Mamahaha No Tsurego Ga Motokano Datta

Wow. It sounds like a plot that could only come straight out of a manga. And probably it is. Mamahaha No Tsurego Ga Motokano Datta is about a pair of young couple who once dated and then broken up. You thought that would be the end of it all, never seeing each other again and that they would have nothing to do with each other’s lives ever again. But wait! Like as though fate wanted to turn their lives into some sort of cruel joke, their parents remarried each other! OMFG! Now they’re step siblings instead! And now they have to live with each other under the same roof and as you can see, those old feelings might get in the way. Is it love or is it hate? Whatever those feelings, it is sure going to be real awkward now that you are living with your ex. Cringe for them but funny for us, I suppose. I guess some things in life are really a worse fate than death itself.

Episode 1
Mizuto Irido and Yume Ayai once dated. They’ve broken up but are now living together. How? Why? You see, Mizuto’s dad, Mineaki and Yume’s mom, Yuni just remarried! Oh boy. This is going to be complicated. So for the sake of their parents, they’re going to pretend their past never happened. Yume enters Mizuto’s room and wants him to call her onee-san instead. He won’t and both don’t like the idea of being the younger sibling. Both are born on the same day although Yume is half an hour earlier. Not sure about Mizuto’s argument about old Japan’s custom that the older twin is considered the younger one. But they’re not twins. Nor siblings. Hence Yume suggests settling this via game. They have to act like siblings and acting in an unnatural manner that is not sibling-like will be considered the loser. Mizuto accepts but realizes the twisted deception of this game as she goes through his manga collection trying to rile him up (because it’s only natural for siblings to read each other’s manga?). That is when he apologizes for this dumb fight. At that moment, it made him look like the guy she once loved. She calls him like how she did back then. This secures her loss because siblings don’t call each other like that. She is forced to call him onii-chan. So is this permanent or just one off? It gets worse for the duo as both enter high school and put in the same class. Some guys want to hang out with Mizuto but later he finds out that they’re using him as a stepping stone to get to Yume. Yume notices this and confronts Mizuto about this because she hates those kind of people with no guts. Mizuto doesn’t care and she shouldn’t be bothered with them. But the next day as those guys want to hang out with him, even Mizuto is shocked when Yume grabs him by his arm and pretends that she has brother complex. That made them gave up.

Back home, the duo are alone since their parents are out working late. Trying to cook, Yume gets conscious about the chicken breast they’re going to make. Conscious about putting hers on Mizuto’s arm this morning, she reminds him to forget about it. Don’t worry, he already has. Apparently that didn’t sit well with her because it’s like he is saying her boobs are forgettable. She’s going to break his indifference as she gets out of bath draped with only a towel. The much expected choking reaction. She teases him that she can dress as she wants in her own home and if he is going to be a naughty peeping tom. When her towel almost comes undone, it is then Yume realizes she looks like trying to seduce him. She panics but he covers her with his shirt. He advises her about being reckless although he knows she is teasing him. While she notes she can’t stand people looking down on her family, he thanks her for this morning. Forced cliché moment as he falls over her. Are they going to break the rules? Well, Mizuto doesn’t mind losing… As they seemingly look like they’re going to kiss, their parents come home. Quick, hide under the couch! Why the f*ck did she just not run back to her room?! Both reflecting the circumstances that they almost got into that would remind them of their past and that’s why they hate each other.

Episode 2
Kogure Kawanami wants to be Mizuto’s friend. Mizuto thinks he just wants to get to Yume and disapproves it. He won’t let any scumbags get to Yume. On the contrary, he really wants to be his friend and that’s that. Then he teases him about that line about Yume, making her blush like hell. As today is the physical examinations, Akatsuki Minami keeps staring at Yume’s boobs? So she wants to have big busts like her? Just like that they’re friends. So can I consider them as bosom buddies now?! HAHAHA!!! Sorry… Seeing Mizuto easily giving up on his physical tests, Yume swears not to be like him. But she over exerts herself and almost collapses. Luckily Mizuto is here to catch her before letting Minami handling it. After Yume recovers in the infirmary, Mizuto teases her about her eye bags. This makes her panic for a while before he claims it was just a joke. While Yume is not impressed, Minami thinks Mizuto always treats her nice. Next day, Minami is shocked to hear that Yume is out with a cold. She wants to come visit after school. As Mizuto brings Minami into her room, Yume who is still in a daze starts talking to Mizuto during those dating years. Of course she soon realizes Minami is here and returns to normal. As Mizuto and Minami cook porridge for her, Minami can tell Mizuto once had a girlfriend before, the way he interacts with girls. While Mizuto claims he won’t get another girlfriend, Minami talks about the possibility of him getting one, will he introduce her to Yume? Not that he needs her blessing or anything. After Minami leaves, Mizuto checks on Yume. Still in a daze, she still acts and talks like those dating days. Worried he would leave her, she has him put his hand on her chest to feel better. This has Mizuto remembering their past. It was love at first sight when they were in middle school. They started dating as they love books and talked about them. But as the trivial disagreements eventually pile up, they finally broke off. They didn’t think they would see each other soon because imagine the shock when they see each other at their parents’ remarriage meeting. With Yume having Mizuto do lots of chores for her, he finally suspects something amiss and takes her temperature. It is back to normal and he believes her fever has gone down for a while. Hence she was taking advantage of his kindness. He won’t let her escape until she apologizes. Apology accepted but she feels weird since he is being nice to her. Well, better than spewing out old embarrassing habits, right? Now she is okay, he won’t need to take care of her. But wait. She wants him to stick around longer. They’re siblings, right?

