After navigating Alien Diddies trying to steal everyone’s bananas and Momo experiencing a threatening love rival in Aira, Ken will now enter that same ‘NTR’ side of the pain!

Video Review

What Stands Out About This Episode?

A Shonen’s Fight Against ‘NTR’

From one side of the NTR, to the other. While romance is one of humanity’s greatest gifts, the symptoms that is jealousy is something we have all painstakingly experienced at one point or the other. In the previous arc, Momo had her bouts of jealousy, regardless of the context—now, it’s Ken’s turn to experience the pain of what it’s like to be in the guy’s position.

The author has a pretty deep understanding of what kind of scenarios that would absolutely put Momo or Ken in an emotionally heavy burden. It’s the careful balance from the audience’s perspective to keep Momo and Ken likable, while experiencing the pain that is unintentional ‘NTR.’ Clearly, the story is en route to the Momo and Ken ultimate confession of love, but now we are in the midst of all the complicated parts of the romance, where the author misleads us into the arms of another romantic partner. In Momo’s case, it was Aira’s constant public affection for Ken, while making physical attempts to make it “body heat-to-body heat” against the sweet lips of Ken. With the introduction of Jiji, the story will have to carefully balance pulling us into the deep bouts of jealousy, to eventually make sure to pull us back out of it and this episode’s end is the culmination of just all of that.

The Crazy Fine-Line of NOT GOING FULL ‘NTR!’

One of the most important aspects to balance in a romance is how oblivious you want to make a character, as to the social consequences of what the characters experience. In the prior arc, Ken showed how not fully telling Momo about the full context of the Aira situation earlier, left Momo to be in quite the angry mood. Now, the story is finding ways to put Momo in a position, where in Ken’s position, we would all 100% be jealous of the situation. We are now forced to watch Momo live with another guy in Jin Enjoji, that likes Momo. Nothing has been more clearer of a story’s push of ‘NTR’ than Jiji flirtatiously teasing Momo to all of their classmates about “living together,” being in a “parentally approved relationship” and showering Momo with gifts he knows that would make a girl as giddy as she can be. Then, you have the “physical touching” aspect that NO GUY WILL EVER BE comfortable with another guy doing to their potential girlfriend.

This is the line that the author puts both Momo and Ken in, to provide this jealousy element to the story. With the use of love rivals and unintentional simulated bouts of ‘NTR’ moments, it pits us in a powerless and vulnerable situation that naturally sets up Momo and Ken to save each other from this jealousy and provide that explosive romantic payoff at the end between just Momo and Ken.

There is this fine line of the viewer’s experience of pushing these ‘NTR’ moments in front of our faces without the characters being socially aware enough to eventually provide the calming feedback to quell each other’s jealousy, as these ‘NTR’ situations arise.

Jin ‘Jiji’ Enjoji

Jiji’s character is almost everything that represents Aira. He’s handsome, tall, charming, funny, considerate and like Ayase Baba keeps mentioning this episode, he’s a “genius.” While Aira has her personality flaws, Jiji doesn’t necessarily have one, unless it’s plot related.. He’s the perfect character to go head-to-head with someone like Ken Takakura because Ken, represents the underdog and lacks what most girls would want to find in Jiji. Jiji is that “ideal man” archetype, while Ken is working is way to match Momo’s shonen qualities. However, you can’t exactly stop who a person loves. So, it’s quite clear that while Jiji has all the goods most girls would find ideal and suitable, Momo still loves Ken and vice-versa.

This is what the crux of the Dan Da Dan story will always find its way back to after beating up Alien Diddies and stopping swallowing yokais. Romance.. It’s nature’s natural drug with a hefty side effect of JEALOUSY!

The PERFECT SCENE!

One of the most important scenes I didn’t delve deeply into during the video review is when Momo sends Okarun home after realizing Jiji would be staying at the Ayase household. The anime went above and beyond what three pages of manga panels could ever provide, creating an entire mood of silence and distress from Okarun’s perspective as he leaves Momo behind with Jiji.

Both Momo and Ken remain far too indecisive about committing to their feelings for each other. However, Momo edges closer to being blatant about her emotions. She tries to show Ken—without outright saying it, though she needed to anyway—that he should step up and reciprocate her feelings, punctuated by her heartfelt 「また明日！」(“See you tomorrow!”). These small yet sincere moments from Momo help keep the audience’s sanity in check, reassuring us that her heart is fully devoted to Okarun.

Ken, however, is still several steps behind, failing to seize the perfect romantic opportunity to bring calm stability to their budding love. Meanwhile, the audience watches uneasily as he leaves his “almost girlfriend” behind with a handsome and threatening rival under the same roof. Their mutual lack of courage creates palpable tension, with Ken holding his head down as he walks away, leaving Momo behind… to the NTR. Despite Momo’s hint after hint, Ken’s inexperience and lack of awareness prevent him from sealing the deal, leaving the dreaded NTR dynamic painfully unresolved.

This scene is perfect because it encapsulates their relationship so far: wholesome young love, indecisiveness, and that uneasy feeling of stress that’s enveloped your mind and soul, that is the jealousy that is surely endearing to Momo. The execution of this scene was just CRIMINALLY AMAZING! This is exactly how “criminally” should be used because the scene was flawless, evoking every feeling and assumption we’ve had about their relationship into this pivotal interaction. It’s a fight against the jealousy we feel for Ken’s situation, but at the same time, Momo makes it clear: Ken, YOU ARE HIM!

The theme of a teasing romantic confession continues, but this time, like Aira playing her side of the NTR, Enjoji is literally under the same roof, ready to play the same part. While every arc has delivered romantic progression, this moment mirrors Momo’s desire to be courted like in the previous episode. However, the addition of a new koigataki (恋敵) completely shifts the relationship dynamic once again!

Remember folks.. NEVER GO FULL NTR!

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