02x11 - Episode 11

[bunniefuu]

Azuma might like me.

I agonized over it for so long,

but it was just a misunderstanding.

I mean,

ALL THOSE DAYS I SPENT AVOIDING HER...

If I just think about it for a second,

I'd know it's impossible.

So gross.

I'm so gross.

I feel so bad for her.

Even feeling bad for her is gross.

No matter how I look at it,
it's just not possible.

Why did I ever get that idea?

You can only be so full of yourself.

So gross!

So disgusting.

And then we gave up on
the cafeteria yesterday.

But with the school days we have left,

it'll be hard to try
everything on the menu.

In the first place, someone like me...

You don't have to listen so intently.

It's not like I can read Azuma's mind.

STARING

What... What... What...

I need to break
this bad habit of overthinking.

Being too subjective and insecure
never leads to anything good.

Thank you.

It's more fun with more people.

Trying to guess what they really mean
is just a waste of energy.

Taira-kun.

I can't see the board.

BLUNT

This guy...

Let's go to the cafeteria.

I'm hungry.

The cafeteria?

Let's go together!

But then again...

Sup.
- Sup.

My feelings of inferiority...

Inferior to what?

To whom?

Help me!

Here we go again.

It's about your one-sided crush, right?

You're still not sure
if you actually want to date him, right?

Well, that's true.

But right now, I just want to be with him.

I'm just trying my best to hang in there
without him finding out.

You've got it bad, don't you?

Hanging in there just to be with him...

Does that mean you don't think
you have a chance if you confess?

I really don't think I do.

I see.

If I get too close, he pulls away.

But lately, I feel like
we've been getting closer.

My emotions are all over the place.

He sounds like a real handful.

IS THIS OKAY?

What would you do in my shoes?

Me?

WHY ME?

I want a normal person's opinion
for reference.

Setting aside whether I'm "normal" or not,

I do like hearing about
other people's love lives,

but I just want to know
how things are going for them.

It's not because I empathize with them.

Whether it's a girl or a boy,

I only ever see them as a human being.

Besides, I don't understand relationships
that start with romantic feelings.

Back then, with Tani-kun and Nishi-san,

I felt like I was just swept up in it.

I'm not sure if my opinion
will be of any use to you.

Go ahead.

Maybe you should rethink
whether you like him as a person.

As a person...

Not just as a man.

If there's no hope for romance,

then you have to set a goal
other than love.

No, wait.

Maybe it's better to just cut ties.

PRECONCEPTION FILTER

HE DOESN'T SEE HER AS A LOVE INTEREST,
YET KEEPS LEADING HER ON

Think about whether you really need
that person in your life.

If he's even a slightly bad influence,
it's better to just cut him off.

Why so harsh all of a sudden? I'd die!

That said, when it comes to studying,

I've actually been working harder.

If I didn't think he'd be here,

I wouldn't come
to the study room this often.

I'd just be slacking off at home.

HOT DRINK

They have drinks they didn't have before.

Yay!

Are you really that happy?

Didn't you buy the same one?

It's normal to be curious, right?

It's gross.

Oh my god, it's actually gross.

Oh no, I'm laughing.

What was that?

That weird pause just now.

Are you kidding me?

I really do like him.

I'll go this way today.

You're walking?
- Yeah.

The weather wasn't great this morning.

I think I'll walk home this way too.

YAMANEKO COMMUNITY CENTER

What? You're such a gentleman.

Yeah, yeah.

You just brushed me off.

I like him as a person.

Even so, I like these moments too.

That's all it is.

I wish that were true.

I hope he feels as strongly as I do.

To be honest, that's what I'm thinking.

I'm already a lost cause
just for thinking that.

What kind of music
do you usually listen to?

Why do you ask?

I want to know what you sing when you go
to karaoke with Yamada and the rest.

You might not know it because it's old.

You never know. I might.

This one.

I don't know it.

I knew you wouldn't.

Well, I can get to know it now.

I'll add it to my playlist.

I'm excited. I'll listen to it later.

Regarding Azuma,

I've always felt she belonged to a world
that had nothing to do with me.

She's clearly from the other side.

