天下制覇

Yeah, Kazumi… it sucks that you’re not some kind of flesh devouring monster or a pyromaniacal loli so you can be with Yuji.

Impressions:

Aaaaaaangsty Kazumi. What a whiny little brat. I think they were saving up all the exposition from the past three for this episode because it was thick and I apologize, but my Japanese just isn’t sharp enough to keep up with a five minute rambling treatise on unrestricted magic, metaphorical flames, and any number of other nebulous terms which may or may not be real words. Hell, I couldn’t even keep my eyes open when I had to listen to people lecture in English about things that I understood.

It was still a pretty boring episode aside from the new OP and ED. The ED is alright… and while I like the direction and animation work of the OP (especially Yuji swinging Blutsager through people like a knife through butter), the song itself is… well… it’s not going to go down as one of my favorite Kotoko singles. Or crack the top ten. Or crack the top twenty. It does make me wonder where exactly they’ll get to with this season. I was hoping they’d make it through Yuji turning into SPOILER REDACTED, but they may end as that starts or… I don’t even know. We’ll see I suppose.

Yeah, I really have that little to say about the episode. Talky talky talky without much of anything important actually happening except that after 40 episodes, Yuji finally graduates to being allowed to hold a sharp object. I fully expect him to cut himself on it and get a boo boo, prompting another Shana/Kazumi war over who gets to lick his wound. Kazumi took all of two episodes to go from "I can’t be in Yuji’s world" to "I’m in Yuji’s world" back to "I can’t be in Yuji’s world." Hopefully someone will set her on fire or Ike will grow the balls to drag her off and make her his own. Next episode doesn’t look too much better either, as the entire preview seems dedicated to Eita and Satou. Ew.

Second OP

Everybody starts packing away the school festival stuff. Ogata gets bitchy about Satou not being around and some random girl drags Ike off. It’s slightly less exciting than I’m making it sound. Satou walks in as Ike gets pulled past.

As people clean up, they wonder who wore the mage costume. Shana tells the normal humans that like a Torch, Konoe has been wiped out and nobody but them remember her. Yuji flashes back to everything that happened last episode and wonders what’s happening to him.

In front of the Silver, Hecate forms her bracelet and returns the chain link to Bel Peol. They discuss things briefly before the Professor comes dancing out and ranting. Hecate sends energy to the Silver, who responds with its own energy. The two combine, and the Silver stirs.

Back at the OH SO EXCITING SCHOOL, Shana and Kazumi notice that Yuji is preoccupied. Satou comes up to them and tells them that Margery wants to talk to them all. He notices that Kazumi is out of sorts and calls her out on it.

Kazumi flashes back to the end of the previous episode. Pheles takes her hand and makes her take a small cross. Kazumi clutches it and tells Satou that she’ll go with them as well.

Kazumi resumes her flashback as she keeps cleaning. Pheles explains the power of the cross. Basically that it gives her power to use herself as a beacon to summon Pheles should the Mystes ever be in dire danger. Kazumi’s flame would… not survive it. Pheles tells her that it’s her wish… and Johan’s wish

At Satou’s place, Margery tries a spell on Yuji. Eita lurks outside, but leaves without coming in. The spell doesn’t seem to be working and Marco laughs. Shana gets pissed at herself for letting Konoe get that close. Yuji also remembers Konoe clinging to him.

The spell finishes. All Margery really knows from it is that there’s something wrong with the Reiji Maigo.

It was definitely the Silver though and that’s probably also what Bal Masque was after. They chatter on for a little while about yada yada things are dangerous… this could be bad… unrestricted spells… Yuji is sooooo dreamy, etc. Shana declares that she’ll absolutely protect Yuji and the other Hazes give her the raised eyebrow of "what the hell was that outburst all about?"

Alastor has a few more things to add before Team Flame Haze breaks up for the night.

The next day, Yuji’s father leaves on another trip. The whole family, plus Kazumi and Shana are there to see him off. Yuji’s lost in thought as his father says goodbye, so he tells Shana and Kazumi to take care of Yuji. He tells his son goodbye again, and walks off with Chigusa.

After they leave, Shana tells Yuji that they’ve got to meet up with Wilhelmina. Yuji’s a bit worried about always relying on them and looks back to Kazumi.

He thanks her for coming out, but excuses himself and walks off with Shana.

At sunset, Kazumi walks alone through the city, thinking again that Shana and Yuji are in a place that she can’t reach. GET SOMETHING NEW TO WHINE ABOUT, KAZUMI. She looks at the cross Pheles gave her and remembers again to what Pheles told her. A hand lands on her shoulder. It’s just Ogata.

The two talk about relationships as they walk… until they come to the park where she saw Konoe with a bird. She tries to make Ogata remember Konoe, but Ogata’s mind is blank as usual.

Wilhelmina dumps a ton of documents on Yuji for them to sort through. As they get started, Yuji asks Shana about Blutsager. He thinks that he may have enough power to use it. Alastor agrees that it may be a good idea. Wilhelmina keeps typing, wondering what Hecate is up to.

Speaking of her, she’s pointing her staff at the Silver. It convulses and tries to pull loose. The Professor calls for Domino. The Silver clenches its fist.

Margery nurses more scotch (whisky? bourbon? THIS IS IMPORTANT) and wonders what’s going on with the Reiji Maigo. She’s happy though since she’s at the end of her journey. Kazumi keeps wandering reciting her usual mantra of "I am so very very sad that I don’t have a sword made of flame or are an inhuman conduit for an unholy Silver beast."

She gets angry and prepares to throw the cross Pheles gave her into the river… but a barrier forms.

Unfortunately, it’s not a monster out to eat her… Yuji is practicing with Blutsager. It’s still a little heavy for him, but he quickly adapts as Shana watches. Kazumi watches from above. She repeats that she wants to be in the same place as Yuji. WE GET IT KAZUMI. Shana keeps coaching Yuji below.

Margery keeps drinking. Eita romances Ogata. Satou sleeps alone.

At Bal Masque, a tiny bird hops onto Hecate’s hand. She looks surprised and it flies off.

Preview:

Eita violates the sacred tenet "Bros before hos." Well, considering that Satou is with Margery, that makes it "Bros with hos before hos."