
- Tatsuo, while an overall good character, he seemed rather generic
- The lack of Tsukasa’s remocon invention irl =D

As for the Hagu teaser…I don’t know whether I should classify it as either. But it certainly does leave me wanting to see the next episode VERY badly.

~ Shirukii ~