Episode 3
WTF?! Yume has Mizuto’s underwear and smelling it?! WTF???!!! Of course she realizes the grave mistake this is and can’t imagine Mizuto punishing her for it. So blame him for wearing underwear? So she waits till he is asleep to put it back. Then Mizuto comes out of his room the same time. Busted. But what’s this? He is holding her bra?! Time for an explanation. Well, it seems after bath, Mizuto found her bra dropped on the floor. When he picked it up, dad came in so he lost his chance to put it back and took it back to his room. Yume can’t believe such an inconvenient story but it seems she too had a very similar setting. Yup, mom came in when she picked up his underwear in the bathroom. Lost her chance. As for if they did anything funny to it in their rooms, well, a short pause before they deny they did anything. Suspicious… They promise not to speak of this again but since they broke their game rules, they are to demand something from each other once but only outside of their household. One day, Yume sees Mizuto dating a girl. The gall! Furthermore, she looks like her old nerdy self! THE GALL! So she asks Minami for her opinion and comes to a conclusion that he might be preying on an innocent girl. To her horror, when she returns home, she finds her shoes in her house. So that bastard brought her home. Take some pictures as evidence. Yume then calls Mizuto to run errands for her so that she could warn that girl. After Mizuto left, she is about to go into his room but it’s Mizuto! So did he send the girl home? Her shoes are gone. He claims he is alone and there was no girl in his room. Showing the picture proof, he tells her to go check her room. Nothing abnormal. Eh, is he trying to suggest some paranormal activity happening?! He won’t entertain her any longer since he is tired. But Mizuto realizes something wrong with the kitchen chair before heading up to his room. Hmm…

Now we see Mizuto thinking back and thinks this is all Minami’s doing. When that nerdy girl approached him and asked him to date and marry her, Mizuto didn’t recognize her at first but it was Minami in disguise. So is she for real wanting to marry him? Actually her real goal is to be sisters with Yume. After Yume opened up to her during that physical examinations, Minami feels the need to do (creepy) stuffs for her and become her sister. Hence she followed him just to have the feel of what it’s like to be with him 24/7. Mizuto then called Kawanami about this seeing they both know each other. Kawanami warns of Minami’s obsessive behaviour. Her infatuation will grow to a point it will all explode. He relates she once had a boyfriend. She tended to every needs of his and of course the guy was happy at first. Who wouldn’t like a girl like that, right? But after 3 months that guy collapsed from stress and was hospitalized. Minami continued to dote on him until it killed him. Gosh. Did he really put it like that? Hence he warns Mizuto as long as he stands his ground, he’ll be alright. Kawanami has a plan that will make Minami give up on him. Soon, Mizuto goes to talk to Yume to exact that demand. He wants her to date him tomorrow.

Episode 4
The date is here. Mizuto looking so dashing that Yume might fall in love with him! So as their date begins at the aquarium, we also see Kawanami and Minami spying on them. Flashback shows Kawanami’s plan to give up her obsession on Mizuto by having her witness their date to prove that Yume has brother complex and shatter her dream of marrying into the family. Mizuto remembers Kawanami’s advice to compliment Yume’s dress. He does so but messes up and makes it sound sarcastic. However he is surprised by her flustering because it is a reaction of a girl who is in love for the first time. They troll us as Mizuto brings Yume closer to himself but this is to avoid others bumping into her. After that short moment of being taken in by this, her sarcasm mode goes online as she remarks about his hand on her shoulder for too long. Mizuto thinks something is wrong as Yume keeps glaring back at him on and off. During the break, he calls Kawanami for help but he realizes he brought this upon himself and has to finish what he started. Meanwhile Yume gets lost. A call from Mizuto and she expects a string of sarcasm. However he apologizes for not keeping an eye on her. Yume feels conflicted about this gentleman version of Mizuto. Brings back to those days when they were dating. Once at a festival she got separated and he came to get her. All her life she felt she was a failure and didn’t want to be a burden. At least not to the guy she loved. When she was about to give up on it all, he came to whisper those sweet assuring words. She need not be afraid and that she can always rely on him.

