Shy – Season 2 Episode 3 Recap & Review

Heartblade

Episode 3 of Shy Season 2 begins with Ai attacking Tokimaru. Tokimaru falls off a railing so Ai suggests she, Iko, and Teru look for him. Later, Ai and the others visit a park. Ai confirms Tokimaru is the stalker she referred to in episode 2. Then, Ai heads near a staircase and trips. Tokimaru arrives and saves her. Tokimaru tells Iko and Teru that his and Ai’s village’s leader asked him to retrieve Ai. He confirms Ai is the village’s princess.

Later, Ai and Tokimaru argue somewhere and Teru and Iko observe them from a short distance. Ai doesn’t want to return to the village because she doesn’t like how her family sheltered her her whole life. Tokimaru argues that Ai’s family wants to protect her. Ai lectures the others on her village’s (Soga’s) way of life and their war-like origins. 

Ai says she only trusts her sword, Purity. Ai lets Teru hold Purity and Ai takes it from Teru seconds later. She says Purity can read people’s hearts if they touch it. Moreover, Ai says Purity can tell her what someone’s heart is like. Ai shares some embarrassing things about Teru and Teru asks Ai to stop. Then, Purity tells Ai that Teru is Shy, Japan’s Heroine.

Ai, Tokimaru, Teru, and Iko go for a stroll. Ai explains she left Soga Village because she sensed someone with a pitch-black heart in a distant location. Teru remembers her and Pepesha’s fight with Letana (Pepesha’s mother) and believes this is the person Ai sensed. Moreover, Purity told Ai that she had to communicate with a hero. 

Ai shows Teru and Iko a scar on her chest. The former says her heart’s gotten weak so it’s difficult for her to move around in her current body. She fears something bad might happen to her and asks Teru if she knows of someone who is trying to threaten this world’s peaceful existence. Ai wants to assist Teru in defeating this unknowable evil so no one else has to endure that pain Ai sensed. 

Tokimaru tells Ai that everyone wants her to return to Soga but Ai refuses. The former reminds the latter that she has no place to stay. Ai convinces Teru to let her stay at her place. Ai, Teru, and Tokimaru head to Teru’s place. Ai tells Tokimaru to leave and Teru and Ai enter Teru’s home. The two spot Shrimpy but Ai’s not taken aback by his appearance since Purity told her about him.

After Ai finishes showering, she uses her incredible swordswoman skills to create a meal for her and Teru. While they eat, Ai lectures Teru on what katanas mean to her and her people. She delves into topics like how blades relate to folks’ hearts and how they can be used for good or terrible purposes. Ai heads outside to give Tokimaru a small meal. 

Then, Ai regroups with Teru and tells Teru she wishes Tokimaru would return to Soga. Then, Teru’s doorbell rings. Ai opens the door and Iko’s there. Iko says she stopped by out of concern for the two. She wants to spend the night at Teru’s place with Ai. After the girls play games like Othello and Uno, Ai tells Teru and Iko she’s after Amarariruku, Stigma’s evil group. 

She says Purity told her the group’s name and that the person she’s searching for is a part of Stigma’s group. She confirms she’s searching for the other version of her. Then, we see Ai’s other half (Utsuro) on a rooftop. Stigma greets her. The two discuss Utsuro’s dark worldview and Stigma’s desire to grant Utsuro’s wish. Utsuro says she won’t go against Stigma as she and the others are his pawns. 

The episode closes with Stigma saying something bad may happen soon. 

The Episode Review

Unlike the previous chapter which suffered from having an unnecessary sub-plot, this episode offers material that’s a step in the right direction. It delivers some juicy information about Ai’s home village of Soga, her goals, and her weapon.

Moreover, it was great seeing Ai’s tale directly correlate with the matters that occurred in the previous season involving Pepesha and her mother, Letana. It shows how that story beat was necessary. It gives folks an idea that much like Letana, other warriors under Stigma’s leash might be clones.

A big theory regarding Letana’s character in the prior season was that she was a weird copy of Pepesha. Therefore, it’ll make some folks wonder if the other villains we’ve seen in Stigma’s entourage have direct connections with heroes like Stardust, Lady Black, and others. Only time will tell on that front.

That aside, this episode had some wholesome content for fans to observe. From the girls playing board games to Teru getting nervous about ordering takeout for her and Ai, this chapter’s down-to-earth material will resonate with folks. All in all, this was a satisfying episode of Shy. I’m excited to see what’ll happen once Ai and Utsuro see each other.