Ep 3. A Battleground Over the Tears of a Childhood Friend

In Oreshura season 1 episode 3, titled "A Battleground Over the Tears of a Childhood Friend," the plot revolves around Eita and Masuzu's ongoing plan to stop Masuzu's admirers from confessing their love to her. The episode kicks off with Eita's friend Chiwa being overtly emotional about Masuzu's sudden disappearance from school for several days.

As they try to investigate Masuzu's whereabouts, Eita and Chiwa come face-to-face with Masuzu's ex-classmate and childhood friend, Kaoru. The meeting is not cordial, as Kaoru is not too thrilled about Masuzu's return to the school and popularity. Kaoru harbors old feelings for Masuzu and is convinced that Masuzu is not being genuine in her actions.

The plot thickens when Masuzu, who is not too keen on fighting for Eita's love, decides to exploit Kaoru's feelings to make Eita jealous. She goes to the extent of telling Kaoru that she and Eita are dating, which makes Kaoru even angrier.

Meanwhile, Eita's feelings for Masuzu start growing as he begins to notice her soft and vulnerable side. Eita realizes that behind Masuzu's cold and calculated actions lies a fragile girl who has been hurt in the past. He is determined to protect her from her admirers, especially Kaoru.

The episode's climax takes place during a school swimming competition where the three are pitted against each other. The competition is fierce, and the underlying tension between Kaoru and Masuzu spills over when they are racing in the pool. The episode concludes with Eita figuring out how he will ultimately save Masuzu from the torment of her admirers while trying to navigate his feelings for her.

Overall, Oreshura season 1 episode 3 is a compelling and tense episode that continues the series' trend of exploring the complicated romantic relationships between the characters. Masuzu's character gets more depth in this episode, and viewers start developing an understanding of why she acts the way she does. The rivalry between Kaoru and Masuzu is intriguing, setting the tone for the following episodes' confrontations. Overall, this episode is an excellent continuation of the series and sets up a thrilling premise for the rest of the season.