It might not be good for her
to be seen with me.

I was overthinking everything.

Before I knew it,
I'd entered her inner circle.

But I couldn't just accept it.

Did you know

a big sports and leisure center

recently opened
at the station three stops from here?

Oh, really?

I told Suzuki I want to go
after the exams are over.

Probably in March.

March...

If it's early March,
my results won't be out yet.

I can't go too wild.

Do you want to go with me?

Let's go!

It'll be more fun with more people.

Let's push the date back a bit then.

Just now,
I was already imagining I'd be going too.

You should invite the other guys too.

Yamada would definitely be interested.

True.

"I'm in!"

I can totally see him saying that.

Will Tani come?

He doesn't like this kind of thing, right?

If Suzuki goes, he'll probably go.

No, he'll probably come.

Regardless of Suzuki.

I feel like he'd just say
with a straight face,

"I'll go."

I can totally imagine that.

Setting aside Sato and Watanabe,

will Suzuki be okay?

WHOA! EEK! AAH!

She's the one who suggested it,
but you're worried about her?

You're laughing way too hard.

No, it's just...

Taira, you really know everyone well.

I...

No matter who I'm with,

deep down, I've never believed
that I have a place where I belong.

The only reason I can be here now

is that my true self
hasn't been exposed yet.

Even if I disappoint people,

I can use "I knew this would happen"
as an excuse.

I've already put up my defenses.

But actually...

I've wanted a place to belong
more than anyone else.

I look at things through a distorted lens.

I hide behind a facade of complexity.

I...

Because it's more fun when you're around.

When I look beneath it all,

my true wish is actually very simple.

I've already gotten it...

a long time ago.

I just need to let go of my paranoia.

Azuma.

Do you want to stop
by the convenience store?

I'm a bit hungry.

I mean, I'm down,

but a lot of our classmates go there.

Will you be okay with that?

It's okay. I'm fine now.

But if it's awkward for you, never mind.

Okay!

Let's go!

Early December.

The former baseball club members'
hairstyles look nothing like they used to.

Maybe having a buzz cut before
made my hair a little curlier.

Is it okay?

After school, the third-years
quietly enjoy the brief time

they have left at school.

ETC...

By the way, has it already been a year
since last year's fried chicken party?

So that's what that party was called.

We'll be graduating
in the blink of an eye.

I don't want to.

I feel like I haven't had a proper youth.

Tell me about it.

Isn't it impressive
that you lasted three years in a club?

But our school is weak.

We didn't even win any awards.

But hanging out with everyone
after school like this,

messing around
with our favorite short-video memes,

making up our own lyrics
to songs we can't remember or sing...

I really love all of that.

We just did a bunch of stupid things.

Saying it out loud makes it feel like
even more of a waste of time.

No way.

In that case, let's...

do more things that cheer us up!

Don't emphasize it like
you're in a music video!

Then...

THE NEXT DAY

Yay!

You need sugar before you study.

Exactly, exactly!

Are you all going to study?

LIVELY BUZZ

We brought the same snacks.

Okay, okay.

You can never have too many of these.

Gomapon is so funny.

Class 7 is having a snack party.

Let's go join them!

What about you?

I can go for a bit.

That's rare.

Well, Suzuki will be there too.

What's that supposed to mean?

Do you want to go together?

Yamada is there too.
- I want to go.

CAN I?

Then I want to bring this along.

Let us join in!

It's Class 8.
- Welcome!

CLASS 3-8 MEMBERS JOIN IN

Come over here.

Here. I have extra snacks. Have some.

Are you sure?

Why do you have so many?

I only collected them
for the packaging,

but Nishi and I
can't finish all the snacks inside.

Is that how it is?

The snacks inside
are the main thing, right?

We need to bring over more chairs.

This one and this one.

And this one. This one is delicious too.

Bye. My work here is done.

DISPOSING OF THE SNACKS

"ARE YOU GOING BACK ALREADY?" LOOK

Is your schedule okay?

Weren't you in a hurry to leave?

It's fine.

NO ACTUAL PLANS

What's that in your hand?

A mini cheesecake.

Want some?
- I'll have some!

