Episode 10: A Small Storm

A SMALL STORM

EPISODE 10 OF THE ANIME

(Manga Cross-reference---)

Previously
Summertime is not over yet, and there are still many things to see and do for Hazumu and her friends. Hazumu's Mom receives several tickets to the seaside amusement park, and so Hazumu begins offering her friends to accompany her to the park on the day that the park is giving out free anime premiums at the front gate. Surprisingly, each of the friends has to excuse themselves, as they have other plans for that day. Finally, Hazumu is down to only having Yasuna be with her on the special day that the tickets are honored. Sure looks like the perfect setup for a romantic girl-with-girl date, or so it seems to Tomari. How will the 'date' go down, and how will Tomari handle her angst ?

Episode Overview
Tomari is preparing to attend a summer training camp. Hazumu wants all of the friends to attend the seaside amusement park on the day that they are giving out free anime premiums. She even has free tickets. But everyone has other things to do, so it's only Hazumu and Yasuna who actually attend. They do and see many things, and have a lot of fun.

Meanwhile at camp, Tomari is anxious and upset thinking about Hazumu and Yasuna having a 'date' together. Why, they may even share a kiss ! The other female campers catch wind of this gossip, and really 'rub it in'. The next day finds Hazumu and Yasuna paying a surprise visit to the camp grounds where Tomari is. They are at the train station, where Yasuna has a major panic attack. Hazumu cuddles her, but Tomari sees that and (wrongly) thinks that Hazumu is kissing Yasuna. Socially, the two girls being with Tomari goes downhill, really fast.

This Episode's Story
A couple of nights before Tomari leaves for Training Camp, she is in her bedroom, sitting on the bed, and going over all the items that she will need for the five days that she will be gone. Suddenly, she thinks of the recent Summer Festival, and when Yasuna and herself came upon a crying Hazumu in back of the Shrine. Yasuna at that time confessed to her something that was intimate and profound. In bed, Tomari stretches, and tells herself that she will do her best at camp.

The next day, Hazumu is showing Yasuna four tickets that she received from Mom, tickets to an amusement park called Sea Side Park. They are at school tending to the plants and flowers. Hazumu, standing by the lockers, wants the five friends to go with her. However, Asuta, nearby, says that he can not go because he has 'cram school' sessions during the summer. Hazumu wants to go tomorrow, in order to obtain the anime premium at the front gate, a necklace charm. That leaves out Asuta. Just then, Tomari walks by. Great ! But Tomari can't go, because tomorrow is the day she leaves for camp. Darn ! In a short while, Ayuki comes to the lockers. Unfortunately, she has to attend a family memorial service tomorrow, so she can't go. Tomari goes to leave, and blithely states that Hazumu and Yasuna can just go by themselves.

Tomari walks outside, but Yasuna follows. Yasuna wants to know if Tomari is okay with the two of them going to the amusement park together ? Sure will look like a twosome date. Tomari reminds Yasuna that the two of them are hard-and-fast friends, and each can trust the other to keep everything on the up-and-up. Tomari then walks away, asking to be brought back a souvenir. Ayuki next walks outside, only to find Yasuna in a quandary. Ayuki matter-fo-factly states that both of you two should be able to trust one another. That was the agreement that was forged during the Summer Festival.

In the evening, at home, Dad is relishing the idea of secretly attending the amusement park to take pictures of Hazumu on the sly. However, Mom nixes that idea, telling him that he told her that he was going to be at the studio all day tomorrow. So Dad won't be needing the ticket to get in; Mom will give it to the neighbors. Meanwhile, in Hazumu's bedroom, Jan Puu pops in to complain that she has to go back to the ship, and can't attend the amusement park, either. The Alien Being pops in to say that the both of them will be gone for 2-3 days (probably to try and repair the damaged space ship). Jan Puu, the ship's A.I., is so disappointed !

