02x09 - Episode 9

[bunniefuu]

C'mon, Taira.
Join the sports day cheer squad.

Hell no. That's not for me.

For a while now,

I've been annoyed with Taira.

Well, I mean, we'll see each
other after school anyway.

He says that, but I'm always
the one inviting him to do stuff.

Honestly, I just want to be done with
studying for good as soon as possible.

Sure, school's rough,
but I'm having fun right now.

I wanna get out of here.

We won't have a reason to meet anymore.

Actually...

he really doesn't think about me at all.

I get depressed and annoyed
over nothing all on my own.

Oh, it's just you, Azuma.

But the smallest thing blows it all away.

And it's all because...

I love him.

Realizing I love him
doesn't actually change anything.

I'm not going to do anything
about it, nor do I want to.

We have entrance exams to focus on.

There's no time to think about
stuff like love and romance.

Yay! Good work today.

Or feeling giddy.

It's pretty cool at night.

Taira, you rode your bike here, right?

My moped's parked over there.

You're full of energy.

Morning!

You're so loud.

Did you get any studying done after that?

A little.

So sleepy.

Hey, let's change cars.

Huh?

This one's practically empty.

This car stops pretty far from the
transfer gate, so not many people use it.

Wow, you know so much.

I used to ride this car all the time.

Crud.

I didn't want her to know that.

Did he switch cars to be with me?!

Whew.

How'd you have a nightmare
in just a few seconds?

Some subjects just require
rote memorization.

The world looks a lot less
bright than I thought it would.

And yet, I feel like I'm floating
and can't calm down.

Too late now, but I wonder what people
think when they see us walking together.

Seriously, why worry about it now?

Maybe it's because I was
in denial and suppressed it,

but since the moment I accepted it,
it's been unstoppable.

Someone save me!

Hey, Azu.

Did something happen?

Hear me out!

Whoa, girl.

Hey, uh...

Can you manage exam prep and
a relationship at the same time?

Absolutely not.

That was quick.

What? Are you seeing someone?

I wouldn't say that, exactly.

He doesn't seem interested in me,

but sometimes it seems like
I'm the only one he opens up to.

It makes me wanna scream!

Okay...

My biases are telling me
this guy is trash.

He sounds like he'd be tough to date.

What? Oh, no. We're not there yet.

It's one-sided on my part.

Wait, what?

One-sided?

Why are you acting surprised?

None of my relationships
have ever started this way.

That's a wild thing to say.

It's crazy to be giddy about
a one-sided love, right?

So you're giddy.

No way. I need to find a way
to calm myself down.

Then you should forget about him
or tell him how you feel.

Tell him?

I've never done that before.

Or had someone confess to me.

Did she just say something scary?

To be honest, I don't even
know if I want to date him.

I'm tabling it. Sorry for
ignoring your advice.

Yeah?

I don't have time for that
right now, anyway.

Taira left already.

Well, it's not like we said
we'd walk home together.

Want a drink from
the vending machines?

Good work today!

You, too.

How are your studies?

Not that I have time to
worry about anyone else.

They're coming along.

The study hall sucks. It gets so stuffy.

Still, I can focus better than at home.

I know what you mean. It sucks.

He's way less into this conversation.

Calm down, calm down.

Don't let yourself get giddy.

But...

Huh?

These occasional breaks are a lifesaver.

Oh?

Oh?

Calm down!

I can't take it. I'm definitely seeing the
world through some kind of weird filter.

It's not too late to fix it.

I know.

I'll calm down by flipping through
our middle school graduation album.

Sorry, Taira!

So round.

What kind of expression is that?

His background and lighting are
different from everyone else's.

Was he absent?

He's so cute.

I'm screwed.

Damn it!

Today is their last
high school culture festival.

Ajarakamokuren tekerettsu no paa!

You look so cute, Nabe!

I knew you'd look good.

Tani-kun, I'll take over.

Thanks.

Yu... Tani-kun, heya!

Oh, hello, Hon-chan-san.

Hello.

Might as well check out
the exhibition, right?

Where's the start?

- Like a cosplay café worker
and big spender.

- Over there.

I'm stuck on docent duty again this year,

and as usual, I'm bored.

You guys open?

Thanks for coming, Kentarou-kun.

Yeah, sure.

That outfit suits you.

Really? Nice!

What? Here?

I'm still not used to seeing
you with black hair.

Oh, that?

"That"?

If you want to see
the culture club's show,

we should finish checking out
this area by 1 PM.

Oh, my!

I'm fully charged!

Oh, right. This is your brooding spot.

Don't call it that.

He didn't come this year?

Oh, no. He's basically guaranteed to get
into college on a recommendation,

and he's trying not to upset
anyone by having too much fun.

He's done early.

Right? I'm jealous.

You'll have to study a little longer,
but I'm glad your top choice is closer now.

