Summary:
If snow can save you from dying in a motorcycle crash, it can also save you from falling to your death. Noe ends up with just a fractured leg bone, and reveals that she thought she could fly after watching how awesome Shinichiro’s dance was. Hiromi is worried about Noe pulling the sympathy play, but is terribly conflicted about how to confess to Shinichiro. After working her stress out with some basketball, Hiromi tells Shinichiro that she has always loved him, and she will wait for him to pick between Noe and her. In an incredible twist, Kanae even comes over to support Hiromi during the wait.
Shinichiro wants to show Noe the finished book, but she refuses because she believes Shinichiro would have finished the book without her help. Shinichiro threatens to toss the book into the ocean where Jibeta refused to fly, and Noe is shocked he saw that. Noe eventually limps to the ocean to see Shinichiro making the pages of the book into paper airplanes and she saves the pages from going into the ocean. Shinichiro tells Noe that he loves Hiromi but that he truly was inspired by Noe. Shinichiro believes that Noe can fly, essentially saying, “Believe in the me who believes in you.”
This is enough for Noe and she gathers he strength to limp back to the hospital on her own. Shinichiro has taught her that without pain there is no gain, and Noe is finally able to accept that sadness can help one to grow. Meanwhile, Shinichiro finds Hiromi along the bamboo path and tells her that he will be with her always. As Hiromi cries tears of happiness, the snow begins to fall.
Flash forward to spring and we learn that Noe has finally managed to get some friends. Jun is wanted for being a siscon and has fled the authorities, and Tomoyo still sucks at basketball. Also, Shinichiro’s dad finally realized that Shinichiro wants to be an artist and so begins teaching that kid with the shaved head how to make awesome sake. Ai actually is happy to see Miyokichi now, and we see Noe standing at Jibeta’s coop. Noe sees the words that Shinichiro made her that fateful day, and is finally able to shed some tears at how badly Hiromi owned her.
Reaction:
This was a complicated episode with a lot going on, but I really enjoyed it. I felt enough loose ends were tied up in a way that gave the whole series a consistent theme about growing by working through tough situations. Hiromi especially exemplified this ideal, and she faced haters at every turn. However, Hiromi was able to face her feelings and do the right thing time and time again. By the end, her consistent efforts netted her Shinichiro and also the ability to do a full split.
I like that the story highlighted that flying isn’t about getting on a tall cliff and jumping, it is about persistence. All series long Noe was running away from her sadness, and that made her determined limp to the hospital that much more powerful. I’m glad she was able to gain friends and a life on her own, without Shinichiro or Jun there to help her.
Even the Aiko-Miyokichi resolution was nice, even if Ai was just a bit character. The happy look on Ai’s face when she saw Miyokichi was in stark contrast to her doom and gloom at the beginning of the series. Braving the awkwardness after what she did to Shinichiro and Miyokichi ended up paying tremendous dividends and resulted in a happy win-win situation.
Facing your feelings is hard, and I liked the advice that Shinichiro’s father gave about tears showing a wavering heart. I’m really glad that Shinichiro was able to lay everything out for Noe, and she accepted his explanation. Shinichiro had finally figured his own feelings out, and completed his transformation. It was fitting that he returned the inspiration back to Noe to help her achieve her own dreams.
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Then again... I probably need to find a way to rip blu-ray first...
