We’re back with 3-gatsu no Lion after a week hiatus from sick leave (I know everyone got sick last week, be it in springtime in this corner of the world, or the start of winter elsewhere) and I’m glad that the show returns in good form. Kyouko might be the most distinctive character the show has created so far. Like a true femme fatale, her sheer present demands our full attention, her sparks gleam that we couldn’t take our eyes off, and her venomous words keep sinking in Rei’s heart. Rei aside, I’m pretty sure that we’re having a good time here.
Harunobu continues his self-assigned mission as “Rei’s best friend” to full extend, both having fun showing the magic of shogi, and later crashing on Rei’s couch that night (except that it’s Harunobu’s brand new futon couch so why complaint?). We heading on from last episode’s “shogi for dummy” with all the warrior cats making fancy moves and dancing around. While it sure is cute to see shogi explained in such simple and funny way, this part is obviously my least favorite of this whole season. Look, whenever this show focus too much on the mechanics of shogi, it fails because the show is ultimately a character’s focus piece. Later part where Issa and Smith remarked on Harunobu’s passionate commentary feel oversold as well (I thought they tried to bring a point that Rei’s move wasn’t that bad at all but that isn’t the case). But later when it comes to his own reflection towards Harunobu’s action, it again picks up its steam. The overly enthusiasm from his friend makes him feel lousy, because that energy is something that he doesn’t have. But it’s great that Rei’s taking one step at the time, as of now he even hates himself for feeling that way in front of his friend.
We have a nice flashback from Kei over his “image” of his father. I love that little moments so much as the little Rei tried to get better at shogi just to observe that raw expression of his own father (stripped down from all social’s niceties). That again gives us two things about his relationship with shogi. First, as the show already pointed out before, the very reason Rei got into shogi was not because of his love for shogi, but because he wants to spend more time with his father. Here in this episode, we learn that he wants to be really good just purely to get that expression out of his father. Second, he sees himself as a person who now continue in the world of shogi that his father had always yearned for. Those two points tell us a very personal but ultimately troubled perspective of Rei. For once, unlike Harunobu, he isn’t that happy to play shogi; he doesn’t even love shogi that much (that was pointed out by Kyouko later), as of now he’s just hanging there, playing shogi because it’s the only way of living he knows. And even imaging himself as the son who accomplish his father’s unfulfilled dream? That seriously is a troubled thought because unless he plays shogi for himself, he will always be stuck (like he is now) and can never get forward to his way of shogi.
That distant thunder we saw couple episodes back has finally appeared in the form of goddess Kyouko. The reason why her roles are such compelling in this show is because she has very conflicting emotions towards Rei, and all her actions aggressively contradict each other from time to time, sometimes even in the same line of exchange. While Haunobu and the shogi-sensei represent a bright, full of energy side and the sisters represent a warm, caring side, Kyouko is Rei’s utter dark and stormy side, and it only makes sense that her appearance is in late at night. We don’t really know much about her in this episode; considering that we look at her this time through Rei’s perspective, and for Rei, Kyouko is a totally mystery; but there’s still heaps of thing that we can take out from her night of visit. He doesn’t know how to deal with his sister, but her words often pierce through his heart the deepest. It’s so obvious that she still brings a deep hatred towards Rei, the way her bitterness towards Rei’s moving out on his own, and most noticeable of all, her plain resentment towards Rei’s shogi. When you think about it, it all makes sense. The kids fight for their father’s attention through shogi, and it’s that shogi that break them apart. She’s unsurprisingly know great details about his next opponent, and she’s trying to manipulate him to give that match up. Such a sly move but Rei won’t grow unless something directly challenged him like this occur so the next match will actually be a fight inside his head. Can’t wait for it.
Some of her actions, on the other hand, signal how much she grows to care about him. Keep in mind that you won’t spend the night with someone you hate, given that she could’ve slept in her friend’s house and not necessary Rei’s. Maybe the reason is she wants him to get back to the house, since she knows that it would make her father happy, but I don’t think that’s the case as well. I love her remark that after 10 years living in the same roof, she didn’t know Rei much, because even realize such things mean that now she actually cares a bit more about him, but then she’s able to recognize the new futon doesn’t have Rei scent yet. Her looking straight through his eyes and checking if there’s any scar is one of the most powerful scene. After all, wound can be healed but scars will always remain. Whatever her motivation is, she remains the most striking character out there in this series and her presence alone is something Rei ultimately needed in order to break out of his shell.
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