Itazura na Kiss 20 ~The Nightingale Pledge~

Some things never change…

 

Tomoko, Motoki and Marina were gushing in excitement about the capping ceremony – generally because of the tradition of medical students presenting flowers to the nurses. But Kotoko was depressed because Naoki will not be there because he will be attending an academic conference and refuses to attend something so embarrassing. Unbelievably, it was Keita who talked reason and took Naoki’s side saying that he was already an intern and that as his wife, she should be able to understand it.

Kotoko’s class was introduced to Hosoi, the head nurse of the university hospital. When asked who of the nurses would like to head The Nightingale Pledge, Motoki volunteered, but was continually ignored until she made it clear that it’s traditionally a woman who should lead The Nightingale Pledge. She picked Kotoko’s name solely based on the fact that she’s Irie’s wife. That night, Irie-mama was excited about it and told Naoki off about not being able to attend.

 

 

…and some things have.

 

Two days before the capping ceremony, she still hasn’t memorized it. Motoki has and told her that he/she has always been inspired by it ever since he/she saw it on a movie once. On the day of the ceremony, everything went well for Kotoko. Even when she stood up for Motoki when she was about to get his/her handkerchief, which is what male nurses get on the capping ceremony, in the girl’s nurse’s uniform.

After the ceremony, she thought that she didn’t have to hurry home since Naoki wasn’t there. She was still sad about the fact that he wasn’t there, but she knew that she had to understand. Then Naoki burst through the door, saying that he caught the last bullet train from Nagoya, apologized for being late and not having flowers (since the flower shop was closed) and congratulating her – asking her to repeat her pledge for him. She was really happy about the sole fact of him being there.

 

 

The harmless flirt.

 

Four years later, she was working as an intern in the hospital and she’s still a screw up. She had a troublesome elderly patient who has dislike for a lot of the staff – nurses and doctors alike, except for Naoki who she likes. One time she was reprimanded for snagging one of the Irie Naoki pictures (Doctor Edition) and the elderly woman told the head nurse that she was trying to steal her things. She took a walk to cool off when she spotted Keita outside with a patient named Akiko. She was really unhappy for leaving the hospital because keita won’t be there to look after her anymore. Kotoko teased Keita about it but he defended that she’s a patient and cute, but quickly took it back since she was only in high school.

 

 

Oh effin hell… the only thought that came to mind when I saw Akiko-chan running away from Keita on her wheelchair was: HELLO!!! SHE’S ON A WHEELCHAIR. But nooooo… all he does is call after her like she was an Olympic sprinter.

 

When Naoki came home, Irie-mama said that Kotoko has locked herself up in the room, saying that she was in her “perfect nurse plan”. Naoki found her asleep in their room studying for the licensure exam. In the hospital, Marina burst through the doors saying that Nobuhiro was in the outpatient clinic. He was a famous idol in Japan and was incredibly rude to Marina and Motoki when they asked for his autograph. Kotoko got passed and told him off telling him to respect his elders. Nobuhiro then engulfed her in a big hug saying that he missed her.

 

 

Who’s that? I thought that was a girl!!!

 

First off… I don’t know much about the nursing profession. And I don’t know anything about capping ceremonies and all that or if what they featured in the show was something they do just in Japan or is an obsolete tradition (probably not), but their capping ceremony reminded me of my first communion – only it was in daytime instead of night.

Well… I don’t’ really have anything to say about the episode since it looks like just a closure for the previous arc and an introduction to new one. Though it was really cute – however predictable it was – that Naoki would jump into the train to catch up to Kotoko’s capping ceremony. -_- Though considering it was Naoki, it was unprecedented. And it was nice to see that Naoki is now able to decipher jokes when Nishigaki-sensei was teasing Kotoko about leaving Naoki for him.

As for the mysterious blond idol who suddenly hugged Kotoko, I already know who is. One of the disadvantages of having a low EQ is that I ruin shows for myself by scouring the Internet for spoilers – which I did after Kotoko and Naoki got married because I wanted to know if it was still worthwhile to watch it since Kotoko’s ultimate goal of marrying Naoki has been fulfilled. Anyway, Nobuhiro has been in a past episode to and considering that Yuuki is in the previews is my dead giveaway. But of course, I don’t know how it will pan out so I still have a certain level of suspense to look out for.

Though I find it highly entertaining that the focus of the story has now shifted to Kotoko being sought after rather than Naoki. Well, he still does have his own fanbase, but Kotoko’s not doing so shabbily beside her heartthrob husband. Of course, as a viewer, after the Keita arc, it was nice to see this pace continue on since on the first half of the series, it was Naoki who is sought after and if that continued on, it would have be redundant and have bored me to tears.