Second week with AyaHiro in our lives again!!
So let's talk about Episode 2 (and about the preview for next week's episode) a bit, shall we? Yes, we shall!
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This second episode was quite rich, wasn't it?
Not a bad thing, not in my personal opinion at least, but I found it not to have a consistent tone throughout. On the contrary, it felt quite varied in that way.
Though I did like the second half as well, the first one is definitely my favorite.
I love how they managed to make it so comical and at the same time...about something so real and not funny at all, in itself. They were able to make me laugh even through the sense of self-defeat and invisibility that has 37 years old Hiroko completely swallowed up, and manages to touch even the most out there lesbian of them all, Ayaka.
For a moment, I must admit, I thought (feared? But well, it felt realistic) that Ayaka would back out, when she was asked about her love declaration, in order to avoid risking putting Hiroko in a negative position. But she didn't. She never denies her love. Never. She's incredible, even in facing my new favorite benevolent homophobe Keiko, who treats her like an alien, exhibiting the same surprised enthusiasm one would display in front of some magical creature. The mysterious Ls! Yes, we do exist! Yes, we're among you normal humans! Shock!! The good thing about benevolent homophobes is that, while yes, their ignorant beliefs make them act and speak as if only straight people exist, and as if anything that is not heterosexuality is completely outside of normalcy, they have a wonderful potential for improvement. And sometimes it's precisely having direct contact with one of those...abnormals that does the trick, and allows them to wake up.
But like I was saying, as funny as it was to witness, that moment was very heavy, and it hit both Ayaka (as Hiroko then contemplates, she obviously would've loved to be introduced as Hiroko's girlfriend; I mean, SHE was about to introduce herself as such!) and Hiroko. The little sister who's grown up admiring her has no idea about who she really is. No, this is a lie. Our sexual orientation is not who we are, but it is an important element that is connected with deep parts of us, so not everything about Keiko's image of Hiroko is wrong, but that part of it that is wrong, is stabbing our Hiroko right through the heart...seeing Ayaka treated like that (knowing that she's a lesbian herself, and she's letting her sister single out her girlfriend as some sort of unicorn in front of her eyes, without saying anything; it's not easy to forgive yourself for things like this), all the talk about her non-existent cool boyfriend...
Something I really appreciated is how this episode also showed our silly protagonists as mature, and trying to be better. After that mess of a scene, Hiroko doesn't waste any time and immediately apologizes to Ayaka, and so does Ayaka for recklessly running with her imagination. I can't be mad that this moment got interrupted, because Tsumugi was adorable and amazing! I laughed so much with how she treated Ayaka! That child actress is really something ahah
The way Hiroko and Ayaka care about each other is made so obvious by their thoughts and actions this episode. But still, there's more talking openly to be done! At least by the end the misunderstanding about having had sex is solved, though it leaves poor Ayaka with extra confusion, seeing how happy Hiroko is knowing she hasn't touched her. It's only understandable for Ayaka to grow doubtful, and wonder if Hiroko really doesn't like her in that way. Awww, Ayakaaaaaaaaa!
Random quick comments:
- Kyouko! We got to see Kyouko! Our lovely Lady Kyouko!
- Also, is it just me or Risa is cuter this season??
- Ayaka's junior is cute!
- Part of me is convinced that having Ayaka think that even Hiroko's mom was her lover, was Sal Jiang's idea. Why? Because our great author...openly has a thing with mature women lol (no, really, she posts about it on X).
- Keiko is ignorant and insensitive but she really loves and admires Hiroko, even using the fact that a girl has fallen for her as a way to praise her in front of others :')
Not a bad thing, not in my personal opinion at least, but I found it not to have a consistent tone throughout. On the contrary, it felt quite varied in that way.
Though I did like the second half as well, the first one is definitely my favorite.
I love how they managed to make it so comical and at the same time...about something so real and not funny at all, in itself. They were able to make me laugh even through the sense of self-defeat and invisibility that has 37 years old Hiroko completely swallowed up, and manages to touch even the most out there lesbian of them all, Ayaka.
