REVIEW: ‘Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation’ Season 2 Episode 10 – “These Feelings”

With the discovery that Shizuka Nanahoshi (Shion Wakayama, Lycoris Recoil) is also from our world, Rudeus’ (Yumi Uchiyama) day-to-day life shifts a bit as he makes time to help her study summoning magic so she might one day be able to return to our world. This shift in his schedule leaves less room for studying at the library, and by extension, less time with Mister Fitz/Sylphiette (Ai Kayano). His absence begins to impact both of them in their own ways, leading to some emotional turmoil in Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Episode 10.

This week’s episode opens with a look at Fitz and how recent revelations have impacted her life. Missing Rudeus, Fitz struggles with approaching her friend’s absence. Torn between her desire to spend time with her childhood friend and not wanting to impose upon him, Fitz’s emotional predicament is one most people will be able to sympathize with. It is never easy when someone whose presence in your life you enjoy sees a change in their routine that pulls them away from you. Fitz didn’t ask for this change, yet she is being forced to adapt to it regardless. Given that Rudeus has chosen this change makes it all the harder for her, as it gives the impression that spending time with Shizuka is more important to him overall.

The visual presentation of this emotional opening compliments Fitz’s emotional state wonderfully. The subdued settings and soft lighting allow the viewer to focus on Fitz and her struggles without unnecessary distractions.

From here, Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Episode 10 shifts its gaze back to Rudeus as he walks through a standard day for himself. Having been at the Ranoa University of Magic for a year, he has settled in nicely to his current home. While he seems to be getting along well, it seems his recent exploits have left many of the students nervous around him. Avoiding eye contact and outrightly ignoring him seems to be a common occurrence for the young mage. This seems to be taken gracefully enough by Rudeus, which is surprising given his past life’s struggle with isolation. It is a subtle sign of growth for the character that he has acquired the confidence to be able to shrug off such awkward moments without spiraling into depression.

Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Episode 10 follows up this calm glimpse into Rudeus’ daily life with a visit from an absent friend. Soldat (Kôsuke Toriumi)  is in town and makes it a point to visit with his old adventuring companions. This moment works fine as a random meeting between friends but brings little to the episode itself. Soldat was never the deepest character, and beyond providing commentary about the surprising change in Elinalise’s (Rie Tanaka) love life, says little here as well. Perhaps the series is establishing his presence for a more significant part later on? Otherwise, this moment serves as a fine momentary distraction.

After leaving the reunion, Rudeus has a run-in with Fitz that doesn’t go as planned. Feeling snubbed by his friend when she refuses to talk to him, Rudeus worries that he has done something to offend her. His distress over this possibility is in sharp contrast to how cooly he brushed off the cold shoulders shown to him by other students earlier in the episode. This makes sense though, as Fitz is someone special in Rudeus’ life.

This sequence culminates in the pair running into each other at their usual table in the library where the misunderstanding is set right. But while Rudeus’ standing with Fitz is settled, this scene in Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Episode 10 brings a new question up for Rudeus to grapple with. Given the physiological reactions Rudeus has to his patching things up with Fitz, he comes to a startling conclusion: He’s in love with Fitz. But Rudeus believes Fitz is a boy, which brings up questions for the young man as he has never felt any attraction for the same gender as himself. But it also leads him to ask another question. Namely, whether or not Fitz is actually a boy.

With recent revelations concerning the nature of Fitz’s service to the princess, it seems likely that Fitz’s actual gender may be hidden for the sake of their service to their employer. This question gets answered when an unexpected mishap causes Rudeus to find himself falling on his back with Fitz straddling him, having been pulled off balance when she tried to catch Rudeus’ fall. The moment of frozen panic the two share as they realize how they are positioned causes Rudeus to realize that Fitz is in fact a female. What’s more, the unexpected closeness to someone he is emotionally connected to causes a surprising reaction in him that seems to indicate the true reason the Man-God sent him to the university.

All in all, Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Episode 10 explores Rudeus and Fitz’s evolving relationship with a level of skill that is thoroughly enjoyable. While the direction has been obvious from the moment the pair met, the series has done a great job of allowing them to progress in their relationship at a pace that feels natural and rewarding.

Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Episode 10 is streaming on Crunchyroll.