Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-San - Episode 4 - [review]

By: v.o.lynnEpisode 4 of Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san doesn’t reveal much new about our mystery ramen lover, but the shops include a western-style restaurant split between a front shop and back counter, a hip Ramen shop, and convenience store ramen.

Part 1 –  Western Restaurant

Koizumi, lovely and disinterested in social engagements as ever, turns down a small swarm of guys asking her out after class. Undeterred and curious, Yuu AGAIN follows Koizumi-san, this time to a western-style restaurant, where Koizumi waits – checking her watch and generally looking impatient.Yuu goes straight horror-anime-angst for a few moments in this episode when she thinks that Koizumi is dating (multiple) older guys, and it’s got me concerned for the poor girl’s mental health. Yuu needs to take her angst down a notch and dial back her concern for Koizumi enough that she can look at things rationally (which probably won’t happen for the sake of comedy). Koizumi does have a logical reason for loitering, and, as Yuu predicted early in the episode, her only lover is Ramen.

Part 2 –  Red or White

Yuu and Misa grab a snack after Misa is unsuccessful at distracting Yuu while shopping for clothing. They end up at a trendy Ramen place, where they choose between red broth and white broth.  It’s good to see Yuu using the knowledge she’s gained from spending time with Koizumi-san, but it would be nice if she could tag along with Koizumi-san without having to follow her covertly.

Part 3 – Convenience Store Ramen

Jun, exhausted and annoyed after practice exams didn’t go quite the way she wanted, initially decides to swing by a convenience store to something to drink for her journey home when she crosses paths with Koizumi-san! Despite Jun’s initial decision that she likely wouldn’t eat anything until she went home, she joins Koizumi in prepping some instant ramen for the eat-in counter at the shop, and together they create enough fanservice to almost make up for Yuu’s distraught face in part 1. (Almost.) Also - for the first time in the season, Jun sits down and eats Ramen without complaining about it in the episode at all. (Little victories!)