We continue on with Kanbaru’s Rainy Devil problem, gaining a bit of background into how the “shit went down”. Basically, Kanbaru got the “monkey’s paw” from her mom. Helluva Christmas present. She used it to wish to be a fast runner, but upon seeing the consequences (fives classmates getting attacked), she decided not to ever use it again- not even to help Senjougahara with her weight crab problem. How selfish. Basically, it’s standard Faustian fare- 3 wishes, fulfilled in malevolent ways, with malevolent consequences, then your soul is taken and you become a devil. With this, Kanbaru decides this thing is no good. Instead she focused on running, making sure to never run with someone faster than her (I think because then the monkey paw injured another person to make her faster?). And she lived life happily as a basketball star, befriended by Senjougahara, the track ace, never racing her, but happy just being around around her. I love lesbians.
So! Life is peaching keen…until someone tries to steal her girl- namely, Araragi, who isn’t really trying to steal anything, but he’s a dude, and he’s chillin’ with Kanbaru’s chick. And….the monkey paw comes out! (along with Kanbaru- insert better gay joke here). So, Araragi takes Kanbaru to Ooshino (Mr. Sketchy) to figure out how to help her. While they’re there though, some interesting things come out. Basically, the rainy devil doesn’t just grant a wish, but grants the wish lying under the surface. Kanbaru didn’t just want to be faster than her classmates for their attention- she wanted to get revenge on them for saying bad things about her. And Araragi’s attack? She totally meant for it to happen. Ouch.
After that revelation, we get a far more interesting (in my opinion) scene of Araragi letting the little vampire girl that Ooshino keeps lying around like a doll neck on him. In a very suggestive position (he’s shirtless, woo!). With the way he tells her “that’s enough” it seems like this is a common occurence, too. After the meal, Ooshino chats with Araragi alone. It seems that Araragi gains power by giving vampire girl (she has a name now-Shinobu) his blood. How you can gain power by giving away blood, I have no clue, but whatever works. Seems he gave her extra this time because he’s gotta “power up” for the fight with the rainy devil. See, if the rainy devil can’t fulfill Lesbo’s wish (to kill Araragi), the contract is moot, and things go back to how they should be. Great, so an ex-vampire just has to beat up a devil-possessed chick with a mean left hook.
ENTER KICK-ASS ANIMATION. Not that I don’t appreciate the artsy, modern stuff they have going on, but this is what you use an amazing animation budget for. The fight between Araragi and Lesbo is just…fun to watch. As long as you don’t mind the crunch of bones (it’s okay, he has a healing factor- Wolverine lived through having his whole metal skeleton ripped out, I’m sure Araragi will be fine). Er…well, maybe it won’t all be alright. Araragi is getting his ass handed to him on a silver platter. Then Senjougahara shows up. Looks like Oshino called her over, the “clever bastard”. Senjougahara scolds Araragi for beating up his body so much, recognizing that he’d do it even if he weren’t in an immortal body, and says outright that if he dies, she’ll kill Kanbaru. Nearly-straddling Kanbaru, Senjougahara greets her, and Kanbaru is able to confess, Senjougahara turning her down, but asking her to stay by her side (selfish, ain’t she?). The rainy devil has lost.
Cut to another day: Kanbaru comes to pick up Araragi at Senjougahara’s request. Kanbaru has quit the basketball team, and the devil is gone but her arm still isn’t back to normal (don’t worry, she can still swing Araragi’s belongings around dangerously). In the end, everyone is happy and healthy. Which is great, because we’ve got another episode coming, and this time it isn’t crabs or snails. It’s snakes. eeruuughhh. Looking foward to it!
Rating: 
