I'm gonna go get a drink.
Amamiya. I'm coming too.
Without exchanging a word...
We've arrived.
Hey, do you think they'll be surprised if they come back to find nobody here?
Shall we?
THESE TWO HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OFF TRACK
- So cold... - So hot...
THUMP THUMP
Minato!
Kenta. Hello.
You doing those questions I gave you?
Seniors.
- Scurry, scurry. - I was doing them till just a second ago.
You sure about that?
Is this one of your juniors?
Yep. Cutie, isn't he?
Does Kenta look out for you like he should?
He loves to pretend he's all that, but he couldn't be farther from "that."
I beg your pardon?
FADE
- See ya. - Bye-bye.
See you.
POKE OUT
- Are you done? - Hikawa?
You could have just been yourself, you know.
It's not that.
It's not that I wasn't being myself,
it's just that I don't know those older people.
Were you scared?
MEMORIES OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
A little.
So she's shy around strangers...
Hikawa.
Are you maybe scared of me too?
Huh?
No.
Not anymore.
I'm not scared of you.
Thank goodness.
Of course. Amamiya is human too.
He hurts, and worries over things too.
This is all so obvious, and yet...
Just how have I been treating him all this time?
Amamiya.
Man, what do I do? I can't look her in the face.
Huh?
- A co-co-co-- - Co?
There! Down there! Behind you!
Look! There! There!
Huh? What?
HEH - HAH
Oh, my gosh...
I thought you'd gone mad!
Well, because... Sorry about that.
I don't want to be friends by me prying open the door.
I want to know you for you.
I want to be genuine friends.
I want you to smile.
That's all.
That's all it was.
And yet...
EPISODE 9 SELF-AWARENESS
They sure are taking their time.
Isn't this way too long for a little break?
Do they even want to study?
Exams are coming up, you know.
- You're one to talk. - Says you!
OPERATION "SURPRISE THEM WHEN THEY COME BACK"
So, Yota.
Who do you like?
Why do you ask?
Well, you never talk about this stuff. So I'm curious.
Miki.
Huh?
- Koyun. - Huh?
Hayato, Daichi, Gin.
Mom, Dad, Haruto, Sakura.
Whoa, slow down there.
At least include Minato, please.
Hey, Yota.
If you ever do get a crush on someone, I'll be right there to have your back.
Seeing as you've done so much for me.
- I knew I could count on you. - Yeah!
Hey, they're back.
Huh? Where is everyone?
All their stuff is still here. Maybe they went to the bathroom?
Well, wherever it is, they'll be back soon.
I guess you're right.
The way Yota suppresses his feelings in order to stay friends with Miki...
I can tell it's draining him.
And similarly, if Hikawa falls for Yota,
he won't return the feelings.
She really shouldn't go there...
Or so I thought.
But really, these aren't the things that you can just will in and out of existence.
I wish I hadn't noticed this.
It feels like she's finally opened up a little to me.
- So I can't just barge in and-- - Amamiya.
Here.
I've only got two left. So take it while you can.
Thank you.
This sucks...
POPPING OUT
- "Take it while you can?" Ouch! - You were here?
ART ROOM
Have you always had lunch here in the Art Room, Tsukiko?
Yeah. I can finish my lunch early here and then get straight back to work.
Very practical.
APPEARED IN EP 6 GRADE 1 CLASS 2 - LIBRARY REP
I'm Tsukiko Shimojima.
I did start out eating with everyone in the classroom.
But we had a pretty big group, and it's not like we were all best buddies.
GROUP THAT JUST CAME TO BE SAME MIDDLE SCHOOL - FRIENDS
SAME CLUB - SIT TOGETHER ALWAYS CHATTING
We also had this unspoken rule that we all had to wait for everyone before we'd eat.
I thought to myself, "Wait, is this really what close friends do?"
So I started distancing myself, and kind of broke away from the group.
HAHA
But it's not that I left on bad terms or anything.
I still hang out with everyone separately.
Oh, no! Now she's going to think I'm a terrible person.
I get it.
I get it so much that now I feel sick.
Empathy.
Are you okay?
Well, I'm not very good at operating in groups either.
Honestly, I can see it.
LOOKING
Oh, man.
If only we'd been able to chat sooner.
YAY
Strawberries today.
Would you like some?
Are you sure?
