The long awaited for episode 6 of xxxholic was fun. It mostly revolved around the gambling game of Mah-jong, and although Shinsen-subs was nice enough to put up some explanation…

I still spent most of the episode like this.

Hey, I don’t even understand poker, how am I suppose to get this?! The episode opens, unsurprisingly, with Watanuki whining about why do they have to play at Domeki’s temple place and outside of all things. He mentions how he doesn’t understand the game, so I kinda sympathsized with his whining. Kinda. He still whined a lot.

And then we look over at the cherry blossom tree, and see a hand sticking out of the tree. It’s quite creepy! But remember the spirit from episode 5?

Anyway, we open with first game, where Yuko beats up everyone. Watanuki bemoans him being a beginner, to which Yuko offers some help, and summons a ton of Mahjong help books.

Watanuki starts whining about something related to this, and Domeki does the smart thing.

So the start playing again. Himawari stops by, to return the book that Domeki lent her, and share leftover baked goods with everyone. I have to honest, I don’t thing Watanuki stands a chance with this girl. He may love her to death, but I think she’s more interested in Domeki. She seems far more interested in him, at least in the anime (in the manga, she’s equally affectionate.). At least, they seem to be closer then Watanuki and Himawari. Who could blame her either, the only thing Watanuki has going for him compared to Domeki is a steady job, and it’s not a job that pays well. Or at all.

Himawari watches the game for a bit, and then Watanuki does something incredibly stupid.

I love that girl to death. Anyway, Himawari leaves, and the game proceeds. Watanuki is losing badly, and then we get to the last round. However there’s a couple more character apperance to be made…

The Ame-warashi, followed by the Zashiki-warashi! The polergist says something that gives away Watanuki’s hand, making everyone nervous. And then he draws what seems to be the winning tile…but it isn’t and he loses. I wish I knew better what was going on!

Yuko begins talking about what Watanuki must do to pay back his gambling debts from the game. She suggests he strip. But as we get to that discussion, it’s conviently interupted,

(Gladly. Who really wants to see Watanuki naked?)

The spirt in the trees flys into the sky, leaving cherry blossoms behind her. Yuko shares this interesting tibit.

It turns out the Mahjong was a send-off for the spirit, who has peacefully gone on. How nice!

It ends with Yuko comanding Watanuki to hold a party, and the spirits accompany Watanuki to the kitchen.