Hyouka - Episode 21

Don't cry, Eru. ;__;

Well, it seems like this isn't the last episode of Hyouka—a good thing, given that there wasn't enough Hōtarō x Eru in this episode. Nonetheless, it was still an episode worthy of being a finale; the revelation of Satoshi's real motivation behind his personality, particularly why Satoshi x Mayaka didn't happen yet, was truly satisfying as his character was, in a sense, finally demystified. Back when the series first started, it almost seemed like it would've been impossible for someone like Satoshi—a seemingly simplistic character—to turn out to be such a complex individual.

As for the episode as a whole, the flood of emotions involved was slightly overwhelming. In fact, I found some of the characters' thoughts and actions to be confusing at some points. For example, why would Satoshi steal the chocolate secretly instead of just accepting it without any extra thought if his intent was to prevent himself from facing the risk of starting to "obsess" over Mayaka? Also, if Mayaka already knew that Satoshi stole the chocolate, why not call him out on it? Anyways, those things aside, I really loved the dialogue and interactions in the episode, especially the heart-to-heart talk the two male protagonists had at the end. Like I stated earlier, it spoke volumes about Satoshi's character and made him that much more easier to understand. To top it all off, he's seen using his phone to call Mayaka at the end, possibly hinting that he has found the answer he's been searching for. With their love confirmed to be mutual, all that needs to happen now is for the two to realize this fact.

With the finale having been pushed back to Episode 22 (I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being any longer), I expect an exclusively Hōtarō x Eru episode. In fact, I'd be disappointed if this wasn't the case. The story has been hinting at this pairing for so long already, more intensely in the recent episodes, that anything else would be a surprise. Problem is, I don't see Hōtarō confessing any time soon, while Eru will probably be too nervous to do so. But maybe if they see Satoshi x Mayaka, it'd influence them enough to give them the courage to express their true feelings. Here's to hoping Hyouka ends off on a positive note!