Michelle Topham 
Days with My Stepsister, Episode 4, “Tendencies and Strategies” begins with Yuuta walking home and reminding himself that his stepsister is basically a stranger, and that they only know each other because their parents got married.
But he has also realized, as it has now been a month since their parents’ wedding, his stepsister’s relationship with him is much more ambiguous.
In other words, she is a stranger he now shares his home with.
When Yuuta finally arrives home, he is met with Saki asking him to tutor her in Modern Lit as, apparently, it is the one subject at school she is failing.
Saki then explains to him that she always has trouble understanding what the characters in books feel.
Yuuta is surprised as, to him, she seems to be the considerate type as she always comprises. But Saki explains they both have to compromise as they can’t understand each other’s feelings.
But, failing Modern Lit. could be a problem she insists as, if she fails her retake test, she may have to take the entire class again and she wants to work during the summer.
Of course, Yuuta agrees to help her study, and is soon looking at the way she studies and what she has problems with.
It then becomes obvious that Saki doesn’t understand characters’ feelings at all as, in the book they are studying, she hasn’t even figured out the two main characters have fallen in love.
That leaves Yuuta explaining why that is obvious, until we soon learn why Saki misses many of the points in the novel.
It is because she doesn’t get people that don’t say what they mean, and instead hide their true feelings.
Yuuta then asks her to imagine a situation where she found it difficult to express her own feelings. Maybe when she first fell in love?
Of course, Saki replies she has no experience with love, and Yuuta is forced to admit he doesn’t either.
Saki then figures out, if neither of them have experience with love, it probably means their Lit. grades aren’t contingent on their own experiences.
That is when Yuuta finally decides Saki might do better if, instead of looking at a book from a literature perspective, she looks at it from its historical context, as she is good at history.
The next morning, Yuuta tells Saki she doesn’t need to make him breakfast. When she asks why, he tells her she should spend the time studying instead.
Saki replies that she promised to make his breakfast as he is helping her get a job, but he insists, as her tutor, he wants her to pass her Modern Lit. test.
Later on in the day, Yuuta is at school looking at study techniques on his phone when Maaya appears next to him calling him “Big Brother”. (see video below)
Something, he asks her not to call him at school. Maaya insists, however, that they are “just bonding”.
As they talk about tests, Yuuta then learns Maaya has not only never failed a test, she is top of her class.
Yep, she may act like an airhead, but she is actually incredibly smart.
And that leaves Yuuta asking if she has any study techniques she can suggest that may help him with Saki?
While Maaya doesn’t have any particular techniques, she admits she listens to background music, which leaves Yuuta deciding to give Saki music to listen to while she studies.
After school, Yuuta is at work with Shiori and asks her if she has any studying hints, as she is a university student after all. When he mentions music, she gives him specific music suggestions that Saki can listen to.
Music that Sake listens to and really likes, which leaves her asking if Shiori has good taste.
Yuuta admits she does, but also describes her as “a bit of an airhead”. In a good way.
The episode ends with the pair saying goodnight, and Saki thanking him for helping her study.
Like previous episodes, Days with My Stepsister, Episode 4 is very chill, as each scene is more about Yuuta and Saki exploring their feelings than anything else.
The interactions between the main characters also continue to be interesting, while the music used in the episode as an example of Shiori’s recommendations was cool.
Sure, Days with My Stepsister, is slow moving and introspective, but the anime’s lovely art style, beautifully framed scenes and nicely-written plot, still make it incredibly appealing.
Check out more Days with My Stepsister recaps on Baozi Buns — Episode 1 and Episode 3.
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