Now Mizuto is here to get her but this time there is more sarcasm in his tone. Then as they return to the aquarium and start their sarcastic argument, Mizuto narrates about the love-hate relationship he had with her. Then, he began to hate her more as the days passed especially those things he loved about her slowly turned into hatred. It was tormenting. But now they’re freed of that bond and have no reason to hate each other even though they are step siblings. In fact, this situation they are in is considered a blessing compared to that unhealthy relationship before. At the end of the date, Minami pretends to stumble into Mizuto. She apologizes for sneaking into his house, claiming he left the door unlocked. He promises he won’t tell Yume as long as she behaves. Since she is her friend, she means a lot to her. She gets the hint and also reveals that she was the one who added an extra chair in the kitchen (didn’t understand this one). She also hints she hasn’t given up yet. Back home, it is Yume’s turn to exact her wish on Mizuto. Now this dashing guy has to pose while she snaps numerous shots of him. Yeah, she really enjoys it. Finally she has him hug her from the back and whisper in her ear. Definitely bliss. In school, Yume and Minami are normal with each other. Kawanami thinks the case is closed but Mizuto doesn’t think so. Mizuto then asks if he has been hospitalized before. In fact he has back in middle school.

Episode 5
Yume wants Mizuto to go shopping with her for a Mother’s Day gift. This is of course to show mom that they are still on good terms but Mizuto doesn’t want to and thinks she just wants to split to cost. So when Yume returns all dolled up and it stunned the hell out of Mizuto, this means he broke the rules and will be the younger sibling today. He follows her out and they return with a gift for mama. Wow. Look how happy she is. Those tears must be nourishing the flowers… Mizuto then visits his late mom’s altar. Yume sitting next to him as support. She is the onee-sama today. Mizuto tells us he doesn’t know much about his mom since she died when he was young and only have this picture as reference for her face. Later Mizuto thinks of giving their parents more time together. Because they have no budget to have them spend a holiday elsewhere, he suggests they themselves spend the night elsewhere. Of course Yume flusters to think that they will be spending the night together alone. Aside trolling her about the love hotel, obviously they’re going to stay at their friend’s place, right?

Yeah, but get this too. Kawanami and Minami are actually neighbours in the same apartment! I guess it’s another sort of hell having such childhood friends living side by side. And also be careful not to speak so loud because the walls are thin. Kawanami demonstrates by screaming that Yume’s boobs are only for Mizuto’s eyes. You can hear an angry Yume banging on the wall. Hope it doesn’t fall apart. Then she spams “Pervert!” in Mizuto’s phone. Mizuto gets back at Kawanami by tying him up and then reading aloud his old life ambition. He wants to be a policeman so that he can protect and marry Minami one day. Now the wall banging is from a furious Minami. She thought she told him to throw that joke away. It’s amazing the walls are still up… Both sides also end up dining at the same restaurant. Fate trying to make their life a joke real hard, huh? The siblings try to outdo each other about mixing drinks at the drinks bar but later realized it was just a trick by the childhood buddies. Minami snuggling up to Mizuto to get him to teach her for the upcoming exams just to make Yume jealous. Mizuto straightaway recommends Yume who is a better teacher than him but also hints that because he is a genius, he doesn’t need to study much, pissing her off. That night, Kawanami feels screwed because he doesn’t want to study but seeing Mizuto studying hard despite claiming he is a genius, well he is doing so only to not lose to Yume. That night the siblings can’t sleep so they stare at the night sky outside their balcony and talk about old stuffs. Yeah, why bring that up? It makes them wonder if all the time they spent together had meaning. Whatever it may be, they’re stuck as step siblings until the end of time.

Episode 6
With the midterms coming up, this has Yume remember she was always the top of the class until Mizuto beat her at maths, a subject she specializes most. Hence she sacrificed her sleep to put in more effort until she regained top spot again. However, seeing Mizuto wasn’t all that interested, it left her a bit frustrated. Perhaps all this rivalry was something she just came out of thin air? Now she sees Mizuto relaxing rather than studying. He claims he has done all he has needed so there is no need for last minute studying. She thinks he takes her for a fool but he asks if getting top spot is important to her. Apparently it is, the reason her life is like this now. After the first day, she thinks about the possibilities of him topping her. But later she furiously confronts him. She saw he left the last few answers blank. Was it on purpose? He claims he had no time but she saw him putting down his pen 10 minutes before time is over. She feels insulted that he is giving her the top spot like this. This is not the kind of victory she wants. He snaps back, didn’t she say top spot was important to her? Because to him it doesn’t matter so what’s wrong of letting her have it? This makes her sad because this isn’t who he is. Next day before the second day of exams begin, he reminds her that nobody has the right to define who they are. He warns her to say goodbye to her top spot at the end of the exams and as the results come out. Mizuto dethrones Yume for the top spot. But when her friends praise her instead, Yume is in shock because this was not the kind of reaction she was expecting. She thought being top is what defined her but now she is left to rethink her ways.