Also this evening, Tomari has already traveled to the camp site, and is in the room where all the teenage female campers will be sleeping on the floor, in futons. Tomari is sitting on the window sill, aimlessly staring out at the countryside. She overhears another girl telling about her date, and that she shared a kiss at the end of the date. Tomari thinks back to when she saw Hazumu and Yasuna kiss in the empty classroom. Tomari becomes embarrassed by the memory, and the other girls take notice. They want Tomari to tell them all the gossip as to why she is so red in the face ! The gossip girls speculate that Tomari has already kissed female Hazumu (she has!). Tomari's response is to become annoyed and angry. The girls 'up the antie' by declaring that Tomari and Hazumu can enjoy kissing, but can never marry, since Hazumu is now a girl. Tomari 'blows her top', and the 'gossipy love talk' come to an abrupt end.

Next morning, bright and early, Yasuna is waiting at the entrance to the amusement park for Hazumu to show up. Shortly thereafter, she does, wearing a pretty white and yellow above-the-knee dress. Yasuna is wearing an elegant princess style lavender blouse with puff sleeves, and a pale lavender short, pleated skirt. Both girls are just in time to get the anime premiums before the supply would run out. Once inside, the two companions begin to discover all the fun things to see and do. The amusement park is half amusement rides and attractions, and half aquarium. Yasuna says the the fish look so delicious, much to the amusement of Hazumu. The morning goes by quickly, and soon the two are eating lunch at a midway snack bar.

Afterwards is more exploration of the aquarium side. In the darkened tunnel running through the ocean-like pool, Yasuna notices that the other teenage boy/girl couples are using the darkness for romantic interludes. So she grabs onto Hazumu's arm, to display the fact that she wants others to see them as a romantic girl-with-girl couple, too ! But in a while, Yasuna remembers the faithful agreement that Tomari and herself must trust one another. She lets go of Hazumu's arm. Hazumu wants to know what is wrong, but Yasuna says nothing. In the souvenir shop, Hazumu picks out souvenirs for everyone, except Tomari. She doesn't know what to get her. Finally, Hazumu sees a giant shark shaped cookie. It's the size of a snow shovel ! That's it ! But how should she get the gift to Tomari ? Let's both come to her training camp and surprise her ! Yo ! That will be awesome !

Next morning, Tomari gets a phone call. Much to her surprise, Hazumu and Tomari are at the train station, a ways away from the camp site. Can Tomari come and get them ? Tomari says that she has practice right now, but can come in a little while. Hazumu tells Yasuna that it will be a while. Hazumu then calls her parents, to say that she just got off the train at the train station. Meanwhile, Yasuna, sitting alone on a bench across the tracks, is addressed by a train station attendant. He tells her that a train is approaching, but is not in service. As he continues to approach Yasuna, Yasuna's fear of men kicks in, and she becomes ever more distressed and upset. The male attendant wants to know what is wrong with her ? He is now leaning over her, making Yasuna very uncomfortable and feeling vulnerable. Of course, Yasuna can't see him, he is just a fuzzy image. Yasuna begins to panic, as she sees Hazumu so far away, across the tracks. Yasuna screams, although the attendant has done nothing wrong or threatening. Yasuna is now kneeling on the cement platform, with her hands covering her eyes, and crying. Hazumu comes running. Hazumu kneels down in front of kneeling Yasuna, and gently gathers Yasuna's face to her shoulder. Hazumu tries to explain to the attendant that he did nothing wrong, it is only that Yasuna is not good around strangers. But Hazumu is with her now, so Yasuna should be okay now. Assured, the attendant leaves.

