01x08 - Summon the Courage

[bunniefuu]

♪

[indistinct chatter]

[UKA]

Summer vacation.

Beautiful clouds.

And the sand!

I'm really at the beach!

[gasps]

With so many people!

[AYUMI]

Hey, Uka!

Hope this wasn't too

last minute for you.

-No!

-Kinda spur of the moment.

I wonder

how many people showed up.

[awkward chuckle]

Lost track after ten.

[AYUMI]

Hm. You good?

♪

[UKA]

They're goddesses.

All of them.

-I can't look head-on.

-[SERINA] Something wrong?

Hold up.

No swimsuit?

Even if I had one,

I'd be too nervous to wear it.

[KIYOSHI]

Yep, that tracks.

Right, Kai?

Hm?

♪

[gasps]

[KAI]

Why'd you look away?

Oh, I, uh

I just don't know

where to look

Right here!

Okay.

[KAI]

Come find me in a few.

[UKA]

Yeah.

♪

[indistinct chatter]

[UKA]

I'm in love with him.

I can't deny that.

[waves crashing]

I have to move forward.

SPARKLE 8

SUMMON THE COURAGE

-[cheering]

-[water splashes]

[laughter]

♪

Hey!

[Ayumi panting]

[Ayumi sighs]

[AYUMI]

I'm freakin' parched!

[UKA]

Welcome back.

Hey. Do you guys

wanna get some drinks

-Ugh. [groans]

-[gasps]

[YURU]

Why's Oguni here, of all days?

That sucks!

[MIHO]

Yeah.

They're glaring daggers.

♪

We cannot let 'em

mess with Serina.

You can count on me!

-You sure?

-Yeah!

That sounds perfect for you!

Like you stood up for her

with those other girls.

The rest of us

will stay out of it.

[KAI]

You'll stay out of it, too.

[all gasp]

I'll take care of it.

It's not her business.

♪

Oh? And who are you

to decide what's her business?

You're right.

I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have butted in.

In that case,

I'm gonna wander around

for a while.

♪

[gasps]

Wait up!

I'm scared we'll get separated

if we don't have a way

to contact you!

-Huh.

-[AYUMI] How about this.

I can lend you

my phone till you get back!

Huh? Wait, you actually

have a cell phone?

-[UKA] Mm-hmm.

-[AYUMI] What the

How come you never told me?

We've gotta trade numbers!

♪

AYUMI ENDOU SERINA

KANNO

[chuckles]

All right. I'll go

and put you in my phone

as one of my special clubmates.

You're in a club?

Uh, the Kai Club.

[chuckles]

-Ugh.

-[AYUMI] With two members?

[SERINA] Yeah!

We sure don't need more.

[UKA] I'm sorry that

I'm the other member.

[groans]

Quit looking so bummed.

You remember

what I told you before?

-Be loud and proud!

-Hm.

We're loud and we're proud.

[both chuckle]

There!

All good!

[laughter]

[gulping]

[YASUSHI]

Hey, Kai!

I heard at the culture festival

you touched Ishimori's face

and lovingly stroked it!

[spits]

[coughs]

Fess up.

Did that happen?

[KAI]

There was no stroking.

[KIYOSHI]

Okay. But why her?

Aren't you only

caretaking during school?

I'm doing what, now?

[YASUSHI]

This isn't fair to Kanno!

Who cares?

You protect one girl,

then the other.

-[gasps]

-Do you want Kanno or Ishimori?

Make up your mind!

Nah. Seems clear to me.

There's only been one

he's really trying to protect.

Though he's still managed

to find a way

to give them both

the wrong idea.

♪

[UKA]

Look at that.

It's been a while

since I've seen the ocean.

Not since my parents took me

my first year of junior high.

I was too scared

of seeing people

from my school.

Kept making excuses.

And we stopped coming.

Back then, I thought

I would live my whole life

running from places like this.

