Review of episode 4 of Blue Box: The 4th episode of Blue Box or Ao no Hako (アオのハコ) is very funny and engaging, showing how comfortable Chinatsu has become with Taiki. Let's see how this episode plays out.
Summary of episode 3 of Blue Box
Taiki finds himself in a difficult position when he realizes there may be someone else vying for Chinatsu Senpai's affections. His world is rocked when he sees her talking to Haryu Senpai, the star badminton player at their school. This hits Taiki especially hard, who also joins the badminton club, as it makes Haryu not only his rival on the court but also in his personal life. To make matters worse, Haryu is on track to compete at the national level, while Taiki has yet to secure a starting spot.
What's even more disturbing is that Haryu is Chinatsu's classmate, giving them more opportunities to interact. Taiki's jealousy increases when he learns that Haryu affectionately calls her “Chi”, a nickname that shows how close they are. This causes Taiki to ponder his feelings for most of the episode until he finally realizes that there's no use dwelling on it. The only way forward is to focus on what he can control—his performance on the field.
After putting his jealousy aside, Taiki regains focus on the game, which is important because his dream is to become a professional tennis player. It's also clear that Chinatsu is the perfect match for him, as she intuitively understands his feelings, even if he doesn't say them out loud. Their shared determination and passion for their respective sports can pave the way for a strong, healthy relationship.
Blue Box Review and summary of episode 4
It has been a month since Chinatsu started living with Taiki, and fortunately, he has adapted to that reality quite well. Even though he is sometimes overwhelmed by her brilliant aura, he still overcomes it. And just when he thought everything would go well and no one would find out that they lived together, he made a mistake. Taiki accidentally brought Chinatsu's gym uniform to school instead of his own.
This part is funny because if something like this were to get out, everyone would know they were living together. Taiki tries his best to overcome every obstacle that stands in his way to find the ideal place where he can exchange the cursed item. When Hina discovered him and tried to touch his uniform, Taiki even blatantly lied that he had not washed his uniform since last summer and was still using it until now. This clearly disgusted his friend and he tried to sneak past.
In this episode, we also see the first instance of Chinatsu seeing Taiki as a proper man. When a situation arose where Taiki had to adjust his shirt, she blushed after looking at his very toned body. This proves that she really knows him, but it may take more time for her to open up.
Things get more interesting when Taiki's true love rival appears in his first inter-school match after entering high school. Kishi at Shimotomi High School was Haryu's junior. On top of that, coincidentally, he also loves Chinatsu and asked Haryu to give him her phone number. But every time Haryu dodged his pleas. Therefore, to encourage Taiki and push him forward, Haryu makes a bet that Taiki cannot ignore because it involves the number of his beloved Senpai.
Verdict
Today's episode is very interesting and we see how the characters are becoming closer and closer. Taiki's friends are really supportive, and quite literally for them, he's going on his first date soon.
Also read: Blue Box Episode 3 Review: A New Found Determination