I'm a little iffy about the leads. They're not bad, but Saku and Mihoshi just don't really interest me all that much. It feels like they're missing something, some strange chemistry that makes other couples work. Hime is also a little too tempting a target for the plot gods to mess about with in a comedic and yet schadenfreude manner; I've known her for less than an episode and already I feel sorry for her.

Still, I admit that this is entirely subjective, especially considering the existence in general of shipping wars. Even as we speak, the Saku/Mihoshi and Saku/Hime shippers have girded for battle, with the Saku/Fumie faction patiently waiting their turn, or so it may seem.

The comedy is amusing enough for my low tastes. I have a weakness for sudden chibification of the characters as they go through some absurd skit, and Mihoshi's antics lead to plenty of this. Club president Roma's emulation of Excel Saga's Hyatt (what with the blood and the coughing and the dying repeatedly) would be disturbing in a more Serious show, but provides the necessary predictable humour: whenever there is anything remotely resembling physical exertion, Roma loses about half a litre of blood and keels over. Apparently life-threatening conditions are great for defusing tension.

So far I'm watching this mainly for Sayo Yarai, who appears to be there entirely to be kind and a great listener. I don't know if I'm drawn to her because of something I like, or because there is nothing I dislike. Given that I find the other characters at least tolerable, I suspect it is the former, but I cannot quite pin down what. (Apart, of course, from the "kind and a great listener" thing.)

Oh, and if you're wondering about the symbols next to the names in the credits (both opening and closing), they're astrological signs for the Western Zodiac. From the small sampling I've checked, they're accurate as well.

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