The culture festival is here and Taiki experiences one of the most important moments in his life until..

Video Review

What Stands Out About This Episode?

After an episode where Taiki was triumphant against his biggest known competition to make it to nationals next year, this episode, Taiki faces his romantic challenges once again.

Everyone Around Taiki and Chinatsu

At this point in the Blue Box story, it’s hard not to feel the dread for a character like Hina, who is everything Chinatsu is, except she isn’t set up to be “the one.” Carrying that along with the assumption that Taiki and Chinatsu are eventually going to become a couple, it’s easy to overlook what these past two episodes have hinted at in regard to the MC’s character arc. In the previous episode, it happened in the blink of an eye that Taiki’s senpai lost to Yusa. So, it’s natural to think that Haryu is about to go through his own shift in the story, into what we will eventually learn from his experience. Since Taiki is the MC, know that that is the lens we should be looking through as to the importance of Haryu Kengo’s character as the senpai. However, there is a unique significance to his character beyond his effect on Taiki.

With all of that said about Haryu, it’s important to see this episode not only as Taiki and Chinatsu are basically one question away from dating, but as one that has such an indirect effect on everyone else. Look at Shouichirou Kishi. What is the point of bringing back a character that so easily seems like a throwaway? He had one point to prove before and he’s back to prove the same point.. He ain’t good enough for the heroine. I wouldn’t say it’s a “sad reality,” but it is a reality for most of us that are not lucky enough to find a catch that everyone else wants to. That is the reality for Kishi, who clearly is not going to be able to pull Chinatsu as a girlfriend.

The Reality of the LOSER!

There are moments throughout the episode that clearly show what it truly looks like for someone like Chinatsu that has the gaze of many guys. While the story is building towards this epic climactic romantic relationship, it creates the environment to show the lesser-glorified reality of the people that do not win. That is the beauty of Blue Box that ties right back in with the theme of sports. There are losers in all respects like Chinatsu’s missed clutch shot during nationals, Kishi’s “bystander” romantic loss, Haryu’s badminton loss as the senpai and Hina’s POTENTIAL MASSIVE L coming up.

All in all, while it’s heartwarming to see the romantic crescendo of Taiki and Chinatsu’s relationship, let’s not forget that the most relatable component of this story is the different kinds of HEARTBREAK! That includes both sports and romance.

Check out my other YouTube anime reviews here!