And Kero isn't human; I figure that'd eliminate a lot of the conflict there. Syaoran had problems sleeping in the same room, but for Kero, bathing with Sakura is like any normal person changing clothes in front of their pets. Ecchi stuff is just irrelevant.

I wished Akane was more than a one-episode character.

Personally, I've never liked Kero-chan's character either, and probably never will. For being a creature that's been alive for what, centuries? (I honestly don't remember, if the manga/anime ever even said it, how long ago Kero was created) he seems really immature and has a really shallow learning curve. If I listed every character in the series in order of amusement factor, he'd probably be third to last- with "Random Student A" and "Random Student B" right below him. The voice actress they got for his chibi-form isn't bad, in fact she's great for being able to pull off some of the things she does, but the character itself does nothing but annoy me (that indoor pool episode much much much much later in the series is one of the exceptions; he was hilarious [CREAM SODA!!!]). Honestly though, I couldn't really think of any way that this series could've been altered to make it any better though. Kero-chan's character seems necessary to me, in exactly the way he acts and develops (or doesn't develop) it just feels that it's exactly how the anime needs him to be.

As for the gender confusion, Kero-chan is male in all the stereotypical adolescent ways except any sort of gender-based embarrassment (I think being called -chan annoyed him at first, but only because it isn't "cool"), but here's another way to think about it. If Clow created Sakura's first wand (which he did), what makes you think that when designing Kero-chan and *blank*, he didn't design them specifically for Sakura's sake as well? Kero as the younger brother type, and we all know the rest- in which case Clow could've easily made Kero-chan incapable of even noticing a difference between seeing Sakura doing everyday things versus seeing Sakura take a bath- it's a little brother thing. I dunno, just some food for thought I guess.

~Lys

Personally, I'm not a conflict person either, but for some reason conflict in fiction is incredibly entertaining for me. So many characters in anime get along all happy-happy and love-love that it's a pleasant surprise when someone breaks rank and cranks up the tension meter; at least for more than the obligatory "fight and make up" episode…which, uh, this happens to be.

"I mean, I’ve been referring to him as male for convenience and because it seems to be the accepted thing to do, but he has taken a bath with Sakura before. I believe that I may be overthinking this."
Somehow I don't think it's seen as much more than taking a bath with a rubber ducky, if only because Kero hasn't shown any signs of sexuality, pure and unpure (hi, Moetan, what's up?). Plus, y'know, all water in anime is completely opaque so there's not anything to worry about in terms of privacy.

OK, that's the last time I reverse-engineer knowledge from dirtier shows onto CCS.

I don't really reference Kero's gender much but I'd consider him male, if only because of his true form. The only counterpoint I could think of would be any possible evidence Suppi would bring to the table, because, y'know, This Is CLAAAAAAAMP and everyone needs a opposite-gender counterpart.

Or yaoi relationships.

Sakura’s non-school backpack, which has a motif of an egg
Not thinking of Shugo Chara not thinking of Shugo Chara ah God the pink why doesn't it suck as predicted by my predefined stereotypes (it's good, but to be honest I'd put it the lowest of the three 'pure' magical girl shows I've seen so far).

That said, how much do I have to pay to have somebody do more Kanon and CCS crossreferencing? Sakura as Miss Uguu, Tomoyo as Nayuki, Meilin as Makoto, Yuiichikito…and the rest of the male cast can fight for Mai's spot.