REVIEW: ‘SHY’ Episode 14 – “Wind Coming from the West”

Despite being a superhero, simple things like an unexpected rainstorm can still throw a monkey wrench in Teru Momijiyama’s (Shino Shimoji) plans. But when she finds herself stuck at school until a thunderstorm passes, SHY Episode 14, “Wind Coming from the West,” takes her on an unlikely journey.

With last week’s episode’s focus on re-familiarizing fans with the series’ core cast, this week’s episode could go in any direction. However, most fans wouldn’t have expected the series to draw Teru into her school library for a slightly haunting afternoon encounter. But this kind of stuff happens when you forget your umbrella.

To avoid getting drenched on her walk home, Teru decides to study in the library until Iko (Nao Tôyama) finishes with her club activities. When she arrives at the library, she finds it empty except for a lone student. The girl introduces herself as Beni Hanawa, a third-year student and member of the literature club.

Beni’s first impression of our hero isn’t the best. Coming across as a bit intense, Teru quickly attempts to excuse herself from the situation. When a sudden bolt of lightning reveals Beni is terrified of the atmospheric occurrences, Teru opts to stay and keep the girl company.

Soon, Beni is drawing Teru into a ghost story about the school and the “Seven Wonders” supposedly residing there. While the upperclassman admits that most are fake, she claims one is true. The Bloody Book resides somewhere in the library, waiting to be found. Enlisting Teru’s help, the girls set out to discover it.

SHY Episode 14’s opening story is a masterpiece of visual mood-setting. The library is bathed in hues of blue, creating a ghostly atmosphere for its tale. While the color used in the scene creates a general mood, the lighting balances that mood wonderfully. The moment is never allowed to grow too dark. This keeps the library from ever becoming an actual horror scene. The show makes it clear through its nuanced presentation that no matter what happens, it isn’t going that hard.

The other excellently implemented element that keeps viewers guessing about where the sequence will ultimately land is Beni. How the girl’s mood and tone oscillate from pleasant to slightly creepy keeps the audience and Teru guessing until the end. What makes this flexible personality stand out is the fact that it somehow feels natural. Beni’s shifts in character come with events that occur within the scene. This makes each shift feel like a response rather than a random occurrence that exists purely to build/release tension.

As the scene ends and the storm breaks, SHY Episode 14 delivers one last visual treat: the sun breaking through the clouds. The cool colors of the scene melt away to the vibrant, warm hues of the returning sun. The contrast this color shift brings is breathtaking. Enhancing it further is its excellent execution, as it enters the scene at the perfect moment within the narrative.

The back half of this episode sees Teru and Iko enjoying a lazy day in the shopping district of their town. While a rash of purse-snatching incidents causes concern for the duo, they are unwilling to let bad news spoil their day. When the pair run into a young girl named Ai Tennoji, who is visiting their hometown for the first time, they decide to help her find her way around.

This lighthearted sequence is like a breath of fresh air after the gloomier opening. It delivers a playful montage as the trio goes shopping, sings karaoke, and gets ice cream. The fun and games don’t last forever, though, as Teru and Iko eventually learn that it isn’t a vacation that brings their new friend to their town.

The reason for Ai’s arrival is the final curveball in SHY Episode 14’s surprise-filled narrative. The outlandish explanation is stunning to Teru and Iko despite the bizarre things the girls have experienced in their own lives. It isn’t until Ai’s claims appear in the flesh just as the credits prepare to roll that the duo accepts the validity of her claims.

While last week’s episode left the door wide open for the series in terms of narrative direction, the surprises that SHY Episode 14 brings are ones few viewers would ever see coming. Their skillful implementation, thanks to strong storytelling and visual presentation, makes the episode shine, leaving viewers with much to be hopeful for as the series continues its strong run.

SHY Episode 14 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.