Ganbare Doukichan, Ep 4: A Heart Needs a Second Chance

Episode 4 – “My Coworker Who Came Back to Pick Up What He Left Behind”

Hmm.

Kouhaichan declares her intentions in Ganbare Doukichan. Until her cute pout claimed “senpai” as her own, we occupied a space of possibilities concerning her personality and her relationships within the office. I was never a fan of the English title for Ganbare Doukichan, Senpai is Mine because it subtracts from the notion of rooting for the main character’s pursuit of love. It also leaves out the nature of Doukikun’s bond with Doukichan as contemporaries. Doukichan doesn’t call Doukikun “senpai” because they’re equals. He’s not her senior in any sense of hierarchy at the office. The English title also connotes that Kouhaichan is the one we should root for. I one hundred percent disagree with the choice of “Senpai is Mine” as an English translation for the art book series.

All that said, Yom deserves all the thanks for offering us this OL (Office Lady) romance in Ganbare Doukichan. Because, as Doukikun makes clear, there is romance in the works here. His character is growing on me. I don’t like that he doesn’t pick up on flirtatious cues from submissive women inviting him to pounce, but most men are like that. Ladies, I tell you this without any pretext, grab the man you like and tell him. We really are that dumb. The worst he can do is reject you, which would tell you all you need to know about his potential as a partner. If the two of you can’t agree on whether you like each other at the beginning of a relationship, how would that work out during the middle and end? Not well.

So, I don’t like how Ganbare Doukichan presents Doukikun’s tentativeness in starting a physical relationship with Doukichan. It’s essential for building suspense in a serial story with lots of beautiful girls vying for the audience’s attention and favor, though. Still, Doukikun is observant of Doukichan’s other emotions besides the “just push me up against the wall already!” one. The way he paid attention to Doukichan in another booth when she was hiding from him should give her lots of confidence going forward. He ignored the pushy Kouhaichan pushing her boobs in his face at point-blank range! Unfortunately, she has her own blind spots when it comes to Doukikun’s feelings. Fortunately for the audience, we have another device for Ganbare Doukichan to build suspense for their office romance.

Heh.

Really? Wow. Doukikun left Kouhaichan hanging at the subway to make sure Doukichan made it home safe. Stick a flagpole in Doukichan’s relationship with Doukikun because that is set in stone now. Ha! Kouhaichan pouted big time. “Senpai is mine!” Nope. Not happening. Ganbare, Doukichan! Thanks for letting us know where the English version of the Ganbare Doukichan art book title came from.

Can Doukichan sober up in time to realize Doukikun created a private moment? It would be the perfect time to give him her homemade chocolate. Doukikun is the man! He gave her two chances without even knowing it. The dude even pays attention to every little facial expression she has. That’s it. It’s over. Now we wait until the Ganbare Doukichan love confession scene explodes in relief, love, and sexual release. I think we’ll have a long wait…

Shiromanta, the creator of another office romance anime airing this season, shows Kouhaichan teasing Doukichan in the end card.

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