One issue with the first episode is that it doesn’t give an inkling as to how the main characters would band together into their own cheerleading team. To Episode 2’s credit then, you’re starting to see how the gang is coming together. Basically, Anna decides to stop by Megumi’s house to brainstorm video ideas with Kanata, bringing Nodoka along because reasons. Not sure how Anna knows where Megumi lives but whatever, she and Nodoka have now met Megumi and Shion. Apparently, Nodoka and Megumi are actually both acquainted as the latter’s family has bought a couple of things from the former’s family’s store. It’s a bit random but I like how these girls seem to live in a small world. Anyway, it’s revealed that Nodoka is part of her school’s cheerleading team, causing Kanata and Megumi to talk about the sport. Interested, Anna decides that she wants to make some cheerleading music videos with all her new friends.
Anna later creates a remix of a song though hilariously enough, she and the others decide against it in fear of a copyright strike (how realistic). Fortunately, Shion reveals that she has some experience in songwriting and offers up a song that she’s both composed and written lyrics for. That’s a pretty peculiar development to me. I mean, does this mean that we’re also going to have insert songs sung by the main cast? Is this show secretly an idol anime? That’d be surprising since I was only expecting cheerleading from this show but if we are getting insert songs and they’re good, I have no complaints.
The only character that I currently don’t understand is Suzuha. I really like how she just parkours around town but what is this girl’s deal? The show implies something between her and Shion but as to what connection they have, the show refuses to elaborate. I figured Kanata was going to ask Suzuha about that at the end of Episode 1 but that bizarrely isn’t the case when the scene continues in Episode 2. There is a scene where Suzuha follows Shion, thereby learning about the whole cheerleading thing in the process, but why she follows Shion aside from being a creepy stalker is beyond me. To be honest, I was a little bit more invested in seeing Suzuha’s relationship with Anna develop. There’s a scene where Anna beats the snot out of some guy trying to film Suzuha’s parkour for content. It’s a neat little scene that explains why Suzuha shrugs off Anna’s requests but also how Anna is perhaps different from other content creators interested in her.
This episode sheds a little bit light on Kanata’s situation. Due to the accident, Kanata has to do a monthly check-in with the hospital. Her team’s manager, Ichigo Izawano (Azusa Tadokoro) advises that she does not observe the team or partake in tryouts until she feels better. One of the upperclassmen in the team, Hana Nabatame (Yūna Kitahara), is particularly harsh towards Kanata about returning to the team, even though she secretly wants Kanata back.
At the end of the episode, Kanata decides to audition in the tryouts for All Japan, the upcoming national cheerleading competition. However, Kanata fails to stick the landing during one of the tasks, making it unlikely for her to get accepted back into the team. Kanata’s confidence here is somewhat understandable. She sees her friends hard at work with their dreams so she also wants to pursue hers. She reckons that she can pull of a certain flip after she “flew” last episode. I find it silly how that near-death experience correlates to cheerleading but whatever, it got Kanata thinking she can do it again. It’s also implied that Kanata wants to get back on her team because of Megumi. The latter promised to transfer to Kanata’s school and join the team when she recovers so naturally, Kanata wants to be in the team when that happens. I wonder then if Kanata has told Megumi about the accident. It’s possible that she’s so ashamed that she hasn’t. I hope that will be the case as it would make for an interesting bit of drama.
Watch Narenare -Cheer for you!- on Crunchyroll
Xenodude Scribbles 