English Dub Review: The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting “The Little Lady’s Babysitter”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Kirishima gets ready to set things right, but Yaeka has her own ideas on how he can make up for his actions.

Our Take:
It’s a shame that we have already reached the conclusion of the show’s first season. I had so much fun with the characters and was genuinely surprised at how heartfelt the series turned out. Of course, considering it’s a series about the yakuza, I’m willing to call this an unexpected accomplishment. So how are we finishing this immensely heartwarming and comical first season, you may ask? Why, by exploring more of Kirishima’s youth, of course.
You would think that the finale would have Kirishima and the Sakuragi clan hunting down Mashiro for putting Yaeka’s life in danger, but that’s not the case in “The Little Lady’s Babysitter”. That means Mashiro will live to fight another day, making him a potential big bad in the series if they decide to continue with more seasons. Based on his actions in season one, I hope that’s the case because Mashiro has proved his worth of being an intimidating threat to Kirishima’s life and the other yakuza clans.
Instead, the season one finale focuses on Kirishima atoning for his sins by telling Yaeka about his youth. It’s revealed that Kirishima had known Yaeka since she was a baby, and he has been taking care of her while on house arrest due to a fight. So, in retrospect, Kirishima had tried his hand at babysitting before, during the time before Miyuki was sent to the hospital.
The heart of the show has always been the relationship between Kirishima and Yaeka. Not just because of their adorable chemistry but also how their time together has made them become better people. Kirishima gradually learns to take responsibility for his actions and be a generous person, while Yaeka grows more confident in being open toward other people, including her new friends. Their chemistry helps the show provide more depth and emotion in the character arcs and thoughtful messages. It also delivers plenty of humor that’s enough to make my eyes water.
The same can be said for “The Little Lady’s Babysitter”, as it depicts their relationship that spans back to when Yaeka was a baby in a heartwarming fashion. But, more importantly, it delivers a sincere closure to Kirishima’s guilt that’s been haunting him since the tenth episode. This was due to him remembering the Kalanchoe flowers, which were his mother’s favorites, and their language representing the protection of happy memories.
Kirishima’s monologue hit me in the heart because of how important his mother was to him. Additionally, it represents the next chapter of his new life as a great man and a better babysitter for Yaeka. If a second season were to happen, I’m more than happy to see what that chapter would offer for the Sakuragi family because this show is a magnificent treat that should not be missed.