Thank you very much.
I got some good practice in thanks to you.
N-No problem.
No way!
Is he really a middle schooler?
Not even a college player can cleanly catch that pitch!
He's beyond a high schooler.
I laughed when I first heard about him, but actually seeing what he can do...
He doesn't even seem human!
No wonder they call him a Unicorn.
THERE'S A UNICORN UP AHEAD SATURDAY, MAY 9th
Okay, midterms are next week.
- You serious? - What a pain!
Which means that all club activities are suspended for the week.
Make sure to review everything we've covered so far.
So, it's here at last!
Since it's our first test since starting middle school, I'm kinda nervous!
What about you, Ogami?
Whoa, scary!
Huh?
You look kinda pissed!
No, it's not like that.
More like, "A test! All right, I'm gonna kill it!"
I mean, your bloodlust is intense!
He straight up looks like an assassin, doesn't he?
Boss, don't go blowing your cover over something this stupid!
Uh, this is my first time dealing with midterms!
What should I do, Master?
I mean, it's everyone's first time.
Let's do our best, Noren!
You just suddenly popped up!
Ogami, you already study ahead and review as you go.
I think you'll be fine just doing what you normally do.
Thank you for your words of wisdom, Master!
Seriously, what is with that energy?
Morning!
Oh, hey, Noren!
Morning!
So bright!
You're glowing! What happened to you?
So, here's the thing...
You know how everybody goes into study mode during testing week, right?
They have no time for their thoughts to wander.
Which means nobody's been confessing their love to me!
R-Right.
I've been sleeping so well with zero stress!
I wish it could be test week forever!
You've got it rough, too, huh?
I'm actually starting to worry about you.
Oh, sorry.
Huh?
Your face is wrecked! You're all dried out!
Oh! Morning!
What's with those eye bags? Did you not sleep?
Huh? What happened to you, Ogami?
"Glowing" and "dried out"?
What is with this couple? The contrast is insane!
Whoa! Those eye bags are bad!
You really need to get some sleep, Ogami!
Yeah.
I know that logically, but...
Huh? It's morning already?
It's like I just can't stop myself.
How do I express this feeling?
It's kind of like how a boxer knows rest is important before a match...
but still winds up overtraining anyway.
Strange metaphors aside,
you're basically saying that you're trying way too hard.
Want one?
It helps you relax.
I don't need that!
I'm telling you...
You're overdoing it, Boss.
Pipe down. Mind your own business.
Believe me, I'd love to!
Telling someone not to study too hard is such a nonsense problem!
I've got other plans tonight, so go eat dinner at Mama's place, okay?
Huh? I can eat wherever I—
Just go, all right?
Consider it a change of pace.
RAMEN
You can head out now.
Huh? Already?
It's test week, isn't it?
I'm fine.
I may not look it, but I actually do study seriously on a regular basis, you know.
Doesn't matter.
At this rate, we're not gonna get many more customers tonight anyway.
Okay.
NATSUKIYA
Then I'm heading out!
Ogami?
Where's he going?
Wait, whoa!
He's heading deeper and deeper into a really sketchy area!
Oh, Juzo!
Good evening!
BAR JABAMI
Hey. Gekota, was it?
Long time no see, little fish!
You open?
Open for freakin' business, babe!
I came by to score some dinner...
BAR JABAMI
...but is Kyosuke, I mean Mama, here?
Abso-freakin'-lutely!
Mama Nagisa!
Your itty-bitty boyfriend's here!
Wh-What kind of setup is this?
Ah, no matter how many times I see you, you're still just too adorable!
I could eat you right up!
Your pilaf's always good, Mama.
My, my... Geko, could I get an oolong tea for him?
Coming right up!
I didn't want anyone suspecting that I had a secret child,
so I told everyone that you're my nephew.
I see.
Honestly, when you first turned young, I was stunned.
Oh, Neko, welcome!
Oh my, what's this? Who's this delicious-looking little cutie?
He's actually Boss.
