As much as I ship Andou with Tomoyo, I find the recent development with Sayumi very interesting.
But first up, that was a brilliant and very genre savy declaration of war by Hatoko. Unfortunately, it could backfire easily - I think Tomoyo and Andou were on course to becoming best hobby-buddies, but stuck in the Friend Zone, never truly conscious of their mutual chemistry or attraction to one another. It could easily have spun around in circles as a Manzai duo between a Chuunibyou and ex Chuuniyou that goes nowhere romantic. But, by declaring romantic war, and by recognizing Tomoyo as a threat, she might have just made Tomoyo conscious that a relationship between Tomoyo and Andou is a very real prospect, from an outsider's view, and might have forced Tomoyo to confront feelings that Tomoyo has been avoiding behind the Tsun.
Secondly, because both Tomoyo and Hatoko were well on course for the Friendzone in the status quo, I don't think the Sayumi pairing is as crazy as it sounds. Yes, Sayumi is the least preferred and least popular of the girls. And even Andou's relationship with Sayumi isn't as developed and firm as Tomoyo and Hatoko - but , it also raises the prospect that Sayumi could escalate and pursue a romance, without the risk of the Friendzone, precisely because Andou's relationship with her is not as well defined as that of Tomoyo and Hatoko. In other words, there's no status quo to break, there's a status quo to make for Sayumi. So, Sagami raised a very interesting possibility this episode, and contrary to some viewers, I think it opens the way for Sayumi to come very close to securing a romance with Andou, though of course, I get the impression that Andou is a tad bit intimidated by her at times.
Given that both Tomoyo and Hatoko are fixated on each other as the key romantic rivals, an Hatoko thinks she's in a Love Triangle, there's a very real risk that both of them will be completely blindsided by Sayumi. And I suspect this is the dynamic Sagami is hinting at here.
As for Chifuyu, unfortunately, I think she's stuck in the Imouto Zone, and the next episode will only confirm it.
And Mirei. Poor Mirei. If the harem really starts, I dare say Episode 2 was a very cruel, sub-conscious pre-emptive exclusion of Mirei from the harem, by the girls pressuring Andou to rescind the relationship. She really had the misfortune of firing her guns too early. Sagami is wrong - Sayumi isn't the least favored, rather Mirei is in the worst position of any of the girls.
Finally, I'd like to make a note on the relationship hierarchy between Andou and the girls.
Andou - Chifuyu, from Andou's perspective, and Chifuyu's conscious perspective , is that of a pseudo-sibling.
Andou- Hatoko unfortunately, is one where Hatoko plays the role of being sub-ordinated. It isn't just that sub-ordination that Hatoko is resentful of, I think more accurately, she's happy being in the sub-ordinated, traditional wife position. It's just that she struggles to inhabit Andou's world, to understand and communicate with Andou.
Andou- Tomoyo is one of the most interesting relations. Their relationship is built on the basis of solid equality They see eye to eye with one another,have one of the strongest chemistries in the cast, have compatible interests that binds them together, have a common language and communication code. I actually think Andou even in non-Chuunibyou mode is at his most truest self when with Tomoyo. It's not surprising that Hatoko thinks that Tomoyo is the biggest threat, Tomoyo has alot of things going for her... if she can avoid the Friendzone, which alas she's close to falling into if she's not careful.
Andou-Sayumi is a relationship where Sayumi would wear the pants, in any romance.I think Andou often sees Sayumi as a leader figure, a superior of whom he'd back down for. Sometimes, of course, Sayumi and Andou swoops down to meet eye to eye, as had happened in Sayumi's episode. But I think there's a power distance that unfortunately makes her one of the weaker contenders, as Sagami claims. Therein lies that potential though - because so little is settled, and whenever the powergap closes, Andou and Sayumi have impressive chemistry (but none at all when the power gap is active), there's alot of potential for Sayumi to move to a romantic relationship level. This is such a development that would more or less come up of the left field from Tomoyo and Hatoko's perspective |