Hotaru no Hikari 2: Episode 04 『干物女のラブラブメール』 Review and Recap

Definitely another one of those hilarious episodes but it is getting more exciting now! I just love going through the whole love journey with Amemiyah and Buchou! In this episode, Hotaru discover the "Love Love" aspect of a relationship, vs the Love Love aspect of her relationship and Buchou.

ホタルノヒカリ2 第4話: 『干物女のラブラブメール』
Hotaru no Hikari 2 Ep04 [Love Love Mail] Summary

When Hotaru and Buchou heard both their colleagues knocking on their door, both of them uanimously got a shock and in a half panicked state, Buchou manage to remind Hotaru to change into proper wear or her current outfit will destroy all "respect" from her junior. Knowing her way of thinking, Buchou quickly doubled back to her room and guessed correctly from outside"You dont have to wear the Hawaiian outfit!"

When there was no response, Seno was about to leave stating that he didnt see Hotaru's name outside the house. Just then, the door open and they were both shock to see Buchou, esp Seno who went "Otanka san!", linking Hotaru's nick for him. Inside, Buchou formally explain their relationship and that it was ot announced to others but they are living together in preparation for their upcoming marriage. As he concluded his explanation and said "That's all the above.", Seno commented "Why does it somehow feel like an office meetin?" (LOL)

"So this is the kind of relationship that both of you have? That's how its explained." Seno asked.
"This kind of relationship?" A puzzled Hotaru quizzed.
"Yeah the man & woman kind of relationship" Seno replied causally (refering to physical intimacy)
"Oh no, it hasnt reach that stage!" Hotaru hurriedly clarified.
"So what sort of relationship is it?" Seno pressed on.
Buchou interrupted and said hasnt he just explained it ealier? Seno retorted politely he is asking Amemiyah. Seno persistd with his questioning "Do you like Buchou? Do you REALLY like him?"
"Ehh? Really like? Is there actually real and fake liking?" a slightly confused Hotaru asked Seno as Buchou looked on looking a little uneasy.
"That is why I am asking if you really like him/ really in love! How is it that you dont get it?" Seno replied sounding exasperated. The junior girl interrrupted and said it's enough and they should go. She apologised for their unannounced visit. Seno left looking unconvinced.

At home. Hotaru was exhausted but Buchou looked troubled. Hotaru called out to Buchou who appeared half daze and told him she will talk to both of them again the next day, asking them to kep quiet about their relationship. After all, Buchou is still Buchou in the office.

Back in office, both the girl and Seno said no matter how, they just find it hard to believe the relationship as it didnt feel at all like it.

"It was a total absence of "love love" feeling/ There was totally no feeling of love" Seno told Hotaru privately.
"Love Love?" Hotaru asked in surprise.
"Sakura said couples who lived together in preparation for marriage should sppear even more in love," Seno shared.
"Love Love?" Hotaru still remained unenlightened.
"Think about it, Dont all woman always say things like  'We are now very much in love' or that 'even after marriage, we want to be living together lovingly like this.'?". Seno shared.
"To be always so loving after marriage?" Hotaru was processing Seno's words.
"yeah, its normally so." Seno reassertd. As he starts to walk away, Hotaru pulled him back and queried, "What exactly is 'Love Love'? I'm not very good with current fad.".
"Err wait a min, Love Love concept is nothing fashionable." Seno tried to clarify.
Just then another colleague interrupted them to share news about him and his gf, how receiving an sms makes me feel over the moon. Seno pointed to him and said that was a good example. A very simple Hotaru asked to see the mail and thus "understood" Love Love concept as sending sweet messages.

