Buzzer Beat Episode 3

 Buzzer Beat Episode 3
 Characters:
Yamashita Tomohisa / Kamiya Naoki
Kitagawa Keiko / Shirakawa Riko
Aibu Saki / Nanami Natsuki
Ito Hideaki / Kawasaki Tomoya
Kanjiya Shihori / Ebina Mai
Mizobata Junpei / Hatano Shuji

 Buzzer Beat Episode 3! This is such a mediocre drama, I don't know why I am so excited about it. I mean, while Keiko is adorable and I'll always love Pi for his role in Nobuta... there isn't really much else to this drama. Sure, the fanservice is nice (and hilarious), but Ito Hideaki is the only cast member with any meat on his bones. And Pi and Keiko are cute together, but I wouldn't say they had awesome chemistry.

Riko is a violinist who actually tries to pretend she plays (unlike in that movie we watched recently XD). She moves her upper body around a LOT though.

While Riko is bummed that Naoki didn't show up for their regular evening of basketball and classical music, he's off making dinner for his girlfried, Natsuki. Natsuki wants to go ahead and get married even though he didn't win the championship. Naoki still wants to prove to himself and her that he is worthy, so he wants to wait.  

At the grocery store our couple runs into each other: Naoki with grocery supplies for french toast and Riko with her regular supply of beer and some random cleaning supplies. Her roommate is nearly at wits end when it comes to Riko's housekeeping skills.

Riko is a little dismayed to learn that Naoki has a girlfriend, even though she herself is kind of dating the coach. 

They settle down on the bench at their basketball court for some beverages. Riko immediately pulls out a beer and offers one to Naoki. He turns it down initially as he has to bike home, but changes his mind. Riko DOWNS hers (out of the can, which gave me flashbacks to Hotaru no Hikari XD). Naoki is like... "so you like to drink, huh?"

Riko agrees happily and opens a new can.

Music sharing time!

Riko gets a little anxious at the proximity and pulls away. Naoki doesn't seems fazed though. Just then some jerks come by and dump their old fridge and some random trash. Riko jumps to her feet and starts yelling at the punks. Naoki... is less enraged and encourages Riko to let it go.

Knowing Naoki won't be able to practice properly with that trash everywhere, she continues after them and luckily doesn't get her ass handed to her.



She chases after their truck with Naoki following closely (and dialing the authorities). The litterbugs get arrested and Riko is pleased... and maybe a little sick. Drinking on an empty stomach and then running isn't the best combination.



And because this is a drama, Naoki piggybacks her home. It's pretty unromantic as Riko threatens to vomit every other step.



Dismayed at the state of her apartment, Naoki can't help but start to clean.



Riko wishes his housekeeping wasn't quite so noisy.



As she mentioned she liked french toast Naoki makes her some breakfast before he leaves (sweet... but I don't think french toast keeps that well)







Mai, her roommate, returns the next morning to a spic and span apartment. Riko doesn't really remember what happened.





They find the french toast and it all comes back to her.



Later on, Naoki sees some guys hauling the garbage away but can't send a picture to Riko as he doesn't have her number.



They next run into each other at Mai's quartet concert and totally can't stop looking at her. It's too cute.







Riko is horrified at her earlier behavior and apologizes to him at the restaurant the group goes to after the concert.



He says it's okay, but they soon get interrupted by the coach who wonders if they know each other. Naoki says she lives in his neighborhood.

Back at the table, the coach announces to the table that Riko is his girlfriend (he confessed he loved her last episode) when someone asks about their relationship. Riko is a little shocked, but doesn't deny it.



Naoki's response is "I see"



Then Natsuki and the other office ladies show up with the new player (who she has slept with). Mai immediately takes a disliking to her, calling her flashy and totally calling that she is a player's girlfriend. I think that's jumping the gun a little, because Natuki is a perfectly nice girl... when she's not cheating on her boyfriend. Claiming she doesn't feel well, Natuki leaves and Naoki accompanies her.

After dinner, the coach aplogizes to Riko for springing the girlfriend thing on her. She's not angry, but she wants to take it a little slower (she recently had a poor encounter with her former crush).





He says he's okay with that, but you know he is disappointed.



I can understand why she wants to slow down, but he's a really nice guy too, so I feel kind of bad for him.

Back at Natuki's apartment, Naoki is fixing her some dinner. She's like, "that's nice. Sleep with me."

He says "You need rest" which... is not the response she was looking for.





Quick note: Yamapi's hair is SO AWFUL.

Basically she tells him she wants some more passion in their relationship so she won't have to look at other guys.





He rebuffs her, because he's so not ready for that step. He still wants to prove himself to the world. She says if all she has is his stupid pride, then he doesn't have much.



I understand where she is coming from and at least she is being honest about her feelings. From what I can tell, she doesn't care how successful he is, all she wants is him. And currently Naoki isn't really invested in the relationship because he doesn't feel he has a right to be. It's not a good combo, and as her words cut pretty deep, he leaves.

Then we get a beach volleyball scene that was so Top Gun-tastic I couldn't stop laughing. Unfortunately there was no flexing while checking wrist watches. That would have been the ultimate.

After the unneccesary volleyball sequence, the coach and Naoki go for a stroll down the beach. He talks briefly, and vaguely, about Riko. You can tell Naoki doesn't really want to hear about it.



See what I mean about Ito Hideaki? He's like twice the size of Yamapi. It really doesn't help that they put Pi downhill from him.





Mai and Riko arrive



Mai learns from Shuji (her mole inside the basketball team) that her crush hasn't been involved with women recently as he's been enjoying spending time with the guys.



She is disappointed (as this can only mean he is gay), but offers Shuji (who recently got kicked out of his apartment) the third bedroom in their apartment.



Meanwhile, Naoki approaches Riko to get her number. He says he didn't feel comfortable about it before as she was the coach's girlfriend. But now they are friends so it's OK.





Riko's like "Friends? Yes... friends."



I didn't cap the last little bit, but it's basically Naoki sending a text to Natsuki apologizing for leaving so abruptly. She gets it, but she's also in bed with Yoyogi, the new member of the basketball team she slept with earlier. Tsk tsk.