01x12 - Step by Step

[bunniefuu]

After the fun graduation trip…

Tani-kun!

…we've become much closer than before…

Good morning!

Are you over the graduation trip fatigue?

What about you, Suzuki-san?

Well, not really.

What? What's wrong?

"Suzuki-san…"

…AH

Miyu.

You're calling me
by my last name now, aren't you?

Huh? Am I?

I mean, this is school.

It feels a bit…

Yeah.

If it was just the two of us,
it would be incredible.

It would be incredible.
You'd be more proactive.

Don't make it harder on purpose.

Even if there hasn't been
much growth or drastic progress,

I still feel like there have been
some small positive changes.

Why are you suddenly saying that?

We're compiling the history
of important cultural assets.

Japanese wabi-sabi.

Sato's handwriting is so beautiful.

Right?

Why are you so proud?

Exactly.

Azuma's negative energy
seems to have decreased.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST ME…
HEHEHE…

Tani, did you order
your graduation trip photos?

Not yet.

Without realizing it, Tani-kun's
social circle has gotten a bit bigger.

Let's pick these two.

You look great in them.

You don't think that at all, do you?

No way I'm buying this.

ROOMMATES FROM THE SHARED ROOM

STARING…

Suzuki-san seems to be staring at me.

I want to see the photogenic Tani-kun.

What's with this photo?

The photographer took it
when he came to the shared room.

This is another version.

So silly.

If Tani-kun isn't buying it,
I'll order it.

You don't have to buy it.

Which one should I buy next?

If I order too many,
it'll be very expensive.

Oh, Gapacho said that
for his middle school graduation trip,

he ordered a bunch of photos
that were just scenery.

In the end, his parents got mad at him.

Photos of just scenery?

Gapacho has such sophisticated taste.

I know what you mean.

IT'S NOT THAT I WANT PHOTOS OF MYSELF.
I JUST WANT A "RECORD."

Anyway, I didn't take many, so it's fine.

You took a lot, though.
Look.

Just pretend you didn't see it.
You know what I mean?

Now I won't have
class officer duties for a while.

I'm relieved.

Ever since they chose me
as a class officer while I was out sick,

I've disliked our class.

But for some reason,
the graduation trip was pretty fun.

That's great to hear.

So, where are you two going?

Well…

What should I do?

Do you want to hang out sometime?

Just the two of us.

It's not my style,
but let's give it a try.

Let's dress up.

A long time ago, my mom…

Huh? What is it? You're all dressed up.

She said that before.

I felt a little embarrassed.

I hardly ever wear dresses,
so why don't I try it on?

Is it going to be okay?
Will I look weird if I wear this?

I usually
only care about comfort.

So I don't know.

LIKE DURING THE GRADUATION TRIP
WHEN I WORE ALMOST THE SAME THING

What matters most is wearing what I want.

Even if people try to label me

or say something else
would suit me better,

I don't care. It's so annoying!

Okay.

DETERMINED…
HON-CHAN IS ALWAYS IN MY THOUGHTS…

This is a rare opportunity.

I bought these accessories before,

but never had a chance to wear them.

I'll try them on.

Huh?

Strange.

What should I do?

I feel like… my heart won't stop racing.

I'm leaving!

Huh? Are you going out?

Yes.

I made it out
without my family seeing me!

WHOA…
SO FLASHY

I only realized it
when I was about to wear it out.

I don't have a jacket or shoes
that go with this dress.

I just buy things
when I think they're cute.

I've never thought about how to pair them
with what I already have.

Somehow…

I never really noticed before,

but the girls on the street
are all so fashionable.

OVER THE TOP

I'd better take them off.

FRANTICALLY

I'M HERE! WHERE ARE YOU?

Uh… I'm here too.

I'm at the escalator
at the back of the platform.

Hello, Nishi-san?

What's wrong? Are you lost?

I'm already here.

Really?

I'm at the plaza
after you come up the escalator.

You're not looking this way at all.

It's near the ticket gate.

I'm here.

The reception is bad.

I'm very sorry.

Why are you being so formal?

Why are you so startled?

I thought I bumped into a stranger.

No, you've been so formal this whole time.

Were you nervous?

Do you have to ask that?

Yes.

It's "mm-hmm."

