I really hated the opening scene before the OP in this week’s episode. I hated what happened to Ririchiyo, I hated the family and I’m absolutely disgusted with her father. Which is to say, it’s a great scene for its ability to invoke emotions. The situation is pretty common, a girl in a rich family is overprotected for one reason or another and wishes to be treated normally. What really struck me (pun not intended) however, was the father saying that Ririchiyo was selfish for not seeing how advantaged she is, and not understanding her sister’s pain of constantly being compared to her. The short dialogue shows a lot, both for how the father cares more for the sister and his sheer ignorance of Ririchiyo as anything but a family trophy.

The maids of the Shirakiin household always treated Ririchiyo with fake respect and empty smiles, with absolutely no sincerity behind them. Considering that was the majority of contact Ririchiyo had with humans, it’s no surprise that she has a deep distrust in people. Even outside of the household, many of the people who interact with her only do so for her family’s fame and money.
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