Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Episode 9 Review: Go Out on a Date With Me!

Love is hard for otaku this week as well, especially when they try and pretend they aren’t otaku! I loved this week’s episode of Wotakoi very much, but at the same time, I was really really unhappy with it. It played with our feels and what could be worse than that?! Also, let me start this off by complaining that Kou still hasn’t made an appearance! What is wrong with you? Give us Nao and his cute otaku friend already!!

Japanese title: デートへ行こうよ (Deeto he Ikou)

Episode 9 – Go Out on a Date With Me!

The non-otaku date for Hirotaka and Narumi has come and Hirotaka is rather strict on the ‘non-otaku’ part and made a penalty box, in which both of them have to throw 500 yen if they say something related to their fandom, make an inside joke or just mention a game, series, or character… Narumi has a really hard time dealing with it and since the date takes place in an amusement park, and there is a lot of time to talk while you line up for rides. Hirotaka also seems to worry a lot about his decision. What should he talk with Narumi? Is she having fun?

Disaster strikes when the two of them decide to ride the haunted house attraction. Narumi is scared out of her skin and when it is their turn to ride the in-house roller coaster, she grabs Hirotaka, pushes him into the wagon, and only realizes after the take-off that she did in fact not drag Hirotaka with her, but somebody else…

Highlights

A real date

Narumi wears her private clothes, just like Hirotaka, there is an amusement park, and the two of them do stupid stuff while going out: It is a real date and I think it was the cutest thing ever and got me super excited. To be honest, amusement park dates are no fun in Japan, because the majority of time is spent lining up for things if you don’t go during the week. We are talking about 3-4 hours of waiting time for the popular rides. It’s insane and no fun if you are there with the wrong people. But they might have had a lucky day because it wasn’t too bad as far as we could see and of course the two of them had a lot of fun talking. It comes in handy that Narumi is such a talkative person with high communication skills.

Way to ruin a date

Oh dear, not talking about otaku-stuff, if that is what you’ve been doing together the whole time, might not be the brightest idea. I know where he was coming from, but it was strange and also, did they even get to spend all the money? Good thing we know how they used that big amount of money at the end because I was really curious what they would use the money for.

Horror is scary

Naru is in fear when she enters the haunted house and she is crying and screaming through the whole ride. I can only say that in those moments she was very #relatable for me and I love her. Also, Kabakura is my spirit animal. He was trying so hard to not watch, but I love when Narumi reminds him that he paid for the ride and should at least take a look. That’s so true and I am glad he looked at the ghosts and all that! I’m so proud, Kabakura!

The worries and fears of Hirotaka Pt. 2

This episode seems to be the end to the worries and fears of Hirotaka. He is scared of steep rides and he worries a lot about being an adult (#relatable) and also his relationship with Narumi. It came a bit surprising to me, that the solution to his worries was advice given by Hanako. She is an amazing woman and was able to simply make him become comfortable at his own pace. It is already amazing that he would worry about his pace, even though he is always and everywhere a ‘my pace’ kind of guy. I thought he was content with it and being himself, but when it comes to his relationship with Narumi, he worried. I loved that we got to see that part of him.

Understanding your partner

Narumi understands that Hirotaka’s feet hurt. He understands that she wants to eat both kinds of churros. The best one is, Hanako understanding that Kabakura is jealous and that she starts to pet him. Can I please adopt them? They are so adorable…

The understanding part was also really cute when they switched partners in the haunted house. Because Kabakura understood that she didn’t want to hold his hand and tells her it’s all right and Hanako seems to understand Hirotaka’s worries… It is amazing how considerate they are of each other. I always have fun watching the series because of this!

Oh no you didn’t

This will hopefully be a one-time-only part of my reviews. Did you see what they did there, when Hanako talked to Hirotaka and she mentioned a kiss and he told her that he would do it his way? They imply that the two of them still haven’t gone far with each other. Can you imagine that? I thought for a second that it might have been just me misunderstanding the situation. But then he is really scared of taking her hand and I wonder – what have you been doing the last few months? Because we have been through Christmas and before that it wasn’t as cold and now they are running around in warm weather, so lets say they have been dating for 6 months minimum. There was a kiss, she spends time in his house… I assumed after the kiss that they had a real grown-up relationship. But he can’t even hold her hand at this point of the relationship? And what was with that hug-turned-non-kiss? Are. You. Freaking. Kidding. Me?! I am so angry at this series! Why make them so stupidly pure? Not funny! Dislike! Boooo!

Another dislike: where is my Kou? How did you not bring her out in Episode 9? I don’t want to scare anyone but there are only two episodes left of this series, and how can you make a good love story development between Kou and Nao, if Kou doesn’t appear until the last episode? At least we now have ended the worries and fears of Hirotaka, so I have very, very high hopes to finally see Kou in the next episode. Finger’s crossed!

Trivia

Japanese Amusement Parks

I have been only to three parks so far in Japan. Disneyland and Disney Sea, Universal Studios Japan, and Huis Ten Bosch. For Disneyland and Disney Sea, I can only say that you should choose a weekday to come there, or you will wait a long time for anything and it will be packed with people. It is still a great place because everybody is just so nice and it is so much fun to be there. But having to wait an average of 4 hours or having to run for one of the fast-passes can put a damp on the mood. Of course, there is enough to do there and so much to see, but I wouldn’t want to go on a date during the weekend there. The same goes for Universal Studios Japan. Only Huis Ten Bosch is a bit different because for most of the rides you have to pay extra. It is also one of the more grown-up friendly parks, not made for children and makes a good location for a date. It is very pricey though and located in Nagasaki. In any case, amusement park dates might be popular in Japan, but I think there are better things to do as a couple.