I can't believe you got a boyfriend.
- Huh? - What's wrong with that guy?
He's delusional if he can't tell you're a gorilla.
What?!
Sounds like maybe you're just jealous of him.
Keep it up and he's gonna see how weird you are and dump you.
Come and say that once you finally have a successful relationship yourself.
Although, I doubt you ever will.
Shut up.
Hey, don't worry!
You piss me off!
I THINK WE SHOULD BREAK UP
Why?
Did I do something?
He hasn't read my texts. What? I'm blocked?
It's all over!
It's always over before it really begins.
I wonder what he even liked about me in the first place.
He barely got to know me.
Meanwhile, Koyun's been in a relationship for so long.
I'm kinda jealous.
Tell me, Koyun, what is it you don't like about Igarashi?
Huh?
I bet... there is a lot about him you can't stand.
AZUMI
But he seems to really like you.
Be glad someone likes you and stop taking it for granted.
Good point.
I should be grateful that someone even likes me.
What if Igarashi's the only guy out there...
Who'll keep liking me.
Koyun?
So, where should we go next?
Karaoke?
Mmm, sure why not.
- Could be fun. - After that, Koyun dropped her club
activities, and started dating Igarashi.
I really wish I had never said that to her.
Be glad someone likes you and stop taking it for granted.
Does that mean this whole thing was my fault?
THE RAMPARTS OF ICE
New Semester
Ugh. This year's almost over.
AMAMIYA RESIDENCE LIVING ROOM
He's probably sad the seniors are graduating, right?
No! That's not it!
Why're you whining? Ah, the band girl?
- THIRD YEAR - Yup.
I said that's not it!
Just tell her how you feel.
Sure.
Yeah' well...
You of all people will never understand how I feel, alright?
Hm, so you admit it, Hayato.
I totally understand.
Uh, no you don't!
You've never been in love with anyone before.
Wow! That was rude.
I'll have you know, I've always liked people as much as they liked me.
- That's exactly what I'm talking about! - That's exactly what I'm talking about!
That's just you not disliking anyone.
Isn't that a good thing?
I don't get why it's bad.
It is bad.
And that's why you don't freaking react to getting dumped.
Well, me getting depressed or not isn't gonna change the fact they wanted
to break up with me, y'know?
Ugh...
Drive me nuts, you know that?
Someday, when you finally fall in love with someone...
And they don't care about you at all, I hope it really pushes you over
the deep end, man.
Same!
We're friends, right?
See? Aren't they mean?
Mm.
Oh, I made her laugh.
It's so cute.
STARE
AMAMIYA RESIDENCE LIVING ROOM
Ugh.
I wouldn't do something so pointless anyway.
- I thought so. - I thought so.
Emotions...
The more you show them...
The more it puts you at a disadvantage.
And it makes you more vulnerable.
You know, I've always wondered.
You tell me to set goals, but then you stop me from chasing my dreams?!
I can tell you're not being serious about this.
Anyway, aren't you just moving out to mess around?
I can't believe this!
What the hell? You don't know what you're talking about, you old bastard.
Ah, they're so loud.
He's nothing but a troublemaker. Wish he'd leave already.
People get emotional and argue.
What feelings could make people go that far?
Emotions are just a product of your mind, right?
So shouldn't you be able to control them?
Whoa. Hey, hold on!
Hikawa!
Ah...
Oh, I... I'm so sorry, Miss.
No! No, no, no!
Alright, calm it down, brain!
Do it. Do it!
SOFT BREATHING
A sea slug?
Oh, yeah! Mm-hm. Looking good!
Mm. Look here, now here.
Wow! Hm?
You free the day after tomorrow?
Yota?
Sorry, I have practice all day.
Roger that.
- Yota. - Huh?
Did I keep you waiting?
Not at all.
You're pretty easy to spot.
Well, that's good.
PUFFY FLUFFY
- And you're all puffy, Yota. - You're all fluffy.
Sorry to drag you with me.
It's fine.
I've also been wanting to see where Miki works.
I know it's hard to go alone.
I marked the location here on the map.
Wow! You're so prepared.
Hmm.
- This way. - Why, thank you.
DREAM DREAM BURGER
Hi, welcome...
Oh! Hey, you guys!