And everywhere else.

-[REMI] Ishimori?

-[gasps]

-[whimpering]

-Huh?

♪

[shudders]

Why the heck's she here?

Last person I wanted to see

over summer break.

Imagine seeing a girl

like that in a swimsuit!

[REMI'S FRIEND 1A]

I'd barf.

[UKA]

And it's all happening again.

Just like I thought.

Honest.

Caring.

Courageous.

[UKA]

No more running.

I'll take the first step.

-Hey!

-Huh?

Um. Hello there.

Uh, how have you been?

Huh?

Dude, you think

we're friends after

what happened last time?

Hell, no.

Let's go!

[UKA] [gasps]

Wait.

Please hold on a second!

What do you want, freak?

Weirdo!

Get away from me!

[UKA] No.

I can't give up!

I've changed

so much since then!

You know, I don't remember

seeing you around school,

lately!

-Huh?

-[panting]

[REMI]

'Cause I dropped out.

Didn't feel comfortable

being around there with you.

[UKA]

I had no idea.

I don't understand,

but I'm sorry.

You got a problem?

[UKA]

No, I swear!

What are you up to now?

Nothin' much.

Trying to enjoy my life.

That sounds nice.

[MASASHI'S FRIEND 2A]

Who's that? Feels like

I've seen her before.

Oh. From Remi's class, huh?

♪

See you.

[UKA]

Just stay calm.

I'm okay.

Wait, that means

Is Kai Miura here, too?

-Over there.

-[all gasp]

Oh, crap.

[REMI'S FRIEND 1A]

He still talks to you?

[REMI]

Interesting.

You're making things

happen, aren't you?

Uh, yeah! Exactly!

'Kay, chill out.

You're not quite the nuisance

you were before.

Still, not like I give a damn.

-[chuckles]

-Why did that make you happy?

[chuckles]

[AYUMI] Whoa!

Did you guys see that?

Aren't those the people

who used to bully her

back in junior high?

[AYUMI] I was gonna

try to give her a hand,

but she's got it covered.

[YURU] Our girl's

killin' it out there.

[SERINA]

I'm impressed.

I need to move on

from my past, too.

Maybe today could be the day.

-Kai

-[KAI] Serina.

You got a sec?

[waves crashing]

♪

I already know

what you're planning to say.

So do you mind if I go first?

Honestly.

I still never really

got over you, Kai.

We both know how you are.

It's so impossible to tell

what you're thinking.

That's why

I had gotten the wrong idea.

The way you were acting

before break made me think

you still cared about me

as well.

But I understand.

You only did that

for Uka's sake.

To keep her out

of the crossfire.

So before we leave,

can I ask you what I was

too scared to ask back then?

♪

Kai.

Did you ever have

feelings for me?

♪

I loved you.

[gasps]

[SERINA]

KaiI need you.

But, you don't need me.

But after what you said,

I had to let you go.

That's my answer.

♪

Yeah.

I knew that, obviously!

Ya silly!

Well, I've gotta head home.

♪

Goodbye.

And thank you.

♪

[whimpering]

[sobs]

[sniffles]

♪

[ALL]

Ah.

[gasps]

[groans]

[YASUSHI]

So, uh

We're sorry, Serina.

Uh. But still,

did he really have to be

so harsh with that last part?

Yes.

Thanks to that.

I can finally give up on him.

♪

Uh?

♪

So, you good now?

[Yasushi panting]

[YASUSHI] Bro! What the hell

are you thinking,

rejecting Kanno?

What?

No way!

[UKA]

What?

But why would he reject her?

[UKA] Miura.

What happened?

Something that

isn't your business.

Yes, it is!

It is.

Maybe you're right.

Still

you can't choose

how other people feel.

So let it be.

Don't bother racking

your brain over it.

♪

[SERINA]

And, sent.

To Miura?

Nah. To Uka.

She'd get worried

if I left without saying.

