Ep 2. Lonely Girl

Golden Time is a slice-of-life anime that follows Tada Banri, a freshman law student in a Tokyo university who has lost his memories due to a traumatic incident that happened to him before the start of the series. In episode 2, titled "Lonely Girl", we see Banri trying to adjust to his new life and his new friends while keeping his amnesia a secret, which proves to be harder than he expected.

The episode starts with Banri and Mitsuo hanging out at school, trying to find a way to get rid of Kaga Kouko, Mitsuo's stalkerish childhood friend who has been following him around since the beginning of the series. Mitsuo comes up with the idea of introducing Kouko to another guy who might strike her interest, and Banri agrees to help him. They later run into Kouko at a store and introduce her to a guy named Chinami, but Kouko quickly loses interest in him when she realizes Mitsuo is not around.

Meanwhile, Banri meets Linda, a second-year student who works at a nearby Tea House. Linda catches his eye because she looks exactly like someone from his past, but he's not sure if he knows her or not. Linda also seems to recognize Banri, but keeps it to herself. They have a friendly chat, and Banri leaves, but can't shake the feeling that he might know her from somewhere.

The next day, Banri and Mitsuo go to a welcoming party for the new law students, where they meet a girl named Nana, who seems to be a social outcast. Banri tries to talk to her, but she rebuffs him, saying that she doesn't need friends. Later on, Banri sees Nana crying outside, and he tries to comfort her, telling her that making friends can be hard but it's worth it. This seems to resonate with Nana, and they end up talking for a while, until it's time to go back to the party.

Back at the party, Mitsuo introduces Kouko to Banri, who recognizes her from earlier at the store. Kouko seems to take a liking to Banri and starts following him around, much to his annoyance. Later on, Kouko catches Mitsuo talking to Chinami about his plan to introduce Kouko to him, and she gets upset when she realizes that Mitsuo is trying to set her up. Banri tries to intervene and calm her down, but Kouko runs off crying.

The next day, Banri runs into Linda again, who invites him to a Tea Ceremony that her club is holding. Banri hesitates at first, but Linda convinces him to come, saying that it will be a good chance to make some new friends. The tea ceremony ends up being a peaceful and serene experience, and Banri feels more relaxed than he has in a long time.

Towards the end of the episode, Banri and Mitsuo run into Nana again, who seems to have had a change of heart. She starts talking to them, and they end up having a good time. But the moment is cut short when Kouko shows up, looking for Mitsuo. Banri tries to get her to leave, but Kouko is insistent. The episode ends with Kouko telling Banri that she knows who he really is, which leaves him shocked and confused.

Overall, "Lonely Girl" is a good episode that focuses on Banri trying to make connections with people despite his amnesia, while also dealing with the complicated relationships that his new friends have with each other. It introduces new characters and plotlines, all while keeping the central mystery of Banri's past in the background. Fans of the show will definitely enjoy this episode, as it deepens the themes and characters that were introduced in the pilot.