Suzuka Ep 07: Ketsui (Determination)

After being rejected by Asahina, Yamato is feeling very down and knows that it's hard to pretend that nothing has happened. Seeing how upset Yamato is feeling, Hattori offers to bring Yamato for a go-kon (group date) but Yamato rejects his suggestion. Even Miho realises this so she tries to liven up things by saying that she will marry Yamato if nobody wants him in the end. This makes Yamato feel even worse as he has to be comforted by his younger cousin in his relationship matters when he should have been more mature in his way of doing things.

That night, Yamato meets Asahina who has returned home from a gathering with her athletics teammates but she returns to her room without speaking to him. Yamato feels down again but lightens up when he hears someone knocking at his door. To his disappointment, he sees Yuka and Megumi who bring drinks to his room and say that they are going to comfort him for being out of love.

Yuka tells Yamato about her own experience and tells him that he should not give up so easily even though he has been rejected. Upon hearing this, Yamato makes up his mind to continue liking Asahina and even shouts at the top of his voice about his feelings which makes Asahina very embarrassed.

After some consideration, Yamato contemplates joining the athletics team at Miyamoto's suggestion and tells Hattori about it. To his surprise, Hattori tells him to give up the idea since his intention of joining the athletics team is just to get closer to Asahina. When Asahina hears about Yamato's decision and realises that he has no idea how tough the training is, she flares up and tells Yamato not to belittle the athletics team's training as a piece of cake.

Yamato had intended to join the athletics team to spend more time with Asahina but makes her angry again. He fails to find a good opportunity to apologise to her and Hattori keeps telling him not to join the team for such a reason. When Honoka hears about Yamato's intention, she dissuades him from joining since the training is tough and it will tire him out. Actually, she is saying this because she wants more time with Yamato.

Hattori decides to bring Yamato to Asahina personally and apologise for his words. However, Yamato makes up his mind and tells Miyamoto that he is joining the athletics team much to the surprise of Hattori and Asahina...

I had the urge to make Asahina come to her senses when she ignored Yamato after the rejection. Come on, you can still be friends so what's with that attitude?! And poor Yamato is so smitten with her that he even joins the athletics team just to spend more time with her. I really think he deserves someone who will appreciate him better.

Well, joining the athletics team may not turn out well too as seen in the trailer for Ep 8 when he feels the distance between him and Asahina. And Honoka finally springs into action and takes the initiative to change the situation between her and Yamato. That's good because without competition, Asahina will never realise the importance and value of Yamato.