02x03 - My True Self

[bunniefuu]

Am I still just a younger brother?

Mizuho.

No.

Boyfriend.

From now on, you are my boyfriend.

You're radiating happiness
from head to toe.

Because Mizuho's always been watching me.

That's why I'm so happy
that I could be with her.

I suddenly really want to see Mizuho…

It's not just Mizuho

who's been watching you.

[Airu Calling]

Hello?

Mizuho?

Did Shin treat you to something nice?

I'm really sorry

that you had to go to
the fireworks festival alone.

I'll make it up to you.

No, it's okay.

Mizuho, did something happen?

You sound strained.

I saw Kizuki at the fireworks festival.

Are you okay?

Yeah…

It's weird, right? It was over long ago.

I'm at our secret hideout now.

Huh?

Like I said,

no matter what choice you make,

I'll always support you.

I'll stay by your side.

Huh? My kindness moved you to tears?

I'm not crying.

But thank you.

These are what you once said to me.

It's not just Mizuho

who's been watching you.

I realized this

during our sixth-grade graduation trip.

Does Airu agree?

What?

Don't you think Kobayashi
from class 3 is cute?

Yeah, yeah.

She's the cutest girl
in sixth grade, right?

If I'm going to date someone,
it has to be Kobayashi.

No, it's Miyamoto from class 2.

Yeah.

Hey, it's already past lights out.

Oh no.

Pretend to sleep.
- Hide.

Go to sleep now, you hear me?

D-don't bunch up.

Stay on your side, Kizuki.

Everyone likes girls.

But the one on my mind is…

Mom… you like Dad, right?

Huh?

Why Dad?

What?

That's true. Why him?

He's weak in fights and boring to talk to.

A rigid nice guy who gets annoying.

But…

He doesn't judge me for being a hot girl.

Airu, why are you asking?

Do you need advice?

It's nothing.

I couldn't tell anyone

that I cared about Kizuki.

[Koigahama Municipal Elementary School
Graduation Ceremony]

Kizuki, you didn't forget anything, right?

I don't know.

I know Kizuki's always
- Did you bring your gym clothes?

watching Mizuho.
- Can you check for me?

Honestly, you're hopeless.

Airu? No idea.

He hasn't been here since first class.

I see. Thanks.

Did he skip class again?

He's been acting weird lately.

And he doesn't go to
Mizuho's house anymore.

Where on earth is Airu goofing off?

It was over?

You started it.

Play with me a bit longer, big bros.

No, this guy's nutcase.

Maybe.

I'm not normal.

What exactly am I?

Boring.

Hey, what a coincidence.

If it isn't Class Rep Amon.

Heading to cram school now?

I-Izumi…

What'd you skip class for today?

Shut up.

Can you lend me some cash?

I blew it all.

No way. Let me go.

Come on, just a little?

Airu.

Sorry! Sorry!

Airu.

A-Amon.

Do you know where Airu went?

He…

Hazawa left.

Can I say something?

You and I live in different worlds.

Our paths will never cross again.

But I can tell at a glance
you're suppressing your true self.

Shut up, Amon.

What nonsense are you spouting?

Sorry.

But…

I'm suppressing myself too, just like you.

But I can tell at a glance
you're suppressing your true self.

Shut up.

Shut up…

Who cares about my true self?

Just disappear!

Go home.

Touya.

This isn't a place
for junior high brats like you.

Darn brat!

What did you do to Touya?

I'm not going home.

There's nowhere for me to go.

I want to leave this place
and go somewhere else.

Take off your shirt and sit over there.

[Sterile Gauze, Painkiller
Anti-Inflammatory Patches]

You're in high school?

Yeah.

You live alone in this huge place?

My mom ran off with some stranger.

My dad just told me
to complete high school,

and then he stopped coming home
because of work.

Are you an idiot?

Normal people don't invite strangers
into their home

and patch them up.

I might steal your money and run off.

You wouldn't do that.

Those who approach me for money,

look down on others but suck up to power,

or ditch trouble just to live freely.

I can tell those people at a glance.

Wear this to sleep.

If you want to shower, go ahead.

Hey…

You can see through people
just by looking at them?

So… can you see through me too?

I think I like men…

Isn't that weird?

Pretty funny, huh?

You're not weird.

When you hit people, you look pained.

So…

I couldn't just leave you there.

Get some sleep.

You're not weird.

Compared to the wound
I got from hitting people,

Touya's words made my ache more.

That day, I slept until morning.

A bunch of insolent brats.

How dare they look down on us?

Let's shut Kenzaki and his crew up.

Don't get involved with them.

But…

[Missed Calls: 96]

[Mom: At least tell me where you are]

[Kizuki: Everyone's worried about you]

Hey, Airu.

Your phone's annoying.

It kept ringing all night.

Just answer it.
Your parents must be worried.

Forget about that.

How's this?

Look, earrings.

I thought you looked really cool
with earrings, so I copied you.

They're of the same design.

Hop on.

Okay.

Awesome.

Feels great.

Don't get c*ck, Airu.

Don't get carried away
just because Touya likes you.

We never considered you one of us.

This isn't where you belong.

But you've got nowhere else to go, do you?

Let's go.

That was harsh.
- He had it coming for acting so c*ck.

You're scary.

How can I make it disappear?

[Missed Calls: 112]

[Mizuho: You have to come
to Whale Park today]

Airu!

Thank goodness you came.

What happened to you? Are you okay?

Let's go to the hospital.

Your mom is also worried about you.

Mizuho, go out with me.

What?

I hate myself right now,

and I have nowhere to go.

But,

if I go out with you,
I think I can change.

If I just like Mizuho the way Kizuki does…

I won't date you.

You don't like me
in a romantic way, do you?

Even if I'm not your girlfriend,

I'll stay by your side.

I'll always have your back.

This is where you belong.

Mizuho…

I want to go back.

But I don't know what to do.

The look on his face was hilarious.

Where is he?

No idea.

Who are you?

Excuse me, do you know Airu Izumi?

Someone said they saw him here.

We're looking for him.

Are you his friends?

If you know anything, please tell us.

Airu hasn't come home.

Not my concern.

He hasn't told us at all
why he's not going home.

We don't know what to do anymore.

Is there anything you know…
- Hey, Kizuki.

You guys…

Yes?

Who are you to him?

Airu is my most important
childhood friend.

Well…

I don't know.

He didn't tell me anything.

But I think I understand now
after seeing you.

He's scared.

He likes you all so much

and values you so much
that he's terrified.

There was a teenage brawl

and it seems some have already run off.

Hey, stop!

Where'd he go?

You get it, right?

You live in a different world from us.

Stop pretending.

Go back to your childhood friends.

What are you talking about?

Those guys started a fight
with Kenzaki's crew.

I thought I had to notify you.

The cops showed up too.

None of this concerns you.

It does concern me!

I'm going too.

Do you still want to go now?

I won't do anything. Don't worry.

I won't lay a finger on you.

You like that guy Kizuki, right?

Then face him.

Even if you tell him how you feel,
he won't run away,

so stop hiding your cowardice.

Wait, Touya!

Stay away from us.

Even if you tell him, he won't run away.

It's not just Mizuho

who's been watching you.

I like you.

Sorry for scaring you.

Airu?

It's okay. You don't have to say anything.

I can't go out with you.

Because I like Mizuho.

But…

You are very important to me.

I want to keep going to school with you
starting tomorrow.

I want to go to the beach with you again
and talk about all sorts of things.

Can I keep staying by your side?

I'll stay by your side.

Airu…

Yeah.

I won't try to erase

my true self anymore.

[Episode 16: Miracle]