SUMMARY — This year, Trickstar has been given the honour of handling the traditional and independent live that is held in April, Sakura Fest. Hokuto is fully motivated, but on the other hand, Subaru doesn't seem to be very eager...
RECAP — subaru decides to fuck off during practice before a big live. but what's this? the unresolved trauma of isolation by peers? ft. adosou being adosou, allusions to hokuto being a bad unit leader, koga throwing a dog up a tree and SO many undressing comments.
RATING — ★★★★★ — VERY FUN STORY
↳ hokuto announces that trickstar will be holding the sakurafes concert, which subaru refuses in favor of wanting to attend the flower-viewing in the same timeframe. after subaru and hokuto sulk in the wake of their argument, subaru is advised to not shirk his duties by souma and adonis, and hokuto admits to makoto and mao that he knows he causes trouble with his narrow-minded nature.
↳ with the help of shinobu, mao and anzu locate subaru, who is in a cherry blossom tree with daikichi, who was thrown up there with koga, who isn't pleased with the pollen nor their appearances. after some begging on mao's and mao reaching out a hand to subaru, subaru admits that the reason he was so adamant on going to the flower-viewing this year was that he hadn't been invited the previous year because he'd been shunned by his classmates, and he wanted to wipe over his old, sad memories with his new friends.
↳ when sakurafes finally rolls around, subaru still hadn't attended any rehearsals, frustrating hokuto. hokuto admits to his stubbornness again and makoto reminsces on how hokuto used to force him into jobs, and how hokuto was likely forced the same way by his parents. they continue to perform, until subaru suddenly arrives in the middle of the concert. hokuto berates him and they bicker, but subaru reveals that he'd been advertising for sakurafes at the flower-viewings and practicing with anzu. hokuto decides to trust him, and they perform.
↳ after the live, subaru and hokuto continue to argue while mao talks to shinobu about him and anzu's merch sales. subaru notices souma and adonis helping anzu man the barbecue stall and koga heckling adonis about his grilling. their classmates compliment them before they return to the stage.
trickstar truly are just the peak of boys being boys to me in so many ways. and i'm always a fan of subaru's experience never having a "proper high school experience" considering how much it resonates with me... and allusions to past trickstar's issues always interest me... even if their get-together has usually been portrayed pretty positively, the issues they worked out to get there (notably hokuto's pushiness AND ALSO THE HIDAKA CYCLE OF ABUSE? fascinating) are always tasty for me.
HITS —
(sighs) trickstar undressing comp.
koga and mao make for an insanely funny dynamic. mao isara get some pride
[through tears] what isolation in freshman year does to a mf
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