Hands Off Sawaranaide Kotesashi-kun [Season 1 Episode 10: Aroma-Chan Must Take a Rest 1]

Okay, let’s dive into Hands Off! Sawaranaide Kotesashi-kun Season 1 Episode 10—titled “Aroma-Chan Must Take a Rest 1”—because this episode was a perfect mix of cozy slice-of-life and chaotic comedy, and fans are losing their minds over the unexpected magical girl twist.

First, let’s get the basics down for anyone new to the show: Kouyou Kotesashi is this super kind, hardworking guy with a gift for massage therapy. He’s at Seiwa University Affiliated High School on a medical scholarship, juggling classes with a live-in dorm job to support his low-income family (relatable, right? Who hasn’t had to balance responsibilities just to keep going?). His dream is to become a sports physician, so he’s always using his hands to help people—whether it’s a classmate with a sore shoulder or a friend stressed from exams.

Episode 10 centers on Aroma-chan, one of Kouyou’s closest friends, who’s been burning the candle at both ends. She’s been pulling all-nighters studying, skipping lunch to finish assignments, and looking like she’s one yawn away from collapsing. We’ve all been there—when life feels like a never-ending to-do list, and rest feels like a luxury. So when Kouyou notices her exhaustion, he offers to give her a massage (his go-to way to help people). At first, she’s shy—who wants to be seen looking messy and tired? But eventually, she caves, and the scene where he works out the knots in her shoulders is so warm it feels like a hug. You can see the tension melt from her face, and Kouyou’s gentle focus shows how much he cares about the people around him.

But then… things take a wild left turn. Out of nowhere, the episode shifts to a chaotic subplot that fans are obsessing over. Over on MyAnimeList, one user called out the “interrogation room” scene and Izumi transforming into Care Spring—and yeah, that’s the part that had me cackling into my popcorn. Here’s the deal: the dorm has this weird, unoffical club where they’re on a “mission” to turn girls into magical girls (don’t ask why—sometimes anime logic just works). They set up a fake interrogation room (complete with a rickety table and dim flashlights) to “grill” someone about their magical girl knowledge, and then Izumi—one of the dorm residents—steps up for her transformation.

Oh, Izumi’s Care Spring look is iconic in the silliest way possible. Sparkles explode everywhere, her uniform morphs into a pink-and-blue frilly outfit with a wand topped with a flower, and she even belts out a cheesy catchphrase like, “I’ll heal your tiredness with my care!” (Okay, maybe I’m extrapolating the catchphrase, but it fits). Fans are losing it—Reddit’s r/anime thread for the episode is full of memes of her transformation, and MyAnimeList users are debating whether Care Spring should get her own spin-off. It’s the kind of random, over-the-top moment that makes you forget your own stress and just laugh.

What I love most about this episode is how it balances quiet, relatable moments with absurd comedy. The slice-of-life bits (Aroma resting, Kouyou helping her) feel real—like you’re watching your own friends navigate school and exhaustion. The magical girl subplot is so ridiculous it’s impossible not to smile, and it never feels forced. It’s like the show knows exactly when to switch gears to keep things fresh.

Another thing fans are talking about is how Kouyou fits into the chaos. Since he’s all about healing, he ends up being the “support” for the magical girls—giving them massages after their “missions” to soothe their sore muscles. It’s a fun way to tie his character into the silly subplot without straying from his core: helping people.

Let’s be real—this episode isn’t going to win any awards for deep storytelling, but that’s okay. It’s meant to be fun, lighthearted, and a little bit dumb (in the best way). Whether you’re here for the cozy friend moments or the wild magical girl detour, Episode 10 delivers. It’s the kind of episode that makes you want to call your friends and say, “You have to watch this—trust me.”

If you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out. Izumi’s Care Spring transformation alone is worth the 20 minutes (I’ve rewatched it three times already). And if you’re already a fan, let’s bond over how ridiculous (and amazing) that scene was. I can’t wait for Episode 11—will we get more magical girl moments? Will Aroma finally take a proper break? Only time will tell, but I’m definitely tuning in.

P.S. Shoutout to the MyAnimeList user who pointed out the magical girl bits—you get the vibe. And if anyone finds fan art of Care Spring, send it my way—I need to add it to my collection. This episode was a win, and I’m here for all the chaos that comes next.