Wait, no! This is...
Why, you...
It's not—
You're outta here!
Sorry, Nao-kun.
I'll go tell your aunt that you weren't doing anything wrong.
It's fine. That'll just make it more complicated.
Are you mad?
No.
Onii-chan!
Is something wrong?
Suzu, let's go for a little walk.
Okay, but I'm tired, so you'll have to piggyback me!
Sure.
Satsuki, you should get home before it gets dark.
Watari-kun's ****** Is about to Collapse
Why are you coming with us?
Because my house is this way.
That's a lie.
Why lie about that?
So are you going to move out?
I don't see another way.
I was prepared for her to kick us out eventually.
This time, it felt like we could have stuck around a little longer, though.
So, how come you're living with your aunt?
What do you mean?
It's none of your business.
You and I aren't strangers.
I know.
About you, and about your parents.
No real reason.
It just happened, okay?
All right, fine!
Tamayo-san was just next in line to take the hot potato, so to speak.
Our relatives never approved of our parents' marriage,
so we never had a good relationship with any of them.
For us, it's just like, "Here we go again,"
but for Tamayo-san...
You're too close!
So...
Your aunt let you use her yard for your garden, right?
Yeah.
Then I think that means she at least doesn't hate living with you two.
You can have these.
Green Onion
Mustard Spinach
Seeds?
Yup.
There's asparagus and onion in there, too.
You can decide what to do with them.
If you do end up getting kicked out,
you and Suzu-chin should come live at my place.
I live alone, and if it's you, I'd be fine with it.
Wai—
We're not going back home?
Did Tamayo-chan get mad at you again?
Even if she kicks you out, please don't leave me behind.
I never would.
Yeah, huh?
Damn that Naoto...
My glasses...
Glasses?
Hey, wait!
Give me back my glasses!
Um, so...
You're still here?!
Hurry up and get out!
Uh, Tamayo-san...
What is it?
I've been doing some thinking.
When you gave us permission to use your yard,
it basically meant you were okay with Suzu and me staying here for a while, right?
Once we plant the seeds,
we'll have to take care of the plants every day until the harvest.
I didn't know this myself,
but it seems green onions need a year to fully grow,
and asparagus takes as long as three years.
Don't be ridiculous.
You're reading way too much into it.
I know we must be a headache for you,
but please let us stay here a little longer—
Suzu and me.
Besides,
you're the only person we've lived with who actually talked to us normally.
That made me happy, too.
Glasses.
Huh?
Is that girl your girlfriend?
Satsuki's just a childhood friend!
She's just been coming over to help with the garden. I don't even know why.
I mean, I don't have time to waste thinking about girlfriends or love.
I need to take care of Suzu.
She's still a child.
Onii-chan, are you done talking?
Suzu?
If you're doing it for Suzu,
why don't you get serious about this garden of yours?
Instead of just fooling around with girls.
So... does that mean...
I know, I know!
You should grow vegetables with us too, Tamayo-chan!
Not interested. Sounds like a pain.
But Dad said that your family used to have a vegetable garden.
He said that was what gave him the idea for our garden back home.
Shut up.
MENACING
Don't talk about my brother.
I don't wanna hear it.
She must have really hated my dad.
So I guess Nao-kun didn't get kicked out after all.
Yup! And once the veggies are ready,
we're going to share them with Tamayo-chan.
Then we'll really have to do our best.
What's she doing here first thing in the morning?
What is it?
Nothing. Never mind.
Was it something pervy?
No!
Wow, they sprouted!
That was fast!
They're so little. So cute!
Because these are 20-day radishes.
Apparently you can harvest them in 20 days if they get enough sun.
I bet you're thinking, "They're so small and cute! Just like my dear Suzu."
Swing and a miss.
Liar!
Speaking of, Suzu...
I saw the test you left out on your desk.
Thirty percent?
Now I'm seriously starting to worry.
Then you can seriously continue to worry.
Hey!
Oh, I know!
You should be my tutor.
I can't do it on my own.
You haven't been helping me with any of my school work since we moved here.
Guess I have no choice.
Yes!
You can't always lean on me, though.
