REVIEW: ‘Horimiya,’ Episode 13 – “I Would Gift You the Sky”

Get the tissues ready, because Horimiya Episode 13 is a finale that will tug at all the heartstrings it has been plucking at this long winter. The anime adapted the manga of the same name by Hero, with artwork by Daisuke Hagiwara. From CloverWorks (The Promised Neverland) the anime follows teens Hori and Miyamura, who happen upon each other one day outside of school and forge a bond. As their feelings grow into love, their friend group evolves and grows around them as well. 

I will admit I was skeptical going into Horimiya Episode 13, because last week truly felt like a finale and I wasn’t sure where the show would go from there. Luckily, all reservations were proven unfounded, as the show gives a warm hug to all the viewers who stuck with it this season. The emotions and anxieties around graduation aren’t just affecting Hori. Everyone is feeling the melancholic uncertainty about what lies ahead. The episode doesn’t give overly false promises of characters being together forever, but leaves the viewer with hope as the friends have renewed determination to make plans when school is not longer an outlet to see each other.

The most intriguing part of Horimiya Episode 13 is that a portion of it is a “what if.” Miyamura reflects on what could have been if he and Hori had not run into each other that day in the premiere. It is an interesting examination of the characters, although one questions just how much ripple effect Hori and Miyamura’s relationship would have on established couples like Remi and Sengoku. Granted, it is Miyamura’s perspective of his friends. What adds to this is a wonderful scene where Miyamura confronts his insecurities; it is brief, but beautifully written.

It is difficult to critique a finale from a show that overall just felt good to watch all winter. Anything that stood out feels like nitpicking. It was a little bothersome that Horimiya Episode 13 doesn’t really circle back to Miyamura’s marriage proposal to Hori at the end of last week. Obviously the kids are young and have all the time in the world, but it would have been nice to have some acknowledgement of such a bold moment in their relationship. Additionally, while viewers witnessed Hori’s insecurities last week, essentially none of this episode is from her perspective. Miyamura has beautiful monologues about his feelings towards Hori and their friends, but for a show that general was about both kids, it robs Hori of the same opportunity in its sendoff, which was disappointing.

Horimiya Episode 13 is a wonderful finale to a heartwarming, beautifully animated series. It has a few minor issues, mainly depriving viewers of Hori’s point of view in the end. Overall, it is a successful follow up to the more romance centered Episode 12, by focusing on all the friends growing up and graduating.

Horimiya is streaming now on Funimation.

Olive St. Sauver

Olive is an award-winning playwright with BAs in English and Theatre. At BWT she is a manga and anime critic, with an additional focus on mental health portrayals in media and true crime.