Fruits Basket Episode 10 Review: It's Valentine's, After All

We could have guessed that after a New Year’s episode, Fruits Basket would follow up with a Valentine’s Day episode! The sweetness in this one is guaranteed, even if there is a dark weight as well, like always. That’s the nature of this bittersweet story. Let’s dive into the review of this episode that aired on 8 June 2019.

Japanese Title: だって、バレンタインだもん (Datte, barentaindaon)

Episode 10 – It’s Valentine’s, After All

It’s Valentine’s Day and everybody is looking forward to chocolate! …or one would think. Yuki got so many chocolates, some tried to hide the chocolate of others, and Kyo is on the run because he can already feel the doom coming in the form of Kagura. When she catches him after school they somehow end up agreeing to a double date: Kagura and Kyo, Tohru and Yuki. Even though Kyo tried to fight it, a heartfelt talk with Tohru makes him go with them. On the day of the date, the four young people have a lot of fun while the viewer gets to hear about Shigure’s and Hatori’s past, as well as their friend Aya, who hasn’t made an appearance yet I think. We also find out that Shigure is planning something in the back of his mind.

Highlights

Tohru Soothing Kyo

Of course Tohru is there to run after Kyo when Shigure triggers him by saying something insensitive, no matter if that was planned or not. The moment they share is cute, nonetheless. I wonder where Tohru takes the bravery from to talk to Kyo instead of thinking he wants to be alone. I really admire her and think she’s an idol.

Awakening

So Aya, Shii-chan and Haa-san had the same dream, which makes me wonder if the others like Yuki and Kyo had the same dream? Did they mention that? We are slowly getting into the parts of the story where I only remember bits and pieces and this is one part of it. The feelings they describe were very intriguing and what I like best is that all of them had a different reaction to the dream. That’s just how humans are!

Mitchan

Oh, I have been waiting for this character. Shigure’s person in charge, his book agent came over after hunting him down for eternity. I am not too much into her suicidal aspect, since it is definitely not the right message to tell kids to kill themselves over things going wrong at work, but I can’t help but laugh at the comedic relief it brings. Somehow she’s cute.

Comments

Double Date

The word ‘date’ is used very loosely here. We can see by their behavior that this is not meant to be a romantic outing. Double dates are also possible between friends and of course Valentine’s Day is a good reason to go out with friends in pairs as well. That’s why nobody is overreacting too much in this scenario and why the girls are going together more than they are with the guys. On a side note, this is also a phenomenon I have witnessed in Japan, where mixed groups of girls and boys would end up sitting divided in girl-groups and boy-groups at some point. I am not too sure where that comes from, but even sitting at a table the girls try to stick together. I feel like that’s pretty much what happened during this double date. It was actually Tohru and Kagura, Kyo and Yuki.

Dokidoki Barometer

This is a tough one, because we had so much of both, Kyo and Yuki, and I am very clearly in love with Yuki. But this point goes to Kyo!! I am pretty sure he made the hearts of the viewers beat a lot during this episode! I loved the moment he and Tohru bonded once again and that he did honestly try to go on that double date. He faced his…fear, I guess? Does he fear Kagura? In any case, he was there and it was cute. Point given.

COMING NEXT: This is a Wonderful Inn