Neighborhood Story

Before the Storm (1x44)

Data di messa in onda: Lug 21, 1996

Mikako and Tsutomu warmly greeting each other and repelling Noriji's playful derision gives way to the two adolescents setting course to Ayumi's place to begin customizing the shed for Akindo commerce only to find that the other seven Akindo members are not exactly all present and accounted for. Concluding that five out of nine is better than nothing, Ayumi leads the other four Akindo members in arranging all the imported items as per their floor plan -- some of which is to Mariko and Yuusuke's comical detriment. Ayumi pre-empts Mikako exploding in frustration at Mariko and Yuusuke's conduct as she sets out with Yuusuke for some provisions; it seems that Ayumi has placed her affection for Yuusuke in perspective as a good friend instead of as a paramour. During a layover at the park, Yuusuke and Ayumi exchange perspectives about their philosophies on life and their plans for the future. Yuusuke shrugging off and repulsing her exhortations for his company sets Mariko to reflecting on her prologue of Sensei Tomada scolding her for her »play it by ear« attitude about her future; the ironic deus ex machina is that Mariko ultimately decides to take that counsel to heart by lashing out at Ayumi -- and Yuusuke promptly returning it back to her.