Episode 20 of Your Lie In April, titled “Hand in Hand,” is currently streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu for paid subscribers. Free members can watch the same episode six days from now on March 12th. I will begin by saying that this episode of Your Lie In April reminds me of the latest episode of Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend, which also streams on Thursdays, because Tsubaki of the former shares a commonality with Eriri of the latter.
Tsubaki is Kosei’s childhood friend and Eriri is Tomoya’s childhood friend; both formers have feelings for their respective latter, but are unable to be blunt with them. Eriri’s emotional lashing towards Tomoya in the latest episode of Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend is proof of that.
This episode of Your Lie In April begins during the start of the new year as the students are looking at the results of their national entrance exams. Tsubaki proved to everybody that she can get high marks if she works for it and tries to celebrate with Tomoya, but finds that he is not inside the music room like usual.
It is obvious that Kosei has feelings for Kaori, but is reluctant to visit her because he knows what is going to happen later on.
Kosei doesn’t want to get emotionally invested on Kaori, who seemingly has his late-mother’s medical condition, even though he has strong feelings for her. This is a typical defense mechanism to avoid the emotional pain of grieving at the end.
But Ryota won’t let him get away let alone that easy.
I find it funny that Kosei and Kaori still have comical reactions toward each other especially when the latter is the one “leading.” Kaori’s Medusa glare at Kosei made me laugh a bit even though this is still a depressing moment.
This is where the similarities end with Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend because Your Lie In April focuses on the one-sided love square. It is obvious that Kaori and Kosei have feelings for each other, but Tsubaki has feelings for Kosei and Ryota has feelings for Kaori as well.
I can understand the added reluctance on why Kosei is hesitant to visit Kaori.
Tsubaki ends up calling Kosei out on his “cowardice.”
I enjoyed the emotional moment between the two until Tsubaki decided to kick Kosei in the shin for some random reason.
It is obvious that Tsubaki has a hard time controlling her emotions and it led to a funny moment where she accidentally throws her bat and almost hits her best friend, Kashiwagi, in the process. I feel so bad for Kashiwagi because she is neutral party dragged along for this emotional roller coaster ride.
There is no shortage of humor as Kosei contemplates on the previous night, where Tsubaki kicked him, only to have Seto surprise him as if she was an evil spirit.
Kosei ultimately shocks me by genuinely and bluntly telling Ryota that he likes Kaori.
S—t ultimately hits the fan when Kaori has a seizure at the moment Kosei mustered up the courage to visit her on his own accord.
It is more saddening that the black cat that was friendly with Kosei, led to believe it’s Chelsea, gets run over by a speeding vehicle. Life really has it for Kosei and wants to put him through the ringer. I will assume that it will affect Kosei in the tournament next month.
First Tsubaki makes Kosei obsess over her, Kaori goes into shock and seemingly dies, and the black cat gets run over. I am surprised that Kosei hasn’t given up playing the piano again, yet.
C’est la vie, Kosei Arima…
