In the last episode, the team Anya failed to get a Stella Star in the dodgeball match. In this episode, it focuses on the topic of Anya getting a Stella Star again. The question is, will she fail again? The beginning shows that she has a failing grade on all her examinations or homework. Loid tries to help her with her studies, but it does not seem to work. He then has to find another strategy to help her get eight Stella given the time limit that he has. That means he has to find her strength, which is where Anya’s journey of discovering the purpose of her ability begins.
Loid tries to figure out what she is good at instead of just focusing on her academic areas. He lets her try out everything from drawing to playing music to playing sports. Even Yor steps in and lets her try out jumping over the jumping rope. Anya tries all that, but she fails. Loid does not seem too hopeful about the outcome, which is not a surprise. His feelings toward her abilities still remain the same, along with his mission, as in previous episodes have shown. He still does not feel comfortable depending on others to get the job done.
The next day, he brings her to the hospital to do volunteer work. It is a way to gain another Stella. Loid hopes Anya will gain another Stella for doing this kind of work within a short amount of time. He also hopes he will find her strength to make things easier for him to find a way to help her get eight Stella. Then again, if the volunteer work does not work out for her, at least she will gain some experience. In any case, Loid’s tone suggests that he still does not have much confidence in her.
Anya helps out in the kitchen and other areas with Loid as the nurses assign them to where they need help. She tries to help out, but she fails again. She keeps breaking dishes and messing up other stuff working in other areas. The nurse is not happy when she sees her in the hallway. She gets angry and basically tells them to leave.
On the way out, something happens that gives a new way of seeing things, at least for Anya. She never thought that she could use her ability to do something good. In previous episodes, she used her ability to read people’s minds. In this episode, she uses her ability to try to save a boy’s life from drowning in a pool. She runs to the hospital swimming pool without telling Loid what is going on. Her expression shows that she is still hesitant to tell him about her ability.Why? She is probably still afraid of an unknown danger. In the flashback scene of the first episode, the doctor told her that she could never tell anyone about her ability in order to avoid danger. Then again, she may be afraid of not knowing how Loid would react.
She then jumps into the area where she sees the bubbles in the pool without a second thought to save the boy. Her bravery and altruism in trying to save someone she does not know or related to shows the other side of her that has never been shown before.
Anya’s bravery and the awarding of a Stella Star are emphasized in Episode 11. It does not have any surprising moments at first. The beginning does not give much hope about Anya’s being good at something, let alone getting a Stella. However, the ending starts to develop a new perspective on Anya, even though Loid saves her and the boys’ lives at the same time when they were both drowning. This is similar to Loid seeing her in a new light when he is not expecting it and is unaware of her ability. Anya starts to discover the purpose of her having the ability she has all these years. In the end, Anya gets a Stella and finds herself able to help. Loid is not expected to get a Stella. He never thought he could do it without his instructions or help behind the scenes, but not this time. The positive surprise brings some hope of him getting through the mission. The question is how much confidence he has in her now.
Rating: 8/10
