Ep 8. Practicing on My Own

Kimi ni Todoke - From Me To You is a Japanese anime series directed by Hiro Kaburagi and produced by Production I.G. The story revolves around Sawako Kuronuma, a shy and misunderstood high school girl. Despite her sweet and caring nature, her resemblance to the horror movie character "Sadako" has led her classmates to avoid her. However, everything changes when the popular student Shota Kazehaya becomes her friend and starts to help her overcome her social anxiety.

Season 1 Episode 8 of the series is titled "Practicing on My Own". The episode begins with Sawako feeling embarrassed about her lack of progress in her studies. She decides to stay after school to study alone, as she doesn't want to burden Shota with her struggles. While studying, she overhears her classmates talking about her and is hurt by their comments. However, she decides to use this as motivation to improve herself.

As the episode progresses, Sawako becomes more determined to change her negative image and continues to study diligently. She even reaches out to her classmates for help with her studies, showing significant growth in her confidence. However, she is still struggling with her communication skills and can't seem to convey her gratitude to Shota properly.

Meanwhile, Shota is dealing with his own problems. He has been struggling with his feelings for Sawako and is unsure how to express them. He confides in his friends, who encourage him to be honest with Sawako about his feelings. However, he finds himself unable to do so and instead supports her in her academic pursuits.

The episode culminates in a heartwarming moment between Sawako and Shota. After a long day of studying, Sawako accidentally falls asleep and Shota offers to walk her home. On the way, they stop to admire the stars, and Sawako expresses her gratitude to Shota for always supporting her. Shota, overwhelmed with emotion, finally tells Sawako that he likes her. The episode ends on a cliffhanger as Sawako is left speechless, unable to respond to Shota's confession.

Overall, "Practicing on My Own" is a poignant episode that showcases the growth and development of its characters. It highlights Sawako's resilience and determination, as well as Shota's struggle to come to terms with his feelings. The episode provides a glimpse into the complex emotions and social dynamics of high school, making it an excellent addition to the series.