To the Shining You：Princess Akiko: "The Emperor too?" ← Her love for Mikami is so cute I can't stand it! Mahiro: "All the princes are cute" could be the "magic phrase"

Yuriko Yoshitaka stars in the NHK Taiga drama "To You Who Shines". In the 34th episode "Awakening", which aired on September 8th, viewers were drawn to the words and actions of Akiko (Migami Ai), who gradually begins to open up to Mahiro (Yoshitaka).

In the 34th episode, monks from Kofuku-ji Temple storm into the capital and make demands of the Imperial Court, creating an emergency situation. Michinaga (Emoto Tasuku) rushes to resolve the situation.

Meanwhile, Mahiro continues writing her story and attracts attention at court, but her target of the relationship between Emperor Ichijo (Shiono Akihisa) and Empress Shoshi does not deepen. Michinaga's longing for Akiko to become pregnant is far from being achieved, and with a series of ominous events in the capital, such as illness and fires, Michinaga makes a once-in-a-lifetime decision.

Amidst all this, the Emperor comes to visit Mahiro...

The episode depicts the "Gokusui Banquet," a gathering hosted by Michinaga where aristocrats recited Chinese poetry while drinking sake by a meandering river.

During the event, rain falls and the event is temporarily halted. While doing so, Akiko sees her father, Michinaga, happily chatting with Nariyoshi (Kaneda Satoshi), Yukinari (Watanabe Daichi), and Toshikata (Honda Daisuke) on the other side of the blinds. With a look of surprise on her face, she then says to Mahiro, "I was surprised to see my father laughing so heartily just now."

When Mahiro tells Akiko, "All the lords are cute," she looks around and secretly asks, "Even the emperor?" Mahiro further advised, "The Emperor is also a lord. I believe he is not all that different from the nobles you saw earlier. I think it would be best if you take a good look at the Emperor's face before you speak to him," to which she bashfully nodded.

Reactions on social media included, "Ohhh! You're so cute, Empress Dowager!", "The Empress Dowager is so cute," and "Mikami Ai is so cute, I can't stand it." Mahiro's "advice" also drew comments such as, "That's a nice assist," and "Could that be the magic word?".