Episode 18 - Asunaro Park
Following another painful disciplinary incident, Kuroko is complaining about the Dormitory Supervisor as she and Mikoto sit in Joseph's. In the middle of their conversation, however, they are startled to see the very woman in question walking past outside. Curious, they surreptitiously follow her all the way to a daycare for orphaned children called Asunaro Park. It turns out the she is volunteering as an assistant there, together with a young male teacher named Daigo.
Watching curiously, Mikoto and Kuroko then notice that Uiharu and Saten are there as well. It seems Daigo is their homeroom teacher from Sakugawa Middle School, and they've been assigned to assist him as punishment for poor test results. After they compare notes and carry out some more covert observation, the girls quickly realize that the Dormitory Supervisor has a crush on Daigo. Impressed by her nemesis's newly-revealed Hidden Depths, Kuroko vows to help her win him over.
When the Supervisor returns to the dormitory that evening, she finds Kuroko and Misaka waiting for her. Kuroko, getting right to the point, proposes to help her win Daigo's affection. She is suspicious, but Kuroko ruthlessly points out that she isn't getting any younger and shouldn't let this chance go by. To Mikoto's surprise and Kuroko's satisfaction, the Supervisor agrees to let them help her.
On her next trip to Asunaro Park, Kuroko and Mikoto join as volunteers along with Saten and Uiharu. Kuroko puts into motion an elaborate strategy to bring Daigo and the Supervisor closer together. With "a plan for every contingency", as she puts it, the scheme appears to be a resounding success. Even the one thing Kuroko didn't anticipate — an earthquake — works to their advantage, allowing the Dormitory Supervisor to impress Daigo even more. He tells her that he greatly respects her, which sends her over the moon.
After they return to the dormitory that evening, Daigo phones the Supervisor and asks to see her. They meet up at a restaurant, where he tells her he has an important question for her. He asks her, hypothetically, what she would think about marrying someone much younger — such as him, for example. She stammers that she doesn't think age matters as long as there is love and respect between them. He seems reassured and thanks her for her advice, saying that he's made a decision.
The next day, the Domitory Supervisor dresses up elegantly before heading to Asunaro Park. Daigo comes over to her and thanks her again for her advice, then tells her that he's decided to propose to his girlfriend — the nursery school's head teacher. After a pregnant pause, she tells him that she wishes them all the best.
Kuroko and the others are regretful that things didn't work out... even more so when the Dormitory Supervisor returns to her usual duties with renewed determination.
Tropes
- A Day in the Limelight: Another instance on the heels of the previous episode, this one focusing on the Tokiwadai Dormitory Supervisor.
- Blatant Lies: The Dormitory Supervisor tells Daigo, with seeming sincerety, that she's never so much as scolded her students.
- Book Ends: The episode starts and ends with the Dormitory Supervisor Neck Snapping Kuroko.
- Call-Back: The restaurant where the Supervisor meets Daigo is Jona Garden.
- Cannot Spit It Out: The Supervisor is unable to tell Daigo her true feelings, which is one reason Kuroko decides to help her.
- The Glasses Gotta Go: Without her usual severe glasses, the Supervisor looks good.
- Hidden Heart of Gold: The dreaded and stone-cold Tokiwadai Dormitory Supervisor volunteers at a school for orphaned children, and dotes on them very sweetly.
- Innocently Insensitive: Diago is quite oblivious to the fact that he's breaking the Supervisor's heart.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: The Supervisor seems to take this attitude at the end, at least outwardly.
- Likes Older Women: Daigo admits this, which the Supervisor takes as a positive sign. It turns out he has someone quite a bit older than her in mind.
- Old Maid: Kuroko basically calls the Dormitory Supervisor this as she tries to persuade her to accept their help. Mikoto clearly thinks Kuroko is Bullying a Dragon, but to her surprise, the appeal works.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: The Dormitory Supervisor is dressed up very nicely during the dénoument.
- The Stinger: The post-credits scene shows the Dormitory Supervisor having returned to her normal behaviour.
- Unspoken Plan Guarantee: Kuroko's plan actually works very well, and smoothly handles a number of curve balls. It doesn't manage to get the two together romantically, but only due to factors beyond their control.