Why has everything been

about Ishimori lately?

Why would he pick her?

It doesn't make any sense!

You'll get it

once you know her.

[MIHO]

I highly doubt that.

[groans]

With him,

I had lost my strength.

[phone vibrates]

But in her case, she found it.

She went home?

♪

[phone chimes]

♪

Lemme respond

to Uka realquick.

[moans]

Uh.

♪

-[chuckles]

-[gasps]

What'd you say to make her

write that novel?

[SERINA]

Here.

I'll let you see for yourself.

♪

Oh. That's it?

[chuckles]

Yeah.

There's nothing else

for me to say!

She knows what it means.

I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE

THE OTHER MEMBER, UKA!

[UKA]

You're so sweet,

but I should say this to you.

♪

[phone vibrates]

Uh!

[chuckles]

[UKA]

It's from Ayumi!

I FINALLY FINISHED MY HOMEWORK!

AM I A GOOD GIRL?

GIVE ME COMPLIMENTS!

She's always adorable.

Right. I should reply.

GOOD GIRL!

Are we close enough for this?

Welllet's try!

♪

[phone vibrates]

Ah.

YAY!!

[UKA]

I've gotten more comfortable

texting Ayumi and Serina.

They're both so different.

But still, I feel like

I know them better now.

Ayumi likes it

when you dote on her.

Whereas

Serina is very involved.

Honestly, I don't

quite understand

why she concerns herself

with stuff like this.

♪

If I want his number,

I need to ask him.

So we need to hang out.

Easy, right?

But how do I get him

to meet up with me?

I could say I wanna

hang out to get his number.

Straightforward.

Though I don't see

how he benefits from that.

I don't know.

I haven't even asked

Ayumi or Serina to meet up yet.

I'm so socially anxious.

I can't remember.

Was I always like this?

Stop right there!

Don't let the bad

thoughts win!

I should go for a walk!

♪

Hey, are you going somewhere?

The bookstore.

[UKA'S DAD]

If you want, I can take you.

I'm all right.

[UKA'S DAD] Well, be sure

to take your phone.

I've got it.

Yeah, of course.

[UKA]

See ya!

[door opens and closes]

[insects chirping]

[UKA]

Summer break's almost over.

-Huh?

-I wonder how Miura's doing.

[STUDENT 8E] Look at those

hot guys over there!

They're totally

checking us out.

[STUDENT 8G] Hey.

You should go talk to them!

[STUDENT 8E] The blonde guy

especially is such a snack.

[STUDENT 8F] Right?

He's like a celebrity.

Leave it to Kai

to get girls lookin' our way!

Easy to pick 'em up.

Where's my food?

[STUDENT 8C]

Yeah, yeah, we know.

[sighs]

[STUDENT 8A]

Back to school next week.

[STUDENT 8B]

Got anything left to do?

-[STUDENT 8A] Homework.

-[STUDENT 8B] I feel that.

[STUDENT 8C] You, Kai?

Any unfinished business?

Yeah.

Huh?

[STUDENT 8A]

Dude, where are you going?

[STUDENT 8C]

We're not done here!

Hey.

I heard that

he rejected Serina.

What?

Who'd do that?

Guys like Kai.

Wonder if he has his sights

on someone else.

[UKA]

Oh.

There it is.

Mom said she wanted

to pick up this book.

[gasps]

[gasps]

♪

"On the Arrangement

of Succulent Plants."

Hm.

[chuckles]

Not even a smile?

[UKA]

He's here.

With me!

[ice clatters]

[UKA]

I can't believe it.

I'm having drinks with him!

Maybe it's been a while.

Or maybe I missed him.

But he looks even more

handsome than usual.

[gasps]

What?

I apologize.

[KAI]

How are things?

Good. And with you?

-[KAI] Good.

-That's good.

[KAI] Been looking

for a chance to ask.

How'd it go with those

three punks back at the beach?