Huh?
I know I can trust you, and when things go sideways, you always come through.
So, this really helps.
Leave it to me, little Juzo.
Honestly, now I wanna protect you even more than before.
I'm beat!
Mama, listen to this.
The new guy screwed up royally today.
Eri?
What are you doing here?
Eri, welcome back!
The usual for you?
Yeah, please!
I tell you, kids these days...
- Oh, stop! - Jeez!
- I told him to mind his own business. - She shouldn't be flapping her mouth.
I was wondering how you got those bags under your eyes.
So, that's what's going on?
Oh, shut up.
Never mind that. Is it okay for you to be drinking in a place like this?
What about Kozue?
It's fine, it's fine!
She doesn't mind me stopping in for one drink on the way home...
every once in a while.
That girl's got a good head on her shoulders.
I see.
Yeah, I guess she does.
So, pulling all-nighters to study...
Why not?
Go into that test as you are and bomb it as you are.
Hey, come on!
I'm not asking you to comfort me or anything, but that's brutal!
No, that's not what I meant.
Huh?
Before you ended up in that body, when you were still out there working...
the mission was everything.
You were never allowed to fail, right?
Even back when you used to drink here, part of you was always wound tight.
But I don't think you need that kind of mindset for studying.
Now that you're a middle schooler, it's okay to screw up sometimes.
You might as well take advantage of it and make all the mistakes...
you never got to make before. And not just with studying, either.
Besides, setting aside sleep deprivation for the moment...
ever since you started middle school...
you've been looking a whole lot more alive.
BAR JABAMI
See ya, Mama.
BAR JABAMI
Thanks for the drink!
Okay, see you next time!
And you, quit standing there spacing out and walk her to the station!
R-Right.
What?
He went into that crossdresser bar and came back out with a hot older lady!
Just who is Ogami?
MIDTERM EXAMS (DAY 1) SOCIAL STUDIES - MATH - SCIENCE
In the end, I wouldn't say I bombed the test...
but I made a few careless mistakes, forgot a few things and did about average.
MATH MIDTERM EXAM YEAR: 1, CLASS: E, NAME: JUZO OGAMI
Well, for this time...
I guess this is about what I should've expected.
I'll learn from it and do better on finals.
Come to think of it...
Well, I'm just here for the ramen, so...
Maybe Ogami really isn't normal.
So, keep your hands off my girl.
- It's more than just him being weird. - Now get lost.
What is it?
He feels more like somebody's uncle or a dad...
like he's from a totally different age group.
Is he really a middle school student?
HOME EC ROOM
Hold it down like this...
pass the thread between the button and the fabric three or four times.
Don't forget to stick your thumb in here to leave a little slack.
Then wrap the thread around that slack over and over,
and that gives you the thread shank.
Make a loop.
Pull tight.
And to finish it off, tie a knot.
And there, done.
See? Easy, right?
Oh! So, that's how you sew on a button!
Once you get used to it, it doesn't even take ten minutes.
And honestly, even just repairing a button yourself...
might make you feel more attached to your clothes.
I see!
It's like cars and motorcycles.
The more you work on them yourself, the more attached you get.
That is a weirdly un-middle-schooler-like way to relate to what I just said.
Anyway, why don't you give it a try?
If you get stuck, just ask for help.
'Kay!
So, that's what needles can be used for!
Huh?
I always thought they were meant to be coated in poison to stab people.
That's... not wrong, but...
Huh?
The club president made it look easy.
What is that?
How did you mess it up like that?
Noren?
Me, too!
Hey...
Doing this has reminded me how terrible I am at sewing!
Well, that's what this club, right?
I'm gonna go ask the senpais for help!
Me, too!
That's...
Kito-senpai!
Are you not heading home yet?
Oh, hey, you two!
I forgot to water these guys.
Sunflowers?
Yep. I planted the seeds early...
so they should probably bloom before summer vacation.
I can't wait!
Did something happen?
Hm?