GRADE 1 CLASS 6
AFTER SCHOOL STUDY SESSION
So, curry...
Anyone want curry?
- Huh? - What?
I mean, when do we ever not want curry?
You're on board! I like you.
So, there's apparently this famous curry place at the new mall that just opened up.
MAKE A LITTLE PIT STOP
- Can we go? - Sure.
COVERED BY THEIR COMMUTER PASS
But it'll mean you two will have to ride the train with us.
I don't mind.
Me neither.
What about dinner at home?
Koyun. You're always worrying about that. I'll be fine.
"Always"?
All right! Then we're having an outing!
STATION - SCHOOL TROT TROT TROT
Wow.
- Is that where you hold on? - Yes?
- So jealous. - Jealous?
SPARKLE SPARKLE
I don't need to hold onto anything. I can stand.
Core! Strength!
So, that's how you're competing?
You're heavy.
That's not holding your own.
I'm not using my hands, so it still counts.
No way does that count.
Things have changed so much from how they were not too long ago.
Middle school felt like a fish tank, and me a creature that couldn't breathe.
I couldn't be like the others, and that pained me.
I realized I was living somewhere where I didn't belong.
But even when I fled, there was no place to belong.
I felt like I was at fault for not being able to adapt.
It hurt... It hurt so much...
But then...
Then I found my way out of the fish tank
and I realized I didn't have to endure the pain of living in a small world.
Once I realized I didn't have to settle,
it all seemed so trivial.
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
DEAR STUDENTS, CONGRATULATIONS ON ENTERING HIGH SCHOOL
Club activities, school events, even friends...
If I could just spend the next three years in peace,
then none of that even matters.
Things have changed a lot since then.
Wow, it's so nice here around the train station now.
Or maybe I've changed as well?
It's so different compared to before the mall was here.
I'll bet the rent around here has gone bonkers.
Who are you to judge?
Yeah. Everything will be fine.
I can just pretend those bad memories don't exist.
GRAND OPENING SALE
Let's see. We're here, and the food court is here, so...
FOOD COURT
This way.
POWER WALKING - GAH
I knew you'd come to that conclusion. It's the opposite direction.
JEEZ
Here. It's this way.
Are you sure? You're not tricking me, are you?
I'm sure.
Hey, what was that "I know you" attitude just now?
I can get behind this!
FLASH POWERED BY FAN LOVE
Really?
Whoa...
- Miki. - Whoa! Personal space, dude! What is it?
- Igarashi's here. - What?
We don't get along anymore.
We should keep him away from Hikawa, yeah?
So, Koyun told you?
That they used to date.
Yeah. Very briefly though.
That they're on bad terms.
Do you think it'll turn into a fight if they do run into each other?
No, I don't think it'd go that far.
Well, either way, I don't want Hikawa feeling bad.
Let's keep them apart.
Agreed.
What's up, Koyun?
Can't let him see.
- Yota, look! A dog. - What?
Let's go see it.
But then, maybe nothing will happen.
He could have actually moved on already.
Yeah, I guess you're right.
Hikawa?
I don't remember anyone by that name from middle school.
Still, to have supposedly forgotten she even existed...
Well, I guess all we can do is hope that he gets on with his next girlfriend.
What?
Oh, sorry. Just saying random things.
I don't know anything about Igarashi's love life since we started high school.
Maybe he's still single?
- Maybe he's taken? Who knows. - Girlfriend?
What?
- What a lovely meal. - What a lovely meal.
Yeah! Outta my way!
Would you pipe down?
- I'll be damned if anyone beats me! - Oh, man. Someone's using it.
- Get back here! - Let's go elsewhere.
MATSURI - ONDO NO MASTER
There! There! There!
Ouch!
Sorry, Yota!
UPPI PURI
A photo while we're here!
Am I even allowed in this thing?
Why wouldn't you be?
I get nervous.
Ready? Three, two, one...
Yay!
Welp, that was so much fun.
I love this guilty pleasure of messing around before exams.
I could get hooked.
Please don't get addicted.
We'll hit the books again tomorrow.
Yota!
See you!
- See you. - Bye-bye.
WE ARE ADORBS
- Good for you. - What? Don't know what you mean.
GRINNING - PRICKLY
I guess all we can do is hope that he gets on with his next girlfriend.
