Sure enough, everyone crosses paths in Sapporo in the end, just in time to see - you guessed it - the Diamond Dust. It actually felt like an extra episode for the fans, with more humor than usual and a few inside jokes. And Squid Boy (he has a name: Juurouta!) finally gets his moment in the spotlight...

A great ending for a surprisingly enjoyable show. When it first began, I wasn't sure how the story was going to work, the focus constantly shifting to a new character every couple of episodes. Some of the girls' stories were less interesting than others, but none were a true letdown. The show always felt fresh thanks to the introduction of new characters, and common themes kept everything humming in consonant harmony. It worked!

So, who was my favorite of the six girls? Atsuko was cute and energetic. Karin was adorable, if a little spoiled. Kyoko was a little rough around the edges, but strong. Suomi was a bit strange, but free-spirited. Shouko was fragile, but mature. Akari was determined and dependable.

It's tough to choose, but...

Who would have thought a show could turn ice fog into an omnipresent thematic element?

Akari's story redeemed itself in the end, being perhaps the most bittersweet of the bunch - well, outside of Kyoko's story, I guess. Unfortunately, the animation took a bit of a nosedive this time around, with Akari's character design changing an awful lot from scene to scene. There were times she looked like Asakura Minami's (from Touch) long-lost sister. And given how old that particular show is, that's not exactly a compliment.

Anyway, we've come to the end. Only one episode left to tie everything together. I wonder if Squid Boy has seen the Diamond Dust yet?

Akari seems an interesting enough character, but her story isn't grabbing me like those of the other girls. It lacks focus, at least for now.

Seeing as she's the show's final lead, however, I'm hoping for something a little more.

Well, I was dead wrong about the true identity of Shouko's stalker. To be honest, the truth turned out far less interesting than anything I had concocted with my own imagination. But, it still worked.

And, just like all the stories before, this one was solid and enjoyable. I'm actually a little surprised with how the show continues to deliver week after week. If all game-inspired anime series were this well written and directed, we'd be much better off. Then again, I guess the original game was a bit out of the ordinary to begin with.

We finally get a relatively mature lead this time, even if she doesn't act it. Throw in some infidelity and a mysterious stalker, and you end up with the most complicated and intriguing storyline of the series yet.

Unfortunately, I think I already have the mystery of the stalker's identity solved, for it seems fairly obvious. On the other hand, I thought I had things figured out back in Karin's story as well, only to be proven wrong in the end.

I'm pretty sure it's not Squid Boy, though, unless he's been gorging on all that tasty Hokkaido cuisine.

It's a shame Suomi only gets a single episode, as her story has definitely been my favorite thus far. It's a simple story, really - simple enough to be wrapped up quickly - but it's very poignant. And the usage of Haruto as device was a wonderful touch. Once I realized what was going on, I just about fell out my chair, even if it was a bit obvious. Call me easily impressed, but I thought it was pretty cool.

And yes, Squid Boy's Hokkaido vacation continues. Despite getting an intimate introduction to a crate full of cephalopoda, taking an unplanned swim in the ocean, and suffering a violent beating on the skating rink, he shall not be deterred from his quest for open sky, clean air, and delicious food. Head north, intrepid traveler!

What an unreasonable person. Did she truly get what she deserved? Perhaps.

She could always live happily ever after with Squid Boy, though. He's obviously stalking her. And everyone else, for that matter.

Kyoko isn't the most likable lead to grace the show thus far, but she's definitely the most interesting. And it's awfully fitting that the episode introducing a budding film director as the main character offers the best direction yet. We need more shots like this one.

Oh, and Squid Boy (or the dude from Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto, depending on how you look at it) makes an appearance. Come to think of it, he showed up in one of the Karin episodes as well. Definitely a running gag.

And out comes the deus ex machina once again. I hope this doesn't become the hallmark of the series.

But even then, I like how Karin's story wrapped up. And I'll admit the twist regarding her anonymous fan took me by surprise. Nicely done. Anyway, time to move on to a new girl yet again...

This time, we're introduced to Karin, a Tokyo girl who has spent the past two years at a Hokkaido hospital fighting some sort of serious respiratory illness. She needs an operation to live, but due to her father's previous death from botched surgery, she refuses...

I like Karin. Simple as that. She has an appealing personality and, as a character, shows the full range of emotions you'd expect given her situation. And, she maintains her own website. How cool is that?

But even beyond that, the story this time around is really heart-wrenching - and beautifully done. What a wonderful show this has turned out to be.

I like how Atsuko's story ends, even if it was pretty predictable. I'm not entirely sure if I'm supposed to like Kurata much in the end, though. Also, the appearance of Atsuko's great-grandmother as deus ex machina seemed a bit lazy, but I guess there's only so much one can do with a story in two episodes.

Mind you, I'm not really complaining; I'm still loving the show. New girl next episode!

I love it when new shows surprise me. Not that I had low expectations for Diamond Dust Drops - I just wasn't sure if it was going to work. However, if the feel of the first episode is an indication of what the rest of the series has to offer, I'm really going to like it.

And even though the character designs from the game were a bit, um, unusual, I like what's been done for the anime series. The designs are definitely more polished, but some of the original look remains. The end results are still unique, but much easier on the eyes. Honestly, Atsuko's kind of cute. Although, her seiyuu (newcomer Ishihara Eriko) might have something to do with it.

Oh, and the OP is very...strange. Cool, but strange.

And one last thing...Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto (Someday's Dreamers) fans should be on the lookout for a little cameo appearance by a certain character. Both series share the same character designer, so whether it was intentional or not, I can't say. Cracked me up, either way.