I mean, you seem to be in a good mood.
It's not so much that something happened.
It's more like I really like the home ec club.
Yeah.
Kito loves plants.
President Shiraishi's into cooking in general.
Yamaoka likes baking sweet treats.
And Tamada and Nishimura are really good at handicrafts!
We all do different things together as a club,
but every one of them has their own little world that they genuinely love!
So, nobody's just hanging around to gossip or pry,
and they're all really easy to talk to!
I'm really glad I joined the home ec club!
Um, today's club activity is...
making rice balls for the baseball team.
They need a lot, so it'll be tough...
but they'll really appreciate it, so let's do our best!
Is something wrong?
Well, the thing is...
our team isn't the only one that uses the practice field.
There's a senior league team that rents it as well.
Today's delivery is actually for them...
and a Unicorn is on that team.
Yeah, that's the problem.
Just because he's a Unicorn doesn't automatically mean he's after you, Noren.
That's just a rumor after all, and it's possible nothing'll happen.
Still, if you two aren't comfortable with it,
you don't need to be there for the delivery.
It's up to you.
I get how you feel.
You can decide.
Move up, move up closer!
One more!
- Let me hear you! - Ready!
Hey, we brought some snacks for you guys!
Oh, thanks!
Everybody, gather up!
Thanks!
No problem!
Looks great!
Time to eat!
Hey, hurry up!
Oh, they're here?
Oh, that tall guy.
He's the one they were talking about.
I see.
You can tell right away from the look of him.
Tenma Tendo.
He's huge!
Is he really a middle schooler?
He's gotta be pushing 190 cm!
Oh, rice balls!
Thanks a ton!
Sorry I took so long getting over here!
Down the hatch!
Man, that's good! Total energy boost!
Oh, right.
You two are here, huh? I was hoping to talk to you for a sec!
You're Noren and Juzo, right?
You've been getting a lot of attention lately.
He's a giant!
All right, let's see whether the rumors are true.
I don't expect him to come right out with it immediately, but...
Let's duel.
If I win, I get to be Noren's boyfriend, right?
Wha...
Oh, come on. So, the rumors are true and you're opening with that?
Oh, no!
Hey, Tenma!
No, no! We're just chatting while I refuel. That's all!
Don't just spring stuff like that on me!
We don't even know each other! It's not happening!
Right?
It's not like I'm into you or anything.
Sorry.
Huh?
It's not challenging you because I wanna go out with her.
It's more that I wanna crush you because you're in my way.
What?
I think the thing that inspires people most in this world is sports!
That's why everyone should be watching me!
No, everyone needs to watch me!
Because I'm gonna become...
the first true triple threat sportsman in human history, a superman!
Triple threat?
You mean like being both a pitcher and a batter?
Boss!
I looked it up, and that is not what he means!
Huh?
Not a triple threat baseball player!
A triple threat sportsman!
In other words...
ACE TENDO LEADS TEAM TO JP CHAMPIONSHIP JP YOUTH ACE STRIKER TENDO SCORES HAT TRICK
Senior league baseball!
CHAMPION PITCHER TENMA TENDO
Ace striker in soccer!
MIDDLE SCHOOL PRODIGY STRIKER TENMA TENDO
Middle school basketball!
TENMA TENDO SUPERSTAR OF THE BASKETBALL WORLD
He's the ace in all three, and he keeps racking up national titles, too!
ULTIMATE MIDDLE SCHOOLER TENMA TENDO
A Unicorn, the man with the ultimate physical gift!
The MLB, the NBA, the Premier League.
I'm gonna become the best player in all of them!
What?
Is that even possible?
I have no idea.
I've heard of some pros who can do two sports, but...
I get it now.
So, basically, you're a sports freak who loves the spotlight...
and can't stand anybody getting more attention than you.
Huh? Can't stand? Not really.
You're just some background extra from the home ec club, right?
To begin with...
I'm not that interested in people from some little play club
whose existence doesn't even matter.