Come on, man. Of course she's going to have had past relationships.
But honestly? With Igarashi? It's just too out there.
I kind of get how she'd have... feelings for Yota, but...
No. I don't want to "get" that.
BONK
- Oh, man. - Hey, what's up?
I don't get it at all.
Told you. 'Vators are the best.
You Azumis are the only ones I know who call elevators "'vators"...
Back in middle school,
I hated Tsubasa Igarashi.
- Looks lame. - Our misaligned personalities.
- It's serious, man. - His unrequited love for me.
- Come, now. She's got Igarashi. - Everyone ignoring my feelings.
- Don't keep Igarashi waiting. - Everyone only wanting a good time.
I hated everything. Everything.
But that's not the reason I want to avoid talking about him.
It's because of what I did to him.
You.
What's with the hair?
WHOA
M-Me?
It was some wild color the last time I saw you too.
MATCH HIS VIBES FOR NOW FIDGET FIDGET
So, what? I look good no matter what, am I right?
Gosh, your fidgeting is gross.
He's acting like I'm not even here.
I'm out of that fish tank,
but the more I get to know myself, the more I hate myself.
I...
I never liked you. Not even for a second.
I've been too afraid to face the one I hurt with my own malice.
I'm nothing but a coward.
See you.
Igarashi.
What do you want?
Are you enjoying high school?
What? Are you some long-lost relative, or something?
GONG
Crap... What to do?
That clapback was actually hilarious.
I knew it. We can't converse.
I'm fine.
And it's not like I need your concern, either.
You really surprised me there when you stopped Igarashi like that.
EPISODE: TALKING A BIT MORE BEFORE WE GO HOME
Thanks.
I wonder why I did it?
I had so much fun with you guys today, eating dinner and stuff.
Maybe that's why?
I definitely acted out of character.
Koyun.
Here. Thanks for this.
Excuse me? What's with the bag?
Who cares? It's not like you're gonna see anyone on your way home.
I did. And it was her, of all people...
Are you enjoying high school?
You're one to talk.
What a pain.
Say...
You only went out with Igarashi because of me, right?
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken out of turn without considering your feelings.
What?
You spoke out of turn?
Yeah, didn't I?
We were here once before, chatting,
where I told you it's "good enough" and you're being "greedy."
You did? Maybe...
What? That's it?
Sorry, my memory's a bit hazy.
CONFUSED
What? Then why did you two date?
- It's a secret. - What?
SHOCK
If I tell you, you're gonna look down on me.
Hey, hold up...
That comment is not allowed to slide.
Such force...
I...
I thought I'd feel better if I fell in love with somebody
who actually loves me.
But I didn't feel better. In fact, it only made things worse.
And in the end, I only wound up hurting Igarashi.
Or rather, I went out of my way to hurt him.
I was acting in a way that went against my heart.
All I could think about was myself.
And, Miki... You hate people who do that.
I have nothing to say to that.
I mean, no matter what you did, Igarashi was going to get hurt, right?
And that's not your fault, or anything.
And besides. I wouldn't know how to hate you even if I tried.
And I'd never hate you over something like that.
BASHFUL
OH?
All right!
Let's overwrite these sucky memories with new, happy relationships.
No, thank you.
You can do that for the both of us.
- Who would be good for you? - What?
(IGNORING) WHAT SORT OF PERSON...
I'd like someone who's the complete opposite to Igarashi for you.
Someone kind, with his head in the clouds.
Someone who can meet you at your pace.
I'd like someone who likes you for you.
Someone kind, and with a big heart.
- No, don't bother about me. - No, don't bother about me.
JINX
Well, it's not like dating is the be-all and end-all.
I'm having plenty of fun just as we are now.
But a little love could be just the cherry on top, right?
Like a cherry tomato in your bento.
Is that the right saying?
Who even knows.
Love.
Koyuki, do you like Igarashi?
No, I don't.
That's just what people are saying.
I see...
You know what?
Atagawa's been really coming on strong with me lately.
I'm not interested in anyone other than the person I like.
Honestly, it's getting annoying.
Hey, Miki.
My heart isn't as pure as yours.
- See you. - I'll await your tomato report.
Personally...
Tomato report! I love it.
I could never recommend myself to anyone.
So...
You find happiness, Miki.
Subtitle translation by: Rychelle Brittain