English Dub Review: Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze “The True Reason Is…”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Hayato Tatsumi, the ace and captain of the Iwayama High School karate team, appears before Yu and the sisters.

Our Take:
Yu’s “date” with Kazuki may have had a few bumps in the road, but it was successful enough to help the prodigy regain her confidence for her upcoming role.  Of course, that’s just the start of Yu’s determination to assist the Mikadono sisters with their prodigy complications.  Continuing the show’s tradition of Niko helping each sister, this week’s episode now puts the spotlight on Niko, who’s given an offer she couldn’t refuse.  This offer comes from Hayato Tatsumi, a karate champion from Iwayama Academy, who invites her to join his team.  While it does seem like a perfect opportunity for Niko, given her immaculate skills on the mat, it’s also not without the cost of not seeing her family and friends for months.
Initially, Niko would’ve been quick to accept this special offer.  However, because of her feelings towards Yu and her bond with the sisters, she now finds herself in a struggle between staying with her family and friends and pursuing her career.  Eventually, Niko learns to listen to her heart and declines Hayato’s offer, but the problems don’t stop there, as Yu steps in to challenge Hayato to a sparring match.  The problem is that Yu is way too mediocre for karate, prompting the sisters to help him train for what could be his make-or-break opportunity to overcome his averageness.  There’s no doubt that Yu has his heart in the right place, even if he’s facing some pretty big odds and would probably get his ass kicked.  Regardless, “The True Reason Is…” further established its character growth through its sweetness and heartfelt moments, particularly Niko’s growing desire to choose her family over her future.