However...
you are annoying.
Hey! What the hell kind of rude crap is that?
Ah, no, I mean, I'm happy about the rice balls!
It saves me from having to buy food!
- You need to stop talking! Like, now! - Huh?
It's fine.
Then let's do it. A duel.
Ogami!
He doesn't even sound like he's dead set on it!
Nope. I'm the one who's pissed off now.
This guy didn't just insult me. He casually dissed the ladies, too.
Do your superman hotshot or triple threat stuff if you want.
But don't look down on home ec, asshole!
All right, it's settled!
What should we compete in?
Okay, let's make it futsal!
One week from now, in the gym.
I'll bring one other person, but you guys can bring as many as you want.
Huh? Since when do I need a handicap?
No, take the handicap!
Suit yourself, but without one, this won't even be a match.
Anyway, do what you want.
I'm so sorry, home ec club!
Please let me apologize on his behalf.
Uh, right, okay.
And you all still treat him like he's special?
Yeah. Normally, if you split your time between three different sports,
you only have a limited time for each one, right?
But he overwhelms that limitation through sheer dominance.
We apologize for his rudeness, too.
But if I may say one thing...
as a teammate...
he's the greatest hero!
But as an opponent...
he's the strongest villain!
HOME EC ROOM
Forget the details.
He looked down on my club members, so you go out there and wreck his ass, Ogami!
Leave it to me, boss!
I'll make him regret the day he was born!
This is civilian conversation, right?
But it's futsal, right?
Besides Ogami, who else would even...
Huh? Noren?
Don't just spring something like that on me!
We don't even know each other! It's not happening!
Right?
It's not like I'm into you or anything.
Sorry.
This is so humiliating!
I mean, sure, there was context leading up to it,
but in the end, it totally came off like, "Stop fighting over me!"
And then, "It's not like I'm into you," like I'm some cringey self-important girl!
No, no, overthinking it like that is way too self-absorbed...
- ...and I won't think about it anymore— - I'll do it.
Shin?
You're still here?
That guy made my beloved Noren say...
"Stop fighting over me!"
"Uh, I'm not into you," like she was some cringey self-important girl!
That's unforgivable!
No!
Please don't bring it up again!
Uh...
if it doesn't have to be exactly two-on-two, I could join, too.
The home ec club isn't just messing around,
and we all take what we care about seriously.
Kito...
And besides, he made Mitsuoka say...
"Stop fighting over me!"
"Uh, I'm not into you," like she was some cringey self-important girl!
Please stop repeating that already!
And anyway...
I don't even care about the whole "dating as the prize in a duel" thing.
More than anything...
what I can't forgive is him mocking the home ec club I love so much!
So...
You'd better win.
Okay?
You got it!
Jeez, asking me out of nowhere to help with some duel? What the hell is that?
And Mitsuoka... That's the rich girl at your school, right?
Why her?
Well, no real reason.
Hey!
This is weird.
You've never gone out of your way to pick a fight before.
Well, that's because they came to me first, so it just happened.
Even so!
If you really didn't care at all, you'd have just ignored them.
Yeah, true.
What is it, though?
When I look at that Ogami guy...
I get all restless. There's something about him.
Anyway, I'm only doing the bare minimum out there.
Yeah, okay!
I wasn't expecting much from you to begin with.
You always have to add...
one extra smart-ass comment!
Crap! I put too much into that without thinking!
Whoa!
He completely killed that momentum! He really is nothing short of a prodigy!
Nice pass!
Man, you're irritating!
Another Mitsuoka duel!
And this time, it's against a Unicorn!
Three-on-two futsal!
Is this even gonna be a real match?
Listen up.
If you win, then we go by the usual Mitsuoka duel rules.
But if we win, there's one condition.
What?
You mocked the Home Ec Club.
So, apologize to the ladies.
Huh? Sure, fine.
But are you sure?
That's basically the same thing as saying, "Don't apologize," you know.
Because I'm absolutely going to win.
What?