Anybody who hasn't submitted their club preference, do it soon.
Oh, and the handout you're getting now is for tomorrow's home ec cooking class.
Make sure you read through it so you're prepared.
My name is Nakamura Okuto.
I'm 15 years old, and I just entered Hoshimi High this spring.
I'm a freshman.
And I'm head over heels in love.
Anybody not got the handout?
With my classmate...
Here.
Do you cook?
Hirose Aiki!
Go For It, Nakamura-kun!!
Do you have your handkerchief?
Of course I do.
Opening Day Ceremony
The first time I saw Hirose was at the opening day ceremony.
I went to Middle School #1!
I went to #3!
Seriously? Do you know Yamada?
I sure do.
Then, let's add Yamada to our LINE group.
Look! We're in the same class!
Really?
Hooray!
We'll be together in high school, too!
Yup!
Welcome to our school, new students.
Entrance Ceremony
We're very glad to have you joining us here at Hoshimi High.
I'm sure you're full of both hopes and fears right now.
But don't worry. Hoshimi High is...
Light, curly, chestnut hair.
Big, round, gleaming eyes.
Slightly tanned skin.
That's how it works, right?
Expressions that change every second.
And more than anything else...
That wonderful smile!
It was a shock like I'd never had before.
Love at first sight.
It's been a month since then.
I need your parents' PTA attendance check sheets back by tomorrow.
Forget making actual progress...
Make sure you hand them in.
Okay!
...we're not even friends yet.
In fact, we haven't even spoken to each other yet!
I've been waiting for a chance to talk to him since that first day.
But I haven't even gotten a chance to look him in the eye.
But I can't take it anymore.
That's all for today. Who's on day duty?
Stand.
Today, I'll definitely talk to Hirose.
Bow.
I'll become his friend.
Hirose, let's go home.
Sorry, one second.
You're stuck after again?
I forgot yesterday's homework.
Don't worry. It'll be fine.
I've simulated every
possible conversation in my head since the first day of school.
You do your homework?
Of course I do.
It'll be perfect.
Hello, Hirose-kun.
How are you this fine day?
Oh, Nakamura-kun.
Hirose-kun, why don't we go to a fancy café together?
Wonderful idea! Let's go!
See? Perfect.
O-Okay.
I've done this in my head a thousand times.
Farewell, days of doing this in my head!
Time to do it for real.
Hi—
A-An eraser?
A-At times like this, you should, um, uh...
Wait, what am I so scared of?!
It's not that different than what I had in my head.
Why don't we go to a fancy café together?
You dropped your eraser
What a wonderful idea!
Let's go!
You dropped your eraser.
Thank you, Nakamura.
Thank you, Nakamura
I'm not inviting him out on a date.
I'm just asking if he wants to go to a café.
Even the neighborhood cat could do that!
Neighborhood Cat Let's go to a fancy café together, meow!
Let's go to a fancy café together, meow!
Hey, we're leaving without you.
Sorry. Just a little longer.
I mean it. I won't be long.
Okay, we'll wait outside.
If I don't hurry, he'll leave.
Okay. Thanks.
Softly. Naturally. Normally. Like it's ordinary.
Done!
I-I can't do it.
When I see Hirose's face, my head goes blank.
B-But...
Our eyes met for the first time.
H-He was so cute.
I'll have to give up for today.
Hirose didn't notice.
Hirose-kun.
Your handkerchief. You dropped it.
Thank you, Nakamura.
You always seem to stay after class.
If you want, I'll help you with your homework sometime.
Seriously?
That'd be great!
This is it!
Divine inspiration! It's a natural starting point for a relationship,
and it'll make him like me more!
This is the most brilliant idea I've ever had.
I'll go pick it up.
Oh, Hirose-kun!
Your handkerchief.
I-I have to hurry.
I won't let you!
Y-You dropped this, Hirose.
Wh-Why did you step on it?
I screwed up!
I just know he hates me now!
Icchan, why did I do that?
I should've just handed it over normally.
I can't even talk to him. I'll never be friends with him.
Icchan.
You're right.
It's too soon to give up.
My high school life has just started.
I'll have more opportunities to talk to him.
Okay. Just you watch, Icchan.
I'll become friends with him!
Shut up, you idiot of a brother!
Super Exciting Cooking Class!!
Did you bring your ingredients like you were supposed to, everyone?
Today, we'll be making cucumber salad, miso soup, and grilled fish.
Do you ever cook?
No, never.
I've got the fish and other items that could spoil here,
so each group should send someone to get them.
Where'd Hirose go?
No idea.
Want to LINE him?
It's not showing as read.
He was supposed to bring the miso. We can't make it now.
I wonder what's happened to Hirose.
Oh, there he is.
Sorry I'm late!
Hirose's so handsome when he's all sweaty.
You're late.
I went back to grab my apron.
We were on the verge of having steamed tofu instead of miso soup.
Delicious Miso With Broth
Okay.
Apron!
This is great. Chef's kiss!
He's so cute in his apron!
Okay, time to get started.
Thank you for letting me see this, God of Home Ec!
Is this what he'll be like as a newlywed?
Morning, Nakamura.
Here's your coffee.
Thank you. It smells good.
I'll make a cup for you next time.
Okay.
Want toast today? Or rice?
I think I'll have you first, Hirose.
That's not funny.
U-U-Uh-oh. Hirose's apron sent me to fantasy land.
Can you chop this for me?
