This week’s episode picked right up where we left; the morning after the birthday sleepover. Our short boy is still in total disbelief that Yamada is there and talking to him about the best way to address him going forward. She is insistent on calling him by his first name, Kyotaro.

After they both got ready for the day together (how scandalous), Yamada heads for a shoot in Hiroshima. Ichikawa ends up hanging with the guys discussing the latest idol gossip, the girls later join them, and they discuss Anna’s growing popularity but how she also doesn’t change herself.

Trouble is brewing in Kyo’s never ending, doubting monologue, and he begins wondering if he made a mistake in allowing her to sleepover. He isn’t dating Yamada and even Sekine takes a jab at him because of it. He doesn’t want to hurt Yamada’s career, especially after her manager warned him that their relationship would hinder it.

We get a glimpse of Kyo’s love for Yamada, and his consideration to just how much he wants her to succeed doing what she loves. He doesn’t want to be in the way of her career, even though I feel like there is a part of him that wishes she was just a normal teen. I honestly really understand why he hesitates and second guesses his actions between Yamada and him, because he doesn’t want to cause her any pain or become something that keeps her from chasing her dreams. A big part of why he doesn’t accelerate their relationship’s progress is mostly due to his self doubt and anxiety around his self worthiness of Yamada’s affections. But, I do believe there is a part of him, that is hesitant due to the concerns around her career and being in the public eye.

It comes with a lot of scrutiny of your actions. I don’t think Kyo is ready for something like that and as Yamada gets more popular, there is going to come a point where more and more people are going to notice her and what she is doing, and let’s just face it, our short boy is one awkward cringe dude (Still a better MC than Kazuya any day) but definitely seems to get himself in alot of awkward situations that could potentially affect Yamada’s career.

Later on in the episode, Kyo is stalking Yamada’s socials, when he notices that she posted a picture of herself at HIS HOUSE. He begins going down a rabbit hole, finding comments from fans, one in particular, named “pigman,” who seems a little too obsessed with her. Of course our protective Kyo goes on the offensive, and ends up getting blocked. The rabid fan seems too interested in Yamada, so Kyo decides to bring it up to her, but before he can, Yamada drops her phone in the water. All Kyo sees is a figure showing up behind her and the call ends. His heart begins racing and he tries to tell himself that it’s fine.

Kyo’s worries turn to all out panic as he tries to contact Yamada to no avail. I thought the animation for his panic with his eyes was truly so realistic when you think about him being at war in his mind about what to do. He really cares about Yamada and wants to make sure she is okay, but he is battling against this anxiety around how it will be perceived by others.

His worry overcomes this anxiety and homeboy then runs to her house and waits for her dad to come home. Let’s stop for a moment. I have to give Kyo his due. He is really reaching out of his comfort zone. He is definitely afraid of Yamada’s dad, but still he approaches him knowing that he would be the only link to know about Yamada’s safety. Yamada’s dad, invites our boy inside to warm up it being cold, rainy, and 11 pm at night.

After making him some tea to warm him up, Yamada calls to ask her dad to tell Ichikawa’s family that she is okay, little does she know, Kyo is sitting right in front of her dad. When Kyo tells him that it’s his house, her dad does Kyo a solid and allows him to call Anna back. The relief when he was able to talk to Anna once again, was so adorable. But what came after was the most touching moment of the episode. Both of them confessed their feelings through to Yamada’s parents. I squealed like a little school girl! We are so close to a confession guys. Now all we need is a confession to each other.

Of course, as Yamada is getting back into town, Kyo realizes that the over obsessed fan “pigman” posted about being in the same vicinity. Kyo once again, lets his worry get the better of him. He races out of the house to find her, ultimately at a ramen shop (who could of guessed?) with a model he met before. He deduces that she is pigman and the two end up exchanging line ids before it’s over.

So anyone else love how Ichikawa strikes that pose when he goes into his devious mode. Is this foreshadowing of a future role as a mad scientist? actor? maybe?

Finally, on the way home, the two end up making a promise to be more cautious moving forward, since there could be people out there who would want to see Anna fall.

These two are just growing up before our very eyes!

Catch up on this week’s episode here on Hi-Dive

What did you think about this week’s episode? Do you think they both will start being more grown up in their relationship? Do you think Kyo handled pigman appropriately?

Let me know in the comments!

As always, see you later otakus!