Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku | Episodes seven: Practice makes perfect.

Episode seven of Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku was a great episode. What made it worthwhile was that the episode was the embodiment of the phrase “practice makes perfect”.

Practice makes perfect.

Who was the latest person to feel and experience the Akebi-chan effect? Today it was Oshizu Hebimori. Their official encounter was unconventional to say the least. Akebi saw that Hebimori had a magazine that she too had bought (this magazine consisted primarily of music sheets). So Akebi made the assumption that Hebimori played an instrument. To which Hebimori lied saying she played guitar.

As we’re all aware, Akebi is someone who wants to experience everything, including the various talents of other students at her high school. So in true Akebi fashion, she asks Hebimori to play guitar for her. The problem is, Hebimori doesn’t actually know how to play. Catch 22.

Not wanting to let Akebi down, Hebimori begrudgingly begins her adventure of learning how to play guitar. For starters, I understand why Hebimori didn’t go out of her way to find Akebi and explain to her that she couldn’t actually play guitar and that she had lied to her. Maybe it was because she secretly wanted to learn how to play the guitar and was something she’s wanted to do for a long time, but needed something or someone to motivate her. I guess, Akebi asking to see her play guitar was enough to get Hebimori to learn how to play it.

Hebimori’s journey was one that I expected to be honest. When you encounter a challenge that seems to hard, most people tend to shy away from it or tend to avoid it altogether because they believe that they cannot overcome it. However, as Hebimori walked around her school campus and saw all her friends fiercely motivated to be the best in their respective clubs. That was enough to inspire Hebimori to keep pushing and to overcome a hurdle that she once thought was impassable. After all, practice makes perfect.

Episodes where we watch characters overcome various hurdles they face is always something I enjoy watching because it’s about the journey. There is no greater joy than being able to prove to yourself and to others that you can do it. I’m sure Hebimori wanted to prove to herself that she can learn and play guitar and I’m sure that was her biggest motivation.

I especially loved that at the end of the episode, Hebimori was able to play her guitar confidently infront of Akebi. Even if she didn’t think she was good enough because that was a fear Hebimori had to overcome. There is no better way to overcome that fear than performing infront of someone (Akebi) who is the most encouraging understanding and supportive character you’ll ever see in an anime.

The journey was something I enjoyed watching and I hope that more episodes will be like this one.