I swore it to Icchan last night, right?
Hey, are you listening?
I swore that during today's home ec,
I would talk to him.
I said that, but...
Achoo!
Pepper
Hot!
I'll chop the carrots.
...I haven't talked to him at all.
Then, I'll wash the rice.
In fact, I'm just slowing everybody down.
And anyway...
With those guys next to him all the time, it's even harder to go say hi.
Those Guys #1
Those Guys #2
I want to have fun talking to him while we cook, too.
Be sure not to burn yourself when using the cooktop.
Ma'am, may I have a word?
Yes, what is it?
Everyone, stop for a second.
I need to step out, so do stuff that doesn't require fire or knives.
Huh? What are we supposed to do?
We can't do anything without fire or knives.
Want to measure out the seasonings first?
Yeah, that's a good idea. Um, I think they're over here.
Then what?
I don't know, but let's just do it.
Hirose-kun, do you know where the measuring cup that was here went?
Huh? It's not over there?
Huh?
I'll go grab another one.
Th-Thanks.
Hmm, measuring cup, measuring cup.
E-Everybody, look!
What's wrong?
What's up?
What is it?
O-Octopuses? Why?
And they're alive.
Seriously? Why?
O-Octopuses! So cute.
Were we cooking octopus today?
I don't think so. M-Maybe in the cucumber salad?
Aw, so cute. The way those suckers are lined up means they're female, right?
Shouldn't we call the teacher?
My Icchan's very handsome, but these are all beauties, too.
Hey, somebody touch them.
Nope, no way. Nuh-uh.
Octopuses freak me out. They're alive.
I could never touch one. Ew.
Huh?
You seriously can't see how cute they are?
They're not creepy at all.
Right?
Come here, Mrs. Octopus.
The common octopus is smart, and strong, and the moms love their kids.
Well, the average person can't comprehend their awesomeness. Yup.
But maybe I've totally freaked out Hirose.
I-I messed up just yesterday by stepping on his handkerchief...
He's staring!
Wah!
What should I do? Am I freaking him out?
I-I-I didn't mean to.
Wow, they're all slippery.
Wow.
It doesn't bother you?
Nah, it's fine.
You're amazing, Hirose-kun.
They're actually pretty cute, now that I look closely. Right?
Hirose...
Th-They're surprisingly calm.
...likes octopuses.
Right? It's sucking at my skin. So cool.
He accepts them...
But we're gonna cook 'em after this, right?
Huh? I can't do that.
They seem cute now.
I'd feel bad.
Hypocrites. You were just talking about how creepy they were.
But now you feel bad for them?
Your love for animals is so selfish.
That's right.
We're taking the lives of these octopuses 'cause we need food to live.
I-I'm not scared of that at all.
I-I-If anything, I'm happy.
Yeah, I do feel bad about eating them.
Hirose is right.
Okay, let's help them escape.
E-E-Escape? H-Huh?
Seriously?
Sh-Should we find a store that sells tropical fish?
We just have to hide them until after school.
But they'll dry out if we just leave them somewhere.
Oh, you're right.
Okay. There we go.
Let's put some water in there.
No! No! No! No!
Freshwater will kill them!
I didn't know that. Thanks.
Um, well...
Crap. I overstepped.
I bet he's thinking, "Who does this guy think he is?"
Sorry, guys.
Can't we just make saltwater? We've got salt.
Ah!
Nah, I bet we need the real stuff.
What do we do?
We need to hurry or the teacher will be back.
This class is about learning to take other creatures' lives
And then...
Now hurry up and chop 'em up
This class is about learning to take other creatures' lives.
Now hurry up and chop 'em up.
W-We'll just have to hide 'em.
But where?
What do we tell the teacher?
We'll say they ran off.
Hello all.
What are you guys doing?
Oh, uh, n-nothing!
Wh-What are you doing here?
Suzuki-sensei, the biology teacher, asked me for a favor.
You know I can see them, right?
Oh, I see.
So they were for observing in class, huh?
I guess they ran away, so I was helping with the search.
It's incredible they made it all the way here.
Sorry for interrupting. Have fun.
Oh, hello.
Hello.
Sorry for keeping you waiting!
One left, huh?
Wow. It looks delicious.
Seems fine to me.
In the end, I'm just no good.
I got to talk to Hirose, but still...
Hey.
H-Hirose?
What are you doing here in the corner?
Um, uh, well...
S-S-S-S-Sorry about b-b-b-before.
Why are you apologizing?
Those octopuses survived, thanks to you.
Thanks.
I touched an octopus for the first time.
It's kind of addictive.
Y-Yeah.
Huh?
The way you can feel 'em sucking onto your skin was neat.
See? It left marks.
A-Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
I'm talking to Hirose?
Hey, you've got some, too.
O-Oh, you're right.
I-It's now or never!
Oh, here, too.
U-Um...
W-W-Would you... you... b-b-be...
my friend...
What are you doing? You need to get back.
There was still one octopus here. I'll take it to Suzuki-sensei.
O-Okay.
Were you about to say something?
N-N-No! Nothing at all!
No?
Your face is all black!
Why did this happen?!
You sure do have bad luck.
I looked so lame.
I didn't get to ask him to be my friend.
But...
He seems to be enjoying himself, so it's okay.
Octopuses are incredible.
My name is Nakamura Okuto.
I'm just an ordinary high school student.
And...
I'm shy, gay, and in love with Hirose Aiki.