K-ON!! 8

Realizing Yui is still mulling over the questionnaire about college or career choices, Nodoka scolds her for putting off such an important decision. Sighing she just can’t think about a future that still feels so far away, Yui starts copying Nodoka’s choice.

Checking what the commotion is about, Mio and Tsumugi are aghast when Yui shamelessly tries to copy their choices, even though the prestigious college Tsumugi chose to attend is far beyond the guitar player’s reach.

Sifting through the requirements guide Tsumugi handed them, Yui and Ritsu are taken aback by the difficulty level, even though Mio is quick to point out this is required material they should have already tackled.

Ultimately having put nothing of substance on their forms, Yui and Ritsu are summoned to the teacher’s lounge where Sawako stresses how important this choice is for their future. Trying to act smart, Ritsu gets scolded but manages to have Sawako confess she chose to be a teacher because her past crush had also aspired to become one.

Observing Nodoka must have a hard time with Yui, Mio hears Nodoka retort the same to her about Ritsu. Intrigued about the girls’ stories, Tsumugi suggests they share those childhood friendship stories over tea at the music club room, where Azusa eagerly listens in.

Recalling their first encounter in kindergarten, Nodoka tells the girls how since that fateful day, she and Yui somehow always got grouped into the same class throughout the various school years. The many anecdotes Nodoka vividly shares about Yui’s typical aloof and absent minded behavior soon have Mio and Azusa in laughter.

Concluding that Yui’s innocent smile always makes one forgive any of her silly antics, Nodoka sees Tsumugi and Mio agree although Azusa doesn’t seem that convinced.

Back from the teacher’s lounge, Yui sighs she still must complete the form but is unsure what she wants to do with her future. When Nodoka recalls Yui’s essay from grade school, Ritsu reveals all about the time when Mio won an award for her grade school essay.

Eager to learn more about the shy bass player’s past, Yui, Tsumugi and Azusa hear Ritsu out, much to Mio’s discomfort. Telling the girls how Mio had won a prize for her essay back in grade school but was terrified of having to read it out loud before the entire school, Ritsu states how she helped Mio overcome her stage fright, which marked the start of their friendship.

Pondering what possible career paths would suit Yui, the girls give up after dismissing the idea of her being a florist, office worker, tour guide, waitress,… Ultimately taking Nodoka’s advice to just write down what she most wants to be, Yui’s form is rejected again by Sawako for she and Ritsu had written down the want to be musicians.

Asking Ui that evening what she plans to do in the future, Yui’s not a step further when her younger sister answers she hasn’t decided yet either. Hearing out her classmates the next morning on what they aspire to become, Yui is as undecided as before.

Thoughts on this episode~

Although in terms of story or plot it may seem as if nothing of substance really happened in this episode, I do appreciate how it told us much about many characters and focused on the theme of one’s past and future, more specifically when one is at that youthful junction in life that can dictate your future so profoundly.

While it held plenty of laughs with the girls’ silly antics, those more reserved moments featuring this episode’s central theme could lead one into some introspection. An amount of depth one would not likely attribute to a series as “K-ON!!” but is nonetheless still very much present, although it’s a depth which the viewer can freely choose to let him- or herself be pulled into or not.

We really haven’t seen much at all about Tsumugi and Azusa’s background and past save the fact that Tsumugi is from a wealthy family and Azusa’s parents are musicians. Do wonder if they’ll still elaborate more on these two or not…