Summary
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, Episode 3, “And So They Met?,” now streaming onCrunchyroll.
The latest episode ofAlya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russianhas been laced with rattling developments, whether it’s the identity ofMasachika’s childhood friendor Alya’s own backstory. If these glaring revelations weren’t enough, the series has even showcased a glimpse into Masachika and Yuki’s past, revealing a troubled childhood for both siblings.
The series has further complicated Masachika’s romantic ordeals by throwing the school’s second Russian beauty into the mix. Apart from adding on to the lineup of ladies seeking Masachika’s affection, this introduction will complicate a few other relationships, chiefly Alya and her sister’s bond. With this revelation,Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russianhas upped the ante of this love debacle in true romcom fashion.
The Beginning Of Alya and Masachika’s Friendship
Alya and Masachika’s Bond Is Rooted in Trust And Respect
The highlight of the episode is the revelation ofAlya and Masachika’s playful beginnings, showcasing exactly why the series’ protagonist stands out from his romcom counterparts. Alya has spent much of her life alone, as she has never been able to find someone who could match her drive and work ethic. Her detest for those riddled with indifference and laziness led to her bearing a somewhat negative attitude towards Masachika in the beginning.
However, he was able to show Alya that teamwork and support makes the process much more enjoyable than simply giving up on others and working alone. This incident not only changed Alya’s mindset but brought about a newfound respect for her seatmate. To thank him for showing him a new perspective, she lets Masachika call him by her nickname, something that is only reserved for close friends and family. This marked the beginning of their playful banter and dependable friendship, with Masachika becoming the only one in the entire school to call Alya by this special name.
How about you give me permission to call you Alya, then?
Alya’s backstory may have been centered around the silver-haired heroine, yet Masachika soon became the star of this flashback. Unlikemost self-insert protagonists, Masachika follows his principles and values, refusing to back down in the face of conflict. Despite being lazy and indifferent on the outside, Masachika can get it together when it matters, a trait that rouses Alya as well. While this is merely the beginning of the series, Alya Sometimes Hides her Feelings in Russian has already cemented Masachika as a promising main character.
The Revelation Of Masachika’s Russian Childhood Friend
Alya’s Sister Is Masachika’s Mysterious Childhood Friend
The series initially showcased a glimpse of Masachika’s childhood friend, revealing that she was the reason he learned Russian in the first place. The latest episode has demystified this character, as the childhood friend is none other than Maria Mikhailovna Kujou, Alya’s sister. For now, only Maria is aware of their relationship, with Masachika being entirely in the dark about the identity ofhis childhood friend.
This rattling revelation adds a lot to the narrative, primarily a potential love triangle and a sister rivalry.Alya and Mariacurrently share a close sibling bond, but a potential rivalry would surely challenge their relationship. Maria is aware of Alya’s sentiments for Masachika, meaning it’s likely she won’t make any romantic advances towards him. However, her bottled up emotions are bound to eventually reach Masachika, leading to an interesting ordeal.
What is this feeling? It’s so familiar… and so relaxing.
Masachika and Yuki’s Troubled Childhood
The Two Siblings Were Separated At a Young Age
The previous episode’s revelation of Masachika and Yuki’s sibling relationship left viewers in the dark about their unconventional dynamic. The series presents a glimpse of their childhood, with Masachika choosing to follow his father after their parents’ divorce. However, Yuki chooses to stay with her mother, a decision that leads to the two siblings being separated. It’s unclear when the two were reunited again, but their parents are surely out of the equation currently.
Yuki is also shown to be rather frail and sick in the flashback, yet the two are still forced to separate and part their ways. It’s possible that Masachika still feels guilty for leaving behind his sick sister. However, the two have clearly worked through their differences, a fact that is evident from their current dynamic.Yuki and Masachikaare extremely close now, but it seems that this wasn’t always the case for the two siblings. It’s likely the series will offer a bit more exposition down the line, since their history is still rather vague. In any case, it’s clear that Masachika’s character is much more complex, largely due to these unfortunate events that pervaded most of his early life.
