Chio's School Road Episode 2 Review: Bloody Butterfly Effect – Manana, Ootoro, and Me – Bump of Slave

This is so much fun.

Japanese Original Episode Title: ブラッディ･バタフライ･エフェクト / 真奈菜と大トロと私 / バンプ・オブ・スレイブ

Plot

Against my expectations for this show, I am really enjoying it. Chio’s adventures on her way to school have managed to entertain me. In this three-tier episode, we are introduced to Chio’s friend, Manana. Manana is not normal. Manana is the type of person who tries too hard. She loves hard and she hates hard, and she falls hard. She tries to sneak up on people who make out and gets disappointed. She talks about the dating scene while she has never dated anyone. She is jealous and she is a traitor and then she seeks forgiveness and redemption. Manana is fun. Chio, on the other hand, in this episode, is a punisher. She takes her gaming persona just a little bit too far and to everyone’s surprise, it actually works. She is a delinquent and she is hardcore, and you don’t wanna be like her. You’re better off being a regular, punny, average person. That’s what Chio is all about.

Episode Highlights

Exhaust pipe: Exhaust pipes are very hot. Very, very hot. You’d think that after all these years of motorcycle technology someone would have found a solution to this. And apparently, Chio has never ridden a motorcycle before because she’d have been more careful.

Your own size: I can only guess that it’s now a fad amongst Japanese delinquents picking a fight with smaller, underage, school-going girls. I mean I could have totally seen the catcalling happening but an actual physical assault was a bit like a ‘wow dude you really need to see a therapist’ or ‘your mom never loved you’ type of thing.

Just run off: The fact that Chio actually thought of removing the back from the way so that people wouldn’t get hurt instead of gtfo of there as quickly as possible is like, beyond me.

Talk the talk: Her skill at pretending to be a horrifying delinquent was pretty impressive. Then again, if you can’t talk shit after all these years of online gaming you’re either a monk or someone who keeps the chat turned off.

RYUGAKUSEI DESU: I died at Chio’s ‘foreign’ accent.

The Ootoro relationship plan: I wish someone had told me this when I was that age. Especially someone with literally no experience of love and dating that speculates on the mechanics of romancing. Not that I was any different at 15, mind you.

Manana is a creep: So we have Chio who is a nerd, Hosokawa who only cares about running and is pretty oblivious to sadness, pain and life struggles, and Manana who is… yeah she’s definitely the weirdo and the pervert. Ew.

Themes and Trivia

Chi-oh: Notice how Chio’s name is written when she’s picturing herself sitting between Hosokawa and Manana as the spew random western (mostly greek) words at each other. The reason why is because ‘Oh’ (王) means ‘king’ in Japanese.

Pretty good

Well yes, this is fun. I laughed, I was entertained, and there was not any fan service that I found disgusting, so this anime ticks a lot of boxes already. The jokes are a bit high-context from time to time but that’s not really something I could complain about. I don’t want to build up my expectations because I’ve been disappointed with the way shows develop too many times so all I can say is I hope it keeps going the same way.

How did you find the second Chio’s School Road episode? Let us know in the comment section! And don’t forget to check the rest of the Summer 2018 anime reviews on MANGA.TOKYO and our previews for Episode 1 and Episode 2.