02x02 - Tsuyoku Shite Kudasai!

[bunniefuu]

Hey, I got me a yakisoba bun!

My heart's singing! Another great lunch!

Let's eat!

He looks so freaking happy.

So, how far did you get with you-know-who?

Oh, well, yesterday,
she fed me handmade cookies.

H-Handmade cookies?!

Hey, what's Komari-chan like?

Well, she's just great.

Seems like she's really into baking.

I'll introduce you to her next time.

Okay!

This is the right path...

I'm glad that Nakatsu seems so happy.

I've got to pick myself up too.

Oh? Ashiya-kun!

Karasuma Kinuko!

H-Hello.

On your way to pick up Sano-kun?

Don't let her get to you.

Just remember you know Sano
in ways that she doesn't!

Oh, that's right!

Sano-kun made team captain.

What?

The latest news...

She got to it first.

Still, I'm delighted, if a bit surprised,
that he's come back to the high jump.

To be honest, I thought
it would never happen.

When I first came here,

I heard that Sano had
quit the high jump, and...

It was quite a shock.

But then I realized...

Nobody wants to jump as much as he does.

Maybe your feelings got through to him.

Huh?

A little birdie told me.

I get it. Everybody wants to do whatever
they can for the person they love.

Wh-What are you talking about?

The power of love is mighty.
Isn't that right, young man in love?

D-D-Don't get the wrong idea!

I'm not like that!

My, my!

What a lovely shade of red you've turned.

I-I've gotta go!

Did I tease him too much?

H-How does she know?!

Ashiya?

Did you come to watch me?

You're too late.

I'm headed home now.

Sorry.

Could you take Yuujiro
and go back without me?

Are you hiding something again?

What?

N-No, nothing at all.

Did that crow say something to you?

N-Not particularly.

So it's something you
can't even tell me about.

To...

To?

I have to use the toilet!

My bad.

Doctor!

There! All done.

Hey.

Even though I know what's going on here,
the sight is still bad for my heart.

How can I help you, Ashiya?

You want me to align your body too?

No, thank you.

But that's right!

Kujo-san, I have a favor to ask of you.

What?

I'd like to get strong.

Please make me stronger!

That's a pretty intense way
of asking for help.

I'll do it, but I'm strict.

Fine.

Then come to the dojo
tomorrow for a trial period.

We'll start with a week of practice.

Yes, sir!

This is all because you don't want
to lose to that reporter?

Are you daft or something?

How naive.

Every time I run into her,
it saps my confidence.

So I was thinking...

If I learn some karate,
maybe I can become strong enough

to get my deflated self back to normal.

Well, getting stronger couldn't hurt,

but just maybe someone appreciates
that you wear your heart on your sleeve.

I'm back!

Hey. You're pretty late.

Yeah, kinda, I guess.

I heard they made you team captain!

Congratulations!

Sorry we didn't throw a party or anything.

I don't need one...

Is that right?

- Osaka High Karate Team

- Osu!

- Thank you!

That was so hard!

This is more than I was expecting.

Kujo-san's a monster.

Ashiya.

So, Kujo-san...

No, I mean, Kujo-senpai.

You're not a member of the team,
so the former is fine.

Well, you wanted to talk to me?

Blindly doing your best,
like you did today,

won't help you get better quickly.

Right.

No matter how hard you train
or temper your body,

you won't find a source of strength there.

True strength is born
from within yourself.

That's what tempering
your heart is truly about.

Granted, that doesn't mean
hardening your heart like steel.

It should be flexible,
like a large tree unfazed by storms.

This one-week period is for you
to learn that concept with your body.

You'll have plenty of time
to get strong after that, right?

I almost waited long enough to k*ll me.

Sano?

Where did you suddenly get
the idea to join the karate team?

I haven't joined.

I'm just doing some trial lessons.

What's this all about?

I just don't want to lose to Karasuma-san
when it comes to you.

But everything I know about you
comes from her,

so I've kind of lost my nerve.

It sounds stupid,

but I had this idea
that if I just got stronger,

it would fix everything.

That really is stupid.

T-Talk about blunt.

Sheesh.

I am who I am now
because you were by my side.

You can't tell me you didn't know that.

