WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 8 of TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Nasa Yuzaki was born with a name suggesting a bright future, where he may take off like a rocket and reach for the stars. He was on the verge of greatness when the mysterious Tsukasa saved his life in a traffic accident, and now they're married. The future has never looked brighter, but Nasa will have to fight for it.
Already, Nasa has had to deal with Tsukasa's doubtful foster sister Chitose. Now he's ready to introduce his bride to his parents, who live over in Nara Prefecture. He's eager to make his marriage blast off to victory, but there's no guarantee of what the future (or even the past) will hold.
Welcome To The Family
After a somewhat bumpy road to Nara, including another clash with Chitose back in Kyoto, Nasa and Tsukasa arrive at last at the Yuzaki household. It's already evening, but the Yuzakis are restless, and Nasa spots his mother Kanoka peeking at the newlyweds through the front doorway. Kanoka can hardly contain her excitement at meeting her new daughter-in-law. She's not handling things great, but she means well, trying her guests comfortable. Tsukasa next meets her father-in-law, the nervous Enishi, who works as an archeologist. Enishi and Kanoka quickly send their son to the bath so they can have alone time with Tsukasa -- who knows what they talked about.
That night, Nasa is in over his head. He's already endured awkward nights sleeping with Tsukasa. Now, he and Tsukasa are literally on the same level, since they have side-by-side futons in the guest bedroom. Nasa's parents are in the next room, and the walls are hardly soundproof. Tsukasa thinks nothing of this, but she's flattered when Nasa invites her to rest on his arm for comfort. Tsukasa enjoys herself, but Nasa hardly gets a wink and has to put up with a numb arm. Early the next morning, Tsukasa has a friendly chat with her father-in-law in his study, and she even reads an antique love letter that's incomprehensible to anyone else. Now it's time for a day trip.
The Past & Future
Nara Prefecture has almost as many historic sites as Kyoto itself, and Nasa has a wonderful time visiting the Buddha statues, the ancient pagodas and temples. He feels like a regular tourist, but Tsukasa starts making oddly nostalgic comments about the centuries-old sights before her. She lays eyes on the vast grassy expanse where Japan's ancient capital used to be and comments wistfully how this used to be a center of humanity, but no one is around to remember it. She also remarks on Japanese princes and historical figures from previous centuries, acting as though she had been there herself. That, and her ease of reading that ancient love letter, suggest that Tsukasa may be much more than she seems.
Tsukasa isn't entirely lost in the past, and both she are Tsukasa are looking forward to their future together more than ever. However, the present is as challenging as it's ever been -- when Nasa and Tsukasa return home, they only find smoking ruins waiting for them. Nasa's apartment burned down in a freak accident, it would seem, and now the newlywed Yuzakis will have to rebuild everything. Fortunately, Nasa had taken precautions for this, setting the stage for phase two of the marriage that's blasting off for the stars.
