Gojou asks his classmates for help, while Marin tries to contribute more to her cosplay project.
Episode 17 — “800 Million”
Hmm.
The theme of teamwork pervades this episode of My Dress-Up Darling. It started last week after Gojou’s classmates emphasized to him that his duties for the school beauty pageant had priority over lifting set decorations. But listening to his grandpa apply the lesson to the family business of assembling hina dolls cemented it. Only by separating tasks and coordinating with others could the doll shop hope to fulfill orders. And someone else was there to absorb the life lesson!
I love how much Marin is becoming a regular at the Gojou dinner table in My Dress-Up Darling. She’s family already. Plus, she knows all the domestic chores Gojou must do for Grandpa Gojou because his back is still healing. How can she help Team Gojou after Gojou-kun took on the extra work of preparing her costume for the beauty pageant? Rice and bento! You’ll see how Marin manages to make homemade lunches for Gojou.
One more thing — everyone will fall in “wuv” with Gojou! Marin had her big moment declaring deeper “wuv” for the boy’s earnest charm. But Marin’s gyaru friends are noticing how he’s boyfriend material because he listens and pays attention to their conversations. And the boys will all become his best bros because if Gojou compliments, you know it’s the profoundest truth in the universe. Morita fell first to Gojou’s sincere charm in My Dress-Up Darling. Who’s next?
My Dress-Up Darling Makes Me Go Eh!?
I’ve often wondered how often Japan uses the number 100 million. The Japanese language has a character for that amount, 億 (おく, oku). Counting in Japanese has idiosyncratic features unique to its culture, like prioritizing 10,000 (万, man) over 1,000 (千, sen), or how the yen is more analogous in value to the Western cent or penny. However, none of this explains how ridiculous it would be for a host in a host club to expect one of his regular patrons to spend 800 million yen (~US$5.5 million as of August 10, 2025) in one night! Okay, that number comes from a fictional manga within a manga’s fictional story (My Dress-Up Darling), but that’s crazy!
Heh.
Fun. Marin is a regular dinner guest with Grandpa Gojou now. He explains how the hina doll shop separates the tasks of doll production into different teams. Okay. My Dress-Up Darling turned into a kids’ show with puppets. Wow. Do you think a hina doll assembly line will have an analog to making a cosplay character costume? Ten people in the Gojou store make one hina doll, but they assemble 200-300 a day! Grandpa Gojou says the lesson of the week,
“This isn’t something you can do all on your own. You’d drive yourself nuts. It may be easy to offer a helpin’ hand, but it can be pretty tough to ask for help. You gotta rely on others too, though.”
How can Marin help Gojou during the lead-up to the cultural festival? I see foreshadowing about making meals, but can Marin cook? My Dress-Up Darling showed us her apartment last season, so doubts arise.
Gojou comes to school early to use the sewing room, and Marin is early, too! Gojou has achieved the teenage male dream: a girl made a bento lunch for him! But is it some weird amalgam that her scrambled-egg attention span collected? Await your fate until lunchtime, Gojou-kun. Marin is nervous about her cooking skills, and so is Gojou! Spam onigiri! It’s normal! Stop it, Gojou. Marin can’t “wuv” you any more than she does already! Bento, every day! Spam, fried chicken, fried onigiri skewers… At least Gojou can have traditional meals for dinner.
Sparkling Wine and Smiles for My Dress-Up Darling
The beauty pageant has a section where the entrants try to charm the audience, called “Appeal Time.” The girls go straight to the “Champagne Call” bit from the PrezHost anime. Let’s see how Marin can adapt the scene to a high school auditorium. Gojou soaks up the atmosphere as he sews Rei-sama’s suit together. Hahaha! The girls dig how much Gojou digs everyone digging the bento scene. Dig it, My Dress-Up Darling! This might be too much gyaru energy for Gojou’s constitution. Hoho. Marin aims Rei-sama’s charm at Gojou’s shojo heart! Uh oh. Nowa had an idea, too! She plays a whale who can only spend 800 million yen today. ONLY. How much can Gojou-ohime-chan spend tonight?
Aw. What can Marin do to help Gojou after he and her friends had to help the class with its part of the festival program? She could sew buttons. Double aw. Marin still can’t sew well. She promises she’ll improve!
Dude Looks Like My Dress-Up Darling!
Today’s the day! Marin wears Rei-sama’s suit for the first time. Before that, she must turn from the side of OPPAI PLOT to FLAT JUSTICE. Was it possible? Her friends can’t believe it! It’s magic! I don’t like this bit in My Dress-Up Darling, not one bit! Bring Marin’s boobs back! Suit up, Marin. She looks like a girl in a suit, though. Ack! Gojou used her measurements before she flattened herself!
Oh, another thing. Marin needs to stand and walk like a man. Gojou knows who can help. Wow. Morita will fall in “wuv” with Gojou, too! Even Koga, who wants to take a picture of Rei-sama’s suit for his little sister. Marin is so proud of Gojou.
Next time, Gojou must hurry to deliver Marin’s suit jacket in time. Can he make it?
My Dress-Up Darling (Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru) streams on Crunchyroll in Japanese with multiple language subtitles.
Isn’t it funny how Marin is friends with the dudes in class but finds them all annoying in some way, except for Gojou? He’s her first “wuv,” after all. But Marin should watch out for Rune making eyes at Gojou. It could be her fangirling over PrezHost, but that emotion could turn into something romantic. It happened to Marin last season! What do you think? Is there a chance Marin enters her jealousy arc because of Rune? Let us know in the comments below!
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