Bakemonogatari 05

Summary:

Koyomi and rabid Mayoi have another fight after the latter realizes that the former copped a feel earlier. After settling down, Koyomi tells her that he is melancholic from contemplating apologizing to his sister whom he had argued with earlier. Mayoi shares that she loves both her parents but is afraid that, as her father forbids her from seeing her mom, she will stop loving her. Hitagi returns and rounds on Koyomi for having consorted with Tsubasa. Oshino's message is that Koyomi will not go astray if he leaves Mayoi, she is the cause of his recent distress and Hitagi cannot see her.

She did not say anything because she had assumed that she was the one who was strange for not being able to see Mayoi. And it was not Mayoi who met the snail but him through his desire not to return home. Despite learning this, or rather because of it, Koyomi insists it is his duty to return Mayoi to her mother. Hitagi understands that he is the sort who will help anyone. Hitagi uses Oshino's final message, a cheat code, to reach Tsunade's house. Taking an old route and reaching an empty lot, Mayoi is finally able to reach home. Hitagi asks for an answer to her confession and Koyomi agrees on the condition that if their viewpoints are at odds, they'll talk about it. The next morning, having made peace with his sisters, Koyomi runs into Mayoi who has been promoted from a haunting spirit to a wandering spirit who invites him to chat her up sometime.

Reaction:

This was a really satisfying conclusion to the Mayoi arc. We got more insight into all three characters and also saw each of them in a better light: Koyomi's not wanting to go home translating into a sincere desire to help Mayoi, Hitagi's cryptic and aloof behaviour conveying three straightforward messages and Mayoi's initial hostility revealed as not wanting to drag others into being lost like her.

I also loved Hitagi's confession a la Koizumi's suggestion sans the embrace from behind. And their conversation about it. And hand holding yea. And Koyomi's condition should really be attached to all relationships. Though if we went by majority rule, Hitagi would really be the odd one out as Tsubasa could see and hear Mayoi.

Related posts:

1. Bakemonogatari 04
2. Bakemonogatari 06
3. Bakemonogatari 03