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Shuffle! Episode 18 – Quick Summary
In Shuffle! Episode 18, “The One Rin Loves,” Sia and Nerine both saw the writing on the way: Rin had it bad for Asa. But Rin didn’t seem like he wanted to do anything about it. And as long as he hesitated, Sia and Nerine were in limbo. So they seized the initiative. They enlisted Itsuki’s and Mayumi’s help and forced the issue. Can Rin succeed with a script? How will Asa react? And what does Kaede think about this?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Shuffle! Episode 18
I can sympathize with them. Wishy-washy is tough to deal with. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Sia and Nerine were tired of waiting for Rin to decide. As long as he didn’t explore his feelings for Asa, he wouldn’t decide if she was the one or not. That kept the two young women in limbo. They decided between the two of them to force the issue.
While on classroom cleaning duty (serious – that looks like something that might help American students learn both respect and cleaning skills!), they approached him about the topic. They point blank said he should take Asa on a date.
Rin’s not the best with confrontation. Plunging into the demon world to rescue Primula? No problem. That’s just mortal danger. But approaching Asa to ask her out on a date? That’s pushing it. His reluctance said as much.
Nerine asked if he was against the idea. He hemmed and hawed around saying no. Sia asked if they could move ahead, then. He said more or less probably.
The two of them got right in his face and, at the same time, said (03:10), “Honestly! This is so exasperating!”
Well, I can’t fault them for hating being in limbo. And come on, Rin. Man up, dude!
Favorite Moment from Shuffle! Episode 18
Asa got her point across! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Sia and Nerine Lose Their Patience
Even the first time I watched this, I appreciated Asa’s strength, humor, and determination. During their horribly awkward date, she figured out what was going on, at least to some extent. The realization started when she caught Rin studying the park map – the map with notations of what he should do or say and when.
At first, Asa seized the initiative (13:10) in an attempt to inject some fun and spontaneity into their date. That helped, at least a bit. Things slowed down, though, in the Ferris wheel. The demands of the schedule put him under terrible strain. Asa saw it, and she tried to use the cookies she’d baked for him to help him chill. It almost worked.
I love her courage and confidence! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Then they exited the ride. She teased him by asking him what he had so obviously wanted to tell her. But she stopped him. She’d figured out they were under observation. She told Sia, Nerine, Mayumi, and Itsuki to show themselves, which they did.
Rin almost salvaged the situation. He fessed up. He said he didn’t know what he was doing, so they helped him plan the date. Then he committed the biggest blunder I’ve ever seen him make. Probably the biggest in the whole series. He said he’d asked Asa out to help Nerine and Sia.
Delivery: Asa Remains in Control
Asa rightly slapped him for that. In most of the stories I’ve experienced, she would have stormed off. But this is Asa, and Asa’s bigger than that. She expressed her exasperation at the lot of them until she singled out Rin and said (20:51), “But you’re the key person here and it’s no good if you’re like this. It’s not as if you were forced to go on this date, right?”
She had thrown him a lifeline, and he recognized it as such.
“Of course not!” he said (20:57). “I wanted to go with you to…”
Rin clearly said he wanted to go out with her, of his own accord. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
“Next time,” she said, her calm restored and her point made (21:02). “Ask me out of your own will, okay?”
That’s why I say that Asa’s my favorite. She got her point across, and she remained in control of the situation. She’s “competing” against the daughter of a god and a demon, and she’s still confident in her chances. I gotta admire that!
What did you think of Itsuki having a leadership moment while planning the date? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Shuffle! Episode 18: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Shuffle! Episode 01: The Man Who Could Become a God or a Demon!
- Shuffle! Episode 02: I Wanted to See You!
- Shuffle! Episode 03: Do You Remember?
- Shuffle! Episode 04: Egg Omelet of Happiness
- Shuffle! Episode 05: Where I Belong
- Shuffle! Episode 06: Smile!
- Shuffle! Episode 07: Romantic Scramble
- Shuffle! Episode 08: Panty Date
- Shuffle! Episode 09: Survival Swimming at the Beach
- Shuffle! Episode 10: Moonlit Confession
- Shuffle! Episode 11: Girls of Summer
- Shuffle! Episode 12: Frozen Summer
- Shuffle! Episode 13: House of Twilight
- Shuffle! Episode 14: Lycoris
- Shuffle! Episode 15: What Was Regained
- Shuffle! Episode 16: Kikyou
- Shuffle! Episode 17: Honest Feelings
- Shuffle! Episode 18: The One Rin Loves
- Shuffle! Episode 19: Unforgettable Sentiments
- Shuffle! Episode 20: Indelible Sin
- Shuffle! Episode 21: Where Feelings Go
- Shuffle! Episode 22: Towards a New Tomorrow
- Shuffle! Episode 23: The True Revealed
