01x06 - Drizzling and Flickering

[bunniefuu]

There, can you see?

The weather's so great out here!

Oh, so nice. The sea's so calm.

Tokyo's just rain, rain, rain.

-Actually, Mitsumi...
-Huh?

There's someone I like.

-You okay?
-R... Really?

ORIGINAL STORY: SKIP AND LOAFER
WRITTEN BY MISAKI TAKAMATSU

Fumi's in love...

I feel a little lonely.

But well, we are at that age.

He's in a different class,
but we're both in the tennis club.

He's really funny.

Huh... Yeah...

-Fumi, mind a question?
-Huh?

What is love...?

How did it happen?

For me,

I thought he was fun and nice

and started following him with my eyes.

And then, when I thought I'd see him,
even going to school started getting fun.

I pretended to visit friends
and go to his class...

It feels so weird
talking to you about this!

I get so nervous
when I'm going to talk to him.

I think way too hard about the right
thing to say and want to run away.

It's fun, but it's hard!

Want to see him, but want to run away.

Want to talk, but can't find the words.

This sounds so complicated.

If I ever do fall in love,

will I be able to tell that it's love?

I'll ask Mako and Yuzu
when I get to school.

Oh, right. Shouldn't
they pass it out today?

It's two weeks out.

What? You're kidding! You're not...

Crap! I thought I still had time.

Right! More important things!

Today's they day they announce that!

FIRST TERM FINAL EXAM RANGE

Just like in middle school,

clubs will be on hiatus
during exam season.

You won't be allowed
in the staff room either.

If you have any questions,
call the teacher to the door.

Study hard and end the first half
of your first year on a high note.

-Now, time to take roll.
-The time has finally come.

-Asano.
-Here.

-Iwakura.
-Here.

I raised my rank
a little to ninth in the midterms.

I know that I shouldn't be obsessed
with ranks when everyone's so smart,

but since I'm sh**ting for T University,
I want to stay safely in the top 10.

We got a call saying
Shima's out with a cold.

-Jogasaki.
-Here.

-Suda.
-Here.

Shima's out with a cold?

We just finished exams, like, yesterday!

Midterm ranges are fair game.

They're going to cover a lot of pages.

Half of our first year is
going to end. That's scary.

What now? Where do we even start?

Mitsumi, you look
like you're super prepared.

I'm sh**ting for T University's
law department and government.

Not a problem for me.

Pisses me off, but good for you.

Teach me, Ms. Mitsumi!

It's too bad Shima had to catch a cold.

Right?

Should I call him?

He might want to know
what's on the finals right away.

They're still two weeks out.

I wouldn't want to know
about it if I had a cold.

MORNING. I WAS SLEEPING

He responded fast.
He must be fine. That's good.

I WAS GOING TO BE LATE,
THEN DECIDED NOPE. I'M FINE. THANKS.

Huh?

Wait, but
the teacher said they got a call...

Maybe he called and went back to sleep.

-Isn't that skipping school?
-It is.

I hope it's not
because he doesn't like school...

No way.

Sosuke was like that in middle school too.

He doesn't break promises with people,

but he'd skip stuff without warning
if it didn't hurt anyone.

Huh...

Oh, right.

He was fine being late
to the entrance ceremony.

It's just another entrance ceremony.

Who cares about that?

Mukai, you went to middle school with him?

Is it true that one in every
three girls asked Shima out?

And he'd chuck them out one after another?

Or he'd play the ladies night after night?

But then I heard he was dating
a model from another school

so he never even talked
to any other girls!

-Which is the truth?
-Don't know, don't care!

Don't ask me stuff that you can't ask him!

What?

Mukai can be so serious.

He's so popular...

Shima actually might be...

a bad boy?

‪I LOVE YOU - IT TAKES TIME
‪TO PRODUCE RESULTS DRIVE SAFELY

No, no, don't go there.

You told yourself you wouldn't
just believe any old rumor.

Sh... Shima?

How's it hangin', Mitsumi?

What's gotten into you?

It's almost July! Isn't it hot?

I get the wind on my chopper,
so it's all good.

Perfect timing.

Can you give this to the teacher for me?

What? But why?

-Did something happen?
-No? Not really?

Isn't that, like, whatever?

Smell you later!

Shima!

What a nightmare.

-Sato.
-Here.

Shima.

Huh? We didn't get a call today.

Did anyone hear anything?

I hope he's okay.
That's two days in a row.

Would he sleep in two days in a row?

Maybe he's actually sick?

Or maybe he's in trouble?

He wouldn't tell anyone either...

What if he really stops coming to school?

Morning.

-"Morning"?
-It's afternoon, Shima.

I had a headache from the weather.

I know the feeling. I'm sleepy too.

You didn't need to skip two days in a row.

That's why I'm here today.

Oh, good morning, Mitsumi.

-Okay, class dismissed.
-Stand.

Bow.

-Want to study together?
-Sure!

Where should we go?

Oh, class reps, one second.

Could you staple
these handouts for tomorrow?

-Sure.
-Yes.

Did it have to be today?

Um... Mitsumi, are you mad at me?

I-I'm... not... mad at you, but...

But what?

Shima, did you really skip school
because you were sleeping?

Yeah, I'm always tired
in the rainy season.

They say important stuff
in class during exam season.

Oh, yeah.

Well, I just don't want to get held back.

Was that all?

Isn't that, like, whatever?

WITHDRAWAL NOTICE

-It's... not whatever!
-What's the matter?

You need to take care of yourself,

and do you really want people
to think you're a player?

Did someone say something?

I overheard something yesterday...

But anyway, what I wanted to say is that
even first-year finals are important...

Maybe to you they are.

Sorry.

