Episode 25: Motoko's Choice Between Love or Swords: Don't Cry

Synopsis

Naru and Mei have left Hinata to be with the family. After dropping them off, Keitaro encounter's a kendo woman who looks a lot like Motoko. At the same time, Motoko has a nightmare about her sister. When Motoko comes home, she finds out that Motoko's sister, Turuko, has come to take Motoko back to the dojo. In an act of desperation to stay at Hinata Inn, she suddenly announces she's decided to marry Keitaro. Motoko asks everyone to help her with her lie. Turuko asks the couples to kiss and then bath in the hot springs together. While Keitaro and Motoko are in the hot springs, she let's it slip that the marriage is just for show and Turuko overhears this. Turuko defeats Motoko is a swordfight, breaks Motoko's sword, and tells Motoko that if she doesn't want to return, she has to be a regular girl. The next day, she cooks, cleans, and does laundry, but the residents thinks she's overdoing everything.

Motoko falls into depression thinking that she can't be a swordswoman nor a regular woman. She consults with Keitaro and he tells her to ask her sister for another chance. However, she doesn't have a sword. Keitaro pulls out a sword that his grandma had, which happens to be cursed. Tsuruko gives Motoko another chance, but Motoko has to beat her in 3 days otherwise they have to marry. The place they battle just happens to be where Naru and Mei are. So Motoko and Keitaro try to sneak up on Tsuruko and beat her, but to no avail. So the next day, they have a showdown. After some fighting, Naru pulls out the cursed sword that Keitaro had and becomes possessed. The possessed Naru defeats Turuko, and is going after Keitaro when Motoko steps in and defeats the possessed Naru by knocking the sword out of her hand. Because of this Motoko's sister admits defeat and let's Motoko stay. Afterwards, Motoko admits that she may consider being a student studying for college.

Screenshots

The Money Shot

You've probably heard of this if you've heard anything about episode 25. It's what they call, in a certain film genre, the "money" shot. The thumbnail image has been distorted to prevent those who don't want to witness such beaut...err...scenes. =) I've also included the corresponding shot from the manga. So here it is, in all it's DVD quality glory:

Comparison to Manga Version

• This episode is taken from three chapters in book 9, chapters 72, 73, and 74. Note that while this episode was available before the Spring Special, in the manga, it happens after the corresponding Spring Special event.
• Keitaro almost gets hit by a bus, not Kentaro's car.