Summary:
In this episode, we're quickly introduced to Yasunobu Hattori, a local who was a childhood "friend" of Yamato. He was sort of a prankster, always looking for ways to get in good with girls while blaming Yamato for said instances. Today, he's what we would call a "player", with his interest in the opposite sex. Yamato manages to insult Suzuka trying to keep Yasunobu away from her. To celebrate the new school year, Yamato's aunt decides to host party, and she tells Suzuka and Yamato to go shopping. They end up taking a long time, end up arguing like a married couple (drawing laughter from surroundings... Suzuka wants to get nice things, Yamato just wants functional, quickly picked items). On way home, Yamato runs to check something for a moment and Suzuka notices a shrine. Yamato returns and goes to pray at the shrine, while offering Suzuka what he went to get: a meat and potato croquette, one of his favorite snacks. We learn in their conversation that Yamato is from around Hiroshima and that their reasons for coming to Tokyo to go to school were quite different: Yamato wanted to come for a life change, while Suzuka was more forced to come because of her athletic talent, but that she's thinking better of the move because of recent events. As they leave, they don't notice a girl watching them at shrine. Back at the apartments, the party is held, and we learn much about the secondary characters: Saotome is a college student, Megumi is going to med school. After the party, Yasanobu and Yamato run an errand and meet Suzuka, who is exercisting. Yasu tries to pretend to want to go out with her, forcing Yamato to make a move in escorting her home. Yasu seems to be trying to force the issue because he sees potential between the two. Yamato tries to follow Yasu's advice to complement Sazuka, fails miserably, but manages to patch things up at the end by complementing her high jump, saying he was enthralled watching her do so.

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This is another setup episode, meant to give us more background on the characters. Yasunobu turns out to be a riot, and he while at first glance, he appears to be a womanizing jerk, it actually seems he is looking out for Yamato to a degree. We learn a great deal about Yamato and Sazuka's motivations for coming the school, and start filling in the background for other characters who will interact with the two. Because it's a setup episode though, it's hard to make too many comments so far.

It's actually good to see this won't be a Love Hina clone. They're making some interesting character background revelations and it's clear that the roles are not just big harem stereotypes.

Obviously, Yamato and Sazuka are going to high school, but it seems like for this feature that high school is very different in Japan from here in the States.

But who is the girl at the shrine? What part will she play? Did she know Yamato? I guess we'll find out more about her next episode, based on the preview....