At home.
"Love Love?" Buchou asked.
"Yeah Sweet words" Hotaru replied.
They both paused looking at each other and wave it off echoing together "No way No way."
"However we really dont have such atnosphere/ feeling." Buchou comented offhandedly. Hotaru replied that their sms aint even sweet at all. Hotaru said she just canx do such things. She went on that when they were living apart in different countries, she was very happy to read all his messages/letters esp during those change of season concerns. "It's short messages but u are happy?" Buchou coyly asked. Hotaru affirmed but went on that she find it a chore/ a hassle (to reply), and there are a lot of work (no time to write)."I'm sorry I couldnt be 'Love Love'" a guilty lookin Hotaru said to Buchou. Buchou asked about Seno's question earlier if she truly like him. Hotaru replied it was prob because Seno didnt feel the "Love Love' and thus the question.

"so.." Buchou tried to ask.
"What should we/I do? It feels like a must that we must be loving after marriage But I am bad at this" Hotaru ask with concern.Buchou looked at her and awkwardly burst out "rather than discussing all this,....let's SLEEP." Not catching on at his implications, Hotaru remarked"That's right, at troubling moments like this, its better to slep early." a happy Hotaru piped. "That's not what I meant!"  Buchou replied hurriedly.
 "tonite, let's sleep together. Let's sleep in my room." Buchou said shyly.

As he stood up, Hotaru asked innocently "You couldnt sleep alone after getting old?" Buchou was taken back. She wnt on asking if it was the typhoon. Buchou was even more taken back by the news. She assured him it hasnt started and next week likely. Buchou was worried about the corridor door and she said she will nail it down. he said really and she said yes and happily went back to her room, leaving Buchou feeling a little lost by himself. That nite, Buchou sent a "love love" sms saying goodnite with hearts. Initially Hotaru was shocked, then she realised and said she will also work hard and replied. When Buchou read, his jaws almost dropped by her reply "Understood!"

Next day in office, Hotaru happily thanked Seno for his advice and everything is sweet and love love between her and Buchou now. She kept laughing and said she will work hard and said mail is a great thing, able to say things she cannot say in person. Seno looked on and replied a little unconvinced that she got it "i see.."

In office, Buchou and team had a meetin to discuss the shop layout theme for Natsu's shop. Buchou meanwhile sent a text to Hotaru saying he will leave dinner in her care tonite. Hotaru giggled away. Sakura asked Seno what does he think of the two's relationship, Seno said perhaps Buchou just like a cute girl like Hotaru. Sakura was shocked asking Seno he thinks a girl who eat yakitori alone is cute? He replied yeah he thinks it perfectly ok and he hates girls who cannot eat alone. Sakura tried but just couldnt do it.

Back in office, Hotaru received a call from chika-chan. When they met, the girl said she wasnt to call buchou papa anymore as her mum said Hotaru and buchou are getting maried. Hotaru said but not immediately. Chika then said to loan buchou to her. Apparently Chika wanted buchou to take her on a trip for some school artwork. Hotaru asked isnt buchou taking lave? He text her that he is taking leave for her. She laughed saying buchou is so love love person. Meanwhile as she was all excited, Buchou was dismayed about dinner and asked there isnt anything in the miso soup etc. she was totally unaware and happily told chika that Buchou will take her on a trip to Hakone. Hotaru asked how many days of summer leave he took, and she said 3. Hotaru planned that he will spend 2days 1 nite with chika and spend the last day of leave with her. He said no way as he planned the last day for major hpuse cleaning. She said they should go on a dat elike watching movie and nite scene from a bar etc. He asked her what sort of era dating is that, and no, he will spend it to clean the house and proceed to blow the dust at her.

Hotaru then asked about the theme, and suggested the cat theme. but buchou teased her "and be a flea woman like u?" Hotaru cheekily grinned and moved closer to him, and reminde him to call her. She said its all like a dream, all these love love thing...happening to her. Buchou tried to explain what love love actually means bu Hotaru has already gotten up and went back to her room.

