Last episode ended with Mr. Yoshimatsu asking Mika what kind of work he and Chisato do, suggesting that he is aware that LycoReco is a front for the DA. Naturally, this episode follows up on that by not providing us with a follow-up so I guess we won’t know how that conversation went for the time being. That isn’t weird at all!
In this episode, Chisato has to return to the DA’s headquarters for a physical exam. Chisato is begrudged to go back, being on strained terms with the DA, but she complies as missing the physical exam will result in her Lycoris license getting revoked. Since Chisato is heading to HQ, Takina decides to accompany her. She hopes to run into the commander of the DA, Kusunoki (Yoko Soumi), and request that she be reinstated in the organization’s main forces. The episode doesn’t really revolve around Chisato’s physical exam (and unsurprisingly, she’s in peak human condition) nor does it really put her Lycoris license at any real risk. The real center of the episode is Takina.
At HQ, Takina deals with various other Lycoris gossiping behind her back. Ironically, the only one there who doesn’t think badly of her is Erika Janome (Yuka Yagami), the Lycoris Takina endangered in the first episode. She feels responsible for getting caught in the first place and causing Takina to act out of line. I suppose it’s a relief that Erika doesn’t blame Takina though it is rendered moot since she doesn’t openly defend Takina to anyone. In fact, she and Takina don’t interact at all this episode. Maybe these two will have a more proper reconciliation in the future.
It soon becomes apparent that Takina won’t get reinstated, if it at all. Kusunoki is using Takina as a scapegoat to cover up the fact that the DA’s AI Radiata got hacked during the mission with the arms dealers. She also gives Takina’s previous leader Fuki Harukawa (Maki Kawase) a new partner, Sakura Otome (Makoto Koichi). When you think about it, Kusunoki never actually said that she’s reinstate Takina. That’s something that Takina and Chisato figured would be the case. Suffice to say, there is no intention to welcome Takina back in. At first, Takina doesn’t take this revelation very well. After all, her whole life has been training and working as a Lycoris. At the same time however, this makes Takina more open minded about her new life at LycoReco. As Chisato points out, Takina can’t do much about her current predicament so she may as well try something new until she gets another chance.
Before the episode ends, Chisato participate in a mock battle against Fuki and Sakura, with Takina joining in at the last minute. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about Fuki and Sakura. Both girls are just a couple of bullies who like to mock Chisato and especially Takina. That is admittedly the point with these characters but their shtick does get old fast. That said, their comeuppance during the mock battle is very satisfying.
As the fight goes on, it starts to feel like Chisato is toying with them. Neither Fuki nor Sakura can land a hit on her and there’s one moment where Chisato even takes the time to call Sakura out on some rookie mistakes. Frankly, it looks like that Chisato could win the mock battle on her own. She’s just that good. Still, it’s important for the plot to have Takina join in, both to show solidarity with Chisato and to tell her bullies that she won’t back down without a fight. I find the end result pretty poetic. Chisato is the one to take down Takina’s replacement while Takina is the one who defeats Fuki (even punching her in the face in an “eye for an eye” sort of way). I also like the part where Takina deliberately aims her paint gun at Chisato, knowing that the latter would dodge and thereby give her a clear shot at Fuki. It’s brief but it shows a huge level of trust between our two heroes.
Perhaps this is too early to say but so far, this is my favorite episode of Lycoris Recoil so far. It feels as if the show is starting to make real advancements with the character development and while doing so, it still manages to give us a fun action scene like with the first two episodes. I suppose the slice of life tone takes a backseat here but that’s fine since the show is trading that off to develop the characters and also provide further justification for later slice of life moments to occur. I hope the rest of the show keeps this momentum up because it’s starting to click a lot for me.
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