Right...

I feel like he just said
something unbelievable to me...

Now let's hurry up and get home.

We'll miss dinner if we don't.

That was so fun!

And that last action scene!

I don't know. It was just so satisfying.

Let's get something to eat.

Yeah, let's.

I've always wanted to do
something like this...

It's so good!

Oh, yours does look good.

What is that? Chestnut?

Want a bite?

S-Sure.

Nakatsu-kun.

You've got a bit of cream on your face.

There you go. All clean again.

Thank you...

Going to the movies with your girlfriend,

stopping somewhere to eat...

I guess this is what they call happiness.

Oh, look! These are so cute!

I'll give you a discount.

Dang, they're so tiny.

Girls really dig this stuff, huh?

Can your finger even fit in there?

That...

would look good on Mizuki.

Hey, Nakatsu-kun.

Look. What do you think?

Hey, yeah, that's real cute.

And look, only 300 yen. That's a steal.

You should buy it.

You've still got a lot to learn, my dude.

Huh?! About what?!

Man, I'm so hopeless.

I was out with Komari-chan,

but then I go thinkin' about someone else?

I was supposed to be over this.

Why can't I get it out of my head?!

Your aura's quite a convoluted
entanglement of colors.

Sano-kun sure can jump!

He's in top form.

One more time.

Okay.

Still, I wonder what really
got him back into the high jump.

I want to ask,
but I wouldn't get anywhere.

Oh, there's someone.

Someone who'd spill the beans!

Hey there, eager beaver.

Doctor!

Well?

Have you figured out how to get stronger?

I've kind of let that go for now.

Huh?

I've decided to let myself
go at my own pace.

I figure there's no sense
in rushing things.

Sounds like a wise decision.

As they say, "A little learning
is a dangerous thing."

Doctor, I have a question!

What is it?

Do you do any kind of sport?

Never.

Why not?

There's no freaking reason to!

What could possibly be fun about
punishing your body until you collapse?

In my eyes, every athlete
is a narcissistic masochist.

Who hurt you?

Ah, there he is.

Ashiya-kun!

Found you!

Karasuma-san?

Karasuma?

U-U-U... U-Umeda Hokuto!

Hiya.

Bye!

What did you do to her?

Just why do you assume I'm
the one who did something?

Wh-What is he even doing here?!

So you two went to university together?

She was in the same club
that a friend of mine was.

I only ever went for the
free booze myself.

And, well, we randomly
ran into each other once,

and I happened to be in a lousy mood...

I don't want to think about it!

I can't believe this!

What a nightmare!

I had forgotten all about it!

But she wouldn't let up
and kept jumping down my throat...

So I ended her.

Poor woman.

Anyway, I never thought
your journalist would be Karasuma.

I'm surprised that
you two know each other.

Don't underestimate her.

If she gets you in her sights,
it'll be trouble.

Right.

Yay, it's lunchtime! Time for lunch!

Hello, melon roll, custard sandwich,
and steamed chocolate bun!

Just hearing that makes my stomach turn...

Are you going to eat all of that?

Sure am!

Hey, Nakao-kun! Get over here!

Let's eat together!

Pass.

I'm dieting.

Why?

You're asking why?!

I didn't win the pageant
because of a certain someone!

And my despair binging
made me put on weight!

I-I owe you for that one...

Look.

You've got food on your face again.

I can't, I can't!

I won't think about Mizuki.

I just won't!

You're giving off a convoluted
mix of colors again.

This subtle contrast is just like the
very first step into adolescence—

Enough color commentary on my aura!

But you've been acting weird lately.

I don't even need to see
your aura to tell.

What's up, Nakatsu? Is something wrong?

I mean, he's always been weird.

No point bringing it up now.

That's enough, you two.

Nakatsu, are you not
feeling well or something?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with me.

I'm happy and healthy, 120 percent!

There you go again with that.

Turn towards me.

Doesn't seem like you have a fever.

Nakatsu?

Hey, you good?

What happened now?

Hey, Nakatsu.

Maybe I'm...

Maybe I am seriously in... with Mizuki.

No way!

I mean, right now, I have a...

girlfriend named Komari-chan!

This is crazy!

