As far as the "U" is concerned.  There is a slight pronunciation difference 
between u and ou, but often time listening to the anime(wich unfortunatly 
(unless you know the author personaly, which most of us don't is the only time 
we actualy here the pronunciation of the words),  it often sounds like the ou 
may be more aurate any way, unless the speeker is rushing through their 
sentences.  Of course that is my opinion, and may or may not be shared by 
anyone else.