Later as Yume goes to see Mizuto at the library, she is shocked to see him with another girl, Isana Higashira. Apparently they share the same interests in manga. As narrated by Mizuto, Higashira is actually his childhood friend and the closest one he has made in life. However she is very shy of others. So when Yume and Minami come to greet them, she hides behind Mizuto. Before he can introduce Higashira, Yume walks off. Not interested? Yeah, she is ruing the fact that she might be jealous! Next day, Yume acts normal. So normal that it bugs Mizuto as he asks Higashira for advice. Well, just trust your gut. AKA I don’t know, eh? When she talks about herself being bad with the flow, this gives Mizuto an idea. Yume is feeling so free! Who’d thought that not giving a hoot about Mizuto would feel this good! And then suddenly Mizuto comes in dressed up like a hot guy. Unfair! He claims she is so zen that it doesn’t irk him like she usually does. So what has changed her? She reveals about her jealousy over Higashira but at the same time it is not normal for siblings to get jealous like this. As for why he is so bothered about this, it is because she is acting like what they went through together never happened. Uhm, isn’t that the goal? Next time Yume properly introduces herself to Higashira, her condescending tone is back. Higashira feels weird and thought she did something wrong. Until Mizuto tells the truth of Yume’s jealousy. That is when Higashira says she had always wished she wanted to born a boy because especially when she got her first period. This proves that she isn’t in love with Mizuto because girls won’t talk like that to a guy they like, right?

Episode 7
A short narration of how Yume fumbled trying to leave a love letter for Mizuto. She managed to do so, he read it and looking back at this, she can only say it was some youthful indiscretion. Higashira gets a threatening letter that they know her secret and must come to a certain place if she wishes not for it to be exposed. Turns out this threat letter is just a joke by Minami and Yume for them to meet up. Though, they know her secret. No, not that online streaming whatever thingy. Rather, they know she is in love with Mizuto. Higashira claims she isn’t and hasn’t fallen in love with him. But when they whisper a few things about Mizuto and show a video of his sleeping face (?!), her reaction says it all so they’re going to help her get together with Mizuto. Did Yume approve of this? Higashira feels fine being friends but after Yume tells the benefits of having a boyfriend (must be from experience, huh?), Higashira agrees to want to date him. First, the duo observe them together. The usual boring stuffs and nothing much happens. Minami suggests using her ‘physical assets’. So as she rubs her boobs onto his arm and he is still indifferent, I guess she lost it and starts rubbing them on his back! WTF?! Then they give her a little makeover. No reaction. Higashira tries to sit close to him but each time he moves further. Don’t want his personal space invaded? He warns of hell so she dares him. Hell means messing up her hair. But in the end, he helps her comb back.

Minami is trying to push quickly for Higashira to confess. She claims the longer she puts it off, the harder it will become. So strike while the iron is hot? Higashira has doubts if Mizuto sees her as a girl and Yume somewhat guarantees it if she acts as herself. So Higashira calls Mizuto to meet up. She first explains how everyone thought of her as weird and annoying but he was the only one who understood and talked to her. Hence she wants to spend more time with him as his girlfriend and confesses she loves him. While he enjoys spending time with her, he rejects her. He hints that he is selfish and can’t be attentive to more than 1 person at a time. He hints a certain person occupying his heart despite not deserving it. He doesn’t fault anyone and this is solely his own problem. This shocks and saddens Yume. He could’ve been happier with Higashira but yet he chose someone who isn’t his girlfriend anymore, let alone his stepsister now to be by his side. Later, Yume and Minami are shocked that Higashira and Mizuto are back to normal with each other. Like as though that confession-cum-rejection was nothing. Well, the confession might have failed but it’s not like they stopped being friends, right? And seeing now that burden is off their shoulders, being friends is easier and straightforward. Minami and Yume so in disbelief!

Episode 8
Higashira wants to come over to Mizuto’s place to read his manga. But she is being flirty although Mizuto doesn’t flinch. Due to that, Yume and Minami are going to help dress her up. They go get her some clothes but thanks to her voluptuous body, it’s going to make her as sexy as hell. Hallelujah to those G-cups!!! Minami then suggests wearing like Yume and then uses her as a model. This has Yume remember the time she dated Mizuto. As one who didn’t knew about fashion, she fretted about every choice she thought. When they met, he didn’t say a word about it. Like as though she made a bad fashion choice and he avoided talking about it. But at the end of the day, he did compliment her about her cute looks but also told her not to wear miniskirt in public. Despite so, she felt very happy. Higashira arrives at Mizuto’s place. So why is Yume joining them? Going to keep watch on him so he won’t pull anything funny, huh? You think he would? To Yume’s shock, Higashira makes herself as home as she lies and reads on his bed. Hey, she got his permission. Plus, Higashira is feeling pretty normal about it all. Remember, she got rejected so it’s fine. Yeah, Yume trying to wrap her head around this. When Higashira requests he help massage her (more of the friendly type and nothing seductive), alarm bells start ringing for Yume. She thinks they have fooled her and have been dating all the while. They refute her and claim this is just normal friendship. Then Higashira wants Mizuto to help put back her socks. Why can’t she do it herself? The boobs get in the way. Hmm… How did she put it on in the first place?!

