: The episode emphasizes how the two leads "elevate each other to greater heights," showing that Naoto is becoming strong enough to hold his ground during uncomfortable moments.
“The end of the episode showed some of the purest honesty we've seen from Nagatoro. If Naoto stopped thinking long enough, he could absolutely take that as a confession.” www.anime-evo.net Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san 2nd Attack Episode 9
Reviewers from Anime Evo note that the episode's conclusion features some of the most genuine honesty seen from Nagatoro to date. The tournament serves as a catalyst for her to be more open about her desires, even if she quickly retreats into her usual embarrassed state afterward. : The episode emphasizes how the two leads