If we both get into our top choices,
our schools will be near each other,

so we can keep hanging out
a bunch after graduation.

Good luck to both of us!

Yeah.

So, Tani and Suzuki...

It's kinda been a while
since they got together, huh?

Yeah, a little over a year?

It's amazing!

Yeah.

You admitted it, even though
you're hard on Tani all the time!

Shut up.

You know, Taira...

I thought you didn't want a girlfriend,
not that you couldn't get one.

What?

I know what you mean.

What?!

Is it that surprising?

I mean, I bet there are
girls who like you.

Right?

I'm not someone who gets to choose.

I...

Taira.

Here, trash.

What? Oh, thanks.

Wait, you came all the way here?

I just kinda wanted to get out of there.

O-Okay...

Hey, listen.

Wanna take a photo together?

What? Now?

I mean, you've been with
people the whole time.

Oh, uh... Sure?

Sorry, hold on. That was blurry,
and I cut your head off.

O-Okay.

Crouch down.

Yeah, that looks good.

You can't really tell we're at
the school festival. Is that okay?

It's totally fine.

Thanks.

Well, later.

Sure.

Look at them living it up.

And so, their final culture festival...

You're positively glowing.

I'm back and fully charged.

concluded peacefully...

What's up?

and without incident?

The festival's over, huh?

By the way, did you ask
Yamada about that thing?

What? No.

Today didn't seem like the right time.

I guess that's true.

Besides...

I want to solve it by myself.

If we both get into our top choices,
our schools will be near each other,

so we can keep hanging out
a bunch after graduation.

I mean, I bet there are
girls who like you.

Right?

I mean, you've been with
people the whole time.

Thanks.

Azuma might like me.

Is that even possible?

No, it must be my imagination.

But...

When I think back on possible signs,
it starts to seem like it might be true.

But I...

I was so happy when Azuma said
those things like it was no big deal.

I wasn't hurt or moved, but I still
felt like crying for some reason.

Taira, you rode your bike here, right?

My moped's parked over there.

You're full of energy.

It's not like I've never felt
summer night air before.

Well, yeah.

Aren't summer nights
just kind of energizing?

I know what you mean.

I get it, but it still
makes me want to cry.

What is this feeling?

I don't want to define it.

I just want things to stay
the way they are.

Why's he look like something's
weighing on him? Yuck.

Don't say that.

You really hate your brother, don't you?

Yeah, 'cause he's not interested
in anything except himself.

Continuing to avoid it
will just make things weird.

If I had to guess whether she likes
or hates me, then obviously...

But if my guess is right, then...

Your personality is sort of different
than what I'd imagined.

I'm not confident I can date her.

No, that's an excuse.

I'm just bringing up
the past to justify it.

A narrow snapshot of my memories
so I can keep feeling sorry for myself.

In reality, I...

She seemed so great when she asked
me out, but the moment she dumped me...

I felt nothing.

I wasn't upset about the breakup.

I was shocked that
she was disappointed in me.

Those feelings and the affection
and comfort I feel now

are just due to Azuma's kindness.

None of it is romantic love.

It's self-love.

Getting to know another person.
Getting closer to them. Opening up.

I don't think I'm capable of
doing what's normal for others.

It's not that I lack the confidence to
date her. My problem's more fundamental.

It's my sense of inferiority.

It's been a while since we rode
the train together, huh?

Oh, yeah. I guess.

We stopped running into
each other in the morning.

Did you change which car you take again?

No. I've been going to school
early to study.

Wow, good for you.

I don't want to change our relationship.

Whether I get closer to her or
run away, our connection will end.

I can't figure out what
I should do or want to do.

Hey, so...

Wanna go somewhere after exams?

What? Uh...

What should I say?

Don't you wanna go
somewhere with everyone?

I did a little sightseeing with
Nabe and Yamada over the summer.

I mentioned it on
New Year's Day at the shrine.

You rode your bikes
around the mountains, right?

Yeah, that.

It was super fun, so we've been talking
about going somewhere again.

Oh, uh...

with the second-years, right?

Yeah. The more the merrier, you know?

We'll all be going to different schools,

and if you go to a college far away,
we won't see each other as much.

What? What's wrong?

Nothing. Yeah, you're right.

Have I just felt like she's
been hanging around me

because graduation is coming up
and she wants to make memories?

Aw, crud.

This is so embarrassing!

Anyway, think about it.
How could Azuma like me?

There's no way!

Check out this pic. Isn't it great?

You're not looking.

He's so obviously relieved.

But if he doesn't feel
that way about me, then...

I'll just have to wait.

I don't want to let things slide
like I have in the past.

For me, the worst case scenario is
for our relationship to end.

Later.

Later!

I'll hide how I feel.

If I want to face the person in front of
me with sincerity now and in the future,

then that's pure, isn't it?

I can be pure like that, can't I?