I WANT TO END THIS LOVE GAME
Hey...
I love you, Yukiya.
Huh?
It began one day in sixth grade.
We called it the "I love you" game.
Hey, did that get your heart racing?
Why would it?
Not coming from a shrimp like you.
Wh-What was that?!
L-Let me try again!
It's not going to make a difference.
Augh, now look what you've done. Your weird game got me killed.
That was a perfect run, too.
We take turns telling each other we love the other.
I said something super special just now!
The first one to blush loses.
Huh? You did?
Why aren't you listening?
FOUR YEARS LATER
Four years have passed since then.
I love you, Miku.
Me, too.
I love you, Yukiya.
Come on.
Stop being stubborn and just admit that gave you butterflies.
It's about time you admit that you've lost.
THUMP-THUMP
The "I love you" game we started as kids
still has no winner to this day.
EPISODE 1: MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND REFUSES TO ACCEPT DEFEAT
No cheating, Yukiya!
You definitely got shy just now!
No, I haven't lost.
It's a draw. A draw.
You're so stubborn.
This is never going to end until you accept it.
You know, though...
That "I love you" face you made was pretty hot.
You're red again!
I guess that means I win, right?
Why would you think that?!
I don't think anyone else gets to say whether that got to me or not.
Here we go again.
Fine. I'll give you that draw for now.
You're lucky I'm so nice.
Those two are at it again.
Although...
I don't remember the "I love you" game being like that, do you?
My birthday's in January, which means I'm two months your senior.
They can never find a winner,
What the hell?!
so they changed the rules so that they're allowed to do anything to win.
You're such a child, trying to argue like that.
Say that again!
And you're a child for getting so upset too.
Worse, one of them has to admit defeat before the game's over,
so it's become an endurance race.
Well, I'll accept that it's a draw as long as you will.
They're allowed to do anything?
Eep!
That's the spirit. See? I'm so nice.
Are you serious?
Childhood friends who can't admit to their own feelings.
Let's just watch over them warmly as they squirm.
I don't think I'll ever get enough of this.
Oh, I have to get going.
Already?
Say, Yukiya...
The high school entrance ceremony is tomorrow, right?
Yeah?
I hope we're in the same class.
I-I wouldn't really care if we aren't.
Sure.
Okay, bye, Uncle.
Thankies for the meal.
Sure.
Get home safe.
Dammit!
She keeps messing with me!
And what the hell was that "Thankies for the meal"?!
One minute, she's acting like a precocious brat,
and then she starts talking like a kid!
Her going back and forth between childish and mature is driving me crazy!
She's so freaking cute!
He's so honest whenever Miku isn't around.
Seems like a matter of time until Yuki loses.
Shit...
Why is this happening?
I never felt shy around Miku when the game first started.
I love you.
Sure, sure. I love you.
I lost at just about everything we did.
Yay! I win!
So this game was nothing more than an opportunity
Morning, Yukiya!
to see Miku struggling with defeat.
Jeez!
Alas, one day, in our second year of middle school...
ALAS...
I LOVE YOU
I love you, Yukiya.
What's this?
I think I heard your heart skip a beat there.
I thought I was used to hearing her voice by then,
but it rang so sweet that day.
That was when I first realized I had feelings for her.
Miku grew up faster than me.
At some point, her every move made me tremble.
Before I knew it...
Want some, Yukiya?
Thanks.
PIKULULU CONTAINS LIVE LACTOBACILLUS CULTURES
You were just jolted by the thought of an indirect kiss.
Why would I be?!
Hey, don't bite it!
Don't drink all of it!
Ever since I fell in love with her,
the "I love you" game came to be something more than a mere sport.
WHAT IF...
What if...
this game never existed?
Would someone else have...
This game must be what kept us connected to each other.
And the game went on for four years.
She's totally messing with me at this point.
I'm about to blurt out that I like her any minute now!
Because you're completely infatuated.
Sometimes, a man simply cannot resist.
After all this time calling her a shrimp or a washboard...
If she found out now...
Uh-oh!
You've been acting so tough,
but it turns out you thought I was cute the whole time.
You're a boy, too, after all.
Can't help but take it seriously
after we've been doing this all the time now, can you?
I'm going to die of embarrassment!
I cannot let her defeat me!
Here's your water.
And yet, she keeps pushing me around.
I've been working on myself ever since ninth grade to try to get ahead of her.
I'm finally growing taller, too.
That hair salon I told you about was pretty good though, right?
Yes.
To be honest, I had no idea my hairstyle would make such a difference.
Why do you think it isn't affecting her?
Maybe because you're so childish on the inside.
Like the way you think your hairstyle is enough to win her over.
Oh, don't be so mean to him, Hinako-kun.
Yukiya's put in a lot of work in such a short time.
Exactly!
Well, that should do it.
I thought I was screwed for a moment.
A FEW MINUTES AGO WAKANA, SAVE ME! - EW, ONII!
Wakana, save me!
Onii, you're so shiny.
Now I just need...
KOI-KYUN
This.
You may as well be mine.
I love this stuff.
I LOVE THIS STUFF
I just need to follow this, and I'm golden.
Shoujo manga is packed with every girl's hopes and dreams!
Though...
THUMP
This sparkly thing is a bit much for me.
No, I don't have a choice right now.
To be honest, I sometimes wonder if she might like me back.
We have been playing this game for four years,
but I can't be a hundred percent certain.
I CAN'T MAKE A MOVE...
I can't make a move.
I feel stupid for being such a coward.
I'm not good enough for her if I'm going to be this way.
