Nobuta wo Produce – Episode 5: A double-date and re-awakening of the producer

The Producer with his reluctant cast

A very good episode in terms of character and relationship development.

While Shuji realizes that what Nobuta now needs – after a haircut and decent change of clothing – is a guys’ attention by being in love. He convinces her like this:

Shuji: Be in love…Love is good. Your skin becomes all smooth.

Akira: But it’s already smooth!

But Shuji’s thoughts are slower, as compared to the action of a classmate, Shittaka, who has already sent a love letter to Nobuko.

Love the frame. Pink and blue and boy!

And much slower than Akira, who has not only fallen in love with Nobuko but has realised it and has began acting all-fuzzy and nervous around her.

Too much in love to wear socks/shoes

So, Shuji the producer has taken up his weapons (his girl friend what’s-her-name) and set up a double date. He trains Nobuko to act girly and cheesy, like silly girls do, to appear lovable.

Showing Nobuko how it’s done, homo-style

However, the date which was turning out fine (with Nobuko ever grabbing Shittaka’s coat sleeve!!) suddenly takes a strange turn when an old man near the couple falls to the floor and starts puking. While Nobuko runs to the old man’s rescue, Shittaka who tries to help her shouts ‘disgusting’, fearing any contact with Nobuko’s puke-ridden hand. Akira, who is spying on the couple, notices this and lends a helping hand. He even tells Nobuko that her kind hands could never be disgusting.

The kind, puke-ridden hand of lurve!

However, the next day the school is littered with posters of Nobuko hanging with several guys. Fearing that this will hinder her plans to become popular, Shuji tells her to forgive Shittaka and go back to dating him, in spite of not liking him, like he keeps doing.

But later in his meetings with his girl friend and father (who also calls his wife Nobutan) he realises that it doesn’t matter what others think, as long as there is someone who believes in you and knows the truth. Akira even makes him realise that to him Nobuka is a project he is embarking without knowing what it is all about. Shuji realises that his ambition is hollow, because he doesn’t even know what Nobuko wants. His project was to ‘produce’ Nobuko who was not ridiculed by others; but he wanted to make another person like him, who lived on lies, and never said no, just to remain popular.

The boys spy on Nobuko, their summer project!

Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: Maybe soon the time will come when I can say ‘now we are getting somewhere…’