Okay, we're done!
I'll take these back to the staff room!

-No, I'll do...
-No, no!

I had a question
to ask the teacher anyway!

-Well, thanks, bye!
-Mi...

Maybe to you it is.

Maybe to you they are.

He was still dragging it!

I was completely out of line!

Right. Shima usually
stands a step back and listens.

Same with his having been a child star,
he doesn't like people prying!

But wait. It started as...

Maybe to you it is.

And then he said...

Maybe to you they are.

Maybe he didn't actually say that?

I was dragging it subconsciously,
and he happened to say it like that?

Even the way he said it...

Maybe to you they are.

Let's understand each other's values.

Right! I feel like he said it like that!

He might not have been mad.

Right! You're being too pessimistic.

You'll find out soon enough tomorrow.

For now, focus on studying for exams.

Focus, focus.

Was I still hanging on to that baggage?

What? Asking advice? At this hour?

And Sosuke, when are you going home?

Can you hear me out, Chris?

I'm trying to study right now.

Don't you have finals soon too?

-The girl who's class rep with me...
-Huh?

You're a class rep?

Fine. Whatever. I'm leaving.

Sorry, sorry. What about her?

She's a really serious girl.

It looks like she can't believe
that I skipped school for no reason.

She told me off about it.

I responded in a way that would sting,

and with the perfect snarky comment.

I think I hurt her.

You seriously need to stop doing that.

People think you're
pissed with a smile. It's scary.

-But that's pretty rare for you.
-Huh?

You're really good at
just ignoring stuff like that.

Huh, I wonder why.

Of all the girls,
I'm friendliest with her.

Maybe I didn't want to hear it from her?

Oh, my!

I think it's best if you tell her that.

Nah, maybe not.

And like, talking to people
about what I really think?

I don't really see the point.

If they're fine, then you can
leave them alone, and they're fine.

If they're not, no matter
what you say, they're not.

Cold as ice...

But...

-Anyway, I'm going home.
-Okay.

The fact that you'd even talk about
your relationship is revolutionary for me.

I couldn't focus at all.

W... Well, I'll go to the classroom,

and if Shima's there,
I'll say good morning.

With a bright smile!
Like I didn't mind at all!

Good morning.

BLOODSHOT EYES, HUMIDITY FRIZZ,
FAILED SMILE, LOW VOICE

Good morning.

She's really mad.

It got cold really fast today.

Yeah!

It's over 10 degrees
cooler than yesterday.

-A rainy season cold snap.
-Yeah.

THE END

We ended talking about the weather.

-Hey!
-Morning!

Morning.

-Good morning, Shima.
-Good morning.

He definitely kind of feels...
kind of distant.

-Pass these out to everyone.
-Okay.

I don't feel like doing anything
when it rains.

What are you, royalty?

-Did you get into a fight?
-Huh?

Wh... What do you mean?

Oh, nothing.

JAPANESE HISTORY B

Hey, so, this isn't about me,
but a friend.

Uh... Right...

She is way too obvious.

She and her friend
didn't mean any ill will,

but things they said made
things awkward between them.

Oh, I see.

She didn't mean it,
but she said something they didn't like.

Something he didn't like?

In the first place, he was being
irresponsible and skipping school.

I don't feel like it.

That's right! I was concerned for him!

No. I think she told him off
with the best of intentions.

Oh, I see.

Then she doesn't need to
bring it up again or apologize.

If she said what she wanted to say,
then she should be proud of it.

What she wanted to say?

Huh? Huh...

Wanted... to say?

Just look at her all confused.

You've got the advantage of
both being class reps.

You need to figure out this much yourself.

But did I really?

What are you talking about?

Nothing at all!

Want to eat some?

Ooh, you bought the good stuff, Mako.

Croquettes from the school store?

I really was concerned,
and really did think it was wrong.

But why don't I feel like
it was what I wanted to say?

In the first place, what was
I thinking about that led to that?

Shima!

Do you have a minute?

Hey, is this about yesterday?

I'm sorry if what I said
sounded really harsh.

I didn't mean to say it like that.

I have to do something
at home today, so can I go now?

Okay. But just one thing.

I'm sorry

for telling you off
about exams and all that.

It sounded like I was on my high horse,

but the truth is...

All I wanted to say was
that school isn't fun without you,

so please come.

Th... That's all I wanted to say!

See you tomorrow!

My... family... kind of leaves me to myself.

We don't eat dinner together much.

My friends from when I was
acting let me stay over a lot.

In middle school,
I had cram school until late.

So I don't think I'm as loose
as you're worried I am.

Though I have a habit of skipping stuff...

Oh, really?

So, like, uh...

I wasn't upset about you telling me off
or being on your high horse.

I thought maybe you believed some of
the stuff about being a player.

No, I didn't! I just happened to...

Yeah, I understand that.

I'm used to people
making up stories about me,

but Mitsumi, don't believe any of it.

Actually, don't listen to them.

-Okay. I won't listen!
-Okay.

I see! That was it!

Sorry, I didn't realize.

Huh? What? Did I say something funny?

No, sorry, it's just...

I haven't made up with someone
like this since elementary school!

What? Really?

Well, yeah, of course.
sh**t, I can't stop.

What the heck? What's wrong with it?

Nothing. It's good to do sometimes.

For a while now,
I've felt like... I want to run away.

Why do I want to
sprint away as fast as I can?

I think way too hard about the right
thing to say and want to run away.

But, you know, it's weird.

I think this is the first time I've been
this good a friend with a girl.

Huh? Why does it feel so hot today?

They said the high
for today was 20 degrees.

Hello, Mitsumi?

I think there are
friendships like that too!

Huh? Wait, what?
What are you talking about?

Summer is about to begin.