EPISODE CONTEXT

At episode 55 of 172, the series is well past its introductory phase and settling into the rhythm of its long middle stretch, where character-centered standalone episodes flesh out the supporting cast. Hidaka Kaede has been a consistent presence in the romance and friendship dynamics surrounding Mirumo and Kaede Minami, so an episode spotlighting her family expands her role beyond the love-rival archetype. This kind of character-deepening episode typically plants small emotional seeds that pay off in later arcs without demanding heavy continuity investment from viewers.