Overview
- The relationship between Shin and Lu demonstrates both conflict and camaraderie, highlighting their contrasting viewpoints while they still support one another.
- Lu’s perilous family background threatens her safety, but with Taro’s assistance, she finds protection and a fresh start away from her mob ties.
- Episode 7 serves as a crucial milestone in the growing bond between Shin and Lu, fostering deeper trust and empathy.
Navigation Links
- Shin and Lu’s Initial Encounter in Episode 2
- Frequent Conflicts Between Shin and Lu
- Episode 7 Marks a Turning Point in Their Relationship
Sakamoto Days features a retired assassin, Taro Sakamoto, who employs two ex-criminals at his convenience store. Initially, he hires Shin Asakura, a clairvoyant assassin and one of his previous partners, and later brings on Lu Shaotang, a former mafia heiress proficient in drunken fist kung fu. A more fitting title for this series might be Taro’s Convenience Store for Rehabilitating Wayward Killers.
Shin and Lu’s relationship is intricate; they hold contrasting views towards their work that often lead to spirited debates. Despite their disagreements, they are there for one another in critical moments. In episode 4, titled “Hard Boiled, ”Lu saves Shin from a brutal fate at the hands of a chainsaw-wielding adversary. The seventh episode, “Jurassic Bastard, ”offers significant insights into their personalities, which could enhance their friendship moving forward. What implications does this newfound understanding hold for their future together?
Shin and Lu’s Initial Encounter in Episode 2
Lu makes a dramatic entrance in episode 2, “Vs. Son Hee and Bacho, ”as she drops down from a building onto Shin and Taro while they are shopping at a local Chinatown market for meat buns. This unexpected encounter ignites a series of conflicts involving mafia connections and buried treasures.
Lu possesses a key to her family’s secret safe, filled with treasures coveted by many, including the Danshokai crime family. After the Danshokai murdered her parents, Lu becomes the last member of her family they need to eliminate. Although their initial assassination attempt fails, the clan’s leader, Wang, dispatches two ruthless assassins to ensure she doesn’t escape.
Taro’s Employment of Shin and Lu at His Convenience Store
Assuming the danger had passed for Lu, one would think she could part ways from her new companions. However, Taro proposes a solution: he offers protection to Lu in exchange for her making fresh meat buns for his family once they ensure her safety. Lu gratefully accepts this offer just as the new assassins, Son Hee and Bacho, ambush the trio shortly thereafter.
During the confrontation, the dynamic between Lu and Shin is further explored. Despite barely knowing each other, they engage in candid discussions. Notably, when Lu impulsively charges at Son Hee, Taro restrains her and Shin chimes in, “Moron. You can’t let them get under your skin so easily.”
Ultimately, the trio manages to overcome Son Hee and Bacho, leading Wang to retract the hit on Lu, allowing her access to her family’s hidden treasures. This victory marks a new chapter in her life, enabling her to leave her criminal past behind and start working at Sakamoto’s Convenience Store preparing meat buns. When Shin questions her need to work given her family’s wealth, she asserts, “I can’t just sell off my family heirlooms like that. You dumbass.” Shin is understandably offended, leading to further playful banter between them.
Frequent Conflicts Between Shin and Lu
Shin and Lu’s contrasting personalities create a classic odd couple dynamic. Shin embodies a Type-A personality, valuing structure and discipline, while Lu embraces spontaneity and impulsivity. To learn from each other, they must first address their fundamental differences.
The tension often escalates at work. Shin’s need for order clashes with Lu’s chaotic behavior, whether it’s her repeatedly showing up late, recklessly restocking shelves, or hijacking his cleaning apron. Conversely, Lu finds Shin’s meticulous approach exasperating, stating that, “I can never relax around you because I never know if you’re reading my mind or not.”
Despite their frequent squabbles, they look out for one another. For instance, Shin protected Lu from the Danshokai clan, even when they barely knew each other. Lu’s unique drunken fist martial arts became a life-saving distraction in “Hard Boiled, ” sparing Shin from an untimely demise.
Episode 7 Marks a Turning Point in Their Relationship
In episode 7, “Jurassic Bastard, ”a significant miscommunication regarding Shin’s clairvoyance creates tension between him and Lu. While managing the store sans the support of Taro and the others, an argument arises, culminating in Shin inadvertently invading Lu’s privacy by reading her thoughts, which prompts a passive-aggressive exchange that turns into a meat bun throwdown.
Later, when Lu articulates her inability to relax in Shin’s presence, his reaction shows that her words resonate deeply, prompting him to leave the store. This moment marks a shift for both characters, especially as Lu observes Shin’s unusually despondent demeanor.
Things take a turn when men in hazmat suits enter the store looking for Shin. Mistakenly sporting Shin’s apron, Lu is abducted without hesitation. While in their custody, she overhears them deriding Shin, claiming, “Nobody would wanna hang out with a creep like that… Sounds like a sad and lonely existence to me!”
Refusing to accept such slights against her new friend, Lu fiercely kicks one of the captors, showcasing her resolve and defending Shin. This moment is pivotal for Lu as she recognizes that Shin’s ability to read minds is involuntary—he deserves a fulfilling life, just like anyone else. This mutual understanding enhances the trust and teamwork between them, even if a romantic relationship seems unlikely.
Explore the evolving dynamics of Shin and Lu’s relationship in this compelling narrative, as they navigate dangers and grow closer despite their differences.
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