In office, Hotaru told seno that she knew about the little daughter natsu has. A colleague overheard and that Natsu was Buchou exgf from sachiko and Shouji's conversation. meanwhile, Buchou realised he had been tricked by chika, who had planned the trip for the 3 people. Even though buchou was surprised but he said he didnt mind as he rem how excited and happy hotaru was when chika was delighted. So he shared with Natsu that Hotaru wont mind as she thinks chika looked lonely, and Hotaru is just that sort of person and he wont tell hotaru about natsu being there (to avoid upseting her) In office, Hotaru learnt that natsu was also going to Hakone. Seno sked if buchou was also in hakone. just then buchou text came in and confirmned seno;s suspicion. As seno saw all of Hotaru's reply with only "understood", he was shocked and expressed that is NOT love love at all. However hotaru happiled chirped that Buchou totally gets it.

Later the typhoon hits. The colleague told Hotaru about Natsu being exgf and Hotaru looked affected by the news. Seno asked her to give him a call and isnt it worse to ignore it. "worse?" Hotaru didnt get it. Seno explained a man and woman spending the nite together must be bad. She said but chika is there, plus didnt she nad seno spent the nite together once and nothing hapopened? Seno said it was different as he was drunk, plus isnt Natsu the ex. Hotaru flared and covered his mouth telling him to stop it. She began to work and Seno asked "you trust hi,? you trust buchou." She retorted he is being troublesome. Seno was shocked. Just then she got a text from buchou that the weather was bad in hakone and reminded about the corridor doors. She jumped up in shock and tried to rush back even though seno tried to stop her. As she persisted out in the storm, seno said he just dont get her at all!!!

At home, Seno helped her with the door nailing. When it was door, she rea the email that he said both he and chika are fine, and she was concerned about teh lie. As seno appeared, he asked if the track gear belongs to buchou but she said buchou doesnt. Seno asked why not? Looking at seno, she wondered to herseld, "is he like me? a dried up himo-guy?" Then she got a call from chika who was crying and confessing her lie, asking if she is being punished as both buchou and her mum isnt back agyer they went to get her hat in a hut up the mountain. Hotaru listened on worriedly. She hung up and wanted to rush  off with the medical box, but seno stopped and calm her down saying even the trains are stopped.  Instead, he passed her the phone and to call asking about details instead.

Later that nite, seno ended a call and told hotaru about Buchou;s situation. He had hurt his ankle and had to stay in the hut, the hotel will send a car tmw. As seno sat down, hotaru asked him to move from the spot, as that was buchou;'s spot. Seno apologised and said sorry he didnt know there s such a rule at home. She said it isnt a rule but happens naturally, as they spend time together drinking and chatting about happy, sad and angry things at that coridor. Over time, by the time she realised, he was already by her side. And thanks to buchou, while drinking a beer alone taste good, it tasted even better drinking with two people. Seno listened on quietly "i want to see Buchou." Hotaru confessed.

"you really like him. buchou that is. so that is real love. you have told him about your feelings?"
"no not yet." she confided.
"you should. he wont have gone on the trip if he knew." seno said.
"how do i express myself" she asked,.
"just say it., i know you are not good at such thing, but you can text him, didn t you say texting allows people to say things they couldnt express verbally?" Seno paused and continued.
 Amemiya, if you continue to find doing such things is a hassle,you might end up lose something precious to you." Seno advice solemenly.

Hotaru picked uo the phone and text. Seno phone rang and saw "I Like you" message from Hotaru. he asked why is's that to him and she said its for practice! but she just cannot do it. and asked why not? Seno picked up her beer and just drank it ignoring her. next morn, seno woke and saw the note that Hotaru still cannot resist but head to where buchou is. Seno then looked at the news paper and asked aloud "why are all these newspaper doing here covering me?!" (LOL)

As Hotaru struggled her way to Buchou. she was shocked by the scene before her as she entered the hut. "is that love love?"" She saw both of them sleeping soundly together. A little jealous, she wanted to do the same and slid next to buchou. However she felt cold and so she stole some blanket, only to see natsu's hand on Buchou. Hotaru was totally upset and left the hut quietly. Sadly, Hotaru walked off alone and trying to suppress her tears. Just then Seno called and realised she was crying, He asked if she was crying but she said she was fine. He then tried to comfort and her and said to her, it was the first time he ha d"seen" her being like his. No matter what, he will be there for her to support her, wishing she will always be love love with buchou., and she must rem to tell buchou how she feels. He hung up the phone after calling her an idiot. Hotaru tried to send buchou a text to say she likes him ut she could only paused at "su" and couldnt type the "ki".She paused for very long but she didnt do it. At the same time, buchou awaken and saw the medical box from home. Both of them realised what hotaru had seen.

