Anime Episode 04

"You Helped Me Through Tough Times" is the 4th episode of the "Isekai Ojisan" Anime adaptation.

''Fujimiya tries to catch Takafumi’s attention. Takafumi’s Uncle shares a seemingly romantic memory he experienced during his time in the other dimension.''

Summary
A flashback of Takafumi shows him being bullied by two students about the fantasy-themed light novel he was reading. Eventually, an even bigger bully Sumika handles the situation between the two bullies earning Takafumi's respect. This event is shown to Uncle who, like Takafumi, was enamored with Sumika on how she handled the situation in her youth. Noting that she became more "girly" in middle school, Sumika shows the two an old picture of her and Takafumi as evidence. Impressed by it, Uncle takes several pictures of it with his old phone, and Sumika offers to send it to his phone via e-mail. However, Uncle claims that his phone is incapable of accepting e-mails and calls, which raises the question of how he can contact Takafumi.

Sumika then notes how delicious the coffee tastes, and Takafumi reveals that Uncle gave him 10k yen for his birthday, so he purchased a coffee maker. After Sumika comments on how practical giving him 10k yen to Takafumi is, Uncle comments how he didn't know what was appropriate for someone like him in that day and age. For her birthday present to Takafumi, Sumika sends Takafumi a text of a picture of her in a swimsuit from middle school. Immediately Takafumi asked his phone how to delete the picture since he could be arrested for having an underage picture on his phone. Then receiving a notification about a sale on coffee beans, Takafumi rushed out of the apartment. Uncle then tells Sumika that the picture of her lost to some coffee beans ad in terms of content appeal. Followed by an outburst that she has causing Uncle's coffee to spill, he freezes her and the coffee. Startled by this outcome, Uncle uses some fire spells to thaw her out and offers her some towels to use for a shower.

While Sumika takes her shower, Uncle steps out for a couple of hours and leaves some of Takafumi's clothes for her to wear as hers dries off. When Sumika's done with her shower, she puts on Takafumi's top, and after this, Takafumi enters the scene. A stare-off between the two occurs, and Sumika then shrieks in embarrassment, causing Takafumi to leave the scene while apologizing. Later, Sumika confronts Takafumi, still wearing just Takafumi's top and the two have a brief heart-to-heart with each other about Sumika being so "responsible". Takafumi then notes that the flag he posted for his Uncle was positioned at "Danger," and immediately, Uncle returns home. Informing his Uncle that he saw Sumika in an improper state, Takafumi request that his Uncle erase his memory of it. Before Uncle can do it, Sumika stops him, and the two continue their heart-to-heart moment. Uncle watches, perplexed by the situation, but seeing that bags of coffee are there, he offers to make some more.

On Sumika's 20th birthday, Takafumi and her enjoy some beer and snacks. Uncle soon joins them, and Takafumi notes that he was 17 when he was sent to the alternate world and is now 34, but Uncle corrects Takafumi stating he's 35. Since he doesn't have a proper present for Sumika for her birthday, Uncle gives her words of his philosophy, "A pinch is a chance". Uncle goes on to explain the meaning behind the phrase about changing one's perspective on a negative outlook can change a situation for the better. Impressed by the philosophy Uncle imparted to them, he shows them the first time he had alcohol. Takafumi and Sumika were shocked to see how similar he looks in present times and that the memories shown before were of him as a teenager. Elf then appears in the memory wearing a lovely green dress, and Takafumi explains to Sumika that she's Uncle's stalker. As the memory continues, Elf confronts Uncle about the barrier he broke the other day and, as a bribe, offers to buy her some food to keep her mouth shut about said barrier. The Elf then changes the subject concerning how strong Uncle is, how he once saved her from a deadly Venom Dragon, but he brushes it off as hard work and training. They then talk about the Blaze Dragon that Uncle also slew without the Ice Sword that was supposed to be necessary to kill it. Showing proof of his achievement, Uncle shows Elf the Blaze Dragon fire he got as a spoil to Elf, which she claims would be revived if he opened it. Uncle then recites his catchphrase, revealing that he learned from a Puyo Puyo strategy guide. In the present, Takafumi and Sumika are despondent over learning this, and Uncle then goes to play some Puyo Puyo.

As the memory continues, Uncle takes a reluctant Elf back to his inn, and present-day Uncle interrupts it by asking if Takafumi wants to play with him. Takafumi then has Uncle play Burning Rangers instead and continues to watch the memory as Uncle leads her to his room at the inn. From there, Uncle thanks Elf for taking him back to his room, and the following day, she confronts him and demands to know his plans for that day. Once the memory was over, Sumika takes a drink and forces Uncle to drink too. This causes him to become drunk, and when Sumika tries to bail because of it, Takafumi stops her, and Uncle decides to take her home via a wind spell. The outcome of this makes the three of them fly high in the sky.

Characters in Focus
Characters in italics debuted here. Memory:
 * Takafumi Takaoka
 * Ojisan
 * Sumika Fujimiya
 * Elf
 * Takafumi Takaoka (Young)
 * Sumika Fujimiya (Young)
 * Kacchan (Young)