This side story exists in a special space. This is not a case of the story deviating from the main plot and relationships to add more details or explore different forms of comedy. The overall presentation is similar, with sound and animation quality on par with the first two. New, quirky characters are introduced, and almost everything in these four episodes cleverly ties into these new actors.
At this point in the series, Nasa takes on the role of a teacher, presenting another situation where people might be caught off guard by his rather unconventional relationship with his wife. At first, things go as expected, as his classmates hunt him down for details about his wife, while Tsukasa struggles with the fact that a bunch of teenage girls could attack her husband. But then there are other moments that lean into what the film does best, allowing the other characters to break free from the main couple’s relationship to discover new things about themselves. Nothing as profound as a character is related to my biggest problem with these four episodes.
The new cast is so adorable. The new high school characters offer an interesting perspective on this show as they remind viewers that Nasa isn’t that old and doesn’t have a high school life. Putting him in a position where many people admire him with respect is interesting despite being on the same level. Nasa became an excellent teacher in academic and romantic matters, setting an example of the kind of happiness prospective couples should strive for. When the show focuses on the emotions reflected by the main couple, it leads to some of the funniest episodes in the series.
When the show focused entirely on Tsukasa, things fell apart. Tsukasa feeling a little insecure about her husband being surrounded by a bunch of horny high school girls is funny, but that’s the only joke they make on her throughout the four episodes. It leads to some funny moments, especially when she tries to seduce Nasa with cosplay, but the lesson Tsukasa is trying to learn is glossed over before. Tsukasa is more reserved than Nasa and has difficulty expressing her love verbally, which was resolved in previous seasons. These episodes act as if this is the first time this issue has been brought up, which seems lazy and repetitive.
It’s a shame these episodes wasted time introducing new elements that could have been relevant to the show’s overarching plot. Many of Nasa’s students fall into the category of “vibrant high school girls,” as expected from the creator of Hayate the Combat Butler. But there was one girl who stood out with a mysterious atmosphere around her. Her name is Kaguya, and that name isn’t the only thing that seems to act as a deadly sign that she’s likely related to Tsukasa’s immortality and obsession with the moon. There is a gloomy atmosphere like this whenever the character is talked about as if she were a princess from the moon, and that implies that she has some connection to Tsukasa. However, the two only interact for a VERY short scene in these four episodes. The final episode then ends with more foreshadowing from Nasa about future events that may or may not be tweaked in the future. It’s annoying to say the least, because, by the time it gets to grips, the episode is finally over.
Overall, TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You ~High School Days~ is an extension of the original anime, with consistent themes and characters that tie these four episodes together. The humor comes in and it’s always nice to see people contemplating our main duo’s love. It’s not always entertaining to spend a good amount of time rereading past material or when it preloads additional omens and mysteries. If you’re a fan of the series then there’s plenty to enjoy, but unless it continues, we’ll have more questions than answers.