Later Yume talks to her about if she still likes Mizuto. She does. But she is more worried if he finds another best friend because it will make her jealous. He is her only friend, you know. Imagine if Mizuto’s long lost sister pops up, how would Yume feel? Yume wonders if she is her friend. Of course, but she cannot replace Mizuto. As Higashira goes to the toilet, Yume confronts Mizuto about all this. Then she wants him to put on her socks for her too. Since when did this become competition? He does so and the moment he touches her thighs, she makes a strange (but cute) squeal. Then a call for help from Higashira. Turns out she stumbled into their parents and she didn’t know how to react. So she gave them the wrong impression she was Mizuto’s ex. Luckily Mizuto’s explanation explained things. As Mizuto walks her back, she mentions she hasn’t recovered from the rejection and he should console her once in a while. This has Mizuto remember his dating days with Yume. He wonders if they never dated and stayed as close friends, would they still be together? But no point thinking about this because both of them are not like Higashira.

Episode 9
Now we go back in time and see the whole deal of the couple that never was. The duo were making good strides as a couple. Holding hands and even kissing. So now it’s the next step, right? I mean, Mizuto inviting Yume to his room because you know, taking it to the next step? At the end of the day, nothing happened. Yume wondered if he called her just to hang out because she really thought he was going to make a move on her. After she left, Mizuto was filled with regrets because he actually had a plan but chickened out. When they start their final year of middle school, they were put in separate classes. Yume thought she won’t be able to make friends again but surprisingly, she did. Though, they still promise to meet up after school. But soon Yume hanged out more often with her pals and even talked to Mizuto about it. It got to a point where he got irritated just hearing about it and told her off he isn’t interested in hearing about her friends. That was when the cracks soon started to widen. Though, he regretted raising her voice to her. One day, she caught him talking to another girl. Then she confronted him about it and although he explained himself that she needed some book reference, she then accused him of cheating. So it’s okay if he hangs out with his own friends but it’s not for her? Mizuto then thought about all that has happened and wondered if he should have bottled up his feelings and gone along with it. As the days passed, the friction between them worsens. She didn’t invite him to the festival and was up all night waiting for his call but none. Even their anniversary when they started dating came and went like nothing. The rest of the year passed without them making so much contact with each other. Eventually when they are about the graduate, they finally call it off. Good grief. Mizuto narrating the opposing feelings inside him that was eating him slowly away. Both his hate and love for her made him miserable and he agonized over it. However he felt it wasn’t the end of a relationship but liberation. But soon enough, they become step siblings and the rest is history. Now we see them argue as usual. But this time they both found out that night they were actually ready to do it with each other. Appalled and in disbelief, they continue to blame each other for the regret and wasted time. Wow. Are we such a happy family?

Episode 10
Looks like there’s a roach in Yume’s room! She screams and runs to Mizuto for help. But since he is also chicken, I guess she has to share the same bed for tonight. So they act like nothing with such close proximity but you wonder if there are still those lingering feelings. Next morning, Yume is berating Mizuto for being a chicken. Their parents find them amusing. This has them remind them that they’ll visit their relatives soon and since it is near the riverside, mom has Mizuto accompany Yume to go buy a swimsuit. So it gets odd for them. Yume needing his advice and input and he is flustering to say the right words. I guess his words are so plain that she feels disappointed and expected more. Then more flustering before this show ends and she’ll take this swimsuit. For herself. On the way back, they troll us when they got too close to each other. Those lingering feelings back? Only if Mizuto didn’t flick her forehead. Back home, when Yume thanks Mizuto for a manga he recommended, the parents are amused to see them act so because it’s like a couple proposing to each other. Of course this makes Yume quite embarrassed. Mizuto can only note the fact they can joke about them as a couple means they have fully accepted them as step siblings.

When Higashira is over to watch a movie, Yume can’t help stare and observe at her. Because she is lying on Mizuto’s lap, getting her head scratched by him and what’s this? Scratching her boobs? Just how comfortable are they snuggling up to each other like that? After the movie, Mizuto drinks from the same cup as hers but he is unfazed when she points out about the indirect kiss. Mizuto feels tired so Higashira offers her lap for him to sleep. Yume won’t let that happen. But since he doesn’t want his ears to get cleaned by her, he falls asleep on Yume’s lap instead. Higashira thinks of stealing a kiss but Yume thinks she should treasure such moments so Higashira agrees to wait for more favourable circumstances. Higashira talks a few adult stuffs with Yume and she is pleased to get to see another side of Yume. After she leaves, Yume thinks back the other day and now understands why he hesitated. That feeling of returning to that past and how things were, those are nothing more than lingering feelings and acting upon them would not be worth destroying this family. Later, mom tries to ask Yume about more details about how close Higashira is to Mizuto. She gives all the details of what happened including the disgusting ones. Yeah, feels like they’re a married couple for 3 years. Mom still thinks they make a good pair and hopes Yume will find a boyfriend too or she’ll be left behind. Later Yume ponders about this and is shocked at herself as she just said she can’t imagine herself with anyone other than Mizuto.

