- Chapter 46 (Psychological Tests and Deep Psyche) is the first on the list, and it's a pretty decent adaptation. Wonderful job on the part of the background artists, which gave the classroom a soft, warm feel to it. The vignette was a slightly predictable one, but certainly sweet. It also marked the second time in this series that one of Kubo's little schemes backfired and left her a bit embarrassed by the end.
- Chapter 45 (Coffee and Independent Sister) is up next, and it certainly feels suitable for the first season finale, as it dives into the sisterly bond between the Kubo sisters in a way that no previous episode had done before.
- Throughout the series, Akina has been known to tease Nagisa about her developing feelings for Shiraishi, but here she gets an earnest moment of reflection. She becomes emotional over the personal growth that she has witnessed on her younger sibling and comes to terms with the fact that Nagisa will someday grow into an independent lady with a life of her own.
- This segment also makes for a nice follow up on the events depicted in episode 11, as we get a flashback to Akana helping Nagisa prepare for the movie date.
- Fittingly enough for the finale, we get to see Nagisa for once turn the tables on Akina, as she gets the better of her older sister during her emotional spiel. As a bonus for manga fans, this little story actually marks the beginning of a continual plot thread in manga, one that gives us some of the best moments of the supporting cast.
- Speaking of continual plot threads, the next chapter in this list (Chapter 47: Starring Role and Gift) ALSO marks the beginning of another plot thread in the manga. I won't spoil it, but it's a pretty sweet one.
- Anyway, on to the adaptation itself, it works perfectly fine. Calling back to the third episode of the series, Kubo uses the knowledge she acquired from Shiraishi's ID Card in order to throw a surprise mini-Birthday party for Shiraishi.
- In another nice reference to a previous episode (this time Episode 6), Kubo gifts Shiraishi a cute little axolotl plushie, the very same one that Shiraishi accidentally texted to her when he was home sick. Keen viewers would have noticed that this very plushie has been appearing at the beginning of every episode, hiding in plain sight during the Cat-and-Mouse cosplay part on the show’s OP.
- But just like the anime, we have saved the best for last: Chapter 44, fittingly titled Shiraishi Junta. After a fairly comedic (and anime exclusive) sequence where Shiraishi just strolls past a number of people looking for him - a sequence that for once actually sees him relish in his invisibility - he stops to ponder just why Kubo is the only one that can always spot him. Cue a jump cut to Kubo watching him from a nearby window, where she begins to retell the audience the events that led her to take an interest in our invisible protagonist.
- Mirroring the very first frame of the series, Kubo explains that the spark that lit the metaphorical fire of her love began when she saw Shiraishi's photoshopped picture in Tama's middle school yearbook. At first, her interest was merely driven by a desire to know the guy a bit more. She found herself amused by his absurd dilemma, and by the fact that it was hard to tell just what he felt at any given moment.
- Yet, it wouldn't presumably be until the beginning of the second semester of school that she finally had the chance to speak to him. She attempts to strike a casual conversation with him, much to Shiraishi's surprise, who considers the whole affair to be a fluke of sorts.
- His cute, but awkward first conversation with Kubo leaves the girl smitten with his dorky, but amiable personality, which she regarded with much interest after only having seen his fairly emotionless side for the better part of the school year.
- Kubo concludes that the more she learned about him, his interests and his brotherly qualities, the more she couldn't keep her eyes off him, until at some point, her feelings of curiosity became romantic ones.
- Overall, this was such a wonderful finale to the series, one that simultaneously feels conclusive while also setting up plenty of plot threads that are begging to be addressed in a second season. Fans of Kubo will not be disappointed by this one.
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