REVIEW: ‘ Horimiya: The Missing Pieces’ Episode 3 — “Sports Day”

One of the major highlights of Horimiya: The Missing Pieces has been the development of the bizarre bond between Sengoku and Miyamura. Sengoku was always a fun character, especially once we realized that beyond being the student council president, he was struggling as much as the rest of the characters. Teaming up with Miyamura as the two fight the injustices of the high school ecosystems though has made him shine, however. In Horimiya: The Missing Pieces Episode 3, “Sports Day,” we continue to see his downbeat demeanor makes for a comedic foil against Miyamura, who has Hori and Ishiakawa’s belief in him as a constant motivator.

It also taps into that friendship dynamic that’s a personal favorite, the dumb and also dumb duo. Because Sengoku’s greatest frustration in this episode stems from his realization that Miyamura has been coerced into actually trying at the sports day, calling him a traitor. It’s not a big moment in an episode consumed by the ongoing events of the day as we watch established friendships lift one another up but it manages to showcase just how well-developed all of the characters are. While no character touches the development that Miyamura is given, not even Hori, the ensemble is strong regardless, and it makes it so that dynamics such as Miyamura and Sengoku, or Yuki and Sakura work. They’re not the main relationships on the show, but their interactions are organic, regardless of whether or not they’re comedic or serious.

Horimiya: The Missing Pieces Episode 3 is lighter on the comedy than the past two episodes but remains heartfelt as ever. This is most notable between Hori and Miyamura. The series has always done a great job in handling their romance and making sure it remains the backbone of the story even if it doesn’t receive focus on a given episode. “Sports Day” is a reminder of all the ways the two lift one another up. Miyamura reflects on how, in the past, he’s never thought of the day as something worthwhile. We realize why when he tells Ishikawa that he’s never cheered for anyone before or been cheered for in return. Now, he cheers for Hori even though the two are on separate teams, a move that inspires her. He joins Remi and Sakura in cheering the loudest for Ishikawa during his event too.

We’ve seen in the past that Miyamura had a tough adolescence, one marred by bullying and the isolation and destructive self-loathing that comes with it. He thinks about those days too here but quickly moves past them. Remi and Sakura cheer for him when he takes part in the Calvary event. Even if some of the support is silent, such as Hori’s satisfied smile in watching her boyfriend win, it casts a finer glow onto the scenes. There’s such warmth in the show, visualized by the way the aura of characters shimmer around them when they’re particularly happy, or the way the scene still frames a smiling Hori as Miyamura takes her in, feeling nothing but love. The series and its animation possess a keen understanding of the overwhelming emotions of first loves and perspective-changing friendships and capture them with vibrancy and color.

The sweetness of the series never piles on thick enough, rendering it saccharine, nor does it try to undercut that sweetness with a false idea of needed cynicism. Rather, it basks in the compassion of the characters and the comedy that stems from being a teenager.

Horimiya: The Missing Pieces Episode 3 is yet another stellar installment of the series. By understanding and focusing on the terrific ensemble and highlighting specific characteristics such as Hori’s jockish tendencies to Sengoku’s insecurities the series continues to find new layers to these characters beyond what we already knew. “Sports Day” is a charming episode, one that utilizes its strong cast of characters and demonstrates their ability to grow through what otherwise might be seen as mundane activities. It’s slice-of-life magic.

Horimiya: The Missing Pieces is available now on Crunchyroll.