Okay, I'm gonna head down to the group leaders' meeting.
Sure. See you later.
I can't wait for tomorrow.
Aikawa-san.
Do you have a minute?
Sure, I guess.
You got this.
So what's up?
Well, um...
I really like you. Can we date?
I don't feel like dating anybody right now.
Are you saying you like someone else?
I don't, but...
Then go out with me.
We can just give it a shot and see how it works.
Can we not drag this out? It's a waste of time.
That hurt.
No offense, Aikawa-san, but...
{\fad(600,450)\fnComic Sans MS\bord0.5\shad1.5\blur0.3\fscx95\pos(156,312)\4a&H40&\3c&H7B7D7D&\4c&H393B3C&}Episode 12: A Replica Tosses
Oh, Aikawa-san.
You weren't in our room.
Did you come to buy something?
That leaders' meeting is finally over.
Actually, I...
A boy asked me out.
Nice. People think you're cute.
Savory \h\h\hCorn \h\h\h\h\h\h\hPotage
Extra Creamy
It said on TV you have to do this to get every last kernel.
I've always wanted to test this trick out.
You don't have to answer this if you don't feel like it,
but did he say something besides just asking you out?
Someone else told me I had zero kindness.
The guy who asked me out brought a friend with him.
Bleh. What's wrong with that guy?
Why be nice to a guy you're not interested in?
He also said he remembered me being much nicer.
"Remembered"?
He went to my elementary and middle school.
Ah.
But why? Why do I always mess up these situations?
Aikwawa-san, don't let it get to you. You didn't do anything wrong.
No! I'm never nice to anyone.
I-I want to be nice. I want to be a nice person.
Like she is.
Like who?
It hurts whenever I'm mean.
But I always say the harshest things, even when I don't mean them.
The words just spill out of me.
I can't stop myself.
I just can't.
My looks catch the eye of those around me.
Even from very young, I've known that.
Strangers would frequently talk to me or take photos of me.
I didn't want to hate the appearance my parents gave me.
But I wanted to make sure I was valued and protected.
So if I didn't like something, I'd say so.
If I felt something was wrong, I'd get angry and say no.
Nao-chan's gotten really callous.
Yeah, she scares me.
She's got an acid tongue.
No offense, Aikawa-san, but you have zero kindness.
He's absolutely right. I don't have a kind bone in my body.
I'm not as warm as a normal person, and I'm never considerate.
I never put myself in others' shoes.
I'm too flawed. I'm too lacking.
I'm a defective product.
I know there's no hope for me.
It's because I'm not real.
Wait a minute. What does that mean?
I made a replica who's just like me in almost every way.
Replica?
What's a replica?
When I called out for help, she appeared right in front of me.
It was like having a fun, secret best friend
who I'd play with and share snacks with behind my parents' back.
Sometimes, we switched places to fool classmates for fun.
When I was young, everyone called me "Nao-chan."
My family called me that, and so did Ricchan and my other friends.
So I decided to call my replica "Nao," too.
Ricchan? You mean the first-year in the lit club?
Then one day, I noticed that Ricchan had started calling me "Sunao-chan."
I guess she'd figured out that I had a replica.
Soon, while she continued to call my replica "Nao-chan," I was "Sunao-chan,"
so she could set us apart.
So she just...
See? Ironic, isn't it?
To Ricchan, I'm the impostor.
I don't blame her. I'm not even angry.
But I do have to wonder where I went so wrong.
Did you say something to your replica?
I did. I told her she couldn't have "Nao." That I wanted it back.
But it was pointless.
So I figured I had no choice but to distance myself from Nao.
Or else I'd never find out who I really am.
First, I decided I wasn't good at school or athletics.
Then I decided I wouldn't interact with people more than necessary.
I did everything I could to change myself.
And somewhere along the line, I became confused anyway.
I didn't know what kind of person I was.
I actually figured it out, too.
I think it was around the time we were getting ready for Seiryo Fest.
I thought you sucked at hiding it.
But you weren't even trying to hide it, were you?
Have you thought about getting rid of your replica?
I have, but I couldn't.
I always end up summoning her back.
Because...
She's the real Sunao Aikawa.
She can do everything better than me.
Yet despite everything,
Nao still thinks of me as a god.
But I'm the real phony.
I'm not any sort of god.
That's a lot.
But I get it, Aikawa-san.
I think I understand everything you said.
And can I assume your situation's the same as Aikawa-san's?
Didn't think you'd notice.
We kendo nuts are very good at observation.
Sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you two.
It's fine.
So you and Aikawa-san can summon replicas that look like your identical twins?
I see. It all makes sense.
Do you two mind if I share rather a long story with you?
Go ahead.
Thanks.
You know that after-fest assembly?
When President Moririn disappeared onstage, I remembered something.
There was a time in middle school when there were two of me.
Hold on.
Does this mean you have a replica, too?
Not anymore.
So imagine a really close friend.
Let's call her "A-chan." She was bullied at school.
Now imagine a version of me who really wanted to help A-chan.
And another me who's too afraid to help in case she gets bullied, too.
Then one day, the stronger version of myself won out and appeared.
One who would sacrifice everything for her friend.
The replica that was created stood up for A-chan.
She went and chastised all the mean kids,
telling them, "Bullying is wrong!"
That was Kozue Sato the Hero.
Once Kozue the Hero was done, she went off to parts unknown.
The Kozue who got left behind wasn't bullied outright.
But she was shunned by everyone, couldn't make any real friends,
and ended up moving from clique to clique
like the girl you see today.
The end.
Where did your replica go, Sato?
Who knows? I certainly don't.
All I know is that no matter how long I waited, she never came back.
So you're saying your replica was your idealized self?
