Suruga Seiryo Municipal High School
Long time no see.
Wow, look at your tan.
I went to the pool with my kid sister every day.
Literature Club
She's a no-show?
Nao-senpai doesn't come every day.
Sanada-senpai. Here.
Croaked Souvenirs
Akai-sensei gave us these. They're getting close to their best-before date.
Uh, right.
I've never had this much fun in my life.
They're good.
They really are.
Episode 3: A Replica Is Confused
It was over a month before she summoned me again.
Nao.
Just go away.
And don't come back.
Hurry up and get dressed.
Uh, right.
While time had stopped for me,
Sunao had continued to live her life without pause.
I'm always the last to know when the seasons change.
Sunao, did you do this?
I threw away the ticket and stuff.
Okay.
Bye. I'll see you later.
Yeah.
Thanks for keeping the photo for me.
I may get to spread my wings for a day,
but the next day, I don't even get to walk.
That's just how it is for me.
Whoa.
You're doing those hard problems?
It's my third time at it, though.
Mathematics II
Systematic Methods
G-Good morning.
Your hair.
Ah, sorry. I forgot to put it up.
You're not Aikawa, are you?
You're not Sunao Aikawa, are you?
Hey!
Aikawa!
Did I hurt you?
I'm fine.
You look like you're about to cry.
I'm not crying.
Sorry. I didn't mean to put you on the spot.
Let's sit.
So...
I'm actually just like you.
I'm just like you, Aikawa.
What?
You too, Sanada-kun?
In truth, I'd known for a while that something was off.
Sanada-kun was always so quiet.
He never made a sound or caused any friction.
He even breathed quietly.
It was hard to picture him on the basketball team.
Plus...
I wasn't the one who got hurt.
"I should've died a long time ago."
"Why did I wait so long to die?"
Is that K's suicide note?
From Soseki's Kokoro.
I always wondered why K died in the book.
Now that I've read it, I'm chewing over why there's no answer.
It also made me wonder what my own reaction would be in that situation.
Your own reaction, huh?
The zoo.
If we were going to the zoo tomorrow, I wouldn't want to die.
You seriously like those red pandas, don't you?
So you're really like me?
Yeah. I really am.
I'm not the real Shuya Sanada.
I see.
I'm not the real Sunao Aikawa, either.
I'm Sunao's replica.
Replica?
That's what we decided to call me.
It's because Sunao thinks I'm an imitation.
But Sunao just calls me "Nao." Maybe because it's easier for her.
Nao?
Yeah. Short for "Sunao."
Makes sense.
Okay, then maybe I should call you "Nao," too.
Hironaka calls you that, and I sort of feel left out.
Sure.
What should I call you?
Aki.
It's how you read the first character of Shuya's name.
So Aki-kun?
Yeah. Is it easier that way?
Yeah.
Hey, you two! The bell already rang!
People might think we like to play hooky.
You're right.
It's so strange.
I can't believe there's another replica like me, and that it's Sanada-kun...
Or rather, Aki-kun.
Since second grade?
Yup.
I had no idea you'd known Hironaka that long.
We met in the neighborhood's kid group.
Wow, who knew?
But nobody's figured it out? Not even Hironaka?
That you and Aikawa are, well, different?
Yeah.
Sunao doesn't talk to people much, and she doesn't come to club, either.
How about you?
When were you created?
In June of this year.
The morning Shuya was supposed to go back to school after being hospitalized.
Wow, that's so recent.
So you've taken his place since?
Yeah. Shuya hasn't set foot outside since breaking his ankle.
Not even once? Not even for rehab?
Yeah, well...
His doctor told him he'd make a full recovery if he went to rehab.
But he holed himself up at home and never even went for a checkup.
I see.
I do feel bad for Shuya.
He can't play basketball anymore due to his messed-up ankle.
He never feels like coming to school.
Where his heart should be, it's completely hollow.
Sanada-kun must really love basketball.
He really does.
Basketball was the one thing he was really good at throughout his life.
People regularly praised him for his skills,
so he practiced from early in the morning till late at night.
But maybe he loved the team environment more than basketball itself.
So I probably don't have long.
What?
Nothing.
Let's put these away and head to club.
Sure.
So now, we had a shared secret.
Morning.
Good morning.
It's not like Aki-kun has told me everything he's thinking.
But...
Now that I know his secret, it feels like things have changed between us.
It's almost as if we're comrades instead of just friends.
