Images: Kinema Citrus
Naoshi Usui’s up to stir some more trouble for Miyo and Kiyoka.
After episode 3’s bombastic reveal regarding the identity of Naoshi Usui and his connection to the antagonistic Gifted Communion cult, the dangerous and mysterious man has appeared in front of Miyo, Kiyoka, and Arata in order to claim Miyo as his own daughter.
Spoiler warning: major plot points ahead.
Naoshi Usui’s mind-bending abilities in My Happy Marriage season 2 episode 4 ‘What the Autumn Breeze Brought’ seem to paint him as a man that’s more than capable of bringing Kiyoka Kudou to his knees. The way he seems to slow down time and appear from one end of the scene to the next is particularly chilling to witness.
Kiyoka and Miyo’s fear is incredibly palpable in this episode, and compared to the previous antagonists in My Happy Marriage, Naoshi Usui is looking to be the first veritable threat to the couple’s happiness.
What’s the deal with Miyo being Usui’s daughter?
This twist reveal is definitely a head-scratcher. We all know Miyo’s lineage, being a daughter of the Saimori and Usuba households, but why is Naoshi Usui suddenly claiming that Miyo is his own daughter?
The mystery deepens even further with this episode. As Kiyoka gathers his forces to investigate the true nature of Usui’s identity, it is revealed that Usui’s supernatural ability is considered very powerful even amongst the Usuba clan. As it turns out, Usui is capable of manipulating any information a person can receive from the five senses, making him an incredibly dangerous foe.
Kiyoka and Arata deduce that Usui’s after Miyo for her Dream-Sight ability, which is considered the most powerful ability of the Usubas. There’s a possibility that Usui is claiming Miyo as his own child to manipulate her into doing his will, considering that Usui was originally betrothed to Miyo’s mother.
Arata also digs deeper into Usui’s history, and with the help of Yoshirou Usuba, discovers that Usui was violent and uncontrollable as a child, leading to a strained relationship with the entirety of the Usuba household – save for Miyo’s mother, Sumi. It’s also further revealed that Usui developed a strong attachment to Sumi, a relationship that could have bordered more towards obsession.
Miyo later dreams about Usui and Sumi, where Sumi is telling off Usui for fighting. Miyo is frustrated about the dream, as she can’t seem to still grasp what her ability is meant to do and how she can utilise it well.
Kaoruko Jinnouchi is introduced
Kaoruko Jinnouchi makes her debut appearance in this episode, filling in for Godo who’s been injured in an enemy trap. Kaoruko is tasked as Miyo’s bodyguard, and seems to be a kind and approachable person that easily lifts Miyo’s spirits. She also opens up to Miyo about her age and struggle of being unmarried, and extends a hand in friendship, which Miyo gladly, but shyly, accepts.
It’s great to see Miyo finally get a friend who’s closer to her age, and Kaoruko proves to be a breath of fresh air against the generally strained atmosphere within the military station that Miyo is currently being housed in.
Kaoruko is also the only woman of military rank, considering that ability-users are rare and greatly needed by the government. But it’s not only because of her ability that Kaoruko has made it into the military, she’s also an incredible fighter who outshines most of her peers. It’s just sad to know that she’s not in a higher ranking position simply because of her gender; a fact that any woman could relate to when working in a male-dominated field.
Miyo also feels the disdain of the male members in the station, who all think that women should be inferior. The episode doesn’t shy away from showing misogynistic scenarios: it’s a hard but real struggle that the patriarchal norm, even in an anime like My Happy Marriage, will always cater to male entitlement.
But My Happy Marriage doesn’t stew in misogyny, in fact it portrays the complete opposite. Kaoruko and Miyo are considered formidable and powerful, and it’s quickly proven that it’s not only because of their supernatural abilities. The duo exhibit a quiet determination and strength that brings their other male peers to shame. Miyo says it herself, “She’s standing proud without letting what other people think or say break her.”
But it looks like there’s something more to Kaoruko than meets the eye, and we’re set to find out more about her in the episodes to come.
I want to eat your bento
Episode 4 doesn’t really explore much of Miyo and Kiyoka’s romance. However, a sweet moment occurred when Miyo tells Kiyoka about her excursion within the station. She asks Kiyoka if he would rather eat the canteen food as opposed to her bento, a suggestion that Kiyoka disagrees with. He shyly and sweetly asks her to continue making his bento, which Miyo happily agrees to continue doing.
Under the moonlight, as the two hold hands, Miyo points out to Kiyoka the beauty of the moon. In Japanese culture, the words ‘I love you’ aren't easily said, instead, the author Natsume Soseki famously coined the phrase ‘The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?’ to poetically convey affection.
As the story ramps up, it’s a bit frustrating to have less and less of Miyo and Kiyoka’s affection onscreen, but hopefully we’ll get more with the next episode.
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