Episode 26: Lilan’s Heart
Summary:
In Kazalm’s fields, Lilan looks around for Erin. She is talking with Esal-sensei about her past quiz score. At this rate, Erin won’t make it to the next grade. She must perform better in the upcoming Summer Trial Exam. Those who can’t advance to the next grade are forced to withdraw from Kazalm; only the wealthy may remain by paying a year’s worth of tuition. Erin says she couldn’t ask Jone to pay for something like that, and Esal tells her she’ll need to catch up on the material then. She further warns how she doesn’t plan on giving her any special treatment despite her assignment to Lilan. Erin understands, then hearing Lilan’s voice. She apologizes and leaves the room, explaining how it gets worried when it can’t find her.
She spends time studying in Lilan’s shed, though it is distracting. Yuuyan suddenly appears with tears in her eyes. At the riverbank, she explains to Erin how Kashugan went into town and bought a yellow hairpin; she assumes it must be for his girlfriend and freaks out. Erin reasons it could be for his mom, but Yuuyan assumes the worst. As Erin tries to study that night, Yuuyan distracts her with her worries. Erin tries to resolve the issue by asking Kashugan directly, but Yuuyan tells her not to deepen her heart’s scar. Instead, she claims letting her cry for one night should make her feel better. Erin ends up studying outside since it’s quieter. Tomura and Karisa stumble upon her and ask why she’s out here, and Erin explains the situation. Karisa lets her use the dining room for studying.
Tomura asks what she is having trouble with and says he can tutor her. She wonders about his graduation exam and he says since he’s smart, he can cram at the last minute. However, flash cards fall from underneath his shirt and Erin notices it, foiling his bragging rights. Tomura admits he has trouble remembering the terms, and Erin smiles. The two study beside each other and Erin remarks how she’s relieved he’s having to study just as hard. He tells them that they should do their best to become beastinarians. Erin also thinks how she has to do her best for Lilan’s sake.
The following day, as Erin studies outside, Urari hands her a study guide he’s compiled. He says he understands that she’s been taking care of Lilan and putting off her studies. She thanks him for his consideration. Her peers suddenly pop out from the bushes and ask to see it. In the passing days, Erin and the others study diligently for the exam. Fortunately, her entire class ends up passing it. Tomura passes his with the highest score, but plans to stay another year for further research.
Afterwards, everyone heads home for summer break. Yuuyan wonders if Erin will be fine staying at Kazalm, and she reassures her. They notice Kashugan and this brings up bad memories for Yuuyan. Erin rushes over to ask him about the hairpin, and he reveals that he bought it as a souvenir for his older sister. Yuuyan happily listens and tells him he’s kind. As Yuuyan leaves, she and Erin bid farewell for now.
Erin rushes to the shed and tells Lilan she’ll be able to stay with it all day now. Over the break, the two play out in the fields and Erin takes care of the usual duties. As Erin cleans the cage one day, she tells Lilan to stay outside and realizes that it may understand her words. When she tells it to come in without using the harp, her theory is further reinforced. Consequently, she teaches it numbers with her harp that night.
The following day, Erin plays fetch with Lilan using a straw hat. As she is cleaning out its cage, Lilan slowly approaches her and gets particularly close. A hesitant Erin asks Lilan to step away as she remembers Esal-sensei’s words about how beast-lords will never befriend humans. However, Lilan approaches with an open mouth, and this alarms Erin. Fortunately, it ends up licking her cheek. She happily hugs Lilan in response and recalls a time with her mother. The following day, Erin tells Lilan it’d be good for it to play with other beast-lords, but its body language indicates it only wants Erin.
Esal-sensei is surprised when Erin tells her about these things. Erin says how she wants to teach more words to Lilan, but is worried it won’t remember the beast-lords’ words; consequently, Lilan won’t be able to return and live with wild beast-lords. Esal tells her she has a point, but that it’s not something to worry about. She clarifies that Lilan was a gift to the Queen and can never return to the wild. A shocked Erin returns to Lilan and cries when it brushes against her face.
As the two sit in the fields gazing at the sky, Lilan notices Erin being unusually quiet. It slips on the hat, indicating it wants to play. She looks out into the fields and throws the hat high into the sky. Lilan runs after it. Erin feels sad and frustrated that she can’t express the situation to Lilan.
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My Thoughts:
It looks like the cons of Erin taking care of Lilan have finally caught up to her, but she managed to make things happen. Yuuyan’s feelings for Kashugan were officially brought into the spotlight this episode, though he may not know about them. Ah… young love :).
The main thing about this episode was Lilan and Erin development. It was touching to see Lilan express its feelings to Erin and portray that it could understand her words. A shocker for Erin (but perhaps not as surprising to viewers) was that Lilan will never be able to return to the wild. It’s clear this troubles her, and I get the feeling she’ll stay at Kazalm longer because of it. Erin had probably initially planned to let it off into the wild at the right time.
It’s cute how Lilan slipped on the hat to get Erin to play. When she threw it, I thought she was trying to get Lilan to fly away, but it looks like we only got a jump.
Next episode seems peculiar. We get introduced to a place called Hikara, and it looks like Jone is making a reappearance. Might he be visiting Erin during the break? That’d be cool. Catch it with me, next time on Kemono no Souja Erin: “Fallen to Hikara!”
Tags: anime, fantasy, heart-warming, Kemono no Souja Erin
