What is the plot?

The episode opens with Yuichi Medaka arriving at Totsuka High School, where he is greeted by a flurry of love letters and small gifts spilling from his locker. Classmates whisper and giggle as he collects them, clearly popular and admired. Medaka brushes off the attention with a practiced smile, but his expression shifts when he notices Akira Nikaidou standing silently nearby, watching him with a blank stare. Nikaidou quickly turns away and walks off without a word.

Medaka heads to class and takes his seat, only to discover that Nikaidou has been assigned the desk directly behind him. The other students react with discomfort, some visibly shrinking away from Nikaidou. Medaka feels uneasy but tries to ignore it, focusing on his lessons. Throughout the day, he catches glimpses of Nikaidou in his peripheral vision, always quiet and withdrawn, never participating in class discussions or group activities.

During lunch, Medaka sits with his friends, who gossip about Nikaidou's reputation as a loner and rumors about his strange behavior. One friend mentions that Nikaidou was once outgoing and friendly in junior high, but changed after an unspecified incident. Medaka listens intently, intrigued by the contrast between Nikaidou's past and present.

Later, Medaka decides to approach Nikaidou after class. He turns around in his seat and asks if Nikaidou needs help with anything. Nikaidou responds curtly, saying he doesn't need anything and doesn't want to talk. Medaka persists, asking if Nikaidou is okay, but Nikaidou simply stares at him coldly and says, "Leave me alone." Medaka backs off, feeling rejected but still curious.

The next day, Medaka notices Nikaidou sitting alone in the library during lunch. He hesitates, then walks over and sits at the same table. Nikaidou glances up but says nothing. Medaka pulls out a book and pretends to read, occasionally stealing glances at Nikaidou. After a few minutes, Nikaidou closes his book and leaves without a word.

Medaka begins to observe Nikaidou more closely, noticing small details--how he always sits in the same spot, how he avoids eye contact, how he never eats lunch with anyone. Medaka starts to wonder what happened to make Nikaidou so withdrawn. He asks a teacher about Nikaidou's past, but the teacher only says that Nikaidou transferred schools after junior high and hasn't opened up to anyone since.

One afternoon, Medaka sees Nikaidou being bullied by a group of older students in the hallway. They mock him, calling him names and shoving him against the lockers. Medaka watches from a distance, torn between intervening and staying out of it. When the bullies leave, Medaka approaches Nikaidou and offers to walk with him. Nikaidou refuses, but Medaka insists, walking beside him in silence.

As they walk, Medaka tries to make small talk, but Nikaidou remains silent. When they reach the school gate, Nikaidou finally speaks, asking why Medaka is bothering with him. Medaka says he just wants to be friends. Nikaidou scoffs, saying no one wants to be friends with him, and walks away.

Medaka doesn't give up. The next day, he brings an extra lunch and leaves it on Nikaidou's desk before class. Nikaidou finds it and stares at it for a long time, then quietly takes it. Medaka pretends not to notice.

Over the next few days, Medaka continues to leave small gestures--a note, a snack, a smile. Nikaidou never responds, but Medaka sees that he's not throwing the things away. One day, Nikaidou finally speaks to Medaka during class, asking for a pencil. Medaka hands it to him, and Nikaidou mutters a quiet "thanks."

Medaka feels encouraged and decides to invite Nikaidou to join him and his friends for lunch. Nikaidou hesitates, then shakes his head and says no. Medaka doesn't push it, but he keeps trying.

One evening, Medaka receives a message on his phone from an unknown number. It's a photo of Nikaidou sitting alone in the library, taken from a distance. Medaka recognizes the style--it's Miyoshi Hayashi, the eccentric student from another school who collects and shares photos of people's lives. Medaka doesn't reply, but he keeps the photo.

The next day at school, Medaka sees Nikaidou looking more withdrawn than usual. He asks if something's wrong, but Nikaidou just shakes his head. After class, Medaka follows Nikaidou to the library and finds him staring at the photo Medaka received. Nikaidou admits he knows about Hayashi's photos and that he hates being watched. Medaka says he didn't mean to invade Nikaidou's privacy and apologizes.

Nikaidou looks at Medaka for a long moment, then says, "You're different. You don't treat me like a ghost." Medaka smiles and says, "I just want to know you." Nikaidou doesn't respond, but he doesn't walk away either.

The episode ends with Medaka and Nikaidou sitting together in the library, not talking, but no longer avoiding each other. Medaka leaves his lunch on the table between them. Nikaidou looks at it, then slowly reaches out and takes a bite.

What is the ending?

Short, Simple Narrative of the Ending

At the end of "Nikaidou Behind Me," Nikaido, who has been avoiding his classmates, lies to get time alone during a school trip. Meanwhile, Arakawa sneaks out to meet online friends in person. The episode closes with both characters isolated in their own ways--Nikaido by choice, Arakawa by circumstance--each reflecting on their struggles to connect with others, but neither finding resolution or comfort by the episode's end.