HUFF, HUFF
What happened to you?
We... we wandered around for thirty minutes.
What? Why? It's only five minutes from the station.
- Hm? - I think it's the other way, Koyun.
What?
Sorry for asking you to come at such a weird time.
- Thank you. - I- I can't really talk 'til after lunch.
This is the most popular one, but I personally recommend the one with
avocado.
Yota, you'll like this one.
It's spicy!
That's what I'll get.
Oh, wow!
Uh, hold on a sec.
Take your time, don't worry!
I'll get... the avocado.
Okay. Order in!
A chili and an avocado!
- Okay. - Hey, Miki.
Are they in a relationship?
Huh?
No way. They're not dating. We're all just friends.
Oh, really?
I mean... they just look really cute together, is all.
- Huh? - The short girl with the tall guy.
Look at that.
Aren't they a cute pair?
So heartwarming, gives me the feels.
Yota and Koyun.
It's literally never crossed my mind until now.
But if those two started dating...
What would I do?
Support the heck out of them.
That'd be good... really good!
Koyun would be way happier if she dated someone like Yota.
Don't need one.
Ugh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
I've learned my lesson.
I shouldn't meddle in her love life anymore.
Hm?
How do I eat this?
There's no way this'll fit in my mouth, right?
AH LAUGH
Huh? What's so funny?
Yeah. This is a great idea!
- AMAMIYA - I'm home.
- Welcome back. - Oh, you're home too.
What about your job?
- I got off early today. - Oh!
Check out this picture of Ponta looking like a sea slug.
Wow, that's so cute!
Send it to me when you get a sec.
Okay.
Um, let's see, where's our text thread?
Huh? Yota has a profile pic now?
He never does.
A hamburger?
Hm?
Ugh!
Ahh... What?
Minato, you sent it yet?
Uh, what're you doing?
What in the world... is going on?
I knew it!
Yota and Hikawa are...
GRADE 1 CLASS 6
Winter break ended too soon.
Yota, your profile pic...
What's the deal?
Huh? Oh, my profile?
It's the same one Koyun has.
CASUALLY
- Miki drew it. - Wait a sec, Miki?
PRAISE ME
The Alive Burger is really cute.
I love all the compliments!
Yeah.
I learned that when Koyun and I went to Miki's job.
CRACK
Just... you two?
Yeah. Remember I asked if you were free, but you said you had club activities.
Ugh! Now that you mention it...
The moral of the story is to be considerate by telling people
what you're inviting them to!
- Yota. - Huh?
Being left out is lonely.
You saying how you actually feel is very creepy.
GRADE 1 CLASS 2
So, we still haven't decided who's on the library committee.
That's harsh.
Winter break flew by cause I was stuck working.
The library committee eats up a lot of after school time, doesn't it?
- Yeah, I absolutely don't wanna be on it. - But work was so slow.
The shifts are flexible, the customers are chill and also not my age, so
- it's the best job I could ask for. - I'm already a class rep.
I can't take time off from my club.
I hope I never lose it.
Anyone not in a club and not on a committee yet?
Hm?
Huh?
LIBRARY COMMITTEE (2) SHIMOJIMA, HIKAWA
HIKAWA
BOOM!
It seems like there's a lot to do.
When we're on reception duty, we have to stay until everyone
else goes home.
SILENCE
The silence is awkward.
I have to change my work shifts.
Hm?
Oh, so you're not in a club either, Shimojima?
Huh? Oh, no, I'm in the art club!
Uh, um, but, well, since I just kinda draw whatever I want, people tend
to think I have it easy, or how should I put it...
PISSES ME OFF, PISSES ME OFF, PISSES ME OFF, PISSES ME OFF
do nothing and have tons of free time on our hands.
All the jocks in sports clubs think us art kids sit around and
Oh no! Did I vent too much?
I'm mad...
At those who make assumptions and look down on others.
Huh?
I didn't think that kind of stuff happened at this school.
Huh? Did she just agree?
With me?
Hm?
Wait.
- Sorry. - Huh?
I'm going that way for a bit.
Yeah, sure.
See ya.
Oh. Okay, see ya.
Hikawa really wasn't as scary as I thought.
Yota!
Koyun.
Ah.
