Minami-ke: Okawari Episode 03

Touma, about to burn her tongue

"Evening Hospitality, Extend the Bowl Hesitantly"

"Motenashi no Yoru, Sotto Dashi" (もてなしの夜、そっと出し)

Airdate: 20 January 2008

Internal Date: Between 9 January and 1 February 2008

Previous Episode → 02

Next Episode → 04

Synopsis

This episode introduces Fuyuki.

Chiaki's classmates invite themselves to the Minami home for a group homework session and sleepover. Kana declares it a "pajama festival" and puts herself in charge of hospitality, to Chiaki's annoyance. To feed all her guests, Haruka prepares a family-style nabe meal, and Chiaki invites Fujioka to dinner. Everyone has a good time, but no-one gets much homework done.

Segment One

Kana complains about the cold of the morning as the three sisters depart for school. Haruka promises to have something warm ready for Kana when Kana returns, since Haruka has the afternoon off. Kana complains voluminously about the unfairness of this. On the way out, they notice that someone appears to be moving into the building.

At Chiaki's school, the group, especially Uchida and Makoto, complains that their school is piling a large amount of homework on them, but Chiaki comments that the sheer volume is probably necessary to help idiots improve. Makoto continues to complain and Chiaki asks if he missed the implication of her statement. Not surprisingly, Uchida doesn't understand either. Uchida suggests that they work together and the group reaches an automatic consensus that this should be done at Chiaki's. This decision does not involve Chiaki. Uchida comments that Chiaki's place is very relaxing and they should probably prepare to stay over, while Chiaki imagines exactly what she means by this.

Everyone agrees, and Chiaki consents due to social pressure.

Hosaka, engrossed in one of his trademark fantasies.

Meanwhile, Haruka says farewell to her friends and Maki imaginatively describes a nabe party she clearly wants. Hosaka overhears this and goes into his typical fantasy mode, speaking of eating nabe with her and reiterating his obsession with sweat. By this point, Hosaka has already done his signature shirt-stripping, prompting Maki to warn him that he will catch a cold, before she thinks her signature "Kimochi Warui".

The gang holds a pose after Chiaki beans Touma with a bag.

On her way home, Haruka glances in on the next door neighbor who has moved in, seeing the boxes piled there.

At school, Kana stares out the window and muses out loud on how unfair life is, while Fujioka agrees perplexedly.

While hanging the laundry, Haruka notices the new next door neighbor unpacking on the balcony next to hers. She exchanges greetings with him, and then notices that she has been holding a frilly bra the entire time.

Touma prepares to leave school and go home, ignoring Chiaki's demands that she stop and listen to her, before she is knocked over by a bag thrown at her head by Chiaki. Touma explains that she doesn't have time to play because of the loads of homework she has. Chiaki then corrals Touma into going to her house as well. Uchida comments it will be fun. Chiaki reminds the group that the goal here is to finish their homework. Uchida ignores this and tells Touma to bring her pajamas. Touma finally consents, and then reveals that she hears a transfer student will be arriving soon. Touma doesn't have much information, though, so Chiaki berates her.

Segment Two

At home, the three sisters finish eating their zenzai and Chiaki reveals the sleepover plan, which Haruka agrees to, even after Chiaki reveals that it is planned for that day. Kana admonishes that at least a week of preparation is need for a "pajama festival", to which Chiaki reiterates that the meeting is only for homework. After Haruka leaves, Kana wants to go prepare for "the festival" but Chiaki warns her not to be involved at all. Kana insists that the guests must be entertained, Chiaki says again that the only goal of the meeting is for homework, and they are on the verge of argument when Haruka arrives and announces that she will be implementing Maki's nabe idea, before leaving to go shopping. Kana starts to say that she will cook, but is immediately punched out by Chiaki. Chiaki thinks about how nabe naturally implies a happy gathering and family. Kana gets up, saying she wants to make preparations, and is punched out again.

Later on, Kana discusses their new next-door neighbors with Chiaki. Kana speculates on what they are like, but Chiaki insists that she doesn't care. Kana wants to go greet them, but Chiaki refuses to participate. Kana relents, explaining that it is at the very least Haruka's job. Chiaki questions whether Kana should feel irresponsible for saying so, and Kana says the neighbors might very well be on their way to greet them now, but is interrupted by the doorbell.

Mako-chan plans his outfits carefully.

It is only Yoshino and Uchida, who have arrived. In addition, Mako-chan suddenly appears, even though Makoto was the one who was invited. Kana pulls Mako-chan away from the others and berates him for wearing such a girly outfit. Uchida and Yoshino lie on the floor, commenting on its comfort and replicating what Chiaki imagined earlier. Kana tells them to get up and orders them to change into pajamas even though it's only five o'clock. They do so, as Haruka, accompanied by Makoto and Fujioka, returns. Makoto volunteers to help her cook. Kana questions why Fujioka is here, and Fujioka explains that he was invited. Chiaki explains that she invited him because they were having nabe.

