Sarazanmai Season 1 Episode 3 I Want to Connect, but It's Not Meant to Be

Three young male students named Kazuki, Toi, and Enta were transformed into kappas, mythical creatures from Japanese folklore, after breaking a kappa statue. To return to their human form, they have to fight zombie-kappa creatures and extract their shirikodama, a mythical organ that appears in the anus of the creatures. During the extraction, they can also steal the zombie-kappas' secrets and turn them into plates. They have to collect such plates to fulfill the promise made by Keppi, a kappa prince who needs their help to retrieve his stolen organ by the Otter Empire.

In episode 3, "I Want to Connect, but It's Not Meant to Be," the boys are still searching for the Otter's secret headquarters, but they have no idea where it could be. Kazuki is trying to get in touch with Haruka, a boy he had a crush on, but he keeps getting ignored. Toi is trying to help his brother, who is in trouble with some bad guys, and Enta is struggling with his unrequited love for Kazuki, which is putting their friendship at risk.

The episode starts with Kazuki visiting Haruka's house once again. Haruka's little brother tells Kazuki that his brother is not at home but shows Kazuki a painting that his brother made. The painting depicts a girl who looks like Kazuki and has a kappa on her head. The brother tells Kazuki that Haruka is a big fan of kappa and asks Kazuki to wear a kappa costume and dance for Haruka. Kazuki agrees to do it.

Meanwhile, the Otter Empire is still on the hunt for the kappa boys and sends out another zombie-kappa to get their secrets. The boys are attacked while they are crossing a bridge, and they have to jump into the river to avoid being caught. While they are underwater, they have a shared dream in which they see the girl on the painting. They realize that she is Reo's sister, who went missing years ago. They also see that Reo and Mabu, who work for the Otter Empire, are looking for her too. When they wake up, they see a boat with Reo and Mabu approaching them.

Reo and Mabu explain that they are looking for a mythical creature that is said to have the power to connect two people's desires. They believe that the creature can help them find Reo's sister. They offer Kazuki, Toi, and Enta to join them in their search and give them a cage to capture the creature. The boys agree, and they set off to a nearby temple where the creature is said to reside.

At the temple, they find the creature, a small bird with a human face, and put it in the cage. They start to move on, but Toi's brother, who is working for the Otter Empire, appears with a gun and demands the cage from them. A fight ensues, and Toi's brother is shot and falls in the river.

Kazuki, Toi, and Enta escape with the cage, but they feel guilty for what happened. They release the bird from the cage and watch it fly away. They realize that the bird was not meant to be caught and that their desires are not always meant to be fulfilled.

Later, Kazuki meets Haruka at the pool. He apologizes for being pushy and tells him that he will never force his feelings on him. Haruka thanks Kazuki and expresses his admiration for him. They share a moment, and Kazuki feels connected to him, even though they are not in a romantic relationship.

The episode ends with the boys still seeking the Otter Empire's secret headquarters, but now they have a new clue. They believe that the missing girl, Reo's sister, might be connected to the Otter Empire somehow, and they decide to investigate further.

"I Want to Connect, but It's Not Meant to Be" is a poignant episode that explores the boys' desires and their struggles to connect with others. It also raises questions about the nature of desire and the consequences of pursuing it. The episode features beautiful animation, engaging characters, and a captivating storyline that will keep viewers hooked until the end.