Episode 11
Visiting grandma’s house, Yume is introduced to her second cousins, Madoka and Chikuma. While the family (possibly the entire village too) having their BBQ down by the river, Madoka tells Yume how Mineaki raised him singlehandedly after he was born. Everyone was worried about him but thankfully it all turned out to be alright even if Mizuto is still a man of a few words. Hence Mineaki remarrying is a testament of him overcoming this hardship. Later that night, Yume stumbles into Mizuto reading a book in the storeroom. Seems it is an autobiography written by his great grandpa that he has been reading over and over again each time he comes here. However it was never sold or distributed so it’s like his own diary about his days after the war where he spent a few years in Russian prison and some dancing girl he saw. Basically he was in love. Mizuto lets her read the book. After all, that is what books are for. Yume believes this is a book that shaped his character. She starts reading it and soon starts getting emotional. Careful those tears. Don’t want to destroy those brittle pages! Once done, she asks him how his first love was like. Stumped at first, he answers she was the kind who loved to laugh. This makes Yume believe Madoka was his first love. Next day as Madoka and Yume are choosing their yukata, Madoka wonders if Yume is in love with Mizuto but Yume wonders about the definition of love. This has Madoka believe she is always trying to look for excuses not to be with Mizuto. Don’t worry, she’ll think of something to help her. And that is to put Yume and Mizuto in a room together alone for them to talk. So much about whatever plan, huh? Yume narrates how after meeting this new family and reading that autobiography, she realizes she has wasted her time and was being selfish. She felt that sense of regret of not doing things she was supposed to when they were dating. Because when they broke up, she felt a huge burden lifted from her shoulders. She thought she was free. With tears welling up and she still can’t find the words to say it to him, Mizuto allows them to go back in time just this once. Hence she breaks down in his arms crying. When she calms down, she finally mentions about Madoka who is his first love as it has been bugging her since. However Mizuto clears the air that he has no feelings for Madoka in the first place. This ends with both of them laughing so Mizuto reminds her about his first love being the one who loved to laugh. Then she realizes who he is referring too and gets embarrassed.

Episode 12
Yume looking stunning in a yukata. So does Mizuto. She wants a photo of him but Madoka misinterprets and has Mizuto take a picture of Yume instead. Oh damn, Mizuto knows Yume’s handphone password?! At the festival, Yume holds Mizuto’s hand since it is normal for family members to do so to avoid getting lost. At a shooting gallery, Madoka tries to help get a prize for Chikuma but fails. She then has Mizuto continue this ‘mission’. Yume tries to help him but because she was trying to follow Madoka’s style of support, her boobs accidentally touch his back. He got a different prize but it is still the one that Chikuma wants. When they are supposed to head to a reserved spot for the fireworks, Mizuto is missing. This is where Yume realizes about Mizuto’s true character. Something that she would never know had she remained his girlfriend or his classmate. She decides to go look for him. Perhaps he wanted somebody to stop him from leaving, a line written from grandpa’s diary. Now we hear Mizuto narrate how when his mom died when he was young, everyone pitied him. He couldn’t understand it so he became oblivious to such feelings. His soul only opened up to literary works as ironically they taught him a lot about human emotions and experiences. In a way, when he dated Yume, he thought she was in the same exact weak predicament as he was. At that point she was etched into his heart and felt more real than anyone else. Now Yume narrates about the mistake of pitying him not because he doesn’t have a mother but rather he lost something that meant dear to him since he viewed mom as the key to reverse his pitiful life but that key has been lost.

Yume finds Mizuto alone and accompanies him. She asks if he still remembers when they first kissed. October 27th. He remembers it since it is the password she puts in her handphone! They talk about that kiss and it seems they did it 2 months into their dating as somewhat proof that they were progressing or else they would have to wait another month? Eventually, his simple answer is that had he met Higashira first, he would have dated her. However this is reality and it is Yume whom he met first. As the fireworks start, tears start streaming down Mizuto’s face. That is when Yume kisses him. This is the second first kiss because this is the kiss not of Yume Ayai but of Yume Irido. So, uhm, incest?! No matter how much he loves the old Yume, she vows this current version of her will win him over. The trip is over and the duo return to school. What’s this? Higashira and Kawanami fighting over Mizuto?! Both are introduced to each other the first time and they can’t fathom Mizuto has another friend other than them. Higashira calling him a stalker while Kawanami calls her a succubus. A nasty showdown is on the cards had not Minami intervene to stop Kawanami. Yume also pulls Higashira away from Mizuto since she is clinging too close to him. Lastly we hear Mizuto and Yume narrate how they can’t change the past nor bring back those happy moments. Those feelings are still there and they still can’t move on. But it’s fine since they have a chance to start a new story.

