Lovely Complex 19
After eighteen episodes of hidden feelings, relentless boyfriend hunting, and a variety of strange facial expressions, Otani admits his love for Koizumi. And as they kiss under the soft glow of the fireworks, you can’t help but think one thing…IT’S ABOUT GODDAMN TIME! But wait, more episodes still?!? How can this be? Ahh, I forgot, both characters are extremely dense, Otani attracts women like a magnet, and Koizumi blows things way out of proportion. So begins the fight to keep the relationship they worked so hard to build safe.
The day after Koizumi’s and Otani’s kiss scene, referred to as “that” by both of them, Koizumi leaves for school, bubbling around with a love-stuck look on her face. Arriving at school, Otani is horrified to see that Koizumi is wearing the necklace he gave her in front of everyone. Dragging her away from everyone, Otani begs Koizumi not to tell anyone about what happened. But after Koizumi tells him that she just wants to let everyone know how happy she is, Otani reluctantly agrees. Yet, it wouldn’t have mattered if he hadn’t agreed anyway, since all their friends had been listening in.
After school Koizumi and Otani head out together until arriving at the local restaurant (which seems to be the only one since it’s the only one they ever go to) where Otani gives her a ticket to the World Athletics Championship. Surprised that he would be able to get such rare tickets, Koizumi praises him (which resembles praising a dog more than anything). A minor character, Ake-Chi, is then introduced. Apparently an old friend of Koizumi, Ake-Chi asks disbelievingly if Otani is Koizumi’s boyfriend. And to Otani’s dismay, she immediately responds that they are just friends, but he could be tomorrow. Obviously disturbed by her comment, Otani solemnly walks off, leaving Koizumi confused.
And when the beginning of their date doesn’t go so well, Koizumi does what she does best by making a huge deal out of forgetting a handbag. Seeing her distraught over such a minor thing, Otani pulls her away and tells her the reason why he was bothered by what she had said they day before. He was bothered by the fact that Koizumi didn’t even pause before she told her friend that they were just friends. After arguing that she didn’t know for sure if they were going out, Koizumi tells Otani that she loves him, and asks him if he loves her. Otani barely mumbles a yes before the entire stadium erupts in cheering. To their horror, they turn to see that a camera had been watching them the entire time and their confession had been displayed on a giant screen in the stadium. Koizumi and Otani then make their escape as thousands of laughs follow them.
But the worst is not over yet, for when Koizumi leaves for a bit to get some juice, she returns to find that Otani is talking with his ex-girlfriend, Kanzaki. So Koizumi does what she does best…again. After seeing them talking, she believes that this is the end. Yet when Kanzaki forgets Koizumi’s name and asks, Otani introduces Koizumi as his girlfriend. Koizumi then proceeds to cry in happiness the rest of the World Athletics Championship. Only when they are preparing to leave does she stop. Just as they are leaving, someone calls out Otani’s name (sigh, here we go again). It turns out that Otani’s neighbor, Mimi, had also went to the championships. But when Otani tells her that Koizumi is his girlfriend, she can barely keep her anger in check. As the couple walks away, Mimi’s eyes literally burn with hate, finding it unbelievable that “such a lame girl” is Otani’s girlfriend.
With the episode ending like this you can already tell that the next episode is going to be filled with awkward situations that will most likely leave you frustrated. Yet you’ll watch them anyway because by getting this far you should have some attachment to the characters and want to see if everything works out. I feel your pain.