Huh? By the way, I feel like…

Yamada-kun's hair is different than usual.

He really tried, you know.

Wait a minute.

I've actually forgotten
what he's usually like.

That's right. Most of the time…

I rarely look him in the eye
when I talk to him.

KEEPS LOOKING AT THIS SPOT

CHINATOWN

We're in a place we've never been before.

We're in our regular clothes
instead of our uniforms

and walking together.

I feel more out of place than usual.

I wonder if I look strange
standing next to him.

Are you hungry?

I'm very hungry…

I'm starving.

If you're hungry,
let's go get something to eat quickly.

I was going to be formal,
but I changed halfway through.

I know.

It looks delicious.

I know it's a bit late,

but are you sure it's okay
to come to the place I wanted?

I suddenly really want to eat
delicious meat buns.

Because the weather's gotten cold.

That's right, that's right.

I often eat steamed things
at convenience stores,

but when I came home
from work the other day,

I smelled meat buns from someone's house.

So I thought, "Right, Chinatown!"

Taira works part-time
at the convenience store I go to.

Taira-kun. The one with brown hair.

And Morimo totally cracked Mini up.

I'm starting to remember a lot
of people's names through Yamada-kun.

And then, I told Gapacho about this…

I've been talking non-stop
this whole time.

I'm sorry.

The steamed things
at the convenience store…

I've secretly been wondering

why you call meat buns "steamed things."

Because there are pizza buns too,
right?

I see.

YAMADA'S OWN RULES

STARES…

What is it this time?

The smell of someone else's food.

If it's curry, I can understand.

But the smell of meat buns?

No, you totally can!

Haven't you seen someone
carrying takeout on the train?

That smell is a crime.

"Right, Chinatown!"

That was a while ago.
You've been like this this whole time.

If you wait too long, people won't know
what you're talking about.

I'm sorry.

I thought it was interesting.

I wasn't sure if I should say anything,
but I didn't want to interrupt.

Interrupt all you want.

It's even more embarrassing
to be teased after a long time.

"It's a crime."

You're laughing at that now?

Where did you go in your free time
during the graduation trip?

We went to a comedy theater.

We took pictures in front of the sign

and also went to the electronics district,
and so on.

Most of our class stayed
at Ultra Super Jumbo Land.

That picture you sent me
of the Inoopy group

made me laugh so hard.

It's good that I bought it,

but it's completely useless anywhere else.

I was nervous at first
because we weren't at school,

but I started to relax little by little.

-I actually feel more at ease
-I can't fit the scenery in the shot.

-in places where I don't know anyone.
-How about taking it horizontally?

I hope he feels the same way.

Let's go check out that bridge too.

This is amazing.

The view looks great.

What should I do?

No, my heart's going to explode.

I can't look at his face.

It's cold.

It's so cold at the beach.

Yamada-kun is so calm.

Am I the only one whose emotions

are all over the place like an idiot?

Huh…

-Retreat!
-Okay!

So fast!

Wait, Nishi-san! You dropped something!

That scared me.

Somehow, the last part got really weird.

I'm sorry, my curfew is too early.

That's totally fine.

By the way, are you breathing okay?

Oh, when we were running earlier…

You dropped a bunch of stuff.

You weren't wearing these today, right?

Do you always carry them around?

Well…

While we're here, I'll clip it on for you.

Because it's cute.

Cute?

It's fluffy.

Oh, he meant it's fluffy.

What is this? It's hard to clip.

Girls are amazing.

Sorry, is it weird?

But…

This way, it feels easier
to make eye contact.

Because you never look at me.

The problem isn't my bangs. It's me.

I'm sorry.

I'll look you in the eye.

You closed your eyes
before you even finished saying it.

Next time…

Next time?

Let's go out again.

Just the two of us.

-Retreat!
-Okay!

YETI COMMENTATOR
THE STATION THEY'RE MEETING AT

While Yamada and Nishi

were meeting up at the station,

on the same day, about an hour ago…

An observation deck!

Blue sky, ocean view,
popular tourist spot.

This feels…

too much like a date.

What should I do?
I'm getting really nervous.

We were alone together
on the graduation trip,

but we mostly stayed together as a group,
and everyone was nearby.

STICKING CLOSE…

It's okay to be a little clingy
and get closer today, right?

