RANKAxALTO FTW!!

Summary:

Honestly, I was just about to drop this series because, frankly, I saw no potential in it until after this episode where I realized that Ranka’s singing is connected to the Vajra’s awakening. Unfortunately, Ozma suspends Ranka after he learns that had joined the Miss Macross contest without him knowing, but Ranka believes that he’s wrong and goes to look for Alto while he’s still in school. She waits outside while everyone tries to go find her. Alto, on the other hand, is busy helping Sheryl find her missing earring and their relationship tenses when they hide themselves in a small locker in order to hide from two schoolgirls. A very, very refreshing sight indeed. But eventually, the two girls leave and Alto and Sheryl are safe.

Sorry if these images taint your soul, I just had to upload them.

At home, Ozma awaits Ranka’s return. He rushes to answer the doorbell but is disappointed to be greeted by Cathy. While the two are in the car together, Ozma orders Michel to go look for Ranka and is overheard by Cathy. She expresses how much she wishes that he could’ve done that to her, but he explains that it’s all in the past. I’m supposing that this is somewhat an implication that they had a previous romantic relationship, but I’m more of hoping that this theory is correct since it will sure make things so more darn interesting between Ozma and Leon.

Don’t complain when he’s giving you free ice-cream!!

It’s quite coincidental, don’t you think, that all these talented musicians who are able to improvise are here?

So anyway, Michel, even though he had earlier rejected Nanase’s suggestion that the three of them, including Luca, should go on a search for Ranka, unintentionally comes across our green loli, who’s patiently waiting for Alto outside the school grounds. Michel tries to convince Ranka into returning home, but she refuses to do so and runs off, leaving him to complain about how much he despises taking care of kids. This may be so, but Michel decides to trail after her since he found her anyway, and besides, it’s better than getting scolded by Ozma.

Quick! Someone go get Noe!

Alto and Sheryl manage to escape the locker room without being seen. In exchange for his ID Card from the military (I assume?), Alto has to hang out with her for the rest of the day. While they’re off somewhere, Alto gets a message from Ranka, asking him for his opinion of what she should do next since Ozma suspended her. Immediately, he tries to reply but her cell phone is off. Sheryl distracts him by taking him somewhere else. During their date, the two visit this Giant Mall and coincidentally, both Michel and Ranka are also there.

Later on, Ranka explains that its okay for her to be selfish since Ozma is being selfish as well. She goes on to say that she hates how people treat her like a child and that the reason she asks for Alto’s opinion is because he listens to her. Michel, not at all disheartened by her words, declares that from now on he’ll treat her as an equal. Without considering how much this may offend her, Michel challenges Ranka to sing right now where no one had come to listen to her. In the meantime, Sheryl gets an epiphany and Klan Klein drops by to pay a little visit. Alto learns that he is meant to fly as he releases his paper airplane into the air, only to be seen by a hesitating Ranka.

When I first saw Alto, I was given the impression that he was the “rare blush” type of guy. So then after watching this episode, I went ahead to prove myself wrong. No. 6 isn’t really one, but I loved his expression nevertheless.

Okay, well you can’t see him blushing in all of them, but if you look extremely close you will see. And I know there are actually more than nine scenes with him blushing, but I couldn’t be bothered repeating the same snapshots. Now I’ve come to three posibble conclusions:

a) Sheryl knows what she’s doing

b) Whether I like it or not, Alto is falling for Sheryl

c) Alto is not the “rare blush” type of guy I thought he was

Ranka is taking up Michel’s challenge to sing in front of a crowd that hadn’t come to listen to her. She’s scared at first and can’t manage to mouth a word until she spots Alto’s airplane soaring past her. Remembering the time she had sung for him in that place, the sensation motivates her and she sings. Her voice attracts everyone’s attention, including a man clad in a purple-brown outfit, wearing a pair of moon spectacles. While Ranka is singing, passer-bys stop to crowd around her and talented instrumental players join in with her song.

Kill bunnies? Hell yeah!! Kill frogs? Noo …

Little does any one know that Ranka’s singing causes a reaction to the locked up Vajra, which Leon has deducted is being controlled by someone. The staff members are surprised that this creature is actually a living weapon. Suddenly, the Vajra’s eyes flash red in the tank and it attempts to break free of its cage. Leon is slow to realize what is happening until Ozma demands him to secure the tank. At once, Leon obeys and a wall of strong metal covers the tank in which the creature is being kept in.

I really need to increase the number of Ranka fans.

Elsewhere, Ranka has finished her song and the crowd applauds. Alto and Sheryl are somewhere among them, Sheryl glad that Ranka has finally broken out of her shell. Alto points out that Ranka is meant to sing and Sheryl adds that Ranka had done this on her own. After the performance has ended, Sheryl kisses Alto on the cheek as a good-bye. Apparently, she is going to leave next week and she offers him a free ticket to her farewell concert. Alto promises her that he will certainly bring back her precious earring. As Sheryl walks off into the distance, Ranka and Michel see this, only Ranka seems a little shocked and disappointed and, perhaps, upset. She doesn’t realize that a man is running up to her, supposedly interested in her talent. Before the episode ends, a spacecraft warps out of a hole and asks for back-up since the Vajra are attacking his men.

Impression:

I’m glad that I didn’t drop this series. To be honest, I really wasn’t looking forward to watch this episode based on the fact that it was for all the AltoxSheryl fans out there. However, I actually really enjoyed this despite me rooting for an AltoxRanka ending. Alto and Sheryl make a really cute couple, especially since there was a lot of blushing coming from Alto. But this makes me only think of Alto and Ranka more of sibling-friends than anything beyond that. I didn’t quite understand what the hell Leon was saying about the Vajra and only got around to understanding that the Vajra could be controlled by someone. Also, Ranka’s singing causing the Vajra to react is definitely showing me some potential in this series. I admit that at first, I couldn’t see much coming out of this anime, but now I hope that there’s some huge twist. I’m getting this feeling that the man Leon was talking to was probably Alto’s father? But I’m not quite sure since I really only concentrated when Ranka, Alto or Sheryl appeared. It was also nice to see Klan, since she’s also one of my favourite characters so far. But if you’ve known me long enough, the couple I root for usually never works out ;_;

I didn’t really understand this part here, but all I know is that Vajra = controlled by someone.

Oh and if you haven’t already realized, yes, my Photoshop is working again and that might also explain the many images. I just got really excited and went bizarre! Plus, you should expect me changing the way I write and layout my posts from now on since I get tired of always doing the same thing

Can someone please tell me where Alto seems to be getting all these blank paper?

So this has been bugging me for while now — where does Alto get all this paper from? And blank as well! It’s not so much a huge factor we all must delve deep into and answer, but it sure is some mystery!