English Dub Review: With You, Our Love Will Make It Through “Episode 5”

Overview:

Mari, Tsunagu, and Yukihiro get ready for the annual sports festival.

Our Take:

I always find it fascinating how big a deal it is when people start using first names with each other in anime. I can’t think of anything similar in Western culture that signifies two people becoming closer like that. But it makes Mari’s friends look at her differently when she and Yukihiro start using first names with each other. They wonder if they’re dating now, and surprisingly, were happy to hear they weren’t because they like that she has a crush on Tsunagu.

It was hard to tell if Mari got jealous when Tsunagu had to do the three-legged race with someone else. I don’t think she was, but I wouldn’t necessarily enjoy seeing the person I have feelings for be with someone else. It also seems like some of the guys still aren’t happy with Tsunagu being in their school. The one whom I thought was their ringleader doesn’t want anything to do with it anymore, but is still getting brought in.

People also address dating strangely to me. Mari likes Tsunagu, and he likes her; they’ve even kissed, but they’re not dating yet. Yukihiro tells Tsunagu that he has feelings for Mari, but he’s going to back off. Tsunagu doesn’t want him to, and that is weird to me. Not even from a jealousy standpoint, but the feelings of both parties are known now, and I don’t see that changing because Yukihiro tries harder.