Amagami SS+ - Episode 8

Here, have a nice boat.

The concluding episode of the Kaoru arc takes a different approach than usual. Instead of being able to solve the problem introduced in the first half of the arc, the two end up in even more difficult situations, resulting in a few lovers' quarrels. However, like the truck driver had stated, arguments are a true testament of the strength of a couple's relationship. It was great seeing Kaoru realizing that it doesn't matter whether she and Junichi fall under the world's definitions of "friend" or "lovers", but that the unique nature of the relationship is the only thing that she should worry about preserving.

With all the six girls each having their own distinct character archetype, this episode allowed me to conclude that Kaoru was indeed the tsundere of the group. The ominous atmosphere of the inn, amplified by the sight of the innkeeper hacking away at something with a kitchen knife (it ended up being a fish that was supposed to be for dinner), along with Kaoru's fear of admitting that she's scared and Junichi's teasing, made for some amusing moments. Throughout the episode, the ups and downs of their relationship made the arc the most realistic out of the four thus far. It was easy to see where each of them was coming from when they stated their case during an argument, which made it all the more interesting to see, even though I couldn't relate to it. I found the scene at the beach in the end to be really sweet and touching; a great way to end off an arc that I wasn't really looking forward to, prior to watching.

Next up, according to the preview, is Sae's arc. To be honest, she's my least favorite Amagami girl simply because of that atrocious voice of hers. I could barely stand listening to it for four episodes in season one and I'm glad that I'll only have to sit through two episodes of torture this time around. But to be fair, her character design is quite cute and she'll probably appeal to those who like a shy but caring kōhai. With this in mind, this means Haruka's arc will be last. It'll be tough waiting two more weeks for it but, once it arrives, I hope that the wait makes it twice as good.