Back home, Hotaru approached sachiko and confessed her problem that she just cannot type the like to buchou. Shouji offered to help but sachiko told him to stop it. Hotaru said she couldnt send as buchou had lied about the trip being only 2 of them. sachiko lectured her to stop blaming everyone else or find excuse for her inability. even if buchou had told the truth the 3 of them were there, hotaru would not have been able to send the text even more. Sachiko then ask hotaru, what is yor mouth for? somethings just need to be said. Then sachiko turned to shouji and proposed to him!!! Hotaru looked in shocked and screamed she understood as sachiko pounced on shouji. (LOL)

At home, Buchou returned with a heavy heart. Hotaru said she bought a cloth for cleaning but he said they already had some. That nite, she started cleaning and didnt bring up anything making buchou more worried and tried to explain and apologised to her. He told her he didnt mention natsu because her presence didnt mean anything to him.he was there only to make chika happy. he went on to explain and that last nite, he injured his ankle and the wind was strong, and natsu was worried and so she went. he was afraid hotaru will misunderstand so he didnt say anything to her. Hotaru said she understood.

Hotaru went on asking "your leg must have hurt rite? The typhoon must be scary rite?"
"Spending a day with a child must be tiring being unused to it. You must be tired and went to sleep. I wont think of wild thots or worry as buchou isnt that sort of person. However, when i saw the two of u together i was really shocked. I wonder, is that love love, and even if you say its nothing i was still shocked. To me, i thot sms was love love already but i was wrong. I really dont know what being sweetly in love is." As buchou listened on intently, she turned to him and call out buchou, and pounced on buchou!

Buchou then said he thought abt it too, what constitute ltrue ove love,. he tried to say sweet message but that isnt their style (how their relationship works). then he said "Only after being with you, then I understood
while drinking beer alone tasted good, it tasted even better when two people are drinking ogether." Hotaru was touched as he shared the same sentiment as her! "I'm truly sory. and thank you for coming to visit me atthe hut." buchou said sincerely. Hotaru said it was nothing.

Buchou stood up and grabbed 2 beers for them. Hotaru said she must braced her courage and tell buchou her feeling., "Buchou. I...i.....li...like you!" Buchou was stunned! He asked what did she say and to repeat but she wont, saying she wont repat it. Buchou smiled and both of them sat together and drank the beer happily. He then called Natsu that all is well and Hotaru undestand. Natsu then told Buchou while claning is good, perhaps he should take her out instead. Buchou said yeah he will, to see a movie and nite scence together. Natsu laughed asking him what era dating is that and buchou smiled saying that's what Hotaru wanted. Natsu commented Hotaru is truly a simple girl at heart. meanwhile, Hotaru was talking to seno that as long as they have that corridor, to be able to sit with buchou at the corridor, that will be love love. Seno nodded on the other end saying softly "so it is...." Hotaru happily said yeah!

In office, Seno was looking at the "i like u message" from hotaru as buchou entered the office. Seno presented the design idea and said its based on her conversation with Hotaru, that the corridor was able to relax her. Buchou asked Hotaru had spoke about it? "Oh yeah i had borrow your raincoat and also, this is your key." seno replied avoiding the question. Buchou asked how come the key was with him? "havent you heard?" Seno asked as he walked off saying he needed to shower.

Out of the blue, Seno said " I am sorry"
"Why are you apologsing?" Buchou asked.
"I...I have fallen for amemiyah" Seno confessed and walked off leaving a stunned Buchou at the news.

Hotaru who was at home still fretting about the stinky raincoat had no idea of what was happening!