Go For It, Nakamura! 11th episode offers us two fun stories that are spot-on in conveying the awkward charm of the lovable protagonist. The episode also manages to find the humor in the mundane, from a mad dash through Christmas shopping to an ill-fated trip to the salon, while showing off Nakamura’s good-natured personality.## Quest for the Ideal Christmas Gift
With Christmas approaching, Nakamura goes to the mall, intent on finding a gift for Hirose. His imagination, as usual, runs away with him and he dreams up an idealised holiday scenario in which he presents the gift at a romantic dinner. But reality has different plans.
His work is soon complicated when he finds out that Matsumura is shopping for Hirose as well. And to make matters worse, both boys are after the same thing, a popular Aquapet T-shirt that Hirose has been wanting.
They both want the last shirt in stock and there is an argument. They are wasting time trying to talk each other out of it, while another customer picks up the shirt and walks away with it.# The Dash to the Mall
But Nakamura and Matsumura don’t want to give up, so they find out that another store still has the shirt. Then there’s an unexpected race around the mall.
The two take different routes and the competition turns comedic. Nakamura takes the escalator, figuring it will be faster, but he ends up stuck behind a mass of shoppers. Meanwhile, Matsumura rides the elevator to victory with confidence.
Unfortunately for Matsumura, his shortcut is just as useless when he runs into a huge group of children blocking his way.
Both competitors try but they arrive at the store at the same time. Another long line stands between them and the coveted shirt, and their bad luck continues. But before either one can buy, the item is sold out again.## Pick Kindness over Competition
One last chance for the boys, there was one last store with stock. But when he comes across a lost child wandering through the mall, Nakamura’s priorities shift.
Matsumura comes to the boy’s aid, but his attempts to comfort the boy only terrify him further. Together they take the child to the lost-and-found office.
On the journey, Nakamura offers the boy a candy cane to calm him down. They find the boy’s mother and the stressful situation ends happily.
The good deed costs the two boys another chance to buy the shirt but also reveals a softer side to their rivalry.# A Gift That Went Beyond Expectations
After parting ways with Matsumura, Nakamura is still looking for a suitable present. His eyes finally rest on a set of cute octopus-themed pencils.
At first he is afraid that the gift is too simple. But when Hirose gets them, they’re really, really good.” Nakamura also discovers that the Aquapet T-shirt wasn’t a good choice in any case, since Hirose had already pre-ordered one for himself.
In the end Nakamura’s thoughtful gift is far more meaningful than the trendy item he chased after all day.# A Haircut That Went Horribly Wrong
The back half of the episode is devoted to yet another of Nakamura’s quotidian misfortunes.
He tries to cut his own bangs at home, but his sister bumps into him and he ends up cutting a lot more hair than he intended. He is desperate to repair the damage before school starts again and looks for a salon that is open during the holiday.
His only option is a fancy hair salon that intimidates him and makes him uncomfortable right away.
Nakamura just asked for a simple correction, but here he is chatting with a stylist who just can’t stop talking. He is too shy to speak and he watches silently as more and more of his hair is taken away.
When the haircut is done, he can hardly recognize himself.# Back to School with a New Look
He apologized for misunderstanding him, and offered to give him the haircut for free, but the damage was done.
His family back home is surprised. His mother says it looks good and his sister can’t quite believe the transformation. However, Nakamura is completely broken.
When school does finally start the embarrassment goes to a whole new level. Nakamura runs into Hirose, and attempts to apologize for his appearance, but Hirose doesn’t even recognize him with his new haircut.
The episode wisely doesn’t reveal much of the hairstyle, leaving the audience excited for future episodes.# Critique
What makes Episode 11 work, however, is that it takes normal things and makes them into comedy that sticks in your mind. The Christmas shopping storyline elevates a simple gift search into an over-the-top rivalry with escalating obstacles and perfectly timed humor.
Matsumura is still one of the better supporting characters in the show. He plays the role of Nakamura’s rival, but the episode focuses on the similarities between the two. Their readiness to help a lost child, despite their personal goals, adds warmth to the story and makes their dynamic more enjoyable.
The hair cut part is shorter but relatable enough. Almost everyone has had a haircut they regret, so to see Nakamura’s silent panic is painful and hilarious.
Overall, Episode 11 strikes a good balance of comedy, heart and everyday awkwardness. Whether he’s searching for the perfect Christmas gift or suffering through a terrible haircut, Nakamura is one of the most lovable characters in all of anime.