Shy – Season 2 Episode 9 Recap & Review

Vague

Episode 9 of Shy Season 2 begins with a flashback. In it, a young Ai and Mai (formally Utsuro) sit by each other, discussing the moon. Then, we return to following the two in the present timeline. The two fuse and this leaves Teru confused. The fused being calls itself Utsuro and tells Teru that Ai has become one with her. 

Utsuro rambles about how happy she is that Ai combined with her. Then, Utsuro attacks Teru. Pepesha and the others notice something strange happening at the tower. Kufufu knocks out Pepesha and flees to a dark dimension. Before Kufufu departs, she tells Pepesha that if they meet again it’ll be a tragedy.

Utsuro confronts a wounded Teru. She tells Teru she abandoned everything and everyone and became hollow. Teru disagrees. Utsuro stabs Teru. She wants to make every shinobi and hero disappear once she escapes the black orb. Teru tries getting up but falls unconscious. Then, Teru finds herself in a serene cherry blossom-covered environment. 

An entity tells her to pick up one of the swords and stop Utsuro. The entity argues Teru is the only one who can save the twins (Ai and Mai). The entity reveals itself as Purity, the sword Ai wielded. Purity tells Teru to wield it. In the real world, Teru gets up, ready to face Utsuro with Purity’s help. Teru realizes her body’s moving on its own. 

Purity explains why that’s the case. Utsuro and Teru commence with their sword duel. Utsuro summons the vague boundary, explains what that is, and continues fighting Teru. Teru pulls a fast one on Utsuro. Utsuro removes the water in the vague dimension. She continues fighting Teru and gets the upper hand on her. 

Purity offers Teru advice so she can achieve her full potential. Teru ponders Purity’s words and clashes with Utsuro. Then, Teru appears at Ai and Mai’s village. Purity says Teru is currently peering into Mai’s memories. Although life was great for Mai, Purity shows Teru what led Mai astray. 

Purity also compares Teru’s acts of justice to Mai’s. Purity says Mai shattered her heartwarming persona for the sake of justice. It argues this gave birth to Mai’s persona Utsuro. This slowly ate away at Mai’s heart. Purity says after Mai assassinated her bear friend, it drove her down the deep end further.

After Teru observes Mai’s past further, Teru finds herself in another location. A younger version of Mai speaks with Teru, informing her that she’s within Mai’s heart. Mai wants Teru to escort Ai out of this place. Ai is currently resting on Mai’s lap. Mai says she never wanted this to happen. She wanted to live a peaceful life with Ai.

Teru understands and grabs Ai. Before Teru questions Mai about her outcome, Purity tells Teru she must leave. Then, Teru leaves Mai’s heart chamber and returns to the present timeline. Mai and Ai aren’t Utsuro anymore. The episode ends with Teru promising to save everyone. 

The Episode Review

This was an emotional and action-packed chapter of Shy Season 2. This one is certainly up there along with the other great chapters we received from this anime’s second season. Fans will appreciate this episode for focusing on Mai and Ai’s childhood from Mai’s perspective. It’ll allow fans to empathize with Mai.

Additionally, it was neat seeing Teru wield a sword and combine her abilities with it. However, it’s a bummer Teru didn’t utilize too many new Shy-specific techniques with the sword. She only added a bit of firepower to her attacks in this duel and utilized Ai’s techniques.

Seeing Teru use different Shy-themed strategies with Purity would’ve been amazing! Regardless, this battle shows why fans shouldn’t underestimate Teru. While she has a way with words, she can land a decisive blow when pushed to the brink.

But all in all, this chapter should leave fans excited to see what’ll happen next.