For a moment, I must admit, I thought (feared? But well, it felt realistic) that Ayaka would back out, when she was asked about her love declaration, in order to avoid risking putting Hiroko in a negative position. But she didn't. She never denies her love. Never. She's incredible, even in facing my new favorite benevolent homophobe Keiko, who treats her like an alien, exhibiting the same surprised enthusiasm one would display in front of some magical creature. The mysterious Ls! Yes, we do exist! Yes, we're among you normal humans! Shock!! The good thing about benevolent homophobes is that, while yes, their ignorant beliefs make them act and speak as if only straight people exist, and as if anything that is not heterosexuality is completely outside of normalcy, they have a wonderful potential for improvement. And sometimes it's precisely having direct contact with one of those...abnormals that does the trick, and allows them to wake up.
But like I was saying, as funny as it was to witness, that moment was very heavy, and it hit both Ayaka (as Hiroko then contemplates, she obviously would've loved to be introduced as Hiroko's girlfriend; I mean, SHE was about to introduce herself as such!) and Hiroko. The little sister who's grown up admiring her has no idea about who she really is. No, this is a lie. Our sexual orientation is not who we are, but it is an important element that is connected with deep parts of us, so not everything about Keiko's image of Hiroko is wrong, but that part of it that is wrong, is stabbing our Hiroko right through the heart...seeing Ayaka treated like that (knowing that she's a lesbian herself, and she's letting her sister single out her girlfriend as some sort of unicorn in front of her eyes, without saying anything; it's not easy to forgive yourself for things like this), all the talk about her non-existent cool boyfriend...
Something I really appreciated is how this episode also showed our silly protagonists as mature, and trying to be better. After that mess of a scene, Hiroko doesn't waste any time and immediately apologizes to Ayaka, and so does Ayaka for recklessly running with her imagination. I can't be mad that this moment got interrupted, because Tsumugi was adorable and amazing! I laughed so much with how she treated Ayaka! That child actress is really something ahah
The way Hiroko and Ayaka care about each other is made so obvious by their thoughts and actions this episode. But still, there's more talking openly to be done! At least by the end the misunderstanding about having had sex is solved, though it leaves poor Ayaka with extra confusion, seeing how happy Hiroko is knowing she hasn't touched her. It's only understandable for Ayaka to grow doubtful, and wonder if Hiroko really doesn't like her in that way. Awww, Ayakaaaaaaaaa!
Random quick comments:
- Kyouko! We got to see Kyouko! Our lovely Lady Kyouko!
- Also, is it just me or Risa is cuter this season??
- Ayaka's junior is cute!
- Part of me is convinced that having Ayaka think that even Hiroko's mom was her lover, was Sal Jiang's idea. Why? Because our great author...openly has a thing with mature women lol (no, really, she posts about it on X).
- Keiko is ignorant and insensitive but she really loves and admires Hiroko, even using the fact that a girl has fallen for her as a way to praise her in front of others :')
Now, let's check out the preview for EP3!
[Eng Subs] AyaHiro 2 Episode 3 Preview
— SapphicLoner (アリ) (@thesapphicloner) July 4, 2025
W-Wait... are they gonna...!?!? 🫨
And is Ayaka going to rely on superstitious good luck stuff again? 😂
Also, EP3 marks the end of Eda's half of the season!!#あやひろ2 pic.twitter.com/2phksf5JDm
So, it seems like Keiko's wedding will be a chance for Hiroko to consider her own romance views for the long term, which might be interesting. I remember in one of the trailers Tsumugi asks Hiroko if she's gonna marry...Sorry, Hiroko, Ayaka. You have to wait until Megumi gets her degree and does something to legalize same-sex marriage in Japan! Please be patient!! After the good luck panties from S1, it looks like Ayaka will find something new to bring her extra luck in this 2nd Stage as well. She's really vulnerable to this sort of stuff, isn't she? But it's a fun call back to S1 for sure!
Hiroko, my dear, Ayaka doesn't want you to control yourself! If you keep doing it, that's how she might end up disliking you (no, she won't). Stop controlling yourself! STOOOOOOOOOOOP!
Those final moments there look pretty serious...don't they?
Let's see how Eda is going to wrap "her" AyaHiro! Definitely looking forward to that!
Hiroko, my dear, Ayaka doesn't want you to control yourself! If you keep doing it, that's how she might end up disliking you (no, she won't). Stop controlling yourself! STOOOOOOOOOOOP!
Those final moments there look pretty serious...don't they?
Let's see how Eda is going to wrap "her" AyaHiro! Definitely looking forward to that!
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