Moé Moé Rabu

Ah, after such a long break, Clannad returns and we continue on with the Kotomi arc. This episode brings ups the past about Kotomi and the rather saddening past that she has lived and that she did meet Tomoya when they were kids. But I do have to say, I don’t find Kotomi’s past all that compelling and it so far hasn’t had much of an impact compared to Fuko’s arc. That’s not to say that the story is bad, but it’s a pretty stereotypical storyline that I somehow can’t see it being taken to the next level. Of course we can still look at it as having an impact as Kotomi as a child had lost her parents, and to grow up without parents in this harsh world is no easy feat.

Impressions

Still it is rather sad to think that her last words to her parents was that she hates them and that she blames the thesis that she burnt. Though I see the burning of the thesis as an escape from Kotomi blaming herself when she was a child, but as she grew older, she came to believe that it was her fault. I find it also interesting that she still believes in God forgiving her for burning the thesis if she remained a good girl, and is probably why we saw her breaking down in the last episode repeating she’ll be a good girl. Her collecting of news clippings of her parents death I feel is her way of trying to get closer to her parents, despite them having died in the accident.

If there is any mystery to what was shown in this episode, it’s how has Kotomi survived all these years if she was living alone? Surely there is no way a young girl like her at that age be able to do daily necessities or be able to pay the bills. Unless that is of course her family was super rich. Though it’s only a minor detail at this point, but it’s most likely the “bad guy” helping her out from the shadows.

Young Kotomi sure was cute, and the way she became friends with Tomoya was pretty sudden. Though thinking back to the pie that Kotomi made, I think she made that pie in hope that Tomoya would remember her since we see the two eating it together when they were younger. I’m not at all surprised that Kotomi remembered Tomoya when she first saw him, but I think it hurt her quite a bit when she realised that he didn’t remember her at all. It’s an easy thing to forget about someone and for Tomoya, I’m not surprised. But at least Kotomi found the joy of being friends with him once again, or even still, her feelings may have gone beyond friends. But going back, I wonder why Tomoya never showed up for Kotomi’s birthday? Something must have happened so I hope we get some sort of explanation next episode.

Well it seems next episode is the end of the Kotomi arc. It’s kind of a shame really since I hoped that it would go for another 2 or 3 episodes, but given we’ve reached the halfway point KyoAni may be struggling to squeeze in the other girls. The preview mentions the rabbit and deer, so I’m rather interested in seeing Kotomi’s arc will compare with “The Dandelion Girl” story. Oh and Kyou’s zettai ryouiki is pure love.

Preview:

Merchandise of the Week

You know I was kind of hoping to have some merchandise items related to the current characters arc, but unfortunately I have nothing with Kotomi in it. So this week, since we were blessed with a lovely view of Kyou’s zettai ryouiki, I figured this would be a nice one to use. So this week’s merchandise item is a Kyou shitajiki (pencilboard).

This isn’t anything too rare as I’m sure some people would have this. I picked this up at some 2nd hand store in Sunshine Plaza at Ikebukuro for only ¥200. I was actually looking for the planetarium that is supposed to be there since I wanted to see if Planetarian was based off the one here, but I got lost in the massive complex and somehow stumbled upon this store. So right now this shitajiki hangs on my wall.