English Dub Review: SING “YESTERDAY” FOR ME “cul-de-sac”

Overview: Uozumi (Aaron Campbell) learns more about the intense grief Morinome (Michelle Rojas) has experienced since they have been apart. 

Our Take: There is a heavier emphasis on Morinome this time around and that only benefits her characters from falling into a caricature. Her life as teacher appears normal in dealing with exit ceremonies and even an eccentric art loving student, Hayakawa. However, it subverts it incredibly well in showing how she is going through the motions and feeling lousy. Her connection with Uozumi in the park they went to as kids gives us insight into how, similar to him, feels like she is running in place. Morinome wants to be Uozomi’s friend, despite her unfairness to him in their breakup. 

Understanding why Morinome feels the way she does despite her new job as a teacher is paramount. Thankfully, Hayakawa sheds light on that in discussing his deceased older brother that she loved and how cherry blossoms are a painful reminder. It is paced well in Haru, simultaneously, discussing with Morinome about competing for Uozomi and not wanting to feel like sloppy seconds, telling her it is best not to be friends if she does not have feelings for him. It’s nice to see how much self-respect Haru has in herself in not wanting to be a backup and cognizant of that fact. Morinome’s depression acts a much different, numbingly heart-wrenching issue than that of Uozumi’s and one that explains why she is not in a position to love anyone else being so consumed.  It also allows for a greater appreciation of why she is so grief-stricken, especially from Uozumi, and how they relate so well to one another in both being struggling to move forward. 

Haru doubles down on her feelings for Uozomi, which is sweet in how she trusts the innate feeling but it would benefit from greater understanding of why she feels that way about him, which hopefully will be delved into as their dynamic progresses. Morinome and Uozomi deciding not to be friends, because it would be too hard on him always wanting more, is an interesting wrench to throw into their relationship. How they engage with each other and in what kind of terms will be interesting moving forward, especially in how Morinome is overcome with torturing relieved over his decision, implying it would be difficult for her to see him as well. With Uozumi’s romance with Morinome in the rear view mirror (probably), his potential one with Haru promises to be a good one with how great they are together.