Ganbare Doukichan, Episode 6: Selfies and Self Care

Episode 6 – “My Coworker Who Received an Embarrassing Selfie”

Hmm.

Could someone die of embarrassment? Or get sick and stay in bed? Ganbare Doukichan takes on that sticky situation this week. Anime likes to show us characters who become deathly feverish after a rain shower makes them soaking wet. Here, it’s not clear whether Doukichan just wanted to skip work because she was emotionally fragile. Or did shame make her sweat so much that she caught a cold in her apartment? Did she have trouble falling asleep because of the embarrassing selfie? It didn’t look like she had a fever. Doukichan’s pet played matchmaker for the timid office worker when it started the cascade of sweat and blush-inducing events. Doukichan learned never to keep her phone open around the playful feline. Doukikun needs to thank that pet, though.

Ganbare Doukichan brought back a feature we hadn’t seen since the first three episodes. During Doukichan’s mortified sleep, she dreamed of Kouhaichan stealing Doukikun away from her during a night of late-night work and later night seduction. The anime had developed Doukichan’s habit of making sexy dreams during the earlier part of the season, but we hadn’t seen them recently. You know it’s something she can’t help when she puts her love rival in those fantasy situations as she did during Valentine’s Day episode. I don’t mind seeing Kouhaichan in a spicy morning scene as she borrows Doukikun’s dress shirt, but let’s see Doukichan again.

Heh.

Oh ho! Doukichan broke the cardinal rule of sending sexy pics late at night. You can’t take them back for hours afterward! Excellent job, Cat! Will Ganbare Doukichan give us a name for Doukichan’s loyal sidekick? Doukikun is so polite. He didn’t respond, but the phone told Doukichan he saw it. She wanted to fall into a pit! Doukichan needs to be bolder in real life, not just in her dreams.

Ahahaha! Doukichan called in sick. Was she sick from embarrassment? Even Doukikun feels relief at not addressing what he saw. Here we go again. Doukichan’s dream of Kouhaichan taking the initiative spurred her to action. Playing the prevent defense in the office setting of Ganbare Doukichan just means Doukichan will lose more slowly to Kouhaichan. She needs to take bold action. But not yet… Run away!

Oof. This is so relatable. Doukichan rehearses a conversation with Doukikun about the embarrassing selfie. Please tell us more about this friend who can cook, Doukichan! Aw. She’s just making it more challenging to look Doukikun in the eyes again. She knows she needs to make a change for the better, but not now. Next week will be when Doukichan becomes as pushy as Kouhaichan. Yeah, right! Worse, look at that bit of foreshadowing. A client is on Doukikun’s schedule for a business meeting. Ganbare Doukichan will introduce the next barrier to Doukikun’s heart.

Kintetsu Yamada, the artist for Sweat and Soap, shows Doukichan acting like a teenager while sending a date suggestion to Doukikun. Yamada-sensei’s contribution is perfect for this episode considering that Sweat and Soap is all about another nervous Office Lady.

Ganbare Doukichan streams weekly in multiple subtitles on Crunchyroll and VRV.