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Kaiju No. 8 – Season 2 'Hoshina's Day Off' Recap & Review
Hoshina's Day Off
The special episode of Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 begins with Reno tending to a sick Hibino, who's suffering from a stomach ache due to overeating.
With some unexpected free time on his hands, Reno wonders what to do on his day off when he runs into Vice Captain Hoshina, who's also off-duty. Hoshina vaguely hints at having something planned and disappears soon after.
Just then, Iharu shows up. While Iharu suspects that Hoshina is headed for a date, Reno bets he's doing extra training to get stronger. They decide to follow Hoshina to find out who's right.
Hoshina goes on to buy premium dried squid for Mina, briefly runs into Kikoru and her friends, and drops them off at a restaurant. He also gives Haruichi and Aoi tips on where to buy cheap camping gear.
Meanwhile, Iharu and Reno continue tailing him, and eventually all the Third Division new recruits gather together. They spot Hoshina delivering a huge metal box—one that Haruichi immediately recognizes as the type used to store defense gear.
Jumping to conclusions, the recruits suspect that Hoshina might be selling their defense gear on the black market. United in their suspicion, they follow him further, until Hoshina finally catches them.
It turns out he's been heading to a disaster prevention center owned by a retired Defense Force officer, the same man he had met earlier in the episode. Hoshina was actually donating his old gear to the center, not selling it.
The rest of the day is spent at the center, playing with kindergarten children who've come to visit. Just as things settle down, a new kaiju alert sounds.
Without hesitation, the entire group, including Hoshina who had been wearing his suit underneath his casual clothes, marches off to face the threat, closing the episode on a high note.
The Episode Review
Hoshina's Day Off, a special episode before the new season kicks off, leans into Kaiju No. 8's more heartwarming and comedic side, delivering an adorable and lighthearted story. Though it's an extra episode meant to spotlight the supporting cast, it's still very enjoyable, even if it's a little predictable.
There's also a clear underlying message here about natural disasters in Japan, with kaiju serving as fictional metaphors. The episode subtly expresses a hope for a future where there are no more 'kaiju' (disasters) to fight, as mentioned by the center's owner.
Overall, it's a quirky and thoughtful little detour, one last breath of fresh air before the real battle begins!
