English Dub Review: Horimiya: The Missing Pieces “Chocolate”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Everyone is so eager to impress with their chocolatey gifts that the prospect of heartbreak has some of them on edge over what should be a loving holiday.

Our Take:

It’s a shame the series was released during the summer instead of earlier this year. Considering the topic of this week’s episode is Valentine’s Day, it would’ve been an excellent opportunity to release it during the romantic holiday. Alas, we got it during the first days of fall. Better late than never, I suppose. Regardless, we have another endearing episode centering on students getting into humorous dilemmas during the special holiday. While the episode centers on these characters figuring out their Valentine’s Day gifts relating to chocolate, it mainly centers on two students: Sawada and Hori.  

“Chocolate” marks another appearance of Honoka Sawada in The Missing Pieces, following the seventh episode, “Friends”. Here, we see Sawada looking to buy a special gift for Hori, explaining why she asked Miyamura about Hori’s favorite color. Amid her search, she helps another student, whose name escapes me, buy chocolate for her crush, Shu Iura. Of course, being the Valentine’s Day researcher she is, Sawada asks Iura his favorite chocolate. Sawada then gives Hori an orange bow as a Valentine’s gift. It was lovely that Sawada gets another spotlight moment in the episode, especially after she charmed her way into my heart in “Friends”. While not as endearing as the seventh episode, Sawada’s moment in “Chocolate” is charming enough to warm my heart and provide plenty of laughs regarding her expressions.

The episode also has Hori attempting to bake a chocolate-based dessert for Miyamura. Unfortunately, her baking skills are terrible compared to Miyamura, whose family owns a baking shop. Regardless, Hori gave it another shot by making chocolate ganache squares. The result remains the same as before, with the squares tasting bitter, according to Hori’s family and Sakura. Of course, when Miyamura tasted Hori’s dessert, he enjoyed it, resulting in Hori realizing that making people smile with their effortful gifts is an essential part of Valentine’s Day.

“Chocolate” offers two enjoyable segments centering on Sawada and Hori, each providing humor and heart into their given Valentine’s misadventures. Hori’s dilemma can be predictable regarding its sitcom-ish formula. However, the heartfelt message and comedy help make this episode as delicious as a box of chocolates. If the writers decide on doing another Valentine’s Day episode, here’s hoping they release it around the actual holiday.