I'm digging in.
- Me too!

This is so good! It's so creamy.

So rich!

The #1 food you don't want
to see at a marathon water station.

If you fell into this cake,
you'd never be able to get out.

These food reviews suck.

I really missed this kind of vibe.

Right, we did this last year too,
didn't we?

The second semester after-party.

Yeah, the one we mentioned yesterday.

Is that the one?

YAY

Water station...

You're late to the joke.

Nice!

Do tell us, how's the new cheesecake?

Don't shove the mic in my face.

Staring...

You guys don't have to wait either.

I've never seen the one Watanabe has.

It's a new snack.
It tastes really interesting.

It's surprisingly okay. A unique flavor.

What does it actually taste like?

Is this strawberry flavor?

Strawberry daifuku flavor.

Strawberry daifuku?

Nishi-san, you're laughing way too hard.

Yamada must've gotten the dud.

You should've had a bigger reaction.

No, I really can't tell what it is.

The tartness is too mild.

As mild as Gomapon chatting
with the cafeteria lady.

Okay, that fell flat!

What's wrong?

No, Taira just texted me.

CLASS 7 IS HAVING
A SNACK PARTY RIGHT NOW

He just said they're having one.

Kind of vague, isn't it?

He probably wants you to go.

Since you're part of the group.

CLASS 3-7 MEMBERS

Should we go check it out?

What's that? Can we join too?

It should be fine.

Is that so?

But showing up empty-handed
and eating their snacks...

isn't that a bit shameless?

Is it really okay?

Has Azuma always been such a worrywart?

In that case,

why don't we bring some treats?

You have plenty of stock!

TA-DA!

Hello! Sorry to intrude!

That's a lot of people at once.

It's Azu-Sa! Welcome.

We brought some treats.

Wow, that's a lot!

We need to grab more chairs.

It's getting lively in here!
- Feel free to take another one.

Excuse me.

Are you having fun?

Thanks.

Who would get it
if you wrote it like that?

Even though I still came.

No, I just thought you'd gone home.

Is that a tsundere thing?

Nishi-san.

I got the Sports Day photos from Yamada.

Thank you so much for those.

You're a great photographer.

Oh, not at all.

I'm glad you liked them.

Is it only for certain characters?

Gapacho!
- Where?

He ran away.

Gapacho is so elusive.

What was that about?
- I should probably head out soon.

Cram school?

Good luck.

Good luck!

Yusuke-kun.

Here, I snuck you a little extra.

Get some sugar in your system.

Thank you.

I should get going too.

I've still got my routine to get through.

I'd better head back too.

Thank you.

Thanks for the treats.

See ya.

Suzuki.

We have to leave in a bit too.

We've got cram school.

PEOPLE START TO LEAVE

You're right.

We had a second round last year, though.
- You're hopeless.

FEELING LONELY...

ARE YOU GOING BACK?

As if it were the most natural thing.

What a funny, mysterious group.

Truly.

HEADING THE SAME WAY TO CRAM SCHOOL

If you're at that cram school,

do you go to that burger place
in the back alley?

I go there all the time.

It's been a while since we walked home
together, just the two of us.

Yeah.

Is everything going well?

That's pretty vague.

Those mini cheesecakes were so good.

Right?

I just feel so happy right now.

I'm glad.

Maybe I should stock up on snacks too.

Yeah. You're always
eating everyone else's.

Want to stop by somewhere
on the way home today?

It's not a named event,

nor does it leave you
with something like an award.

Boring and seemingly pointless moments

can sometimes add color
to your inner world.

It's a little happiness you can only find

when you have room in your heart.

So Tani finally decided
on Nijigaoka University.

Yeah.

Then you'll be in a long-distance
relationship once you're in college.

That's right.

But we'll just have to make it work.

I hope all his hard work
gets him into the school he wants.

You're so strong.

Not really.

If anything, Tani-kun's the strong one.

Maybe it's because he's decided
on his path and isn't wavering anymore,

but he's working harder than ever.

I was actually surprised
he even showed up today.

How should I put it?

He's so hard on himself,
it's almost worrying.

SEE YOU NEXT EPISODE...