The fact that Dress-Up Darling did not make Marin and Wakana’s “love hotel,” um, encounter into a huge deal earns my admiration and admiration. Even this week, there isn’t a single mention of it! What happened happened, but it didn’t affect the reality that these two youngsters truly adore spending time with each other, regardless of what they’re doing…or not doing… at the time.
Wakana is summoned to Marin’s home by an ominous “HELP ME” text message, which she receives as she is attempting to complete her summer homework. He discovers and is astonished to discover, that she works as an amateur magazine model, and we learn that she has been doing more shoots in the hopes of one day being able to acquire a DSLR.
This season finale of DUD, which I’m hoping is only the first of at least two seasons, is a satisfying conclusion. Marin and Wakana are the focus of every episode, with the costume components that have dominated so many previous episodes fading to the background as they simply hang out and get to know one another better.
For example, Wakana is apprehensive about the terrifying movie Marin wants to see, but she ends up being charmed and inspired by the movie’s costume and makeup effects, whilst Marin is the truly terrified one. I noticed that neither of them attempted to carry on the conversation that had begun in that love hotel bed; plainly, it isn’t their speed at the moment!
When Marin finds she’s forgotten her math homework at school, she and her friend make an unexpected trip there to get it, and both agree that the deserted, dark school is particularly eerie after seeing that movie together. Then Marin notices the sun-dappled pool and decides to take a dip, but she ends up falling in and sinking to the bottom of the pool completely.
The physical specifics of how Wakana drags Marin out of the water are avoided in favor of Wakana discovering yet another interesting fact about Marin: despite her love of the beach and water in general, she can’t swim for her life! It’s the same as him liking Hina dolls even though he’s not the best at making them; you don’t have to be good at something—or even know how to do it—to appreciate it, according to Wakana.
Furthermore, you do not have to be actively hunting for a partner or girlfriend before you meet someone and become friends. While cosplay brought these two together, it is their effortless chemistry and genuine kindness and beauty that have kept them together (and will keep them together in the future). In the end, these are two outstanding young people who deserve to be together.
And, while it’s enjoyable to sit back and watch them hang out at her house, I’m relieved that Marin completes all of her homework so that they may attend a music festival together. Marin discovers that this is the first time Wakana has attended a fireworks display; he is accustomed to watching fireworks from a distance outside his window while he is at home. She also discovers that he is a nape guy, and as a result, she makes an effort to have her nape in his line of vision at all times.
The fact that they have never made an official declaration or declared themselves to be a couple is a strong indication that such formalities are no longer relevant. The fact that Marin and Wakana just work together is all that matters, and no matter what they’re up to, whether it be cosplay or a festival, it’s always a pleasure to watch them engage with one another.
It’s fortunate that Wakana’s first experience with fireworks at such close range, where he could see, hear, smell, and feel them, occurred with Marin by his side, since it was an unforgettable experience. Without her holding his hand and widening his once-dusty horizons, he wouldn’t even be there, let alone in this place.
When he catches sight of Marin’s face, which is intermittently illuminated by pink, purple, blue, and green pyrotechnics, it’s as if the magic cast by the fireworks is heightened by the enchantment cast by Marin. They then look at each other for what seems like an eternity, their gaze locked on each other… Marin then sticks out her tongue, which has turned blue due to the shaved ice she has consumed. A delightful parody of the “eyes meeting” cliché, and it is 100 percent, Kitagawa Marin!
Even though Marin has a large and diverse wardrobe, she is not accustomed to wearing her geta, and she ends up with serious sandal burn after spending the entire night in them. Wakana suggests that they go to the shop and get some bandages, but Marin says that’s too much work and that he can just carry her on his back.
During a lay-in on his back, Marin laments how they were having so much fun, but that when things like sandal burn happen, “things start to feel sorta meh.'” Wakana does not feel this way, and I do not believe she does as well! Sandal burn is a pain, but she gets to be carried about by the guy she adores as a result of it. They have even committed to not just attending the festival the next year, but also to attend as many other festivals in the Kanto region as they possibly can.
After the credits have rolled, we are treated to one more beautiful and personal scene. Although the summer is drawing to a close, their relationship is gaining momentum. Marin is frightened after viewing the sequel to the terrifying movie that they had previously seen. The first one was alright because he was right beside her, but she is too terrified to watch the second one alone, so she asks Wakana if he would mind simply talking to her for a little bit.
The woman even tells him that he can just put the speakerphone on while he falls asleep, and that is exactly what occurs. We all know that Wakana speaks things he normally wouldn’t say when he’s about to fall asleep. However, even though there was an opportunity for him to say something else, he ends up simply remarking that the year was a lot of fun, with the suggestion that it was fun because Marin was a participant.
Afterward, all Marin can hear is his soft breathing, which is when she chooses to express her feelings by saying “I love you” out loud. By then, he’s fallen asleep and is unable to hear her, which is presumably why she got the guts to say it in the first place. Although this is fantastic practice for what I hope to see in a second season: these two continue to grow closer not only as cosplay colleagues but also as an officially recognized relationship. The path has been laid out perfectly and neatly.