I don't have that with anyone else.
Whenever we're together, I feel so at ease.
I have to say, you're really hitting it off. You two, I mean.
Are we really?
We are in the same class.
You vibe with each other, which is great.
Nao-senpai, you seem sunnier.
And Sanada-senpai now has better instincts.
What?
Take a look.
I applied your pointers from last time, and this draft is rocketing along.
I think I'm gonna finish it real soon, thanks to you two.
Oh, good for you.
The deadline's just around the corner, so good luck.
Right. I'll make it happen.
Ricchan has been submitting novels to contests for years, but she's never won.
Raigeki Novel Prize
Still, she never gives up and keeps trying again.
And that makes her shine brightly.
Career Path Questionnaire
You can go to your first-choice college, thanks to your grades.
But you need to ask yourself if this is really what you want to do
with the rest of your life.
Yes, sir.
I'm back.
Here.
Thanks.
Nao?
Are you and Sanada dating?
What?
N-No, we're not!
But you two have gotten close, right?
Well, um, yeah.
What do you two talk about? At school?
I-I guess we talk about books, and...
I'm actually just like you.
And about career paths?
W-Well, you know how Sanada-kun can't play basketball anymore, right?
Everyone at school knows an upperclassman lured him into an ambush
and broke his ankle.
So there's no hope for a sports scholarship?
We don't know yet.
Basketball was the one thing he was really good at throughout his life.
I think it's because he's lost something he could absorb himself in.
Sunao, do you know?
Do you know who injured Sanada-kun's ankle?
Yeah.
That would be...
Koh Hayase, the former basketball star.
He always liked to brag about that sort of stuff.
Sanada could've just gone to the authorities.
Ugh, it's Hayase. Yikes.
You shouldn't look.
It's been a minute.
What? So now you wanna be our team's manager?
Huh? Manager?
Pressured Sunao to join
Did trial membership with basketball team
A year ago
Do I have something on my face?
Uh, no.
If you've got something to say, then say it, Aikawa.
R-Really, it's nothing.
Sorry, I'm not interested.
What's her deal?
Sunao worked as a manager for just one day.
Like the other first-year girls.
But I never knew.
Literature Club
How to Write a Story
Oh, I almost forgot.
Ikawama Shrine Fall Festival
Have you guys ever thought about going to this?
A festival?
Yeah. The event is a well-kept secret only the locals know about.
Nothing beats going to a shrine at the end of summer.
In that case, why don't we all go?
Whoa, there!
Unfortunately, I, Hironaka, will be too busy doing research for my story.
Until next week. Ciao, guys.
Ikawama Shrine Fall Festival
Still wanna go?
Yeah.
I think it's here.
Festival of Offerings
Goldfish Scooping
Corn on the Cob
Shaved Ice
Festival of Offerings
This is my first festival.
Mine too.
Candied Fruit
What is it?
I wanted to see you in a yukata.
Same here.
I've been wondering how you'd look in a yukata.
I guess we'll both have to pretend we're wearing them.
You're so weird.
In that case, what's the pattern on the yukata I'm wearing right now?
Um, a flowery one?
Maybe on blue fabric. Or maybe more aqua.
Would you be wearing a plain navy yukata?
There. Now that we're in yukatas, we should eat.
Is there anything you'd like?
Let's see...
Shaved Ice
Too cold!
Freezing!
What flavor did you get?
You can guess.
You know now?
I don't think so.
Your taste buds are all blue.
Blue Hawaii.
Bingo.
You realize you said "taste buds" instead of "tongue," right?
Then, is calling it a "licker" dialectical?
I'd think so.
Do you want to try mine, too?
Sure.
Melon.
Bingo.
I don't want to lose you.
Me neither.
Whenever I'm with Aki-kun,
I keep experiencing so many things for the first time.
And it looks to be the same for Aki-kun.
Our smiles are so innocent and carefree.
Red Panda
I wanted to save these moments in my heart forever.
I'm stuffed.
There was so much to do.
Yeah. Too bad there are no fireworks.
An Abe River Fireworks Festival would have a huge turnout.
Yeah, probably.
Hey, an insect's chirping.
Nao.
This will be our last day.
Why's that?
I won't be needed as a replica anymore.
I was created so Shuya could have his revenge.
Translation: Gad Onyeneho Timing: Mariana Martinez Editing: SMR Quality Control: Riley Dalton Translation Check: David Saylor