Atri: My Dear Moments – Season 1 Episode 8 Recap & Review

The Rippling Night Has Come

Episode 8 of Atri: My Dear Moments begins with Natsuki looking at Atri while she’s sleeping. Natsuki’s confuzzled by his and Atri’s kiss in the ocean. He grabs Atri and realizes she can dream like humans. Natsuki looks at her lips and lets her go. Later, Minamo, Yoko, and others notice Natsuki’s acting strange at school. 

Then, everyone starts swimming. Before Natsuki dives into the water, Yoko asks Natsuki if anything happened between him and Atri. Natsuki blushes and attempts to walk away. He tells Ryuuji and the others that his situation with Atri doesn’t concern them. After chatting, Natsuki tells Yoko and the others that he kissed Atri. 

The four head to the school’s rooftop to discuss this situation further. Natsuki says he’s unsure how he feels about Atri yet. Atri arrives and scolds Natsuki for skipping class. After Atri and Natsuki argue with each other, we cut away to them leaving the school. Then, Atri, Minamo, and Natsuki stop somewhere. Atri departs and promises to work on dinner for her and Natsuki. 

Minamo and Natsuki discuss Atri’s cooking activities and the possibility of her having a heart. She suggests Natsuki properly confront Atri about his possible feelings for her. Minamo departs. Yoko and Ryuuji bump into Minamo. The two ask Minamo if she’s okay with Natsuki being with Atri instead of her. 

Minamo says she is, but her reaction says otherwise. She reflects on the day Natsuki left for the academy and how much he’s inspired her. Minamo argues that she wants to do her best with Natsuki. Yoko understands and invites Minamo to a restaurant with her, Hanako, and Ririka. 

Later, Atri gives Natsuki the food she made for him. Natsuki likes it and Atri’s happy he does. He questions Atri about her emotions and Atri admits that she likes Natsuki. Before Atri kisses Natsuki, Natsuki pushes Atri away. Natsuki heads outside to ponder things. Atri exits the home with a towel on.

Natsuki’s confused by her get-up and Atri starts flashing Natsuki humorously. Natsuki hits Atri and the two head inside to discuss that debacle. After that, the two end up in an intimate position on the bed. Natsuki tells Atri to get up and places a curtain in the middle of the bed. He wants Atri to sleep on the left side.

Natsuki explains why he’s doing this and what will happen when Atri learns how to truly “love” someone. He tells Atri they’ll interact with each other as they usually do. After we receive an update on Minamo and others’ activities, we return to following Atri and Natsuki.

The two discuss humanity and why Atri shared certain words with Natsuki on the cliff during Natsuki’s youth. Atri tells Natsuki she was taught to say those things. Then, we receive a dream sequence. In it, Atri helps a young Natsuki whose foot is trapped underneath some rubble. She tells Natsuki he isn’t alone anymore.

Natsuki wakes up from the dream. He spots Atri sleeping in a chair. He notices Atri’s memory log is nearby and reads it. Atri wrote that she kissed Natsuki and doesn’t understand the meaning behind kissing people. 

He continues reading Atri’s notes. Natsuki learns Atri researched love and humans’ different actions to showcase that emotion to someone. He realizes Atri shared certain things with him because these are answers Natsuki wanted to hear her say. Atri wakes up.

The episode ends with Natsuki telling Atri to stay away from him.

The Episode Review

This chapter of Atri: My Dear Moments delves into the “heart” of the issue between Atri and Natsuki well. Natsuki’s confusion about his ordeal with Atri is relatable. Anyone who has developed mixed emotions for someone will resonate with Natsuki’s situation. On that note, it’s heartbreaking that Atri doesn’t truly love Natsuki. 

At the same time, it shows why it’d be best to view AI as AI and not as human beings. Natsuki’s response to discovering the truth is a great example of the negative impacts “viewing AI as humans” can have on a human’s psyche. Hopefully, Natsuki and Atri can find ways to resolve their emotional debacle.

On that note, it was sad to see Minamo admit defeat. While the anime hasn’t made her out to be a solid contender for Natsuki’s heart, people who’ve been in Minamo’s situation can understand what she’s going through. Additionally, we can see folks comparing Minamo’s defeat to Anna, Lemon, and Komari’s losses they endured in Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines. 

But all in all, this was an interesting episode. Although it’s a bummer that the story’s not examining Atri’s world as much, the show’s romance problems aren’t too bad. Nevertheless, we’re optimistic the show will continue to produce great chapters to watch.