Aoba’s cuteness is weapons-grade, and can protect her from (almost) all harm.

One thing this episode tells me is that I just don’t know enough about 3D software in general to really judge what might have been wrong with Aoba’s NPCs. Exactly what can cause errors of these sorts, and why the software still permits the model to render and be exported in that state, these are things I don’t know. After a certain point, exploring too deeply into why software works the way it does makes my head spin. But still, Umiko is correct: at the very least small errors will make a program less efficient. However, they can also combine unexpectedly and sometimes unpredictably with other bits of code to cause bugs that break games entirely. It’s an important lesson: if you want to make a good product, you can’t let stuff like that slide.

I’m not sure exactly what the issue is with Umiko’s family name, Ahagon. I presume it’s some sort of language-based issue regarding either pronunciation or spelling, or both, but so far no one has managed to explain it to me. Still, it’s amusing to see her shoot Ko in the face just for saying her name.

Of course, despite her seemingly perpetual frown and her tendency to shoot at people who irritate her, Umiko really is a fairly nice person underneath it all. One wouldn’t really expect anything else in this office. She’s overcome by Aoba’s cuteness, and brings a “present” in order to apologize for being so harsh when she comes back later to thank Aoba for quickly fixing the errors. Of course, her taste in presents is… well… Let’s just say I can’t imagine most people would really know what to do when given a spent shotgun shell as a gift.

This leads us into an anime-original segment. In the manga, after giving the shell, she just stood around and talked Aoba’s ear off about her hobbies, and that was it. Here she succeeds in dragging Aoba along to her secret practice area on the roof of their building (or at least, I hope it’s their building). Ko kind of invites herself along just out of a free-spirited sense of fun which, despite her established pattern as a workaholic, still feels in-character for her. I’ve never personally done very much with Airsoft (paintball was more my thing when I was younger), but I would advise against trying to duplicate Umiko’s demonstration here. It’s not as easy as it looks. One thing they did do that I approve of, however, is wearing the masks and goggles. Always wear a mask when playing with this stuff. Even when alone: ricochets happen, and it takes very little to damage an eye.

After that we skip to the company health exam. I’ve also never been at a company that provided or required health exams for its employees, but hey, a physical is a physical. I have no idea why Aoba would be eager to have a barium meal, though… that just sounds all sorts of unpleasant. Also I’m am super-envious of those blood-pressure test machines they have. Any hospital I’ve ever gone to still uses the old armband thing that gets inflated by hand. This way seems much more convenient.

That trainee nurse needs to be handcuffed to someone more experienced for a few days until she can get used to actually doing her job with people. Right now she’s a danger to herself and others. …Ok, maybe that comes across a little harsh, but look at her! That girl is terrifying! I would not let someone like that near me while she’s holding a needle. I don’t blame Ko for her reaction, especially since she apparently was jabbed a bunch of times before the nurse found the vein. Ugh.

Waist measurement… that’s not a part of the average physical examination where I come from, but still, my advice to Yun is the same as to all those schoolgirls who panic the night before their school’s physical exam day: skipping meals for the day beforehand is not going to give you the drastic results you’re looking for. Your waist will not notably shrink. You will not lose those ten (or more) extra lbs you’re worried about. All it is is unhealthy. Really being in good shape requires a healthy, active lifestyle, like Hajime and Umiko both have.

Ko’s ordeal allows her and Rin to get in their requisite ship-tease for the episode, with Ko catching a nap on Rin’s lap. And Rin gets her chance to be embarrassed when the TV she’s watching shows a girl doing the same thing for the boy she likes. (un)Fortunately, Ko is asleep, so Rin doesn’t need to worry about her misunderstanding something. Or correctly understanding something, either. 😉

Once the examinations are over folks prepare to head out, and we get word of something interesting coming up in the near future: the company is going to bring in part-timers to help with testing/debugging the game. Given that the final scene is the regular phone conversation between Aoba and Nene, and ends with Nene wondering what it’s like to work for a company, I hope no one had to wait for the preview to figure out the key plot point for the next episode.

All in all, another amusing episode of New Game!. I can’t say there was any one thing that stood out to me in this episode: instead it felt like a fairly evenly packed, amusing, enjoyable experience. Which is just fine: this sort of series is designed for people to relax and enjoy themselves watching. Catch you all next week.

How did Hazuki get in there without anyone noticing? It’s like she’s a slacker-ninja.