Kyo going all out on this New Year's shrine visit, what with being the only one of the girls to wear a yukata...and also being considerate that Hananoi probably would have wanted to have Hotaru to himself on New Year's. Still, I can see where Hotaru wants her boyfriend and friends to get along
.
And Hotaru knows her boyfriend well enough to know he'll be there early and where he'll be, and now she finds him even more attractive! She's definitely falling for Hananoi
.
Look at Kyo and Kei blatantly holding hands! Too bad Hotaru is too chicken to hold hands with Hananoi in public
.
"God has never really done anything for me." Dang, that got dark quick
.
Well, points to Kei for trying to get along with Hananoi (they are in the same class after all) but Hananoi blames him for the kissing incident and also seems to have no intention of getting along with anyone that's not Hotaru. Also Hananoi can be pretty scary when he wants to be
.
Hotaru has come so far that now she and her friends can engage in genuine, 100%, Girl Talk about love and she can realize why Hananoi was out of sorts not seeing Hotaru after so long. Although she still thinks a "recharge" is a phone battery and not your significant others' presence...though she gets the picture enough that she was THIS close to hugging Hananoi before he pulled away. You were so close, Hananoi-kun
!
Did we just spot your classic Shojo love rival
?
Look at Hotaru getting a job at a bookstore to get to understand Hananoi better! She looks cute in the uniform and she gets to ring up her BF and see him every evening when she's done. Although I feel like we're moving from Hananoi waiting for her early in the morning to waiting for her late at night
.
Hotaru's little sis might not like her boyfriend, but mom seems all in on letting him stay over! He even ends up in Hotaru's room! And gets to see smol Hotaru! Now Hotaru wants to see Smol Hananoi
!
So Hotaru used to have longer hair...and something that happened that made her not want it long any more...obviously something she's not comfortable talking about, but considering she's been trying so hard to get Hananoi to open up, it's only fair she be more open with herself and how she feels about him. Like telling him how an old best friend just cut her hair as a prank because Hotaru didn't understand her feelings, which seems to have traumatized Hotaru a little, but Hananoi also talks about how he was a gloomy kid in elementary school. Slowly but surely the two are opening up more to each other emotionally
.
And riding high on those confessions...Hotaru instinctively reaches for Hananoi's head to give him headpats. And now SHE'S the one who wants a recharge from Hananoi
.