Ep 9. It's Hard, but Not Impossible

HoriMiya season 1 episode 9 titled “It's Hard, but Not Impossible” revolves around Izumi Miyamura and Kyoko Hori, who have been able to keep their relationship under wraps for some time now. The episode begins with them having a conversation about their relationship and what they should do to move forward. They’re discussing the difficulties of keeping their love secret, and Miyamura particularly feels like he wants to be able to express himself more freely without worrying about who's around.

Meanwhile, Hori is dealing with her own problem, her dad, who is known to be quite strict about punctuality. She needs to get to school early but is running behind schedule. While rushing to school, she comes across Sakura, who is in a similar situation to hers. They help each other out by exchanging their bag and telling each other where they need to go. They both make it to their respective destinations on time, and we see the development of a new friendship.

Back in school, Hori and Miyamura are continuing their conversation about their relationship when Remi and Shindo interrupt them. They start talking about a transfer student who's going to be coming to their school soon. They hear that the student's name is Kakeru Sengoku, and widespread rumors are circulating that he is a delinquent and a troublemaker.

Later on, when Hori is outside, she hears Kakeru's voice for the first time. She finds him sitting under a tree and discovers that he is actually quite friendly and easy to talk to. Although Hori is initially hesitant, Kakeru's genuine nature manages to win her over. He tells her about his experiences with his last school and how he decided to transfer for his grandmother's sake. Hori ends up giving him a tour of the school and introducing him to some of her friends.

As the day draws to a close, Hori prepares to leave school with Miyamura, but she realizes that she’s left her bag behind. Miyamura decides to go back to the classroom to fetch the bag, but when he gets there, he finds Kakeru, who is playing with a Rubik's cube. Miyamura observes him from afar and silently acknowledges that Kakeru is genuinely a good person. Miyamura overhears Kakeru talking about how he chose this school because it looked like a fun place to be, and he's excited to be a part of it.

The next day, the school is buzzing with rumors about Kakeru, and some of the students start to spread negativity about him. Despite this, Hori stands up for Kakeru and defends him, which makes Kakeru's day. Hori also realizes that she wants to become closer to Kakeru, and he reciprocates her feelings, as both of them share similar hardships.

The season 1 episode 9 of HoriMiya, "It's Hard, but Not Impossible," highlights the theme of acceptance and genuine human connections. It also showcases how people can change an individual's mindset and bring about positivity in their lives. The episode introduces a new character, Kakeru, who brings a new dimension to the series. The episode ends on a high note, with Hori and Kakeru forming a new friendship and Miyamura reflecting on how much he's grown as a person since meeting Hori. The episode is also a reflective journey for Hori and Miyamura, who are trying to navigate the complexities of their relationship while still maintaining some level of secrecy about it.