Fuelling Fiction Through Pain

Domestic Girlfriend Episode 12

The secret is out and Hina takes it all upon herself (which as the adult in the relationship and the supervising teacher that quite clearly acted in a way contrary to her position it makes sense that she does this). In order to avoid the scandal becoming public, Hina accepts a transfer of position (why she isn’t fired is a question I guess we’ll never understand) and then she vanished from Natsuo, Rui and the rest of the family (though she does send her mother a text). Domestic Girlfriend has been big on these extreme reactions to emotions rather than more measured responses but to be honest at this point this was actually a fairly low-key way to handle the situation.

All of which is better than Natsuo’s approach which is to literally hide in his room. I’m going to give full credit to the support cast of Domestic Girlfriend in this instance for not putting up with that. The support they give Natsuo in this episode is phenomenal and Natsuo really hasn’t appreciated Rui enough given everything she’s done for him (of course, her throwing herself at him in the end is all kinds of weird but more or less expected from this story at this point).

After being encouraged, shouted at, and dragged to a bath house, Natsuo turns to writing to help deal with his emotions. While at first he ignores the food and other supports Rui brings him, in time it is almost as though the writing provides a release for him and he returns to the world around him.

Of course, this being the kind of story it is, it isn’t just a personal writing venture. he gives the draft to his teacher who is a writer who just happens to decide to pass it on and the next thing you know Natsuo is winning an award.

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There’s something very unbalanced about Domestic Girlfriend in that some moments are really grounded and touching and then it does things that makes you wonder just what planet these characters are living on. It always takes things just that little bit too far and pushes them past the ability to suspend disbelief.

That said, for an anime that has been borderline trashy since the beginning, is well outside my usual preferred viewing genres, and is generally full of characters that aren’t all that likeable, there’s been something kind of great about watching this. It is going to make for an interesting review and I’m kind of looking forward to writing it.

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Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
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Karandi James

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• Series Review – Domestic Girlfriend
• Episode 1 – And He Thought This Was a One Night Stand
• Episode 2 – The Growing Bonds That Join These Characters
• Episode 3 – Why Not Prepare Popcorn For This Fantastic Drama?
• Episode 4 – Good Intentions; Questionable Activities: How Will This End?
• Episode 5 – The Rumour Mill Surrounding The Easy Girl
• Episode 6 – When In Doubt, Just Pile on More Characters and Stir
• Episode 7 – Domestic Dramas and More Mundane High School Problems
• Episode 8 and 9 – Making Choices and Hearing Truths
• Episode 10 – Natsuo, If You’re Going To Lie, Cover Your Tracks
• Episode 11 – Foolish Hearts and Foolish Choices
• Episode 12 – Fuelling Fiction Through Pain
• Images from: Domestic Girlfriend. Dir. S Ibata. Diomedea. 2019.