I want to be such an awesome man that she has to admit defeat.
And then, when I finally win at the "I love you" game...
At that point...
I'll finally confess to her!
Okay!
First, I'll go pick Miku up at her place.
She opens the door, and there's a hot guy standing there.
BA-DUMP
Morning. You're as cute as always.
All right! All right! All right!
Get ready, Miku!
In high school, I'm not the same man I was before!
Oh, morning, Yukiya.
I was just about to ring your bell.
Y-Yukiya?!
A-An angel?!
I was about to collapse for a second there.
Hang on, how is she so cute in the high school uniform?!
Let me guess...
Did seeing me in a school uniform
get your heart going?
Stop it!
Stop making such cute motions!
Yes! Yes, yes, yes!
Yukiya's giving me such a good reaction!
I got up early and spent two hours preparing.
And I made sure my skin's in tip-top shape.
I don't think Yukiya gets it, though.
Why I'm so serious about this game.
Why I want to win this game.
I want him to approve of me as a girl.
Because I've always, always been in love with him.
Ever since that day.
I think it's working at least a little these days.
Not that he ever admits it.
But there's no point if I just declare it myself.
I want Yukiya to tell me I'm cute in his own words.
I have to win!
My pride as a girl depends on it!
It's all right, I'm doing my best!
I gotta stick out my non-existent chest!
Also...
ALSO...
Yukiya...
He looks so good in the high school uniform!
He's styled his hair, even.
Did he twist up his hair by himself?
MIRROR
That's so cute!
He used to be such a blob, and now he's got my heart racing.
Who gave him the right?!
I've already pictured him in his uniform countless times, though.
I expected this already.
I'm fine.
I'm too cute to look straight at, aren't I?
Keep it together, Yukiya!
It's going to be a repeat of middle school if I let her get the better of me!
I'm not the same man I was before high school.
And I'm going to make sure she understands!
Aren't you the one gazing at me?
So close! So close!
She's closer than I expected!
K-K-Kabedon!
He's kabedon-ing me!
Is kabedon even a thing anymore?
Not to mention...
His second button's loose!
Did he come prepared to take me down?
He's so snotty!
Although, it doesn't look like...
He was really ready for this.
You're so green.
You're ten years too early to take me on.
I'll make sure he knows his place!
Hey, wait, what is she up to?
I know you're trying to look cool, but it's a wee bit sloppy.
There.
That's a little better, right?
Oh? What's wrong?
Don't tell me...
Are you panicking just because my hands touched you a little?
You touching me doesn't do anything.
Y-You scared me, shouting like that.
Huh? But you grabbed my hand all of a sudden...
What's with that reaction?
Hang on...
Did that affect her?
Affect Miku?
Oh, really?
You let go, huh?
I guess you're too much of a wuss to handle any skinship.
You aren't even sultry at all.
Are you sure you're in high school starting today?
You're right.
Maybe I'm not being enough of a high schooler.
Wh-What are you...
Wait...
That's...
ADJUST ADJUST
Well?
Cute, right?
That's not fair!
Now you're gonna be forced to notice me every time I'm in your sight.
Let's see how long you can keep up the tough act.
Do you plan on going to school like that?
Yeah, why?
Don't. Bad idea.
What's wrong?
Are you feeling shy now?
That's not what I mean.
Think about how the other guys will look at you.
You probably only think that because of the way you look at me, Yukiya.
Wait, that means I win, doesn't it?
Wha?
You wouldn't say that if you didn't get turned on by me.
Don't be an idiot.
I meant other guys will see you that way, but I never said I did.
Your face was beet red just now!
Was not!
You looked like an octopus!
Guys...
You'd better get going, or you'll be late.
Crap!
Let's go, Miku!
Wait up!
Those two haven't changed at all in high school.
I hope we're in the same class.
I know.
I hope we make new friends.
SAKURA HILL
Think we'll make it?
Huh?
I'm about to be late for my first day of school because of your stubbornness.
You're the one taking it all so seriously.
I'm not as bad as you, at least!
What's your problem anyway?
What was that kabedon for?
And styling your hair and trying to look cool...
Not that it suits you at all!
You're freaking out because you know you've lost.
Not really.
I just wanted to see you upset again.
Ugh!
Knock it off already!
You're the one getting carried away and showing off
what you think are your beautiful legs!
Stop it!
Wait for me!
Hurry up! I'm leaving you behind!
This is the story
of two stubborn people
at the mercy of the "I love you" game.
SHINJU HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE CEREMONY
Please!
Please, please, please, please!
NEW FIRST YEAR CLASS PLACEMENT
CLASS 1-1
CLASS 1-2
1. ASAGI YUKIYA
14. SAKURA MIKU
G-God!
Oh, huh, we're in the same class.
Don't act like you aren't happy.
So are you.
You looked awful worried until just now.
Perfect opportunity!
We're in the same class!
I was just worried that you might be lonely.
I'm going to settle this long-standing "I love you" game this year.
FANTASIZING
Why do our eyes meet in the middle of class?
W-Well...
It's because you're looking at me, aren't you?
ALSO FANTASIZING
You forgot your textbook?
You're so helpless.
G-Give me some space.
You're so red.
I can't wait!
I have to win now that high school's started!
NEXT EPISODE: MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND COOKS
Why do our eyes meet in the middle of class?
You're looking at me, aren't you?
Embarrassing!
So embarrassing, Onii!
Next episode of I Want To End This Love Game: "My Childhood Friend Cooks".
Bless my brother, who's in deep!