Shinozaki seeks Shiori’s help to cheer up stressed-out Akari. Who’ll win the Most Valuable New Hire Award?
Episode 11 — “Can I Give You a Big Hug?”
Hmm.
Report. Stay in contact. Consult. These three rules for Shiori’s kouhais in My Tiny Senpai are also tips for building healthy relationships. Imagine how cordial and peaceful your days would be if you had friendly communications with your friends and partners in these three ways. You can overshare, of course, but erring on the side of too much networking is better than the reverse. And in private, your significant other does not need a single-spaced memo about your trip to the supermarket. On the other hand, if characters exchanged information (emotional or otherwise) readily, we would have much fewer opportunities for drama and comedy. What is comedy without confusion, or drama without mystery? Bliss. But that’s not entertainment.
Speaking of confusing mysteries, do you think My Tiny Senpai will tell us what Yamagishi and Akari proposed? My satisfying wish for the last episode would be for the company to combine their two concepts for the next Meowtaro product campaign. Those two would have to work together, and only then would those reluctant romantic sparks fly! Everyone should fall in love at the end of a romantic comedy. Let’s go!
Heh.
Cute! Shinozaki caught Shiori singing to herself. Even better, Shiori recovered and made him sing along! Power harassment is a human resources issue, you know. Akari looks stressed working on her best rookie presentation, but Yamagishi recommends that she throw something together. Well, he doesn’t want to win anyway. He’d rather stay home than go to Okinawa with the band of PR department misfits. Hah! Shinozaki feels extra motivation to see his department in Okinawa. Two big reasons on a smol body! Shinozaki never told us why he kept the contest stakes between Dev Group 1 and 2 from Shiori. Oh well. That adds nervous drama. Um. Does “eating a person” combat nervousness outside of public speaking situations? Shiori thinks so. Talk to the hand!
Smol Girls Hang Out
Also, in My Tiny Senpai, Akari has personal issues with the rookie contest. Shinobu says her junior colleague needs an image of her concept in her proposal. What does “The Ultimate Meowtaro” look like? Uh oh. The pressure starts leaking out of Akari’s eyes. Shinozaki noticed the short girl’s mood and asked Shiori to help. A heart-to-heart between Smol Senpai and Smol Kouhai. Hoho. They’re both Meowtaro superfans! Akari finally let her guard down. Shiori also has office problems, you know. PowerPoint is the bane of her existence! Oof. Akari can’t draw cartoon characters. We shouldn’t have expected her to be an artist after the trigonometry introduction in the last episode. But wow. That does not look close to an “Ultimate Meowtaro.” What a leading question! What “-taro” does that thing remind you of?
Product development has many roles, and (obviously) the company for My Tiny Senpai did not hire Akari as an artist. Chinatsu is a designer with art production skills, but Shinozaki and Shiori have communication and ad copy talents. Why does Akari think she needs to do every part of her proposal when the rookie prize goes to the department? Just ask the digital artists to make her graphics! These people want to go to Okinawa, too! Shiori advised Akari about her corporate duties: admit a problem before it becomes a problem for customers. Can you imagine how much better the world would be if everyone followed this advice? And that’s why I’m watching anime… Yuri subplot — confirmed! Plus, Shiori sees father material in Shinozaki. You know what I mean, you cynical degenerate!
The eye-catchers created a new contest: who is the biggest Meowtaro fan in the company? I’m still choosing Shiori!
Your Buddy, Meowtaro
Game time for My Tiny Senpai! Nice Yuru Meowtaro costume, Shinozaki! Excellent job, Chinatsu! Whoops! She almost gave away her cosplay hobby! Shiori is more nervous than Shinozaki. It’s like a mother sending her child on his first errand to the store. Well. Akari is still antagonistic but appreciative of Shinozaki’s concern. Still enemies! Uh oh! The secret’s out! Mr. Manager will join Dev Group 1 if Akari wins the rookie MVP! Shiori didn’t know! But everyone else did! That’s what happens when you only have Meowtaro and a bear-jammies-wearing black puppy on your mind. Nice. Shinozaki got the Senpai treatment, too. Those rules for office communication sound like how to stay married for a hundred years. Now, who needs to “eat a person?” Why is Chinatsu so tsundere for this team spirit moment? Is it too hard to touch Mr. Manager’s hand?
Oh, boo! My Tiny Senpai should have shown us what Akari thought “The Ultimate Meowtaro” looked like. Chinatsu is great! She can do public speaking, geek out on Photoshop, sew sexy costumes, and wear them! She needs to start a Patreon channel. Meowtaro, your buddy, can ride a skateboard and do magic tricks. Sure! My best friends do magic and ride skateboards… I see a whole line of Happy Meal toys from this campaign. Oh no. The girls in the company want to meet Shinozaki now! Shiori likes and hates sharing him with others! Smol yandere! Okay. She can share him for a brief time. Wait a minute. Why does Yuru Meowtaro-Shinozaki not want to hug Shiori? Because he’s not in there! Mr. Manager continues to impress the ladies of the company. No hug for Shiori. So sad.
Eyes on the Prize!
So, who won? Lame! Two runner-up trophies to Shinozaki and Akari! Say goodbye to the Okinawa My Tiny Senpai teeny weeny red bikini episode. Akari won more affection from Shinobu and heard she didn’t even remember trying to get Akira into her group. What? Yamagishi won! For slapping stuff together! Now he has to go to Okinawa with those guys. But I love it! Yamagishi and Akari make sparks fly over a rural accent.
My Tiny Senpai (Uchi no Kaisha no Chiisai Senpai no Hanashi) streams on Crunchyroll in Japanese audio and multiple language subtitles.
Yuru Chara (ゆるキャラ) is the term for the puffy mascots you see at sports stadiums and amusement parks. So, will Shiori make Shinozaki wear the Yuru Meowtaro costume for her private benefit? Yuru means “loose, laid-back,” which is the mood we need for watching Yuru Camp. The J-List store has the collectors’ edition of the Blu-ray movie! Pick up a copy today.
Are you as disappointed as I am that we won’t see Shiori and Chinatsu in Okinawa? It’s okay to say yes. It’s the season finale next time. Will you be sad to see the series end? Let us know in the comments below or online on Facebook, Twitter, or Discord.