Expanded, Chronological, Scene-by-Scene Narrative

The episode opens with the class preparing for a school trip. Nikaido, who is known for his withdrawn and unsettling demeanor, deliberately lies to his classmates, claiming he is unwell, so he can be left alone in the hotel room. His motivation is clear: he wants to avoid the forced social interactions and the discomfort of being around others who either fear or misunderstand him. As the rest of the class departs for the day's activities, Nikaido remains behind, sitting quietly in the dimly lit room, staring out the window. His expression is blank, but his posture is tense, suggesting an internal struggle between relief at being alone and a deeper, unspoken loneliness.

Meanwhile, Arakawa, another student, is shown sneaking away from the group. He is nervous but determined, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one notices his absence. His motivation is to meet online friends in person for the first time, a secret he has kept from his classmates. The scene shifts to a local café, where Arakawa waits anxiously, fidgeting with his phone, his eyes darting to the door every time it opens. When his friends finally arrive, there is a moment of awkward silence before tentative greetings are exchanged. The atmosphere is charged with hope and anxiety, as Arakawa tries to bridge the gap between his online persona and his real-life self.

Back at the hotel, Nikaido eventually leaves his room and wanders the empty halls. He pauses outside a door where faint laughter can be heard from other students, but he does not knock or enter. Instead, he continues walking, his footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor. He finds himself in the hotel lobby, where he sits alone on a bench, watching the rain outside. His face remains impassive, but his eyes occasionally flicker with something unreadable--perhaps longing, perhaps resignation.

Arakawa's meeting with his online friends progresses haltingly. Conversation is stilted at first, but gradually, they find common ground, laughing over shared memories from their chats. Arakawa's initial tension eases, and for a brief moment, he seems to forget his usual social anxiety. However, as the meeting winds down, he becomes quiet again, realizing that the connection, while real, is still fragile and uncertain.

As evening falls, both Nikaido and Arakawa return to the group. Nikaido rejoins the class without comment, slipping back into his usual seat unnoticed. Arakawa, though physically present, seems distant, lost in thought about the day's events. The episode ends with a shot of the two boys in the same room, surrounded by their classmates, yet each isolated in his own world--Nikaido by his choice to remain apart, Arakawa by the gap between his online and offline lives.

Fate of the Main Characters

Nikaido ends the episode alone, having successfully avoided meaningful interaction with his peers. His fate is one of continued isolation, at least for now, as he makes no move to reach out or change his circumstances. Arakawa, on the other hand, takes a risk by meeting his online friends, experiencing both the thrill of connection and the lingering uncertainty of whether these relationships can translate into his everyday life. By the end, both remain on the periphery of their class, each carrying the weight of their choices and the quiet hope--or resignation--that things might one day be different.

Is there a post-credit scene?

Episode 4 of Captivated, by You Season 1, titled "Nikaidou Behind Me," does not have any information or mention of a post-credit scene in the available detailed episode reviews, summaries, or streaming descriptions. The sources that cover the episode's content and reviews, including The Review Geek and Tubi TV, focus on the main plot points such as Nikaido lying to be left alone on a school trip and Arakawa sneaking out to meet online friends, but none indicate a post-credit scene or extra footage after the episode ends.

Therefore, based on the current available information, there is no post-credit scene in Season 1, Episode 4 of Captivated, by You.

What is the nature of the relationship between Yuichi Medaka and Akira Nikaido in episode 4?

In episode 4, Yuichi Medaka feels uneasy when Akira Nikaido, the class outcast known for being strange and grim, is assigned the seat behind him. Despite Nikaido's curt and cold responses, Medaka tries to draw him out of his shell, revealing a connection that feels more intimate than mere friendship, highlighting a complex bromance developing between them.

How does Akira Nikaido's character differ in junior high compared to high school as revealed in episode 4?

Medaka learns that Akira Nikaido was very different in junior high school, implying that Nikaido's current downcast and grim persona is a change from his previous self, which adds depth to his character and explains some of his current behavior and social isolation.

What role does the school field trip play in episode 4?

In episode 4, Nikaido is reluctant to enjoy the school field trip, which serves as a setting to explore his character's discomfort and social withdrawal, contrasting with other students' experiences and highlighting his internal struggles.

What is the significance of the love letters and gifts found in Nikaido's locker at the start of episode 4?

The episode opens with a student opening his locker and having several love letters and gifts fall out, indicating a sudden surge in popularity or attention. This scene sets the tone for exploring themes of social perception and the complexities of Nikaido's relationships with classmates.

How does the episode depict the dynamic between the popular athlete turned artist and his search for a model?

Episode 4 features an athlete who has turned to art and is looking for a model for his painting. This subplot adds a layer to the episode's exploration of adolescent relationships and personal expression, intersecting with the main characters' stories.

Is this family friendly?

The TV show Captivated, by You, Season 1, Episode 4 ("Nikaidou Behind Me"), is rated PG and generally family-friendly. However, it contains some mild bullying and mild coarse language, which might be potentially upsetting for very young children or sensitive viewers. There is no sex, nudity, or intense frightening scenes, and violence is mild and not graphic. There are no depictions of alcohol, drugs, or smoking.

In summary, the potentially objectionable aspects for children or sensitive people are:

  • Mild bullying scenes
  • Mild coarse language
  • Mild, non-graphic violence

No other strong content warnings apply, making it suitable for teens and older children with parental guidance due to the mild bullying and language.