The Weekly W: Welcome

As you may know, Ouran High School Host Club is one of my favorite series.  It was really funny, and the characters were interesting, even if they were ridiculous.  One of the most iconic parts of the series is when Haruhi accidentally enters the Host Club while looking for a place to study.  This accidental encounter eventually forms a very strong friendship.  Let's take a look at some other early meetings between characters.



First up is Pokemon.  I'm going to look at Misty's first encounter with Ash.  We all know that they ended up becoming friends (albeit grudgingly at first). So Ash steals her bike so he can get Pikachu to the Pokemon Center, but ends up destroying it.  Misty is not pleased.  At all.  (See photo below).  Ash promises to get her a new bike eventually, so she joins him on his quest.  She never does get that bike.  Over time, their animosity wanes, and a true friendship is born. 

The video below covers it in the first 1&1/2 minutes.

Misty becomes a constant traveling companion, along with Brock, and together, they meet many different people throughout Kanto.



Next up: Free!  Three childhood friends decide to start up a high school swim club, since they swam together in elementary school.  Unfortunately, they need another member in order to be recognized.  Nagisa decides that they have found the perfect candidate, a boy from the track team.

After many days of harassment, Rei finally agrees to join their team for a single joint practice at the other school so they will leave him alone.  His only condition: he will not swim.  Unfortunately, the other school forces him to swim, offering him a bathing suit and insisting he join in.  This is when we learn the truth.

Rei does not know how to swim (despite having read many books on the subject).  Upon discovering this, they ask Nagisa why Rei was perfect for the team.  His response: "He is a boy with a girly name too.  We match."  In the end, Rei ends up joining the team and learning to swim, but it is an odd way to join a swim team.

These are just two memorable first meetings.  Do you have a favorite "welcome to the gang" moment?  Post it in the comments!

Hope Burns Bright