#hz109

I didn't include all the promotional material posted so far in the links above.

First set of pics is cute, I like the emphasis on Nakanuchan becoming someone that even Collecurei can rely on. I really like Dot's team for this kind of dynamics? Kuwassu was initially much more put together than Dot and helped her become the kind of person who could take care of Kanuchan, and now Nakanuchan has grown reliable enough (thanks to Dot and Welcamo and her friends) that even Collecurei can rely on her. It's the way they all grow together and help each other. And how you can feel time is passing because the Pokemon themselves are growing more mature. Also, I like the casual way they keep showing Dot and her Pokemon gathering coins for Collecurei, it's something that is highlighted in small ways and it won't feel jarring when Collecurei eventually evolves.

I feel like Sango is holding something in the gif where she is on the taxi, but I'm not sure what it is.. A piece of paper? It's too small for me to recognize what it is. Either way, I wonder if Armorga will manage to avoid Nakanuchan's attack or if Sango and Onyx will be separated as a result of that, because it doesn't seem like they are together during the episode. They both seem to be in separate places.

I just linked the quiz because the question is really cute, and I am happy seeing Onyx with his Pokemon (and that Kyojiohn is referred to as his partner). I think the answer is B, btw. I think it's cool in general because this scene shows Onyx's casual sides (what they did in Terastal Debut, too) and that he can do stuff independently from Sango (which makes it stand out that they do choose to spend a lot of time together).. But it's also cute because Sango and Onyx have very similar hobbies, since they both like visiting places for food. Except that Sango is more into sweets, while Onyx seems to be more interested in dishes like udon..? Which is kind of insane because even in terms of hobbies, they complement each other. Makes you think.

I wonder when Onyx started developing this hobby because Sango was the first of the Explorers to bring up food and be connected to it in the story. She wanted sweets in ep 43 and ep 47, and she wanted to go eat churros in ep 50 (and it was the one time Onyx was implied to go with her, because he didn't go with her in the previous eps).. Onyx went out for food alone in ep 58 (that one time Dot fixed the restaurant with udon, and he found them delicious), so maybe hanging out around Sango in general made him have a taste for food and he wanted to try out things for himself? Though he did come up with their nicknames related to food in ep 46, so maybe he already enjoyed food in general before they went out for churros. I'm not sure, but I like entertaining both thoughts (that Sango might have influenced him to some extent, or that he already enjoyed it before).

Also, something something about food being used as a motif in Amethio, Sango, and Onyx's current arcs and how all three of them are arguably the most sympathetic of the Explorers. Amethio ate food onscreen for the first time in this arc (curry), and they are highlighting Onyx's preferred dishes in this ep.. The fact it was significant when all three of them were shown eating something, too (Amethio eating curry, and Sango and Onyx eating a sandwich/onigiri). (Agate and Spinel aren't really connected to food, but Agate's nickname in Terastal Debut was Agepan which was an allusion to it and there was that one personality test for Horizons that made you get Spinel as a result if one of your answers was "bread" over "rice" when it came to food you preferred, so that's something. Also interesting that Spinel and Agate were connected to the same thing in this aspect.)

And the last set of pics. They are cute as hell. Onyx smiling just because he is happy and satisfied about getting food is so damn cute, and for what. Also, he does seem to be a bit surprised and not sure how to act around fans, which is what I imagined for him. He is actually really awkward outside mission settings, so I do look forward to what he'll be saying, especially since Sango isn't around him. I wonder if he'll embarass himself ww

I'm happy Sango is hanging out with both her Pokemon. I like her team a lot, and they have so much personality. It's a bit reassuring seeing that both her and Onyx still walk around with their Pokemon after ep 95. I thought it was sad that they used the Strong Sphere on them, and I'm not sure if they'll do that again.. Are they genuinely convinced about what they are doing, do they not care, etc. It does differentiate them from Indy and Rubella though, who don't care about Pokemon and could use anyone, while Sango and Onyx are closer to their partners. Curious about the kind of PR work Sango and Onyx are doing, though.

Last pic is really sweet, Sango's little blush is so cute, it seems like she is embarassed, which isn't a reaction I expected from her..? Her fans are giving her gifts and I wonder what they'll tell her. Sango acted differently on stage in ep 95, so maybe this is more of a genuine reaction from her. I think it's an interesting one, because you could have expected Sango to be more pretentious and a showoff about her popularity, which she could still be doing in the ep itself, but the reaction they decided to promote is one of "embarassment" (shyness? or any other word close to this, I'm not sure). Sango is also someone who has no problems yelling at others when things don't go her way, so this is an interesting contrast to me. Tbh, she always gave me the feeling of being someone who isn't used to being liked for who she is (and who wants to be needed too, because every time Hamber praised her, she was immediately agreeing with whatever he said ww), so maybe she isn't used to people complimenting her or something along those lines. Either way, this is an intriguing reaction from Sango and I think it gives her depth. I like when she does things I find "unexpected". Just like the time when she was immediately willing to listen to Amethio's side of the story in ep 65 when he was accused of betrayal, or when she was the first one to ask about where he was during the Explorers meeting before Rakua. Like, she has lots of facets to her and I think she is neat.