Is it okay? I think it's great!

NO REACTION…

I don't care today.

HOLDING HIM CLOSE…

CHINATOWN

After all…

It looks delicious.

…It's a bit far from home.

It's just the two of us.

I want to try the fried xiaolongbao.

What do you think, Yusuke-han?

Of course, I'm going to enjoy

-this change of pace.
-The spring rolls look good.

That's good too.

Right?

Then let's have lunch here.



SWISH…

What the…

Hush. Don't make a sound.

Don't look back. Just do as I say.

A threat?

-Don't make a sound. Walk into the store.
-I was going to be formal,

-Why?
-but I changed halfway through.

I know.

Why?

I was going to go into

my out-of-the-ordinary
clingy girlfriend mode today.

By the way, are they dating?

Or are they
in that ambiguous state before dating?

But either way, if they're on a date,

that means it's going really well.

Hey, Yamada.

I see.

I'd be very happy
to get an update next time.

It's sunny today. It's nice.

It's so cool.

Cool?

Buildings make my heart flutter.

I see.

Somehow…

watching the neon-lit night view
by the bayside

feels very grown-up,
and very much like a date.

It's because you speak English.

But it does feel like
we're pretending to be adults.

Right?

It's like a date. It's a bit embarrassing.

I wonder if Yamada and
the others will come here later.

If he confesses his feelings
at such a stylish spot,

she'd be completely swept off her feet
and utterly smitten.

Or are they nearby right now…?

They're not here?

It's beautiful.

The scenery.

Miyu… chan.

Shall we go over there?

Yusuke-kun…

This is amazing!

It's the city, after all.

I've always low-key wanted to ride
a Ferris wheel with someone I like.

Low-key?

No, that's a lie. It's high-key.

High-key…

I MADE HIM LAUGH…

This kind of scene is common
in live-action shojo manga.

So I've always longed for it.

Only the live-action?

You're right.

Riding a Ferris wheel alone
with the person you like.

Can I come over to your side?

The situation I longed for…

They've been staring at us.

People can see you really easily
in a Ferris wheel.

STARING…

Let's take a commemorative photo.

I'm so happy.

Actually, I wanted to be more intimate,

but I didn't want to be
the only one getting excited.

The lights are so pretty.

It feels like Christmas already.

It does.

I love this festive atmosphere

right before holidays like Christmas.

I really love this time of year.

Jingle bells, jingle bells.

Do you have anything
you want to do for Christmas?

What do I want?

As long as I can be with you,
anything is fine.

What about you?

Me too.

By the way,

there's no one around now.

SEPARATE

Car… car!

Huh?

Miyu! Yusuke-kun!

Dad!

Th-That was close.

You said you wouldn't be home for dinner,

so we went out to eat for once.

Yusuke-kun, is your house this way?

Yes. Thank you.

HEART POUNDING

You two rode the Ferris wheel.

The night view was beautiful.

It would've been more fun
if it spun faster.

-So, Suzuki, you finally…
-That's already a different ride.

That's right.

I've fulfilled another dream
as a manga live-action fan.

Nishi, that hairpin is cute.

Thank you.

So?

Did you have fun?

You went to Chinatown? Nice.

The meat buns were really delicious.

Yamada went to Chinatown too?

With whom?

No, I won't say anything.

It's still evening, but it's dark.

My fingers are cold.

Miyu-chan, why are your hands so warm?

Yusuke-han, Yusuke-han, look.

There are more hot drink options
in vending machines now.

TA-DA

Yay!

It makes me feel like
it's this time of year.

Do you look forward to it every year?

Let's have another great year.

We have to shake it well
before opening it.

Otherwise, something terrible will happen.

Be careful.

That's a bit much?

It's like feeling the changing
of the seasons.

I want to savor the small,
beautiful changes slowly.

Miyu, or rather, Miyu-chan.

If you're hesitant,
just call me by my first name.

IT'S NOT NATURAL AT ALL…

Do you like it when I call you that?

If you call me that…

I think you'll feel more embarrassed.

What kind of reason is that?

Miyu.

Is that his not-embarrassed face?

He's changing little by little.

SMIRKS

There's one more thing.

I'm the one who made him like this.

What do you mean?

HEHE…