Lovely Complex: Episode 3

"A Guy You Like or a Guy From the Past?"

Quote(s): "Chocolate cake? I'd better have my stomach pills ready."

Disclaimer( I don't own any of the following pictures, there may be spoilers so read with caution, and I'm not an English teacher so forgive me if a comma is out of place.)

This episode starts off (where episode 2 ended) with some stranger attack-hugging Koizumi. He is then identified as Haruka Fukagawa.

Haruka Fukagawa: Koizumi's childhood freind. Admires Risa and looks up to her as his hero. Plans to be her future boyfriend. Dislikes Otani.

After recognizing Haruka they begin a little small talk.(Haruka obviously more enthusiastic than Risa-chan.) After standing there for a few minutes Otani says that he's going to take off.(so obviously jealous, we all fangirled a bit.)

In the next scene we see all of the gang on their way to what looks like a shrine? Koizumi prays fiercely, and might I add frighteningly, for a boyfriend this year.

On a side note let's all take a minute to admire how cute Otani looks in a hat.

Adorable... Yes, I know.

Back to the story.

Koizumi then sees Kanzaki-san and pushes Otani over to her, in hopes that Kanzaki wants to get back together with Otani. Kanzaki then makes the verbal assumption that Otani and Koizumi are dating. They both ferociously object and Koizumi promises to support Kanzaki in her attempt to get back together with Otani. That's right folks, you guessed it, Risa is totally jumping the gun. What a surprise.

Otani, being both embarrassed and aggravated by Risa, proceeds to strangle her with her own scarf. In the middle of the chaos Kanzaki-san confesses that the only reason she wanted to talk to Otani was to assure him that height had nothing to do with their break up. The guy she liked just happened to be tall, and when she looked at it, it seemed like she'd done something awful and she really wanted to clear that up.

(Still fangirling about the hat.)

The next day Nobu-chan and Chiharu-chan are looking for sweets to make for Valentine's Day. Nobu-chan suggests that Risa make Otani something. They talk about as they walk home and Otani says that he'll take Koizumi's chocolate (if she has no one to give it to) and specifies that he prefers chocolate cake.

The following day Haruka shows up saying that he'll be transferring to Maido High soon. Otani sarcastically asks Risa if he's her type and Risa chuckles and states that Haruka used to be a huge cry baby and that she was definitely not interested in him romantically. Otani suggests that they go to the store after school to search for more Umibouzu CDs. As they're leaving Haruka is by the entrance/exit waiting for Risa. He asks her if she wants to go get a cup of tea and she responds by saying she already has plans with Otani. Just as Otani is about to tell her that she can go with Haruka he exclaims:

He then proceeds to call Otani more names (midget, idiot, and uncool to name a few) and Otani yells, "I can't take it! This guy keeps getting on my nerves!" Risa then says, "Now, now. Take it easy, Otani." and that, my friends, is the first time he even realized that he was arguing with Otani. 

After realizing that this is the person Risa had plans with he then explains why she can't hang out with him.

                The next day Koizumi apologizes to Otani on behalf of Haruka. Otani tells her that because she is his hero that she should do something about it, adding that any man that needs a woman's protection is pathetic. Haruka then appears(out of nowhere)and says that it's more pathetic to be that short. He offers Risa a lunch box he made for her. Otani tells him that he can't just barge into other people's classrooms and Haruka responds by saying:

Trying to keep Otani calm she takes Haruka and runs. After she leaves some other classmates ask who Haruka was and Otani tells them that he's her childhood friend. They all comment on how pretty Risa is.

We then see Risa-chan, Nobu-chan, and Chiharu-chan, and a cake. Risa's cake to Otani to be exact. Risa wants to chicken out until she remembers how angry Otani was about Haruka. Nobu-chan and Chiharu-chan both think that Haruka likes Risa. Risa brushes it off saying that he just sees her as his her.

At school the next day Koizumi presents her chocolate to Otani only to have him say he doesn't want it and that she should give it to Haruka. Right as she's about to object everyone crowds in the hallway going on about Koizumi giving her chocolate to Otani. Otani takes this as an opportunity to insist she give it to Haruka. Pissed, Risa leaves. After giving the chocolate to Haruka she asks if he'll hang out with her a bit. At some point in the conversation Haruka states how uncool Otani is, again. Risa then begins listing some good qualities about Otani.

Side Note: Repeatedly stating what is "cool" and "uncool" is "uncool". In fact, the word "uncool" is "uncool". There is nothing wrong with being "uncool", but "cool" people and "uncool" people don't say "uncool." It is very "uncool".

As Risa was talking it was almost like she was talking to herself and I think that's where Haruka figured out that Risa liked Otani. He then says that he won't lose to Otani.(Spoiler Alert: yes, yes he will.)

The next day at school Otani apologizes to Risa. She smiles and says it was only obligation chocolate anyway. He smile and they both end up laughing.

The episode ends with Haruka opening the box of chocolate and seeing the word "OBLIGATION" on the cake.

 One of the best episodes because Haruka is hilarious, they finally show someone interested in Risa, and we get to see Risa realizing her feelings a little more. Also, Otani was so jealous in this episode. It was subtle but it was there.:)

(Sorry for the inconsistency, I'll try to work out a schedule.)