I'm going to spoil the whole episode in my post, so skip it if you want to be surprised.
Anyhows...
They jump right into new years as their pounding away on the Mochi... Ken talks to Mikio about time-slipping and is blown off. They go off to the bar and rag on Kenzo as he thinks DKNY is "Don't Knock New York."
Later, Mikio tells Rei to come on over since Kenzo has something special to tell her...
Ken hesitates and Rei just drops some bombs on him; she tells him that she's decided to start seeing Tada先生... That she's 20 and wants to find her new self. She's always loved Ken, but it's time to leave that version of herself behind.
If I were Ken, I would've just broken down right there...
But, he goes along as the group prepares for their Ghetto Kohaku... Sabuchan, Wada Akika, Tetsuda, and even Otsuka Ai make an appearance. They head back home and go to the trouble of making their own ToshiKoshi soba... and end up opting for the instant version.
The gang of 5 decide to go and do their annual ritual of watching the New Year's sunrise at the beach, but Kenzo bails (I can't blame him; he just had his world turned upside down).
So the Fantastic Four and Tada go off to the beach and Kenzo wanders the streets. While in the car, everyone starts to reminisce about Ken because everyone knows that "it's boring without Kenzo." Meanwhile, Ken runs into some kids carrying a "Don't Knock New York" bag (after having a few drinks and discovering that DKNY is the master's favorite brand) and heads off to score one.
Everyone gets out of the car and onto the beach and just don't feel right without Kenzo. Tada then talks about how easily he ended things of "growing up..." and then he mentions how jealous he is of the 5 of them and their relationship... Looks like their heading back... hell, they even bust out Ken's old HS MD mixtape.
Ken works on scoring the bag and FINALLY comes to the revelation that he loves Rei; he always has. After knocking out the last piece, he breaks down into tears... it took a while, but he has finally realized what matters in his life.
Anyhows, he scores the bag and heads home... Only the be surprised by his friends with a Happy New Year, once again. He proves that he isn't stupid and that "Don't Knock New York" exists... and of course, he gives it to Rei.
Right then, I just had a big ol' smile on my face. Ken goes off to the bathroom and my smile dies a sad death; Tada was waiting in the bathroom (the CACK).
They go off to the rooftop (instead of the beach) and catch the sunset; Rei shows of her new swag.
After returning back to the present, the old man appears and tells Ken "Damn, son... you had to choose the toughest road, didn't you?" It's his last chance... and he recollects a memory of Rei telling him "You just don't get it, Kenzo... you never have."
And that was pretty much their final falling out; no more Kenzo and Rei.
-----
Next week's preview shows what's going on, the proposal, the ring... and the overlying voice over of Ken telling Rei to marry him, instead.
-------------
Good stuff... Looks like we're heading towards the end... The next episode looks as though it may end with a cliff-hanger and lead us to a time-slip conclusion the following week, with the show finale after that...
I can't wait.
They jump right into new years as their pounding away on the Mochi... Ken talks to Mikio about time-slipping and is blown off. They go off to the bar and rag on Kenzo as he thinks DKNY is "Don't Knock New York."
Later, Mikio tells Rei to come on over since Kenzo has something special to tell her...
Ken hesitates and Rei just drops some bombs on him; she tells him that she's decided to start seeing Tada先生... That she's 20 and wants to find her new self. She's always loved Ken, but it's time to leave that version of herself behind.
If I were Ken, I would've just broken down right there...
But, he goes along as the group prepares for their Ghetto Kohaku... Sabuchan, Wada Akika, Tetsuda, and even Otsuka Ai make an appearance. They head back home and go to the trouble of making their own ToshiKoshi soba... and end up opting for the instant version.
The gang of 5 decide to go and do their annual ritual of watching the New Year's sunrise at the beach, but Kenzo bails (I can't blame him; he just had his world turned upside down).
So the Fantastic Four and Tada go off to the beach and Kenzo wanders the streets. While in the car, everyone starts to reminisce about Ken because everyone knows that "it's boring without Kenzo." Meanwhile, Ken runs into some kids carrying a "Don't Knock New York" bag (after having a few drinks and discovering that DKNY is the master's favorite brand) and heads off to score one.
Everyone gets out of the car and onto the beach and just don't feel right without Kenzo. Tada then talks about how easily he ended things of "growing up..." and then he mentions how jealous he is of the 5 of them and their relationship... Looks like their heading back... hell, they even bust out Ken's old HS MD mixtape.
Ken works on scoring the bag and FINALLY comes to the revelation that he loves Rei; he always has. After knocking out the last piece, he breaks down into tears... it took a while, but he has finally realized what matters in his life.
Anyhows, he scores the bag and heads home... Only the be surprised by his friends with a Happy New Year, once again. He proves that he isn't stupid and that "Don't Knock New York" exists... and of course, he gives it to Rei.
Right then, I just had a big ol' smile on my face. Ken goes off to the bathroom and my smile dies a sad death; Tada was waiting in the bathroom (the CACK).
They go off to the rooftop (instead of the beach) and catch the sunset; Rei shows of her new swag.
After returning back to the present, the old man appears and tells Ken "Damn, son... you had to choose the toughest road, didn't you?" It's his last chance... and he recollects a memory of Rei telling him "You just don't get it, Kenzo... you never have."
And that was pretty much their final falling out; no more Kenzo and Rei.
-----
Next week's preview shows what's going on, the proposal, the ring... and the overlying voice over of Ken telling Rei to marry him, instead.
-------------
Good stuff... Looks like we're heading towards the end... The next episode looks as though it may end with a cliff-hanger and lead us to a time-slip conclusion the following week, with the show finale after that...
I can't wait.
Ahhh... you gotta love the emotional roller coaster.