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My first part-time job / The Forsaken Cinderella

Episode 11 of Tomo-chan Is A Girl begins with Tomo asking Misuzu to work part-time so she can give Jun a present. Not wanting Tomo to do anything stupid, Misuszu says she’ll join her, and Carol says she’ll offer a helping hand as well. Tanabe overhears their conversation and says they can work at his family’s ramen restaurant. Tanabe introduces Tomo and his friends to his father. He is happy to receive help since his wife is not there.

Tomo and his friends put on their uniforms and serve customers. Tomo and Carol fail miserably, but Misuzu seems to tackle her job the best. Suddenly, Jun walks in and surprises Tomo. Misuzu and Tomo ask Jun about her thoughts on Tomo wearing a maid outfit. He says she looks good, causing Tomo and Misuzu to ask Carol what he means. Carol gives them vague answers while posing for male clients. After a long day of work, Tomo and his friends receive their salaries. They wish Tanabe and his father the best in the restaurant and leave. However, Tomo bumps into Jun, so Misuzu and Carol leave to give them some alone time.

As they drive home, Jun tells Tomo that he likes to stop at Tanabe’s restaurant to eat his family’s ramen. However, he says it was better when Tomo gave it to him. Tomo gives Jun his birthday present the next day. The episode ends with Jun planning her birthday party at Tomo’s house. The next segment has Tomo and Misuzu discussing how Tomo can get more intimate with Jun. Misuzu says body contact is the way to go, so they plan a strategy for Jun to accidentally grab Tomo’s chest. At the stairs, Tomo and Misuzu get into position. Jun arrives and Misuzu pushes him down the stairs while Tomo waits to grab him.

Jun dodges Tomo but accidentally grabs Carol’s chest. Jun apologizes to Carol and asks her what he could do to make up for it. Carol says it’s okay, but Tomo beats him up. Later, Misuzu wonders if she went too far with her plan. Suddenly, she falls down the steps, but Tanabe saves her. Tanabe asks Misuzu to exchange contact information. Misuzu accepts his offer because she wants to atone for her horrible act. In class, Misuzu tells Carol that she thinks she is hindering Tomo and Jun’s development and that internally she doesn’t want them to get together.

The next day, Tomo notices that Misuzu didn’t show up to class as Carol tells Tomo that she stayed home sick. Meanwhile, one of her classmates discusses the upcoming Cinderella Cultural Festival play and asks who should take on the role of Cinderella. Three days pass and Misuzu is still sick in bed. Tomo visits Misuzu and brings her some treats to make her feel better. Tomo asks Misuzu if she knows she’s been spending a lot of time with Carol and feels like she’s been avoiding Tomo lately. Tomo leaves behind a brochure for the next Cinderella play and tells Misuzu not to think too much. Misuzu looks at the brochure and is confused by something. Misuzu returns to school, furious that Carol voted to play Cinderella. Tomo says she will play the prince.

When Misuzu’s practice session with Carol and her friends doesn’t go well, she asks Tomo to practice their parts on the roof. Tomo is jealous that Misuzu and Carol are better suited than her for a princess role. She would like to be able to play a role that is more her style than that of a prince. When Tomo leaves, Misuzu wonders if she cast a spell on Tomo since Tomo feels unworthy of Jun’s affection.

Everyone dresses up, but Misuzu realizes that everyone keeps moving forward, unlike herself. Jun overhears Misuzu mumbling to herself. Jun suggests that Misuzu talk to Tomo. At night, Jun helps Tomo practice his role in the play. The episode ends with Jun feeling embarrassed by everything.

The episode review

Tomo-chan Is A Girl continues to delight audiences with its funny humor and colorful characters. Unfortunately, we are reaching the finish line, and this chapter could infer that something huge is about to happen among our cast members soon. For example, the chapter devoted an entire segment to honing in on Misuzu’s true feelings regarding Tomo and Jun’s reunion. Misuzu not wanting them to become a couple doesn’t feel contrived or forced.

Previous chapters hinted that Misuzu showed some resilience in helping Tomo achieve his dream. Episode 10 gave fans more clues about this by revealing what led her to date Jun and how everything went during the process.

From what we can gather here, it sounds like Misuzu doesn’t want to feel like a third wheel or Tomo abandons her once she establishes a romantic relationship with Tomo. It makes sense that Misuzu would feel this towards Tomo since they’ve been friends for a long time.

Hopefully we get a moving and impactful moment between the two in the final two chapters. As for everything else offered in those two segments, it was fine. There was some funny deadpan humor and clever jokes mixed in that will have fans laughing. It’s unfortunate that both segments ended abruptly and declined to elaborate on the promised events. Overall, it was a silly and enjoyable episode of Tomo-chan Is A Girl. I can’t wait to see what happens next week.