Slow Start is just the oddest anime. It's like it was written by a two different people, each with a different vision for the series.
Primarily, even though what's-her-name is the protagonist, I've come to believe that Eiko is the main character. All the girls are the normal cliches you'd find in this kind of anime, except for Eiko. She is something different. Even her relationship with the (female) teacher (who is also awesome) feels so different from watching the protagonist act like a baby deer. The dynamic Eiko brings to the table can change the nature of the anime on a dime. Everyone else is aware of it, too, which is why Eiko is usually the center of attention.
Queen Eiko at work--
As a bonus, one of the very few instances that Eiko is the one flustered-
