Yuru Yuri EP 12 [Finale] – A Passionate Overnight Stay with Everyone3

Summary:

Judging by the ferocity of Chinatsu’s expression and spectacular ‘thrusted fist’, the anticipated series finale would appear to be bathed in glory! Now to you faithful Akari fans:  Yuru Yuri, hajimaru yo~

Ayano drops by the Amusement Club room and discovers everyone watching the Mirakurun movie—even president Rise and Nishikaki-sensei are present—all in preparation for the club’s overnighter. Because of the special occasion, Kyouko buys animal pajamas for Yui, Akari, and Chinatsu.

As night approaches, everyone gathers within the club room, and the Amusement Club vs. Student Council contest begins. How better to begin than with a lively Othello match . . . Er maybe the Mirakurun costume contest will be better. ‘Gestures’ turns out to be a failure for team ‘Pandomato’ as Yui struggles to decipher Kyouko’s erratic poses, and the games make their timely conclusion when Nishigaki-sensei’s game of ‘experiments’ wraps up with a boom.

Exhausted from competing, the girls unwind with a soak in two make-shift outdoor baths—that is, until Akari abruptly tips and rolls down the adjacent hill. Leaving only a single bath left; Kyouko and Ayano will have to compromise with a tight squeeze.

Furthering the mood of relaxation is Kyouko, as she cracks open a box of chocolates, foolishly offering a truffle to Chitose. Within seconds, the once peaceful mood is trampled (and smooched) by Chitose’s hellish alter-ego—prompted by an unfortunate lack of immunity to sweets. To make matters worse, nobody seems to know where Akari is! (but of course, she’s alone by the river shivering in a can) There seems to be no stopping the fierce kisses, and with numbers declining, the remaining girls resort to yuri to tire her out; A kiss from Ayano is all it takes~

Thanks to Akari, the morning passes uneventfully. Thanks to Nishigaki-sensei, her time-bomb-alarm clock obliterates the Amusement Club room. . .with Akari inside. In the end, the got what she wanted:  More presence. Wait, isn’t that Akari behind you?

Impressions:

The perfect way to end a ‘yuri series’ is with plenty of yuri (and some added humor doesn’t hurt). With yuri being more of a lasting theme throughout the series, it was fantastic to conclude with some actual periods of literal interaction. Again, it’s easy to gain an appreciation for a series when you are able to look back and review clever stylistic elements used to produce a grand effect in the end. Following suit, the series as a whole had great development for each of its characters—even poor Akari goes rewarded ^^. Ayano leaves satisfied, having finally landed a suitable kiss on Kyouko’s cheek; Chitose happily receives the fulfilling taste of chocolate (though I doubt she’ll ever get any again) and consequently, Chizuru found an opening for a good fantasy-drool; and Akari’s building ‘invisibility’ contributes to the humorous conclusion.

My only disappointments lie not necessarily in the style of the ending, per se, but rather in the apparent lack of ‘tying up loose ends’. While about half of the cast ends on a final humorous note, characters like Himawari and Sakurako—whose relationship has periodically hinted at a dere dere (or even tsundere) turn—are left without any information as to their future. Likewise, the Chinatsu-Yui and Yui-Kyouko relationships, respectively, did not get very much concluding development. Though, from an entertainment standpoint, I could easily recommend the series for its frisky-comical banter and ground-breaking costume design.

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