English Dub Review: Adachi and Shimamura “Please Choose the Best Chocolate for Me”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Shimamura’s younger sister and Yashiro are goofing around when the human child asks what Yashiro’s hair sparkles are. Yashiro claims to not know, prompting a scientific investigation. Yashiro bequeaths a few strands of her hair as a reminder/trap until the mystery is solved.

Shimamura is ending the year diligently studying, a course of action that surprises even her. Adachi texts, and asks if it would be alright to call. The two chat, Shimamura complimenting Adachi’s thighs and Adachi freaking out about said compliment.

They ring in the New Year together, and exchange greetings. Shimamura reflects on Adachi wanting to be best friends, and believes the other girl has high, even unattainable expectations for their relationship. Adachi reflects on whether seeing Shimamura naked would change how she feels.

She tries to convince herself it’s simply because she feels comfortable with Shimamura, but dissolves into giggles and a fantasy of cuddling up together.

Back at school, Shimamura muses about her dye job needing touching up and Adachi acting weird. Hino and Nagafuji stop by her desk, with the former showing off her winter break tan from Hawaii and the latter asking if Shimamura’s sister is enjoying the boomerang. Adachi finally speaks up to ask her if she wants to do something after school.

Shimamura deflects at first, but eventually agrees to hang out. Adachi suggests they head to “an area in general”. She says she’s in the mood for a snack. Shimamura suggests sweets, and the two head to the mall.

Adachi awkwardly grasps Shimamura’s forefinger, and asks if they can hold hands while walking around. Shimamura asks her opinion about redoing her hair. Adachi leads her to a cream puff shop with a Valentine’s special. She can barely get the request out, though, and almost faints after trying to ask.

Nagafuji tries to pick Hino up, and the two discuss plans for Valentine’s chocolates.

Back at the mall, after Adachi finally works up the courage to ask, she and Shimamura agree to to to the same.

Later, at Nagafuji’s family butcher shop, Shimamura encounters an old grade school friend. They exchange numbers.

Our Take:

There’s a lot going on in this episode (well, as much as can be going on in a slow burn slice of life), but the most significant, is the change in the intro sequence. Instead of simply letting their hands get tantalizingly close together, our two protagonists now link their pinkies together! Seven episodes in makes this seem especially significant.

The other notable aspect is the shift from Shimamura’s metaphor about relationships. Previously, it had always been water focused musings about how getting close to people was like being pulled underwater. But this episode touched on how she’s felt like every day has simply been a grey expanse. And Adachi seems to be her source of color.

Despite being the more outwardly cheerful of the two, Shimamura’s internal dialogue parts of this show seem to hint at a struggle with depression. It’s usually masked as boredom or uncertainty, but the whole “the world is grey and without color” is pretty hard to write off as anything else. This may cause some issues in the blossoming relationship, if this show sticks to being (fairly) realistic. But it’s also possible it will simply be dropped entirely. I personally hope it’s explored a little further, and not just in the “hey dating someone will cure your depression!” way.

Adachi, for her part, seems to be getting closer and closer to admitting to herself what she really feels about Shimamura. Although, given the pacing of the show, it’ll probably be at least another three episodes before she does anything about it.

The reappearance of someone from Shimamura’s past is also an interesting development (as Nagafuji so distinctly notes.) Adachi doesn’t react well to competition for Shimamura’s attention in general, but this may be what finally pushes her to make a move. Or at least, one can hope!