Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru Kan - Episode 11 - 10 Second Anime

Hachiman surprises Yukino by enlisting her help in organizing a joint prom.

Episode 11 – “Only a heated touch truly conveys the sentiment.”

Hmm.

Every time Shizuka is on screen, Oregairu proclaims her to be “best girl too old” for Hachiman. Gahama Mama runs a close second, but she’s obviously her daughter’s best wingman. The way she can say with a straight face how much she loves him and give him head pats makes her the big sister Hachiman always needed. Hachiman is a great older brother with an awesome relationship with his younger sister Komachi, but he was sorely missing an older sister to goad him into action for working on his relationship and communication skills. It’s obvious that Shizuka devoted too much of herself to the kids she’s mentored in school, otherwise she would have been married off by now.

It was tough watching Yui realize she lost the race for Hachiman’s heart when he asked her not to wait for him to become a better man. A person expressing real love would acknowledge what the partner wants but that someone would also be open about his own personal needs. Being close enough to another person to be selfish without feeling the need to be polite about it was what Yui wanted with Hachiman. She almost had it when he stopped himself from saying something to “sound cool.” That’s a sign of an honest relationship, but it wasn’t the same as being selfish enough to ask for a huge relationship favor. Yui knew at that moment Hachiman was reserving that part of himself for someone else. When she saw her dog and how it was the only real connection she had with Hachiman, the tears began to flow. All the forced associations still created a real relationship, but not a romantic one.

I had to laugh when Haruno laughed at Hachiman for trying to put on his fake prom to prove a point. By this point, Hachiman was aware enough of his own shortcomings for hanging out with Yukino for no reason other than wanting to be together. Both he and Yukino don’t do that. But working together on a project so that they can spend time together was a fine way of extending their association. Haruno and Mrs. Yukinoshita admired Hachiman’s nerve to produce a huge event for the single purpose of creating a grand moment with Yukino. They also liked the way he didn’t flinch when he admitted asking Yukino to “save” his doomed project was insinuating himself into their family by attempting to ruin Yukino’s reputation. In effect, he petitioned to become part of their family! Mrs. Yukinoshita saw right through all of that.

Hachiman and Yukino’s scene of double declarations of “continued associations” had so many artistic layers to it. First, it was on a bridge, so that’s a rich metaphor already, and then Hachiman had to cross over that bridge and chase after Yukino to hold her hand. Pivotal moments are supposed to be pivotal! These two still rely on the Shizuka’s position that they have too many words to describe their feelings, but Shizuka also said that they need to keep using all those words for the “one word” until they were ready. Ready for what? To say that one word to each other that captures all those words and more. Hachiman almost got there when he declared that he “wanted Yukino to want him to ask her to take responsibility” for the situations he puts her into. Almost there! Hachiman already pledged his life and future to her, but he needs to put all of that into the one word that matters. Love.

Heh.

Shizuka and Yui's scenes were the ones that let you knew that Yukino would be the one for Hachiman. Shizuka taught Hachiman the idea that one word could encapsulate all the other words. Love. She's so great. As for Yui, it was difficult watching her heart break in real time when she saw that Hachiman couldn't be selfish for her.

We needed to see Yui's catharsis. She had been trying hard and hoping for so long that Hachiman could have real romantic love for her, but it didn't happen for her. Hachiman must be on the flat-is-justice team or he'll need to learn to love it.

Ha! Hachiman is going to make his fake prom a reality just so he can spend time with Yukino. Boys have done dumb things for girls forever, so why should Hachiman be any different? The best part of this whole scene was how Mrs. Yukinoshita sized up Hachiman for joining their family to protect their reputation.

Love. The word that these two need to say to replace the huge word storm they keep using is love. They love each other. This romantic comedy is messed up, as expected.