More like something that's really, really close to the ideal self.
How's that different?
There's another thing I've been wondering about.
If we can, there's something I wanna try with you two during group time tomorrow.
I'll tell you the reason later. You in?
I don't know what you're planning,
but sure.
Me, too.
Great. And since you're here, you should share too, Sanada-kun.
Me?
I'd really appreciate it if you told me what you know about President Moririn.
Sure thing.
I knew in my heart that on the very next day,
I'd be confronting everything I'd been avoiding all my life, including her.
This is amazing!
What are they called, anyway?
Shigureyaki.
You could maybe think of it as...
a Funinomiya-style okonomiyaki pancake filled with yakisoba noodles.
Here you go. Try these too, if you like.
Those also look yummy.
Those right there are potatoes fresh from our farm.
They used to be Ryo-chan's favorite.
You can eat your fill.
We gladly accept.
Hot! Too hot! Hot!
Here! Water!
This feels like we're away at a camp or something.
Okay, time to hit the hay.
Wait, what?
What are you yelling for?
I wanted to have a pillow fight.
What?
A pillow fight here? But we only have three pillows.
We have a bunch of seat cushions.
Nice idea, Aki-kun.
Let's get started—
Mochizuki-senpai! You shouldn't hit a girl like that!
Sh-She's fine. It's just a pillow.
But that pillow's filled with beads or whatever.
Nao, you okay?
Sorry, are there any tissues?
I think my nose is bleeding.
Sorry! I'll get some—
Gotcha!
Y-You little... You tricked me!
Here comes another one!
Fine. I'm game.
I'll waste both of you!
Come get me!
Help!
Aki-kun, are you asleep?
Wide awake.
Can I come closer?
Don't.
I don't plan on touching you, but I'm still a guy.
If you come closer, I might not be able to control myself.
Look, I want to take good care of you, Nao.
So not tonight.
I want you to touch me.
You're not kidding?
No.
Aki-kun, if we hold hands, I might be able to sleep better.
Oh. That kind of touch?
Absolutely not.
Huh? But why?
Because I said so.
No fair.
My mind's made up.
Hey, is it really so bad?
Aki-kun.
Will you please stop playing with my hand?
So you guys do like to flirt in secret.
S-Senpai! I thought you were asleep.
Only pretending to.
What? Are you done?
Very done.
Then let's talk about our love lives.
That's what kids do on school trips, anyway.
Our love lives?
If you're taking pity on me, I don't want it.
I'm made of tougher stuff.
You know it's heavier than that.
The love of your life is no longer with us.
You couldn't possibly be fine.
If you've seen through me, I must suck as an actor.
Even when I'm asleep...
Well, I don't get much sleep these days.
But Mori's always on my mind.
I can't stop thinking about her.
Mori's dad gave me a letter.
It was to me. He said she likely wrote it the day before she became unresponsive.
I didn't have the guts to read it.
That is, until a little while ago.
Can you tell us what it said?
How she created Ryo when she was five.
How Ryo was living with her grandparents in Fujinomiya and was a good artist.
She wanted to introduce me to Ryo.
I guess I took it as a sign to make this trip.
So I came here and learned basically everything.
I look back now, and there were so many things that gave her away.
But I wasn't thinking straight back then.
No, that's just a dumb excuse.
I'm so sorry, Mochizuki-senpai.
If I'd said something, you would've been able to see Suzumi-senpai.
Don't apologize.
I'm not here to blame you for anything.
That said, I knew it.
You guys did know everything.
Yeah.
Well, I still remember.
Your ad-lib at the end of "Bamboo Cutter."
You know people will forget you if you leave us.
Listen to your heart. Where does it say you belong?
So yeah. That was a real punch to the gut for me.
Later on, I figured you must be the same as Ryo.
Am I right?
Yeah.
I'm curious.
When did you realize I was a replica, too?
I noticed when you skipped an entire school trip with her.
And you call each other "Aki" and "Nao."
So you were just guessing.
Hey, c'mon. Must you scrutinize every detail?
I've always wanted to apologize to you.
Around May, Mori called Hayase to the student council office.
She wanted to find out if he really did harm a younger student.
But he didn't admit to anything.
Later on, he stopped coming to school for some reason,
but all the same, we didn't do anything to help you.
I'm not the one you should apologize to.
Shuya was the one who got injured.
Is that so? Sorry.
You're the one who challenged him in September, right?
Yeah.
I should've known.
It only happened because of who you are.
It also made me realize even more that I could never create a replica.
Why would you think that?
Because I'm my own person.
I don't run from anything.
I fell in love with Mori.
I acted on stage with Ryo.
I'd never want to share those things with anyone else.
I mean, all the memories I have, including all the pain and suffering,
even the memories that almost made me run,
they made me who I am.
I can't stand the thought of anyone else having my memories,
not even my duplicate.
You're really something, Mochizuki-senpai.
No, I'm not that great.
However, I am going to be in a huge performance in February.
I've always wanted to do a one-man show.
I hope you guys will come see it.
We don't know if we'll be coming to school.
It'll be up to our originals.
I see.
If only I lived in a mansion, I'd adopt both of you.
Oh, uh, sorry.
That makes you sound like strays.
That was insensitive.
It's all right.
You've always been insensitive, Mochizuki-senpai.
In what way am I?
Still, I like this side of you.
Yeah. Me, too.
Back to bed.
Should we go to sleep, too?
Yeah.
Good night.
Good night, Aki-kun.
I'm sure I'll never forget this moment for the rest of my life.
Even if I grow old and gray.
And even if I don't.
Translation: Gad Onyeneho Timing: Mariana Martinez Editing: SMR Quality Control: Riley Dalton Translation Check: David Saylor