Jokes On You; Ore No Giri-Imouto Konna Ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai!
Wow. They’re making things complicated, huh? Despite their life and reality have moved on, their hearts are stuck in the past. They want their old selves but cannot because everything else have moved forward. Thus when Yume said she vows to win him over, somehow I don’t interpret that in a romantic sense. It might troll us to think so because of the fact they once dated and that past is still burning strong inside them. So what I believe she meant was that he could open up and be more frank to her as a sibling rather than a lover. She wants him to love this new her as a step sibling rather than clinging onto the old Yume whom he still considers as his lover. Yeah, so there are 2 versions of Mizuto and Yume, right? No wonder so confusing. Chance to weave a new story they say, huh? You mean a chance to prolong this weird drama! Because I feel it’s going to be a continuation of the same ol’ story. Now just in step sibling form. So no thanks. I’m outta here!

Honestly, I felt that the whole story was a bit boring. I have to blame myself on the most part as I was having expectations that this was going to be some sort of slapstick romance comedy. But instead, we get this long drawn out romance drama. Here I was thinking that there was going to be a lot of hilarious and dumb moments between the duo. They trying really hard to resist those feelings of the past and hence end up in a lot of comical LOL situations trying to cover up it all up. Instead of having that, we see them narrating their past and present feelings as they reconcile and justify so. While showing snippets of their times when they were so much a typical couple in love. It could have been a forgone conclusion, one that is dusted and done a long time ago had not they started living together under the same roof. Thus bringing up those moments and forcing them to take a look again and reflect if that is truly what they want. So yeah, the story overall may not be the best and it is pretty okay in that sense. But when you set expectations that this was going to be something other than that, you can see where my disappointment came from.

So yeah, that’s basically the direction of this series. When the series just started, obviously the step siblings had a bit of showdown here and there. But as the season progresses and we are shown more and more snippets of their dating time in middle school, that is where the tone starts to slowly change up into a melodramatic one. Both of them being confused and trying to justify their actions when they were in love and after breaking up. It is like as though they were a couple that was match made in heaven but then they were too young and foolish and hastily broke up. Hence the heavens did not allow for such outcome and thus the ‘cruel joke’ of their parents remarrying each other so that they could take a hard look and reflect on their rash decision again. You guys were too young, too fast and too furious in breaking up. Are you sure you guys want to stay that way? You better think about it again. So the more they learn about each other, the more they start to understand. But whether or not this would lead them back would be another story. And a complicating one because now they’re step siblings so how is heaven going to fix this sh*t?! Uhm, not their problem, you kids figure it out yourself! Shucks. This was supposed to be the slapstick romantic comedy alternative had I been the scriptwriter… Thank goodness I am not.

The characters themselves are rather okay. The main duo are nothing exciting if you ask me and weird in their own ways. After all, they are in this weird circumstances so they can’t be doing anything rash that would reveal their past. So like the socially awkward Mizuto, a man with a few words, it’s like he has this sad look on his face for most of the time. Like as though he is silently shouldering the pangs of life and suffering it in a silent way. Feels a lot like that. You can sense that from the way he talks, he lacks the emotion and energy. Like as though going through life is a pain. Because he still cannot give up his love for the old Yume even though he is somewhat liberated from it. Like as though it was his responsibility and fault that it all came to this. The same can be said for Yume but at least she has more emotions and feelings in her actions and words. Unlike Mizuto who is an introvert, she is more of an extrovert. See where their personalities clash? She can also be a bit haughty but as a girl, I can see where that pride comes from. Just like Mizuto, she too cannot understand things from his side unless she stands in his shoes. Just like many women out there after breaking up, it is always those dreaded feelings that continue to get in the way. Who is right or who is wrong? Because at the end of the day, I’m not even sure if the goal is for them to get back together or perhaps the ideal situation of them actually coming clean with those feelings, putting them aside and finally moving forward. Only then they can actually be truly free from those shackles of the past love that they are seemingly being chained down right now despite the duo making some strides moving forward like Mizuto making a few friends from a total loner and Yume reinventing herself from a nerd.

