This is probably more lengthier than my previous post. I actually think there was a LOT more happening in this episode than episode three. But that’s just me. As I mentioned in the episode three review, episode four tends to focus a lot of Kariu. It actually starts off with her discussing exactly what the silver pin is, which was mentioned in the second episode. It basically is something that is given to the top two students who have the highest scores in the class. One of the things that seems to bother Kariu is the way Hishiro smiles at her.  Arata tells Kariu that Hishiro is actually smiling, but he can understand where Kariu is coming from when she doubts it is genuine.

We see so many things are wracking through her head, especially if it has anything to do with Oga. Kariu sees Hishiro with Arata and notices that she smiles normal around him. She questions if she does the same thing around Oga. It turns out that Kariu has a lot of self-doubt and when it comes to Hishiro and her friend Honoka, she is the only one that sees the three of them as rivals.

It is becoming clearer to An that the reason Kariu seems so upset has something to do with Oga. I get the feeling on how she understands what is going on, but in case you are just starting this anime, I won’t spoil anything. This all happens when Arata, Oga and An are eating lunch together. Oga sees Hishiro eating lunch all by herself.He gets the idea that maybe An and Arata might do better studying with him and Hishiro.

At first Arata agrees and then decides against it, and although it doesn’t show or reveal anything, you get the idea Arata knows what will happen if Hishiro sits with them.

Hishiro texts Arata, telling him that she thinks she finally making a friend. When she tells him it’s Kariu, Arata has a look of shock on his face, and he knows that really isn’t true. Hishiro seems oblivious that the way she comes across Kariu is hostile. And it really does.

Towards the end of the episode, Kariu ends up staying late at school after practicing volleyball. She goes to return the gym key to the staff room, and she finds out she wasn’t the only one staying late. When she goes inside, she sees Hishiro. Kariu makes a quick exit and makes the bad decision of taking Hishiro’s bag, and basically thinks she could use some bad luck.

Kariu had no clue Arata was at the school using the study room. She thinks she’ll have a clean exit and dump Hishiro’s bag at a station’s bathroom. Of course, we all know that isn’t going to happen. This is one of those scenarios that you know she’ll get caught. And she does…by Arata. She makes all these excuses as to why she has a second bag when he asks about it, and Arata isn’t that dumb as people think he is. He knows exactly what is going on because he recognizes Hishiro’s bag. Kariu tries to run away and ends up falling backwards down the stairs. But Arata is able to catch her…and then his foot slips out of his shoe and both go tumbling down the stairs. The episode ends with Hishiro being the one that discovers them. Stay tuned. Reviews for episodes five and six will be up shortly.