Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines – Season 1 Episode 5 Recap & Review

Asagumo Chihaya Is Led Astray

Episode 5 of Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines begins with Kazuhiko purchasing a book. Kazuhiko wants to read it before Summer vacation ends. He arrives home and learns Kaju is nervous about something. Kazuhiko notices Anna’s shoes nearby and heads to the dining area. He discovers Anna’s there. Anna tells Kazuhiko she’s visiting everyone’s home to give them Somen Noodles.

She shares a tale about her father’s weird payment. Kaju arrives. She interviews Anna, asking her several questions like her date of birth and her first encounter with Kazuhiko.

At school, Kazuhiko stumbles upon Shikiya. Shikiya says she was trying to get some water but ran out of energy. She asks Kazuhiko to tip his water bottle so she can get a sip of his water. Kazuhiko complies. The two discuss Shintaro and Koto’s relationship briefly before parting ways. Kazuhiko arrives at the literature club.

There, Shintaro tells Kazuhiko the student council sent them a notice. The student council wants the literature club to report their activities to them. Shintaro wants to turn everyone’s web novels into a book.

Everyone updates Shintaro on what they’ve accomplished. Shintaro asks Kazuhiko to send him his manuscript once Kazuhiko’s finished it. Koto wants the others to help with library tasks too. She explains the deal the literature club made with its staff.

Meanwhile, Anna and Kazuhiko head to their school’s track yard. There, Kazuhiko learns Anna has a reunion party to attend. Kazuhiko knows Sosuke and Karen will be there and asks Anna if she’ll be okay with that. Anna says she’ll be fine since she’s not the same girl she was during the school’s first term. She shows Kazuhiko a self-help book she’s been reading to calm her nerves.

Later, Kazuhiko bumps into Mitsuki at school. Mitsuki shows Kazuhiko a gift Chihaya gave him. Kazuhiko heads to the library to perform the duties Koto spoke of earlier. Komari’s also there. She tells Kazuhiko she’s working on a reincarnation isekai story. Then, Komari says that the running situation with Lemon has been slightly bothering her.

Kazuhiko offers to discuss Komari’s problem with Lemon with her, but Komari says it’s okay. Kazuhiko returns to the literature club and notices Lemon’s changing. He apologizes to Lemon but Lemon says it’s okay. Lemon receives a text and Kazuhiko asks Lemon if anything is troubling her. Lemon tells Kazuhiko nothing is bothering her and departs.

Then, Kazuhiko returns home and eats. Kaju suggests Kazuhiko invite Anna to his home. She wants to interview Anna, but Kazuhiko refuses. Kazuhiko receives a text and Kaju believes it’s from Anna. Kaju tells Kazuhiko that Anna might be asking him out on a date. Kazuhiko tells Kaju it’s just a friendly get-together.

However, internally, Kazuhiko wonders if Anna asked him out on a date. Eventually, Kazuhiko arrives at the cafe. There, Anna shares her frustrations with Sosuke and Karen’s casual activities. Anna rants about carbohydrates, desserts, and other things. She develops a plan that could get under Sosuke and Karen’s skin.

Before Anna executes it, she and Kazuhiko notice Lemon and Mitsuki nearby. Anna wonders if Mitsuki is cheating on Chihaya. The two exit the cafe but lose sight of Lemon and Mitsuki. Then, Chihaya heads toward Anna and Kazuhiko and asks them questions about Lemon and Mitsuki. Kazuhiko, Chihaya, and Anna head to the former’s home.

In Kazuhiko’s room, Chihaya argues that Mitsuki is cheating on her with Lemon. Chihaya wants Kazuhiko and Anna to help her uncover the truth. She wants to see who Mitsuki truly loves and is willing to end their relationship if he has feelings for Lemon. Anna and Kazuhiko understand and agree to help Chihaya. The three head somewhere. Chihaya, Anna, and Kazuhiko observe Lemon and Mistuki from afar. 

Chihaya flees to a local store and Kazuhiko follows her there. Chihaya rambles about Mitsuki’s dissatisfaction with sweets and other things. Kazuhiko comforts Chihaya and Chihaya appreciates Kazuhiko’s kind remarks. Mitsuki enters the store and Chihaya pulls Kazuhiko into a changing room. Eventually, Mistuki discovers the two inside the room. Chihaya tells Mitsuki that Chihaya will explain everything to him.

The episode ends with Kazuhiko looking disappointed. 

The Episode Review

It appears the tables have turned for Lemon, Chihaya, and Mistuki’s quarrel. This makes somewhat sense, given how abrupt matters were between this trio. Unlike Lemon, Anna and Komari received proper closure for their romantic losses. Therefore, it makes sense for the story to focus on Lemon, Chihaya, and Mitsuki’s conflict. 

Moreover, this episode paints Chihaya in a bright light. It makes Anna’s “homewrecker” statement in a previous chapter obsolete. Regardless, many viewers will praise the series’ author for finding ways to make people empathize with Chihaya. Simultaneously, it’s nice that Chihaya is willing to let Mitsuki go with someone he truly cares for. 

At the same time, it’s fantastic that Chihaya isn’t one hundred percent on board with letting Mitsuki go. The way Chihaya reacts to seeing Mitsuki and Lemon eating gelato together is proof of that. It makes her character feel rounded and realistic.

Next to having some goofy scenarios with Anna and Kaju, this was a fabulous chapter of Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines. I’m excited to see what Kazuhiko will do to resolve this “losing heroine” issue.