Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Episode 3 Review: Sales Event and Games Meetup

Episode 3 of Wotakoi was definitely another strong romance episode and the strange harmony between Narumi and Hirotaka continues, romance intensifies, and friendships are deepened… To be honest, if I weren’t writing these reviews, I would have already stopped watching the series, because I desperately want to be able to binge it. It’s that good. It’s actually a bit painful to have to wait a week for the next episode to come out. Yes, I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with this series and so far it might be my favorite of the year. Let’s take a look at this weeks review!

Japanese title: 即売会とゲーム会 (sokubaikai to game kai)

Episode 3 – Sales Event and Games Meetup

A conversation that sounds like it is related to work turns out to be about the next Comiket, where Narumi wants to sell her self-made Boys’ Love doujinshi. The only problem is that she doesn’t have a story in mind and hasn’t started drawing yet and the convention is only two weeks away (#relatable)… Good that she has a supportive boyfriend (#IWishThisWasRelatable). Like promised, he helps her with her doujinshi and also comes to the rescue by helping her sell them at the convention. They also meet Hanako in her gorgeous cosplay, who came together with Kabakura. The second half of the episode takes place in Hirotaka’s apartment, where he invited Narumi. She is nervous because, of course, they are boyfriend and girlfriend and it would only be normal to do things a couple does. Just that she is wearing the beige underwear, not a cute pink one or anything! And then Hirotaka leans in and…

Highlights

Comiket

I have never been to Comiket because I live in Osaka and to be honest, I think it probably is too many people in one spot anyway to be worth my money and time… However, it does look a lot like the conventions I have been to in Europe! I have so many favorite scenes in the convention-part of the episode. It starts with Narumi coming to the convention really, really tired (#relatable). I understand that because most of the conventions I go to I either work at manage or have at least a booth to take care of and I always come in early and the day before is always full of work. There are deadlines for contests like the fanfiction contest or cosplay contest or AMV contest to meet, and I almost never get it done in time because I just wait for the right inspiration. Personally, my inspiration comes best when I am under time pressure so, yeah… I understand how Narumi feels. At the event, she always has a smile on her face even though she is very tensed. She talks to everybody as if they were old friends and is super friendly and happy (#relatable). That’s also what I know from working at the information booth at a convention. You can be grumpy and hate everything, but when those cute visitors come to you in their cosplay or with their questions… You just smile and are super happy to help and talk with them.

Let’s also not forget the moment when Hana-chan and Narumi met at the con. Remember, they work together, see each other every day, yet they still started screaming and crying each other’s name. (#relatable)

Lonely Otaku

For some, it’s a quite sensitive topic, for others it’s just something they have accepted, and others are taking it with some kind of dark humor. Otaku are lonely. That’s also why love is hard for us. In any case, Hirotaka, who has no close friends, was so cute and (#relatable) in this episode. Most of us can tell that story, where nobody at school understood our hobby and maybe even made fun of us for liking anime. At least I think most of us understand. I do. I was a bit envious of their little game party, I really want to have one like that as well!

Cuteness overload

First, there is the cute misunderstanding when Hirotaka takes the controller. I thought it was typical Japan and typical anime to not give us anything. However, I was so wrong. There is a kiss and it was most unexpected and cute and Hirotaka is perfect. I could hardly contain my fangirling. It’s a very classic scene, where he pretends to hit her and tells her to close her eyes just to end up kissing her. She is so surprised that she gives him a headbutt, but they don’t end up angry at each other. He even grabs on to her leg and they keep playing around with that touch, trying to keep a physical connection to each other. They are so much in love, it’s cute. Also, it seemed so real.

Don’t even get me started on how Hanako fell asleep on Kabakura’s shoulder, clinking to his arm, holding hands. The face he gives his friends when he tells them that his girlfriend is asleep was so manly and great… Best scene with Kabakura so far, even though he does have many more precious scenes! All of the characters are just so great!!

Dry humor

This one is short. How is Hirotaka not cracking up about his own jokes? I am laughing and smiling through the whole episode and he hardly ever smiles, though he makes all the great jokes…

See you next week!

That was it for this week. It was a lot of fangirling and falling more in love with all the characters. It was a great episode, and if you haven’t watched it yet, you should go and watch it. If you didn’t plan on starting this series, re-think your decision. Start it. Yes, that’s how much I love it, I will ignore your individual preferences and just tell you to watch the series!

Counting down the days to Episode 4. See you then!