The 12th episode of Go For It, Nakamura! opens with Valentine’s Day joy spreading through the school. Nakamura is inspired watching his younger sister, Kana, prepare chocolates for her friends and a special crush. This might be the perfect time to finally give chocolates to Hirose, he thinks.
The following day the classroom buzzes with talk of Valentine’s gifts. students exchange chocolates, thank friends, and wonder about secret admirers. Hifumi had chocolate from her close friends, and the others were hoping to get gifts.
One example is Takeuchi trying to impress Hifumi with a dramatic flourish. He approaches her, armed with a rose, waiting for some kind of response. Rather his efforts are in vain, since Hifumi barely gives him any attention.
But Valentine’s Day is far more important to Nakamura. He arrives at school with a neatly packed box of chocolates for Hirose. The challenge is to find the courage and the right moment to give them away.
Every time it seems like an opportunity, something happens to get in the way. All day Nakamura is trying to get Hirose alone but is constantly interrupted. “His resolve never wavers, but the perfect opportunity never comes.”
The school day ends, and Nakamura is surprised to come face to face with Hirose by the gate. The interaction takes a strange turn fast. Hirose looks nervous, strangely interested in whether Nakamura has gotten chocolates from anyone else. Nakamura says he hasn’t and Hirose looks visibly relieved.
For a moment, it sounds like Hirose is going to say something important. He pauses, begins to say something, but then changes his mind abruptly. The meeting sets Nakamura’s imagination running wild. Could Hirose possibly express how he felt?
Reality, however, is much tougher than Nakamura’s hopes.
Soon after, Hirose tells Nakamura he can’t walk home with him. Moments later, Nakamura finds out why. Hirose walks out of school with Hana, and it’s obvious the two have been dating for about a week.
Nakamura is floored by the revelation.
It is at that moment that every one of Hirose’s thoughts is associated with the knowledge that someone else is in the position that Nakamura secretly wanted for himself. He tries to tell himself that Hana is kind, attractive and a good match for Hirose but the words offer little comfort.
The following day, Nakamura relies on one of the few things that still offers him peace. He asks Hifumi to continue their manga story with him and Hirose together. She understands immediately what he is going through and agrees without a moment’s hesitation.
Days go by and Nakamura has a hard time dealing with his emotions. The manga’s fictional world lets him live in a fantasy for a while, in a future that seems impossible at the time.
Eventually the weight of the emotion gets to be too much. Nakamura takes his bicycle and rides aimlessly until he is overcome with fatigue. During his journey, he encounters feelings he has avoided for a long time.
He had always known in his heart that a romantic relationship with Hirose was unlikely. Friendship seemed the most likely outcome, and for a time he told himself that would be enough. But seeing Hirose with another woman brings him to his senses.
If he does care about Hirose as a friend, then why shouldn’t he be happy for him?
The question haunts his mind, but no answer brings relief. But instead, Nakamura finds his emotions to be a lot more complicated than he’d like. He tries, but he can’t celebrate Hirose’s happiness without feeling his own heart break.
The episode ends on a quiet, emotional note. Nakamura’s room is empty, and his mother and sister talk about their concerns for him, highlighting his loneliness.# TL;DR
The twelfth episode is one of the most emotionally resonant chapters of the series so far. What starts off as a typical Valentine’s Day story turns into a surprisingly mature examination of unrequited love.
The episode plays cleverly on the audience’s expectations. While many romance anime take a lighthearted or comedic approach to Valentine’s Day, Go For It, Nakamura! takes a much more realistic approach. This isn’t a wish-fulfillment. It’s Nakamura facing the painful uncertainty that’s been there since the beginning of the series.
The question on everyone’s minds has always been if Nakamura really has a shot with Hirose. This episode finally faces that possibility head-on and the answer is much more complicated than anyone hoped.
What makes the story so effective is its honesty in portraying conflicting emotions. Nakamura wants to stand behind Hirose, but he can’t ignore his own sense of disappointment. The series encapsulates the painful reality of loving a friend who might never love you back, making Nakamura’s emotional breakdown believable and highly relatable.
The visual presentation is also laudable. After the reveal of Hirose’s relationship with Hana, the series subtly shifts its color palette to a more melancholic tone. It’s a subtle but effective shift that underscores Nakamura’s sadness without resorting to overly dramatic dialogue.
The episode deviates from its usual comedic tone for a bit, but ultimately ends up being one of the most emotionally powerful of the season. There is not much time left in the story, and viewers are left wondering how Nakamura will proceed, and whether there is still an important secret in Hirose’s unfinished conversation.
Rating: 4.5/5
An emotional and heartfelt episode that delivers significant character growth and explores the painful realities of unrequited love.