One... two... three...
Satsuki-chan, come play house with us!
I'll be the mommy. Onii-chan will be the daddy.
And you can be the child.
Sorry about this, Satsuki.
I'm babysitting her today.
It's fine.
So what do I do as the child?
Just act like you want to be babied!
How do I do that?
Huh?
How do I get babied?
Fifteen... sixteen... seventeen...
Watari-kun's ****** Is about to Collapse
Onii-chan, you didn't forget your promise to me, right?
I'm going to help you and Renon-chan with your summer homework this afternoon.
I'm also going to buy you ice cream from the store.
Good.
Okay, I'm off.
Bye-bye!
I'm going to go chill some watermelon from the garden for Renon-chan and Onii-chan.
Hey.
Tamayo-chan!
Good morning!
Where's Naoto going in his school uniform?
It's still summer break, right?
He said there are extra lessons this week.
It's supposed to help with entrance exams.
Entrance exams?
Did he ever mention wanting to go to college or anything?
Nope.
He said that once he graduates,
he's going to enter the workforce and live somewhere with me.
That's reckless.
Rushing to move out without a plan is just what my brother would do.
Why in the world does he need to make things harder for no reason?
Oh, did you like your big brother, too?
Were you close with my dad?
It was so long ago, I can't even remember.
Aw...
Anyway, if he's not taking entrance exams,
why's he going to school to study for them during summer break?
He said his friend, Ishihara-san, invited him.
A girl, huh?
To be honest, I don't give a damn about exam prep!
I just came to see Ishihara!
Me, too!
Gotta get my Ishihara fix during break!
Good morning, Yukari-chan.
Good morning.
I feel like Ishihara's gotten even cuter since I last saw her.
Totally! I was thinking that, too.
Ishihara Yukari
I'll be waiting at the rear school gate after class.
Let's walk home together, \hjust you and me <3
I said it on the spur of the moment, but...
I just want to hear it again.
Uh, well... I love you.
My relationship with Ishihara-san...
isn't just a trial anymore.
Ishihara Yukari
I got stopped by a classmate in the hallway! Please wait just a little longer
Sorry!
Satsuki?! What are you doing here?
What do you mean?
Hup.
I have to do make-up swim classes because I skipped too many times.
Well, you reap what you sow.
I can't swim, though.
That reminds me...
This is my first time at the beach.
I don't know how to swim.
I've been trying to practice at home,
but I can't keep my face in the water for longer than 20 seconds.
It's that bad?!
Didn't I tell you I had a summer vacation problem of my own?
These make-up classes mean I can't go to my job, either.
If it were six years ago, you could have taught me.
Like how you taught me how to draw, and how to catch insects.
Or how to play catch, play house,
do schoolwork, and help out around the house.
By the way, I told Ishihara-san that I loved her, like you said to.
So I don't think I'll be able to pay attention to you like I did until now.
Hm. I see.
Break time's over!
Tachibana! Let's just get you used to the water today!
Guess I gotta go.
Satsuki...
No need for the long face.
No matter who you fall in love with, or who you go out with,
I won't change one bit.
I'll always continue to be your childhood friend.
R-Right.
Also, I don't actually need you to pay attention to me.
I'm just fine.
Did I get the wrong idea again?
But...
If you ever need me to pay attention to you,
I'm happy to do it anytime.
I'm available 24/7, at any time or place, to do anything you want me to.
Anything a childhood friend is allowed to, that is.
Watari-kun!
I'm sorry I kept you waiting.
Not at all!
I'm officially going out with Ishihara-san.
Which is why, right now, she's my number one.
Good luck, Tachibana!
You can use this kickboard, too!
Mind if we stop at the convenience store?
Um, Watari-kun...
Would you like to come over to my house for lunch?
Right now?
I'm sorry!
I guess this is too spontaneous.
I'd love to go, it's just...
R-Right, it's okay.
Don't mind me.
I even got you to say you loved me, and yet...
It's weird, right?
I think I've gotten even greedier than before.
I keep thinking that I wish we could spend more time together.
Suzu, your brother's calling.
Got it.
You're late!
Renon-chan's already here, so we're gonna go ahead and eat.
I'm sorry. Something came up.
After I chilled watermelon for us and everything?!
Well, I guess it's fine.
Just try to hurry home afterward.
And don't forget the ice cream, okay?
Okay.
So with that, do you mind if I come over?
You will? Really?
I'm going to call my mother! Just a minute!
Oh, right.
Of course she'd have parents at home.
But...
What if...
We're back!
Watari-kun is here!
Welcome back, Yukari-chan.
m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100
Ishihara Mio
Hello, Watari-kun.
H-Hello!
They're both so pretty.
It all looks great.
I made that potato salad all by myself.
It's good. The bitterness makes it really stand out.
Please, say something!
I'll go make some tea!
Thank you.
Yukari-chan sure is excited.
This is the first time she's ever brought home a male friend.
Did she tell her mother I was just a friend?
I've heard lots about you.
How you take care of your little sister in place of your parents,
and how you're such a nice boy.
Well, I'm not that...
What do you normally do for meals?
Our aunt is usually busy with work,
but she leaves us an allowance, so we do our best from there.
That's impressive.
You're probably better at cooking than Yukari-chan.
What?!
Oh, no, I'm only good at struggle meals.
I'm going to get better!
Sure, honey.
Is this you as a little kid?
Yeah! That's my second birthday, and that's me during the 7-5-3 children's festival.
What about this one?
That's from my little brother's kindergarten graduation.
Oh, yeah. She said she had a little brother.
Where is he now?
Uh, well...
We're having Shou-kun go to swim class every week to strengthen his body.
When Yukari-chan was in middle school,
he was quite sickly, so I was by his side all the time.
