Gojou makes artistic choices for Marin’s succubus cosplay. Marin books a love hotel for a photoshoot, where one thing leads to another.
Episode 11 – “I Am Currently at a Love Hotel”
Hmm.
My Dress-Up Darling took on the potentially profound consequences of teenage sexual promiscuity. Marin belongs to a demographic group whose members are intimate with love hotel interiors and… Ah, I can’t keep writing this with a straight face! Still, Marin and Gojou’s sexually charged incident in a love hotel raises questions about Marin’s background. We know she hangs out with flashy gals. Her bedroom bears the markers of gal fashion. And she loves teasing Gojou with her sexy body parts. But she also displays the signs of otaku culture.
Which came first? Was Marin geeky before she became a gal, or was it the other way around? Sad circumstances lurk in the back of our thoughts because of her dead mother and physically remote father. How much can we read into her reaction to almost going all the way with Gojou? Was Marin scared of reverting to past mistakes, or was she innocently frightened of a brand-new experience? I love these vague scenes because they set the imagination rolling. They also whet the appetite for continuing Marin’s character development.
Personally, I fall more on the side that Marin is experientially innocent of relationships and physical affection. My Dress-Up Darling has often shown how Marin is aware of her sexiness. But she’s unaware of the effect it has on real-life boys. The scene in the love hotel is the nth-degree version of Gojou brushing her crotch in the second episode. I believe her attempts at sensual teasing rely on what she’s seen in h-games instead of any personal memory of those sexual interactions. I hope she and Gojou can make those adult memories together!
Speaking of adult situations, Gojou came closer to adulthood himself this week. The official sites of My Dress-Up Darling celebrated Wakana Gojou’s birthday on March 21st. For his birthday, Marin almost gave Gojou a slice of cherry pie, a scoop of vanilla, and a cherry on top!
Heh.
Oh? Marin and Gojou are still on their date from last week’s My Dress-Up Darling episode. Yes, yes. Marin is hot. We know this. Oh, right. She needs to cool down. Marin knows about manga and net cafes. What the heck, Gojou? He’s complaining about how cozy the café box is, yet it’s the same size as Marin’s couch in her bedroom.
Marin’s big appetite doesn’t fit her petite body. Ha! Look at the long title on that manga! It’s the same as a light novel. So meta! More meta. Marin explains “slice-of-life” to Gojou. My Dress-Up Darling is a romantic slice of life, yes? Uh oh. Gojou worries how much skin a costume for Liz-kyun the Succubus would show. It would match the scraps of fabric for Veronica.
Har. Gojou’s serious face is serious about Marin being cute enough for pigtails. Seriously! Adorable. How is it possible that Marin feels so flustered receiving sincere compliments? It’s a travesty, a tragedy, and hard to believe. Gojou is a sheltered boy too. Marin will teach him about girl demons who want to eat his semen. This manga doesn’t sound tranquil at all! Yes, it is. Fluffy and precious!
Oh, no. Gojou can’t tell what Liz-kyun’s outfit is supposed to look like. He’ll need to decide the delicate details himself. As if he hasn’t been doing this since the beginning of My Dress-Up Darling. Nice. Gojou did find clothes he liked. Grandpa Gojou approves!
Dramatic flash forward. Gojou said the episode title, but how did he end up in a love hotel? The chats explain the misunderstanding. Gojou finished the succubus costume, but neither Marin’s nor his house were a suitable location for a photoshoot. Marin booked a photo studio that looked like the bedroom in the SuccuIDK manga. Except, it was a love hotel room! That’s part of cosplay culture too. Hey, at least Gojou knows one is near his house now. Oh, dear. Marin doesn’t know that a “massager” has dual uses. Gojou reacts predictably.
Marin tries to calm Gojou down. Other cosplayers hang out in love hotels for their group cosplay, and there’s sweet food too! Gojou needs more convincing. How about they already paid for the room time? Marin got him there. Is that supposed to be Marin in a suit and tie on the 1000-yen bill?
And My Dress-Up Darling is all caught up. Nooo! Don’t turn on the TV, Gojou-kun! Hahaha! The teenage boy can’t help himself. Turn down the sound… Almost busted! Gojou did a deep dive on succubi. He now appreciates the cute, ironic twist SuccuIDK put on the demonic girl. But the simple drawings of Liz-kyun forced him to create most of Marin’s costume. Is that okay? Marin affirms artistic interpretation. That’s cosplay too! Just like partying on a big bed in a love hotel… Hahaha! Marin ruined her sweet, sincere moment by pushing a condom on Gojou. For luck! For “getting lucky” is a different concept.
Liz-kyun hopped out of a manga! That’s the spirit of cosplay My Dress-Up Darling shows us each week. Gojou wants to take all the pictures from the manga! He brought props, but not the kind you’d expect in a love hotel session. Things go smoothly until Gojou asks Marin to be on top. These kids are so innocent and caught up in the moment.
“Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes!” That’s what they hear from the neighbors. Now, Marin and Gojou are in a dangerous situation! Closer, closer, closer… Denied! Time’s up for the room. Notice how Marin slides off the bed. She needs to keep her crotch covered up. For reasons! Awkward. I hope there’s not a lengthy separation between the two shy teens for the rest of summer vacation. If this doll head’s a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’!
Next time, My Dress-Up Darling has its season finale.
My Dress-Up Darling (Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru) streams on Crunchyroll, VRV, and Funimation in Japanese with English subtitles and English language dubbing.
