Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru Kan - Episode 4 - 10 Second Anime

The prom hits a snag when the parents’ association, which Yukino’s mother represents, has objections to its format on moral grounds.

Episode 4 – “By Chance, Yui Yuigahama Thinks of the Future.”

Hmm.

As I expected from the last Oregairu episode, the student council’s reliance on social media caused problems because they only saw the public feedback. Guess who prefers private feedback. Parents, teachers, and school administrators. The Parent-Teacher Organization blindsided the student council with their complaints and a small but politically powerful faction favors canceling the prom outright. Of course, Yukino’s mother represents that faction. Hachiman has a tough time facing Haruno or Mrs. Yukinoshita by themselves, but at the same time? Be strong, Hachiman!

I get annoyed at Oregairu, just a little, at how much Yukino’s personality issues need to be part of whatever discussion in her presence when she’s in a leadership position. Sure, she’s a high school student, but that’s a private issue that has no bearing on whether a task needs further tending or not. In this battle against the PTO to save the prom, Haruno and Mrs. Yukinoshita try to freeze Hachiman out of helping because they claim they want Yukino to avoid codependent relationships. I see this as a manipulation ploy, and so does Shizuka-sensei. Perhaps the elder Yukinoshitas are testing Yukino to notice their gambit. Perhaps they’re trying to goad her into defending a pillar of leadership known as delegation. If Yukino could convince them that she delegated Hachiman to handle the politics of the prom while she focused on the logistics, they might drop the whole issue of Yukino learning to do things on her own. Hachiman built a high hurdle by suggesting his role before Yukino did. Let’s see what our antihero can do to flip perceptions.

There’s one more thing to mention concerning Shizuka-sensei and her packed-up books from the last week's Oregairu. Hachiman concluded that she’s leaving the school, which is understandable from a pessimistic perspective. He didn’t even entertain the idea that she might be getting a promotion to principal! Why would a mere teacher be involved in a PTO discussion about a new annual event? Shouldn’t the principal be there? Unless the future principal is already handling the future negotiations? Haruno let too much out of the bag with her friend and how her position could change because of the “many years she’s been at the school.” Perhaps the PTO was testing Shizuka-sensei with her Service Club. It’s a fun idea to think about.

Heh.

The kids love the promo video. Yukino still ask Hachiman and Yui for trivial things. Aw. Hachiman can still be an awkward teenager. He doesn’t like how he looks in the photo shoot. Yui will keep every single picture for herself, obviously. If they’re done, they can go on a “deito!” Well, Yui will help Hachiman get a gift for Komachi on her birthday and successful entrance exam. Very domestic. Or newlywed?

Ha! Hachiman has a hobby! He’s a Maxis Coffee Vending Machine otaku! All this time, I thought he just affected liking black coffee to be contrarian. Yui uses snapchat filters for her own flavor of selfies. Oh shit. Going to IKEA is a serious relationship step! Oregairu continues to show Yui make authentic relationship moves in artificial situations. Talking on a bed with her boyfriend in an IKEA is just too much. And newlywed play in an IKEA kitchen just adds on to that.

Here comes the drama! The PTO wants to cancel the prom. It’s like Footloose or something. Of course, Yukino’s mom is in charge. Haruno is there for the Alumni Association. The point of contention is that social media buzz doesn’t cover private reservations that parents or school officials may have. I called that! Yukino wants to take on convincing the adults to let the prom happen and keep organizing it. All because Hachiman suggested he handle the persuasion stuff before Yukino suggested.

Shizuka-sensei understands that, and she’s going to support Hachiman’s insurgency. This is where he becomes the hero we need, but don’t deserve. He doesn’t care what some busybody, frumpy parent thinks about him after he lets his classmates twerk their asses off. The only parental unit whose opinion might harm him already knows what he’s capable of and I bet they’re just looking forward to seeing what he does to gain back their favor so he can date their daughter. Oh? Is that looking to far forward? Not for Hachiman the Hero. Yukino looks so sad when she says she can’t ask Hachiman for help. Like that’s the only time they can spend together. She can sit with him holding his sleeve just drinking tea too, you know.

Ho hoh. Hachiman thought Haruno was talking about a love triangle, but she meant codependency. Haruno is wrong about codependent relationships in teenagers, though. They don’t have enough independent agency yet where diffuse interpersonal relationships can harm them. They’re kids! Get over yourselves. Bah. Codependency only exists in a dysfunctional family setting. Look up John Bradshaw and dysfunctional families in your pop psychology and 12 Step sections of your local bookstore. High school kids aren’t supposed to have hard boundaries of self between their friends and peers yet. Elders should just make sure they have good friends and if you don’t think Yui and Hachiman are good for Yukino, I don’t know what to tell you.

Do it, Hachiman! You want to save the girl because you promised. What a man! You made Shizuka-sensei’s heart skip a beat too, you know. And then you made Yui cry because you didn’t promise her first. These are manly problems. Men can’t avoid them.