- Happy New Year, my friend. - Happy New Year, my friend.
What about your club?
We have the day off.
We can't use the gym today.
Gotcha.
Wait. Have you been here all this time?
Yep.
I like to zone out sometimes and just look up at the sky.
Oh.
So, you got something on your mind?
No. That's not it.
I don't think about anything.
I see.
So peaceful.
Both this location, and Yota himself.
He's so relaxed.
Like a passing cloud.
Well, he's so tall his head's basically in them.
HEH HEH
Not thinking about anything is hard.
I'm always thinking about something, usually worrying.
Or getting angry over trivial things.
An annoying habit of mine.
I'm the total opposite of him.
I can't imagine Yota letting himself get bent out of shape.
Or worrying about anything the way I do.
That's nice.
I wanna be more like him.
- Agh. - Yo, Amamiya, pay attention, would ya!
Those two?
Seriously?
Well, I finished that one too.
There're fewer people here than I thought.
An art book?
Y-Yeah. I can learn a lot from reading it.
But you're already so good at drawing.
No, no, I'm not that good.
Wait, what? Have you seen my drawings?
Oh, yeah.
When we were doing oil paintings, I could see it from where I was sitting.
- Sorry! I looked without asking. - Swish.
What? It's fine, it's fine. Come back.
- See ya! - See ya later.
Maybe I should look at some art books too.
I wonder which one I should start with.
GROWL
Huh?
He's easy to spot.
CLEARLY YOTA
- THUD - Oh, sorry!
Oh! Koyun.
You scared me.
Don't you know how dangerous it is to be in my blind spot?
You make it sound like you're a truck.
What're you doin' here? Ah, same here.
Are you in a hurry?
Hm?
It's warming my hands up.
It's gonna get cold.
Don't you have dinner at home?
What about that?
Oh no, it's fine.
I can manage both just fine.
Figures.
I noticed you've been staying late after school recently.
Oh, I'm on library duty right now.
Ah, they forced it on you?
That's not what happened.
Hm? Wait, is that what happened?
Although I've become interested in things I'd never been exposed to before.
So it's not all that bad.
Or not yet.
And I have time to daydream.
Oh, really?
I should've picked library committee too, then.
Your club activities don't leave you any time.
Hmm.
But spending my time daydreaming sounds nice.
Talking with Yota...
I feel so at ease.
It feels warm.
The fries aren't salty enough today.
- Huh? Mine are really good. - Hikawa and Yota.
I wish they wouldn't.
Because if you fall in love with Yota...
You'll just end up getting hurt.
Isn't your house that way, Yota?
Yeah.
But I'll walk you to the station.
Oh, you don't have to.
I'm just kinda worried you'll get lost.
I won't get lost.
Yota!
Agh! That scared me.
Turn on your lights. Jeez.
- Are you okay? - Y- Yeah.
Sorry.
Here, hold on to me.
There you go.
Is something wrong?
Huh? Uh, no.
Just now...
It reminded me of when I was a kid.
I-I suddenly remembered my dad.
It felt floaty.
- FLOATY - Wait, what am I even saying?
Then I'll let it slide if you accidentally call me Dad.
That's what elementary school kids do to their teachers.
I see now.
That's why they do it.
I wonder... how my dad's doing.
If you were my kid, I'd have to go to the Lost Child Center every time you left
the house.
I told you I wouldn't get lost every time.
Yota, hi!
Huh?
Why're you here?
I forgot something at the store.
And Haruto and Sakura?
Oh, your dad's at home with them.
Oh, so he got home early today.
I'm assuming you already had dinner?
A family member?
I didn't actually. Sorry I didn't reach out sooner.
Is she his sister? I'm wondering if maybe I should go home.
- Yota. - Well, be there soon.
I- I'm walking my friend to the station.
Huh?
Oh, okay.
Be careful.
Yota, everything okay?
Hm?
With, um...
Well...
- Your sist- - My mom.
Huh?
That woman is my mother.
?? YEARS OLD - 16 YEARS OLD = ??
Not related by blood, obviously.
My real mother died when I was in elementary school.
Oh, I'm sorry. That's the normal reaction.
Oh. No...
It, it happened a long time ago, so I'm fine.
And well now...
They're my real family.