Yukari-chan hardly got any attention as a result.
Which is why I worried about what kind of boys
she might start hanging around once she got into high school.
But with a nice boy like you, I don't have to worry at all.
Mom, that's so rude to Watari-kun!
You're so overprotective.
But come on, Yukari-chan.
I know you've generally got it together,
but there are crucial areas where you're still very inexperienced.
There's a lot you don't know about the world.
That's because you've always been so strict about what I can and can't do.
Well, I'm already in high school!
I'm not a child anymore!
Right, Watari-kun?
Huh? Uh, yeah.
I don't know about that.
Anyway, Mom, don't you have somewhere to be?
Oh, dear. I lost track of the time.
Watari-kun, please make yourself at home.
Huh?
She needs to go pick up my brother from his swim class.
I'm off!
Now it's just the two of us.
Huh?!
Hey. Why don't we study in my room for a bit?
Honestly, I was 99% sure today wouldn't go this way.
Why don't you sit down here?
Sorry.
I got so excited about you coming over, I forgot my brother had swim class today.
I-Ishihara-san!
Yes?
Um...
I-It's a bit...
Oh, right.
It's better when it's dark, right?
Let's pick up where we left off the other night.
But we don't know when your mother and little brother are coming back.
It's fine.
After my brother's swim class,
the moms all have tea together, and she doesn't come back until evening.
But she knows I'm here today.
She might come straight back to make sure I'm not up to no good.
She won't.
My mom's the type of person who still sees high schoolers as little kids.
To her, her daughter's boyfriend is nothing more than a friend who is a boy.
Oh, yeah. She called me your "male friend."
I did tell her you were my boyfriend, you know.
We were only going out as a trial before,
but we're boyfriend and girlfriend for real now, right?
Right.
I put a lot of thought into today.
I brought protection,
and it's a safe day, too.
So before my mother comes home, we could...
I don't know about that.
This is... still too soon for me.
I want us to become real lovers already.
You don't?
Are you really sure...
you're okay with it being me?
I'm okay with it because it's you.
Watari-kun.
S-Sorry.
You need to take off the ribbon.
There's a hook in back.
Put your arms around me.
I'm sorry!
Ishihara-san...
My heart is beating so fast right now.
Mine, too.
I'm home.
Is Watari-kun still here?
Welcome back!
Hello.
I brought cake.
You got home fast.
Where's Shou-kun?
I forgot that I'm supposed to pick him up an hour later today,
so I went and got you two a treat.
Then I'll go ahead and make some tea downstairs.
You two were up here studying without even a drink?
I'm sorry Yukari-chan is so inconsiderate.
It's okay.
I'll go help her.
Um... I'm sorry. I'll leave now.
Watari-kun.
I think Yukari-chan is still a child.
What about you?
Thank you for having me.
Where's Watari-kun?
He remembered something urgent and left.
You didn't do something that put him in an uncomfortable position, did you?
I didn't!
Don't try to hide it.
I'm your mother. I can see right through you.
W-We can do whatever we want.
We're boyfriend and girlfriend!
Yukari-chan.
Can I ask you to do one thing for me?
What is it?
Maybe you should just stick to being friends with him?
This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gotten caught up in the moment.
But that isn't even the biggest problem for me.
I can't talk about this with just anyone.
But I need someone to talk to.
The temperature will be reaching a high of 40°C today.
It's likely to be the most brutal heat we'll see this year.
Nao-kun.
You're finally awake.
Huh?
Satsuki?
Why are you here?
You called for me.
You don't remember?
Wait, when did I get here?
You were really in a pickle, huh?
With Miss F-Cup.
How do you know about that?
You told me so yourself earlier.
What?
You didn't do anything wrong.
You're a healthy high school boy.
It'd be weirder if you didn't get caught up in a moment like that.
And Miss F-Cup is being far too impatient.
No matter how much she's prepared, if you rush things and mess up,
you'll be feeling the consequences for a long time.
Mess up...
That's right.
You wouldn't want to have a kid during high school,
like your parents did.
Having everyone turn against you,
needing to elope,
and leaving destroyed families in your wake...
That's not something you could handle right now.
How do you... know about that?
Didn't I tell you?
When it comes to you and your family, I know everything there is to know.
So you can lean on me more.
If you like, you can practice on me
to make sure you don't mess up when it counts.
When did you get one of those?
I didn't.
This is the one that was in your pocket.
You secretly bought it at the convenience store while she was on the phone, right?
It's okay.
I'm prepared to accept all of you.
I... I can't breathe.
I'm going to die.
I'm really going to drown.
You're back.
Are you okay?
Huh? I... How long have I been...
Satsuki? What...
It's really hot, so I thought I'd do some swim practice on my own in the river,
but then I found you all dried up by the roadside.
I dragged you into the shade here and did some first aid.
Oh.
Did I say anything to you?
No. You sounded like you were having a nightmare.
Did something happen?
I thought you were hanging out with Miss F-Cup.
I... I'm so far from Ishihara-san's ideal,
but she said she's fine with me.
So my head was in the clouds...
Properly caring for someone outside of your family is a lot harder than I thought.
Can I interpret that as "dating girls is a real pain"?
I mean...
I shouldn't be saying that to you.
But you're the only person I can tell what I really feel.
You're the most convenient.
Sorry. That was a horrible thing for me to say.
Was it?
Yes. You baby me too much.
Oh?
You're getting babied by me?
Like a child.
I think Yukari-chan is still a child.
I want us to become real lovers already.
You don't?
What about you?
That's right. I'm a child.
Are you crying?
I'm not!
Your face is all wet, though.
You did that!
Translation Jun Nozaki Timing Andy Ellis Editing & Typesetting Geoff Mazzolini Final Quality Control Becky Cottrill