[UKA]

You were watching?

Well, I was just asking

how things had been.

-[KAI] Look at you.

-And then?

I asked Remi

why I hadn't seen her at school

and she said that

she dropped out a while ago!

[KAI]

Yeah.

[UKA]

You already knew?

Yeah.

Swung by her class to see

if she felt bad,

but she wasn't there.

I can hardly believe it.

I had no idea.

[KAI]

That's right.

The old you would've known.

You would've been obsessed.

You would be petrified

of what's gonna happen next.

So it's great

you hadn't heard.

Means you're moving on

and your old bullies

can't bother you anymore.

[REMI]

Still, not like I give a damn.

[UKA]

I guess the same goes for me.

But actually

I've been like that

for a while.

They haven't bothered me

since junior high.

They haven't been around.

[UKA]

No. More than that.

All my attention's been on you

and becoming a better me.

[chuckles]

Yeah.

[UKA]

Huh?

Why does he look so happy?

So, been hangin' out

with the girls?

-[UKA] Not yet.

-Any reason?

I'd like to find the chance,

but I'm still trying

to figure out

what they could stand

to gain hanging out with me.

What?!

I'm just afraid.

If they're with me,

is that the most

valuable use of their time?

[UKA]

There I go again.

Sure.

Least it's valuable to me.

[gasps]

You're always

overthinking things.

You're friends, aren't you?

Yeah!

That's a good point!

[sighs]

Yo, Kai!

Ready to go?

I didn't know

you were out with friends!

WellI'm off.

Hey. Make sure you finish that.

♪

[UKA]

Wait! His number!

If I don't get it now,

I might not

before the end of vacation!

-Hey, we found a girl.

-Ooh.

You boys weren't

kidding about your friend!

Hey, gimme your number.

-[UKA] No.

-We can have fun.

[UKA]

I need to get it first!

-[STUDENT 8H] So?

-Miura!

Please, can I get your number?

[gasps]

Who's this chick?

Ugh.

[insects chirping]

[panting]

You finally asked, eh?

[gasps]

It's about time.

Glad it's not just me.

We both want to.

[gasps]

Go without me.

Yeah, yeah.

-Keep it real.

-[STUDENT 8H] Aw.

♪

[KAI]

Gimme your phone.

Oh, right!

♪

Ah. No, wait a second!

♪

Did I mess up?

-[laughs]

-Maybe not?

On socials?

[UKA]

I mean, I know what they are.

Wanna try?

Is this a smartphone?

A what?

Maybe.

I never actually had

a phone before high school.

My dad bought it.

No sweat.

Let's just text for now.

♪

When you get home,

ask your dad

if you can download an app.

♪

[UKA]

He really gave me his number.

[KAI] I assume you won't text

till I text first.

-Nuh-uh!

-When?

♪

[UKA]

In case of emergency?

That's fine.

But you should

stand tall from now on.

Be more fearless

than ever before.

Okay?

And whenever things

do go wrong, tell me.

[KAI]

I'll be there in a heartbeat.

Sound good?

Yeah!

[UKA] [giggles]

It's slow.

But steadily,

my world is changing.

[UKA]

I'm back!

Welcome home.

Well, you sure look happy,

don't you?

Yeah, I bumped

into a few friends

from my school there.

[UKA'S DAD]

That's great.

So, uh

-Hey, Dad?

-Welcome home, sweetie!

If you were going out

shopping,

you should've asked

your dad to drive you.

Those books must've been heavy!

[chuckles]

[UKA'S DAD]

You know I offered.

She said no.

Like how we can't take her

to the beach

or to see fireworks these days.

But it's okay.

You went with your friends

this year, right?

That's wonderful.

Although it makes me

a bit lonely.

At some point,

my little girl grew up

and stopped

holding her dad's hand.

[UKA'S MOM]

Oh.

[UKA]

Slowly

but steadily.

♪