My deer friend Nokotan Episode 7 premiered last week, and the randomness of the show is still alive. From fashion shows featuring deer to growing antlers to scenes that made a doujinshi artist smile, this show gives no matter who takes it on.

The suffering of a president

Does anime reflect life or does life reflect anime? I would say they are one and the same. We may not be able to travel to distant worlds. However, if the most exotic thing you’ve ever seen is the concrete jungle, you might feel like you’re in another world when you enter a place like Tierra del Fuego.

Ecchi shows seem unbelievable to you? I’m sorry to break it to you, but such acts are commonplace. People date and have fun with their step-siblings all the time. Why is this important here? Both life and anime reveal an undeniable truth: if you’re blonde, display criminal tendencies, speak loudly, surround yourself with idiots, and serve as president, you’re going to have a hard time. Because you’ll be tricked into believing that all ideas are good ideas.

And that’s exactly the predicament Koshitan finds herself in as the president of the Deer Club. When another edition of the world-famous Shikacolle is about to take place, Nokotan wants to join in. But to do so, she needs Koshitan, and although Koshitan is easily persuaded and tries her best, the effort is far beyond her capabilities, and so they fail. So what does a club president do when she needs a win to raise more money? She follows Mayonaka Punch’s example and opens a MyTube channel! But again, anime and real life are one and the same. Because in both cases, the odds aren’t in Koshitan’s favor when you’re trying to become a rich streamer. And they certainly weren’t in Koshitan’s favor.

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As a human, I find no comfort in most things. That doesn’t mean my life is bad; it’s just not up to par. My accomplishments, romantic love, and successes don’t mean much to me; they bring no comfort. What did bring me comfort was watching Nokotan’s antlers grow and wiggle during the Deer Club’s live stream in My deer friend Nokotan Episode 7. Why? Because I know that somewhere in Japan, a Pixiv artist saw those antlers flapping around in that club room and immediately started drawing wonders. Aside from the things that disappoint my mother, the more I think about it, the more I realize that Koshitan has a hard life.

Think about it. Nokotan can make things appear at will, she can take direct hits from a minigun, and she can communicate with deer. All of these things bring in money, but Koshitan has to struggle to provide basic needs for her club – a truly miserable life if I’ve ever seen one. Even when Koshitan takes the initiative to fix things, like when she tries to cut off Nokotan’s antlers, it’s a pointless endeavor. She never really gets anything done.

My Deer Friend Nokotan, Episode 7: An Introduction to Hospitality

If I asked you to describe hospitality, do you think you would get it right? Do you think your approach would be received positively by ten out of ten people? If your answer is yes, congratulations. You don’t understand hospitality. This is the predicament that Yoshiharu Tsubemeya finds himself in. He prides himself on his art of hospitality, but his confidence is torn apart by Nokotan like a deer in Nara tears apart a deer biscuit. But this becomes a teachable moment, both for him and for us as an audience. Ultimately, if you’re trying to reach someone and your approach fails, don’t double down; try a different approach.

Next week we’ll be two-thirds of the way through this show. Two months have flown by and it reminds me that I’m getting old; my golden days are behind me and they were always grey. But the thing I’ve been thinking about the most still remains a vague abstraction in my mind. “Why aren’t humans deer?” Still, I wonder if this show will ever tell us why.

Screenshots via Crunchyroll
© Oshioshio, Kodansha / Hino Minami High School Deer Club