I feel that the other side characters are a bit of waste and don’t really have a great impact on the duo save for some distractions. Kawanami and Minami really feel like secondary characters and the whole series may proceed even without them. Sure, it is to give us a bit of variety but I don’t see them making an impact. Still don’t get Minami’s goal about wanting to marry Mizuto to be Yume’s sister. Her obsessive behaviour could be an ingredient for being a psychopath and could have been interesting had this played out more often. Too bad it fell flat and both these characters felt even more irrelevant as the series draws to a close. I thought the duo can be some sort of odd couple too but I guess that would make things even more complicated so that’s that. Then they bring in Higashira which is another odd character. Aside from those G-cups fanservice, so they’re trolling us whether she is in love with Mizuto or just being best friends. Both? Because her actions and interaction with Mizuto are so eccentric that it confuses the hell out of us whether she is interested in him or not. Many hints say yes but from her actions and all, maybe she just wants a companion and status quo because this way, they can enjoy the stuffs they like without the whole messy thing called love getting in their way. Which of course brings up the interesting question if Mizuto and Yume did maintained their friendship and not move on as a couple, would they still be friends like before? Yeah, falling in love so complicating! Now that Kawanami and Higashira have some sort of weird rivalry, doesn’t this make Mizuto a popular guy? Oh Yume, you’ve got competition from all sides to get to Mizuto’s heart and I wouldn’t leave out Minami from this either. Certainly going to get a lot more complicated because now I am not even sure if this is love or friendship.

The art and animation have the characters especially the females drawn in a very cute way. And you know me, a sucker for a pretty face. The other motivation why I checked this series out. The characters’ cuteness I thought reminded me of certain animes like Boku Wa Tomodachi Ga Sukunai, Saenai Heroine No Sodatekata or Kono Naka Ni Hitori Imouto Ga Iru as I also thought they were from the same author (the fact that the series sometimes make cameo of those manga Mizuto or Higashira reads had me thought so) but however they are from different authors altogether. After all, I did see shades of Yozora from Haganai in Higashira while Yume’s cuteness does have some similarity to Konoe from Nakaimo. This series is done by Project No. 9 who also did Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun, Saikin Imouto No Yousu Ga Okashiinda Ga, Neetoge No Yome Wa Onnanoko Ja Nai To Omotta, Ryuuou No Oshigoto, Ro-Kyu-Bu, Hige Wo Soru Shoshite Joshikosei Wo Hirou and Watashi Nouryoku Wa Heikinchi De Tte Itta Yo Ne. Hence it’s no surprise you can see their trademark character cuteness in those series in here.

For the voice acting, pretty normal to me. Hiro Shimono as Mizuto sounds really bland since he isn’t in his joker character mode like Zenitsu from Kimetsu No Yaiba. Yeah, really one of those monotonous character roles he helms. Then there is Rina Hidaka sounding as cute as Yume while Nobuhiko Okamoto as Kawanami feeling so tame and I have this feeling he might burst into his Accelerator mode and do something to Last Order AKA Yume (because both characters are voiced by Rina Hidaka, geddit?!) but nothing of that sort happened. Sighs. The other seiyuus whom I recognized are Ai Kayano as Yuni and Youko Hikasa as Madoka. At first I thought Higashira was voiced by Yurie Kozakai because she sounds exactly like Pekola from Jashin-chan. So it’s Miyu Tomita, huh? Oh well, another miss… And the rest of the casts are Ikumi Hasegawa as Minami (Desumi in Koi Wa Sekai Sifuku No Ato De) and Kazuyuki Okitsu as Mineaki (Fat Gum in Boku No Hero Academia).

The opening theme is Deneb To Spica by Dialogue+. While the song is you typical upbeat anime pop, the thing that I didn’t really like or felt weird is some of the singing parts. It is when during some lines as several voices try to overlap each other. I don’t know about you but to me that sounded really out of place and strange. Furthermore, I have this feeling that the group doesn’t sound good singing together as it comes off as noisy than harmonic. It is evident since the recent song that I heard from them (the ending theme of Gaikotsu Kishi-sama tadaima Isekai E Odekakechuu) also had this similar strange vibes. Not impressive. As for the ending theme, Futari Pinocchio by Harmoe is also another strange piece. It feels like I have heard this song or at least this tune somewhere but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Furthermore, hearing the duo of the group sing together, there is this strange echo or sound. Not sure it’s just me or it is part of the song but it felt cute-cum-weird in some parts anyway.

Overall, this series who love some drama in their teen romance. Otherwise if you are like yours truly thinking this is some sort of slapstick comedy after forming baseless assumptions from the title itself (HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A FUNNY SHOW?! YOUR EX IS YOUR STEPSISTER NOW??!!! CLICKBAIT AAAAAHHHH!!!!), you’ll soon find out that it isn’t so and you’ll be in for a draggy melodrama ride for a dozen of episodes. Yeah, it just feels passable and average if you ask me. After all, love is such a complicated matter that there are tons of ways to write a story around it. So if you think your ex becoming your step sibling now is weird, I’m waiting for one to drop whereby your ex is now your stepmom after she marries your old geezer dad!!! OMG! That sounds like a hentai title! Will that be classified as teen or MILF? Sorry, went off tangent there… But indeed, sometimes fiction can be stranger than life.