Some time passes. Both girls are sitting on the bench now, with Yasuna still upset, and off and on, covering her face with her wet hands. Hazumu tries to comfort her. She again hugs Yasuna's face to her shoulder, wrapping her arms around a quivering Yasuna. At that very inopportune moment, Tomari comes running to the train station, while the passing train bears down on the station. Just before her line-of-sight is blocked by the passing train, Tomari sees Hazumu and Yasuna across the tracks, entwined with one another, and from the angle that Tomari is seeing the two from, it sure looks like they are kissing one another ! By the time the train passes, Hazumu and Yasuna have disengaged, with Yasuna saying that she feels better now. But Tomari is not seeing any of that. She is hiding behind the outside wall of the train station, out of sight, completely shocked and mesmerized ! Why ? WHY ??? Tomari recalls all the times that Yasuna said that she will 'play fair' regarding Hazumu, and that she, Yasuna, can be trusted. Why ? WHY ???

It takes a long while for Tomari to settle down and compose herself. She once again enters their line-of-sight, at least to fake a greeting to the two across the tracks, sitting on the bench. Hazumu shouts a return greeting, and says that they brought Tomari's souvenir to her.

That evening in the camp dormitory, Tomari tells Hazumu and Yasuna that they already missed the last train back to the city ! Tomari dryly and unconcerned merely states that the two should have checked the train schedules so as to know how long to stay today. Besides, Tomari implies that she is not all that pleased with her gift of the giant cookie; the other girls in the dorm are eating away at it as she speaks. What to do ? Tomari says that she already has received permission to have the two stay in this room with all the other girl campers. Yasuna apologizes for the inconvenience, saying that the two of them just wanted to make Tomari happy. Tomari again fakes a feel, saying that she is not mad about anything.

Later that evening, Hazumu is in the girl's bathhouse, sitting and soaking. Tomari comes in with only a towel wrapped around herself. Tomari tells Hazumu to look the other way while she unwraps the towel and gets in the bath pool. Hazumu comments how mature and grownup Tomari looks with her hair down. Tomari begins 'treading on thin ice' by asking Hazumu if she had a good time today with Yasuna ? She did ! However, with each joyful comment that Hazumu makes, another dagger is plunged into Tomari's heart. But Tomari outwardly shows nothing, nothing at all.

In the commons area where all the futons are set up for the girls to sleep in, everyone is now asleep. Everyone except Tomari, who only stares at the ceiling. Eventually, Tomari gets up to leave, thereby unknowingly waking up Hazumu. Hazumu finds Tomari outside, absentmindedly staring at the stars above. They decide to walk together in the cool, clear night. Soon, Yasuna wakes up, and upon seeing that Hazumu, next to her, is gone, quietly gets up herself. Tomari takes Hazumu to the train station, where the two girls can watch the fireflies gathering around the nearby river. So pretty ! But the peaceful and romantic night mood begins to affect Tomari, as she removes her hair clips and allows her hair to uncoil and gently assume a very adult-like, mature style. Tomari softly asks if she, Tomari, looks like a real girl now ? Tomari begins to review in her mind the many emotional confrontations that has occurred between herself, Yasuna, and Hazumu in the past. Tomari tells Hazumu that Yasuna is so very feminine and proper in all things, but that she, Tomari, will not 'lose to her' ! Deftly, Tomari embraces Hazumu, then softly and romantically brings her down onto the station bench, with herself sitting so very close to her. With the night perfect for it, Tomari goes in for a kiss. The fireflies are startled, and light up the night with their neon glow. The kiss is very long, very sweet, and very passionate. So long, in fact, that as Yasuna comes upon the train station, and from across the railroad tracks, she can see the two girls locked in that emotional and enduring kiss.

Yasuna is shocked to her very core being. She wonders to herselfwhy ? Why ?? She trusted that Tomari would keep the promise made between the two of them. WHY ??? As the kiss progresses, Yasuna's mind and heart is slowly and painfully shredded into little pieces.

" LIAR !!! ", Yasuna whispers to herself, as she grabs her necklace emblem with her closed hand !

Episode Lookback and Commentary
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Manga Fan's Comments on This Episode

shadow_holder / 12 years ago

I've seen the series, and I have to say that this is a really good series. Though it is a little weird.