Chiaki is surprised that Kana wants to join them.

Uchida and Yoshino, already changed, asked Chiaki why they had to change, and Chiaki explains that Kana is getting fired up. Yoshino says Kana clearly wants to join them, but Chiaki says if that were the case, Kana would be straightforward about it. Touma arrives just as Chiaki has finished. Kana shows up, surprising Touma, before telling her to change. Touma says she hasn't brought pajamas, but Kana begins forcibly trying to change her clothing.

Chiaki asks why she is so fixated on everyone changing clothes, and Kana explains that as the host family, they must show hospitality.

Chiaki asks her if the real reason is if Kana is feeling hesitant about joining the sleepover, due to embarrassment. At this point, Kana gives in and asks if she can join, surprising Chiaki, who consents. Kana then says that clearly five o'clock is too early for pajamas.

Chiaki demonstrates her Surrogate Family.

Fujioka is helping Haruka in the kitchen when Chiaki grabs them both by the arm, saying simply "nabe". Kana gives elaborate instructions on how to place ingredients in the nabe, but Chiaki ignores her and just pours everything in. She sneakily tries to leave out certain vegetables, but Haruka orders her to put them in.

Segment Three

After an extended eating scene, the doorbell rings, Haruka opens the door, and one of the next door neighbors, Fuyuki, has arrived to greet them, giving them a gift while Kana and Chiaki watch. Haruka invites him to join them, but he declines. After the door closes, however, he seems unhappy.

After eating, Kana lies on the floor with bare stomach, and Haruka tells her to cover herself, lest Fujioka see her. Kana ignores her and compliments Haruka's hospitality. Haruka warns her not to do anything unnecessary distracting the others from homework, but Kana insists it is not unnecessary.

Meanwhile, the Chiaki and her female friends are in the tub. Chiaki warns Uchida to ignore Kana, and Uchida asks Chiaki warned only her. Chiaki replies that it is Uchida that worries her the most. Uchida and Chiaki get into a splashing fight, prompting an overheated Yoshino to move out and allow Touma in.

Fujioka and Makoto are washing the dishes. Fujioka comments that Makoto resembles Mako-chan.

Kana and Haruka discuss the fact that their bathtub doesn't fit more than three people. Kana picks up on keywords in what Haruka says about competition and largeness and decides that she will show her hospitality to the others by providing them with milk. Kana then walks into the bathroom to look at the girls, as Haruka slowly realizes what is going on. Chiaki eventually kicks her out.

Chiaki, not shown, fares rather poorly in comparison.

As the girls leave the bathroom, Kana offers them glasses of milk. Uchida is the first out, drinking a glass and demanding more, which Kana refuses on the grounds that it will give her a stomachache. Chiaki is second out, and Kana's offer prompts Chiaki to attack her and pull her hair. Touma comes out and asks if they have strawberry-flavored milk but Chiaki yells at her to just go sleep. Fujioka returns home.

What they have failed to do any of.

Kana walks into the room where they are gathered and says the night has just begun. Chiaki tells her to cut it out, but Kana then excludes her on the grounds that she is still a child. Chiaki questions this strongly, but then Kana looks meaningfully at the chests of the other girls and says that is her basis. Chiaki says this makes no sense, as Touma is a boy Touma insists she is a girl, and Kana again attempts to strip Touma, explaining that Touma is growing fairly well. Chiaki throws Fujioka at Kana and says it's time to sleep but Kana retorts that the festival is just beginning.

Meanwhile, Makoto sleeps on the kotatsu outside.

In the morning, they discuss how fun it was, while Chiaki comments she'd only do it again if "the idiot" (Kana) weren't around. Haruka asks if they got any homework done and Makoto sneezes.

Adapted From

• Adapted from Chapter 044 Volume 03 (Segment Two) and Chapter 045 Volume 03 (Segment Three)
• Mixed with Original Content and the introduction of Fuyuki.

Differences between the manga and the anime lie primarily in the anime's addition of original material to expand the two chapters into an episode with one coherent story. The adaptation of the manga material itself is generally faithful, except that in the manga, the entire intention is to have a pajama party, following Uchida's idea. No homework is ever mentioned, and Chiaki does not spend half the time insisting that the party is for the purpose of doing homework. Further, Makoto and Fujioka do not attend, or at least do not show up at the time the anime shows them doing so. Instead, two students from class 5-1 arrive with Touma, causing there to be a total of six girls. These two girls are the same girls who were seen once before in Minami-ke Episode 07#Segment Two (Minami-ke Chapter 36). As of yet, they have not made another appearance in either manga or anime.

Fan Reaction

Reaction to this episode was generally positive, with the episode being considered a moderate return to form after the relatively lackluster second episode. The significant amount of fan-service in the episode was noted, with some concern that it foretold a season too dependent on fan-service the previous season did not need. This did not eventually prove to be true. Reaction to the anime-original Fuyuki was generally negative, questioning his necessity.