You need to grow up a little.
It's fine.
I'm going to be with you forever and ever,
so I don't ever have to grow up.
I'll be your helpless little Suzu forever.
Yeah... no.
What? You're studying for exams?
Well, yeah. We have midterms soon.
I totally forgot.
Would you like to study together?
Like on our next day off.
I'm not that smart, though,
so I'd probably just drag you down.
It's fine.
I think it's easier to do your best if someone else is there with you.
Yukari-chan, do you have a second?
Coming!
Give it some thought, okay?
Uh, sure.
Did Ishihara-san just casually invite me to hang out with her?
Nah, that was just her being polite.
Good for you.
Tokui!
I know I told you not to get any ideas,
but it seems like you two have hit it off lately.
If you're serious, you have my support.
Wha—
C'mon, man! Ishihara-san's way out of my league!
And, like, just her being friendly to me already feels like more than enough.
Well, good luck.
With what?
Studying.
I want to go, but Suzu would never allow it.
Lemme get under your umbrella.
Sure thing.
Here.
You can borrow mine.
What'll you use, then?
I have a collapsible one in my locker.
That reminds me. You didn't come this morning.
Did you miss me?
That's not—
Actually, I did go to your house this morning,
but then I figured that I probably shouldn't get in the way of you and Suzu-chin bonding.
So I followed you all the way to school, watching you from a five-meter distance.
Thanks for the umbrella.
I'd be fine sharing it with you, too.
In your dreams!
I'm home.
Suzu?
The rain must have caught her by surprise, too!
I need to go pick her up!
Where did I put her raincoat again?
A math test?
So she can get good grades.
Why did she hide this?
Oh, I know!
You should be my tutor.
I can't do it on my own.
Onii-chan?
Oh, welcome back!
I guess you were okay with the rain?
Yeah.
I had a collapsible umbrella.
Oh, I see.
You're late, though.
Yeah.
Satou-kun said he forgot his umbrella,
and since he lives close to us, I walked him to his house.
Huh? Who's that?
Just a kid from my class.
He was freaking out because he didn't want to be late for his lesson.
Are you okay?
Sorry.
I gotta go to the convenience store.
Huh?
Onii...chan?
Why am I running away?
I could've simply praised her for the test.
And for keeping a spare umbrella at school.
And for being kind to her friend.
I should've said, "Good job, Suzu."
I'm the only one she has,
and she's hopeless without me.
That's why everything I do revolves around Suzu.
If it makes Suzu happy, I'll do it.
If Suzu doesn't like it, I won't do it.
For Suzu...
Huh?
This is bad. Something's...
not right here.
Huh? Why?
But you said...
you had an umbrella.
H-Hey!
Guess I misremembered about the umbrella.
Why does everyone lie to me?
That doesn't make me happy at all.
No, that's not it.
You need to grow up a little.
I don't ever have to grow up.
She's not the one who's afraid to grow up—
afraid of losing what we have.
Onii-chan, where did you go?
Nao-kun?
Did you get into a fight with Suzu-chin?
We didn't fight.
The only time you look like that is when...
You're wet.
You're a real softie, you know?
Thanks for walking me home.
The place has seen better days, but it has a bathtub, at least.
She lives way too close to us.
It's, like, a three-minute walk.
Is this really all right?
Aren't her parents worried about her?
See ya.
Hurry home and warm up so you don't catch a cold.
Huh?
Aren't you going home?
Of course, if you want to stay here,
I don't mind at all.
I-I'll go home.
Suzu's all alone.
Suzu-chin's already ten, right?
That's old enough to be home alone.
I think you should be allowed to prioritize your own feelings once in a while.
Or do you get anxious when you're not putting your sister first?
Stop it!
Stop talking like you know me.
It's not like you could understand what we have.
I do, though.
Because, these past six years...
I've always been with you.
Nao-kun...
It's true. Being with Suzu is the easy option— two family members who only have each other.
I admit that I've been overusing Suzu as a shield to avoid interacting with others,
but hasn't that worked out well so far?
Prioritize your own feelings.
What would I even put before Suzu?
I didn't want to realize that.
