Episode 4

Episode 4 is the fourth episode of Haime! Sweet and Sour Boys. It was released September 29th, 2023.

*(SPOILERS FOR H!SSB BELOW!)*

## Synopsis

When Kasaki is kidnapped, it's up to Tuzi's new psychic powers and Gasu's strength to rescue him.

## Full Plot

The episode opens to "somewhere in China," several years before the series' start. A silhouette of a young boy and one of his father's overlook a pond from a gazebo, speaking in Mandarin. The boy asks about a secret, but is deemed unworthy to hear it.

It's revealed that these are the silhouettes of Tuzi and his father, Sydney. After a misunderstanding regarding an urn and bad prescription contacts, Sydney reveals the family secret to Tuzi; that he has psychic powers, courtesy of the Australian side of the family. He proves this by having him look into a "magical didgeridoo" that projects the image in someone's mind into the big end.

Tuzi then receives a call from a woman named Megido, who's kidnapped Kasaki. Sydney implores his son to use his psychic powers to triangulate the location of Kasaki's kidnapper. Tuzi does so (and presumably acquires her name as well) and contacts Gasu, and the two head off.

Gasu gets incredibly upset that a woman that evil would kidnap Kasaki, but Tuzi reminds him that if he gets too upset, he won't be of any help to Kasaki. Gasu apologizes, and regains his composure.

Meanwhile, at the spot Megido's keeping Kasaki at, she has him wedged between her breasts, and tells him to "cry for her," before detailing her disturbing plans for him, involving cutting his skin off of his body and wearing it as a coat. She then taunts him, offering to strip for him, letting him see her "tibblies." Kasaki briefly considers taking her up on this, but then reaffirms his belief that Tuzi and Gasu will save him. Megido tells him he could've avoided his predicament if he just told her "the secret."

Then, Tuzi and Gasu bust into the room, foiling her plans and freeing a naked Kasaki from his ropes. Gasu then blasts Megido with his "diamond brain stare," then holds a flower crown-wearing Kasaki in his arms, saying that "he is safe."

## Major Developments

* Tuzi's father is introduced.
* Tuzi is revealed to have psychic powers.
* Megido is introduced.
* Gasu's "diamond brain stare" is introduced.

## References

* The visual effects used for flashbacks seems to resemble those used for .hack//SIGN.
* A shot of Gasu seems to have been traced from a memetic frame of Joey Wheeler from Yu-Gi-Oh.
* Kasaki being freed is loosely inspired by a similar scene from NNSG.
* Megido's defeat was traced from a frame of One Piece where Miss Doublefinger was defeated.

## Continuity

* Flashbacks from episodes 1 and 2 are shown when Sydney's proving Tuzi's psychic ability.

## Trivia

* This was the last episode released in September 2023, the series' premiere month.
* This was the first episode to be shorter than the episode before it, breaking a trend where the first three episodes were all longer than the previous ones.
* This is the first episode where Gasu is more of a supporting character than main.
* This is the final episode to be entirely animated in the old art style, as a new art style was introduced in the last couple of minutes of episode 5, and appears it will be used for following episodes.