Ep 12. Under Sakurako-san's Feet...

Under Sakurako-san's Feet is the twelfth episode of Beautiful Bones -Sakurako's Investigation- series. The episode has a strong focus on character development and emotional depth.

The episode begins with a flashback of Sakurako's childhood where she discovers a bone in the riverbank and found a great deal of fascination with the skeletal structure that she stumbled upon. Following this introduction, we are brought back to present day, where Shoutarou invites Sakurako to attend a botanic garden exhibition with him. Though Sakurako isn't fond of crowds, she agrees to accompany him in the hopes of enjoying the beautiful flowers on display.

Once there, they encounter an elderly woman who seems to be searching for something on the ground. When Sakurako approaches her, the woman reveals that she lost her ring, which has significant sentimental value to her. Wishing to help the woman find her cherished ring, Sakurako agrees to help and begins her investigation.

As she searches around the confines of the garden, Sakurako makes little progress and becomes increasingly frustrated. It's during this time that viewers are given a glimpse into Sakurako's personality and mindset, and we learn that the discovery of the ring could help heal her own wounds.

Throughout the episode, we witness Sakurako feeling a sense of connection to the elderly woman's story. Over time, the woman reveals that she had married a man who was serving during World War II and that her husband had always told her that he would return to her.

Since his death, the woman has waited for the ring's return, believing it to be a sign of her husband's love for her. Sakurako expresses understanding and empathy for the woman's circumstances, explaining that she also once lost something close to her, which has remained an open wound within her for years.

The two eventually find out that the missing ring is at a property in the vicinity and head there to confront the owner about it. However, they find out that the owner is already deceased. Sakurako eventually locates the ring in his clasp, and the old woman recognizes it as her ring right away.

Watching the old woman express her emotions of joy, relief, and even sadness that had been pent up for so many years is an emotional moment for the viewers. At the end of the episode, Sakurako muses to Shoutarou about the complexities of life and how sometimes, we wait for the tiniest of glimmers of hope and joy to cling onto. They both look up to the sky and enjoy the beauty around them before parting ways, leaving viewers with a sense of hope and appreciation for the intricacies of life.

In conclusion, Under Sakurako-san's Feet is a particularly poignant episode of the Beautiful Bones -Sakurako's Investigation- series. We are shown a new side to Sakurako through her empathy for the old lady which helps the viewers see that even the most distant of people can have a soft side. The episode manages to tug at the viewers' emotions and delivers a heartfelt message of hope, compassion, and the interconnectedness of life.