This is all her fault!
You're back!
You were so late, I got worried!
I'm sorry.
Look. I got you some sweets.
You really did go to the convenience store.
I was thinking that maybe you didn't want to be around me.
You know I'd never feel that way.
Yeah, of course not!
Let's eat these together!
Yeah.
Uh, so, Suzu...
I was wondering if you'd be okay with me studying with Ishihara-san next Sunday.
I'll come home as fast as I can!
And I'll bring you a present, too.
You promised me first.
You said you'd help me with my school work.
I didn't forget about that, of course.
But we can do that before you go to bed, right?
We could even do it right now.
But I'm stupid!
That won't be enough for me!
About that, Suzu...
Comprehensive Test - 4th Grade Class: 4 Name: Watari Suzushiro
See this?
You should be able to manage without me for math at least, right?
That one was a total fluke!
I usually get, like, 30 percent!
I can't do anything unless you're around.
As long as you're there, that's all I need.
No, that's not it.
Suzu...
Onii-chan?!
Are you okay?
I'm going to get Tamayo-chan!
It's just not possible to stay together forever.
No matter how close you are,
even family members... are ultimately strangers.
Oh, no. Looks like Watari-kun's out sick with a cold.
Suzu, you've got to let go of me.
You're going to be late if you don't go now.
I'm not going.
I'm staying with you forever.
You'll catch my cold.
I can't go to school alone!
Suzu...
You're in fourth grade now. You have to stop acting like a baby.
I'm not being a baby.
I'm just worried about you.
Come on.
Go to school on your own today, okay?
I guess.
Nao-kun, are you okay?
Satsuki!
Why are you here?!
I got in from the yard.
This house needs better security!
I'm sorry, Nao-kun.
It's my fault you caught a cold.
Not really.
I did that to myself.
I'll leave right away, just...
I got worried when I heard you had a fever, so I brought you some medicine.
Where the hell are you keeping it?!
I guess even you have a good side.
For your child's sudden fever
Children's Anal Suppositories
I'll leave the medicine here.
I take back what I said!
You couldn't find any oral medicine?!
But in the past,
your mom told me that this was the medicine that worked best on you.
That was back when I was, like, ten!
You remember the most random things.
That's right.
Because they're about you.
What is this?
Why does she always suddenly appear out of nowhere,
as if nothing ever happened?
My head hurts.
Probably because of your cold.
Actually, don't you have school?
We only had morning classes today.
So you're skipping school.
It's already past noon.
Huh?
You were sleeping so soundly,
nothing I did woke you.
What did you do?!
Should I get that?
It's fine.
Just go home already.
I bet it's a delivery for Tamayo-san.
Talking
Menu
Talk
End
Hello.
Ishihara-san?!
Watari-kun?
I was worried, so I came to check on you.
If it's not a bother,
would you mind if I came in for a little bit?
O-Of course it's not a bother! But...
I'm still in my pajamas, and I didn't take a bath last night.
And Satsuki's in my room!
I hope I'm not intruding.
How are you feeling?
It's nothing serious.
Sorry for making you come all this way.
Watari-kun...
He looks incredibly pale.
Have you eaten lunch?
No, not yet.
Would you mind if I used your kitchen?
Well, uh, actually...
I'm going to make the Ishihara family's special rice porridge.
Just for you.
Ishihara-san cooking a meal... for someone like me?!
Good for you.
You're still here?!
Ishihara-san might get the wrong idea again.
But...
Can you at least not do anything weird?
I'm going home.
Huh?
You didn't say "go home," so I'm leaving.
Um, I'm pretty sure I did say that earlier.
No.
When you told me to leave earlier,
that was before Miss F-Cup showed up.
Really, now?
Or maybe...
You want me to be here, too?
Maybe being alone with Miss F-Cup makes you nervous.
Want me to be the buffer friend?
I don't mind.
I'll do exactly what you desire.
What are you even talking about right now?
Thanks for waiting, Watari-kun.
Oh, wow. That was fast.
Yeah, I did some of the prep work back home.
I'll just leave this here for you.
Th-Thank you.
This...
This is bad.