Overview: A long held secret shared between Nagi (Nicholas Andrew Louie) and Erika (Lindsay Sheppard) is revealed to Hiro (Amanda Lee), much to her discomfort.
Our Take: While the best part of Nagi climbing back to being number one is what it means for his relationship with Hiro, his unabashed, over-the-top confidence in himself is priceless, confirming why he is so dang lovable. He is rejected once again because she has a fiancé, but the moments are stacking up in how they grow closer with Hiro wishing that they were engaged. It is a romantic moment that is a clear sign that their love burns hotter than summer nights, baby! The slow burn is the just the name of the game with romcoms, which can definitely be hit-or-miss based on how they are developed and piecemealed out. Thankfully, the developments with them have been satisfying, each feeling like a small but meaningful victory.
Nagi is taking his victory lap but Sachi is not having it, continuing to be a childish irritating headache. Nagi and Erika are just the opposite thankfully in their bonding over their dorky beach supply shopping for their summer trip. Their bus ride home is adorable is how they attempt to keep a secret of their own in keeping them living together from Hiro. That all hilariously comes crashing down when Segawa finds out and it is awkward in how subtly perturbed Hiro is through finding out but always suspecting something was up.
Nagi’s apology allows for a confrontation in her pain in him, continuing to keep secrets from her that show how genuinely hurt she is by him being around another woman in living with and being so intimate with Erika. We have seen small moments of that throughout the season but watching her anger and frustration bubble up was compelling. However, seeing how she just could not stay mad and threatened to curse him, stealing his hair, is hot as heck. So much so I’d be happy with whatever ritual or punishment she sees fit if I was in Nagi’s shoes.
Sachi is always trying to keep Nagi’s spirits down, unconvinced of Hiro’s feelings for him. As irritating as she can be, with how plainly obvious she is becoming in telegraphing her feelings for him, especially compared to Erika and Hiro, her constantly giving him crap is beginning to have its charm. Hopefully, that feeling will remain moving forward. It goes doubly so when Nagi questions her true feelings for him after finding out from Hiro and she throws a temper tantrum with her childish antics. Notably though, the one thing she does not do is deny it.