KBTBB GREE: Mad Hatter Route Summary and Commentary - Episode 7

Title: 『差し出された勇気』(Outstretched Courage)

Summary:

                This episode picks back up from the end of Special Story 2, where the MC has just asked Rion to be her friend. He doesn’t make much of a response, but he basically says he is not ready. The MC feels bad and that she has been rude because she is just the housekeeper. She goes about cleaning and knowing that there is an auction that night, she calls the kitchen to have them prepare dinner at the right time. The Mad Hatter finally appears, but there is clearly a lot of tension in the air. They speak very little, and he keeps fidgeting with his clothing and the tablecloth as the MC serves him milk tea. Not too long after, they hear someone knocking on the door. Kisaki is there and tells them to come to the auction early.

                In the next scene, the Black Auction is starting. It all starts normally with the Mad Hatter’s typical over-the-top presentation style. The auctions continue just fine until they get to the last item when someone’s cell phone goes off. This disrupts his flow somehow, and he freezes up. Sensing that he can’t continue, the MC goes onto the stage with the last item and fills in for the Mad Hatter. Finally, by the end of the bidding, the Mad Hatter comes back to his senses and wraps up the event. Off stage, the Mad Hatter takes her hand with both of his and gratefully thanks her for helping him. The MC notes how she can feel his warmth through his gloves. The peanut gallery VIP members come backstage and see them holding hands and staring at each other, and of course, they begin teasing them (Kisaki even asks if they’re a “cosplay couple” – referring to their Alice and Mad Hatter costumes). The MC and the Mad Hatter did not realize that they were still holding hands so they quickly separate. The MC thinks that she can see a pink tinge on the Mad Hatter’s cheeks despite the white makeup.

                Back in the tea room, the two are quietly eating dinner. The Mad Hatter hasn’t said a word since the VIPs teased him earlier. The MC giggles when she notices that he’s pushing green peppers and peas to the edge of his plate. She finds it cute that he doesn’t like bitter vegetables – and also a little childlike. At the end of the episode, the Mad Hatter says that Rion told him to tell the MC that they could be friends. He seems completely honest, and she is overjoyed.

My commentary:

                This was a really cute chapter! The MC really steps up to help him out, but I’m still confused as to why he froze up in the first place because they really never explain it. You can tell by the end of the chapter that she has started to break down some barriers. The fact that he accepted her proposal of friendship shows that he can finally trust someone.

Songs to listen to while reading this chapter:

“You Say” by Vertical Horizon

“Let Love In” by Goo Goo Dolls
"Be My Escape" by Relient K