N-Nakatsu?!

N-Nakatsu?

Please don't look at me!

And he's gone...

Oh, this sticker is so adorable.

It made our eyes real big.

You look so cute.

I really do.

Oh, you! And what is this
face supposed to be?

I call it good-lookin'.

Jeez, you're not supposed
to say that yourself.

She really is a darn sweet girl.

Why am I even having any doubts?

So, Nakatsu-kun...

Nakatsu?

It's dinnertime.

You not coming?

I don't want any!

Don't complain later that you're hungry.

I'm such an unfaithful man.

I'm with Komari-chan now,

but I'm still fallin' for my
friend Mizuki, who's also a guy!

Even I can't stand myself!

And what pisses me off most is that...

Even at a time like this,

my stomach can't stay quiet!

I tried to tell you.

Nakatsu. Hey, Nakatsu, I'm talking to you.

Nakatsu.

Hey.

Are you listening?

Nakatsu.

Hey, we're on page 135!

I don't get this!

A bona fide dumbass.

This feels good.

Really clears the mind.

Makes you feel calm.

Ashiya-kun!

Karasu—

I think we're okay.

There's something I just have to ask you.

O-Okay?

First, why is that absolute
moron Umeda at this school?

Because I'm the school doctor.

Wow, like the wind.

He saved me, but I do feel bad for her.

I caught you at just the right time.

Here.

What's that?

Karasuma repellent.

Repellent?

I see, I see...

Driven to tears of joy, were you?

Put it on a string and hang it
from your neck or something.

What the heck is this?!

What do you mean?

One of my nudes.

It's highly effective.

Nobody needs this, ever!

How dare you, you ingrate?!

He's a doctor?

Has hell frozen over?

But I'm not going to give up!

Not until I find out what got
Sano back into the high jump.

I'm so tired.

I wonder if it's because
I've been so active lately.

I shouldn't fall asleep here.

I'll catch a cold.

But it's so tempting to doze off...

It's so comfy here...

Oh, sorry!

Sano?

How long have you been there?

I conked out...

You're finally awake.

You almost fell off the bench.

Drooling and everything.

You doing laundry too?

No.

Ashiya, did you notice
Nakatsu's funk yesterday?

Yeah. I thought it was weird too.

It seems like something's eating him.

He's been acting strange lately.

Wh-What?

Nothing at all.

Nothing you need to worry about.

Anyway, I'm out of here.

Sure.

This is trouble...

Mizuki?

Welcome back, Nakatsu!

Hey. What's up?

Doing laundry?

Yeah. I've been doing a lot lately,

so I've been sweating up a storm.

My gi undershirt was totally soaked.

It's really bad.

N-Nakatsu?

S-Sorry!

Later!

That startled me...

Just what's going on with you, Nakatsu?

I figured it out! I'm...

I'm in love with Mizuki!

What...?

I'm sorry.

Until now, I've always thought
of him as a friend.

I didn't realize how I really felt.

When you asked me out,
it made me incredibly happy.

I've had such a great time.

But at some point, I realized that
I'm head over heels for him.

I get it already.

I had a feeling something
like that might be the case.

But I'm glad to know you
did care about me as well.

Thank you for telling me.

Umeda... isn't around, right?

Okay!

Ashiya-kun!

This time, I'm going to get
all the answers for my scoop!

Tell me why Sano-kun got interested
in a high jump comeback!

How should I know?

Well, you must have noticed
something. Even if it was small.

You live together, after all.

That may be, but I still don't know...

Maybe I really should've
taken that repellent!

G-Goodbye!

Hey! Wait right there!

Oh, S-Sano-kun!

You need to stop bothering him.

You sure are protective of him.

I guess even a guy like you doesn't want
someone meddling with his love interest.

Is that so wrong?

Anyway, try talking to him one more time,

and you'll never get a word from me
for your articles ever again.

I'll let you in on one thing, though.

I got back into the high
jump to keep him close.

Oh, man.

Talk about young love.

Him being so honest
is throwing me for a loop.

Mizuki!

What's this?

Who's that loud?

What's his deal?

Nakatsu? What's up?

I... broke up with Komari-chan!

Mizuki...

I love you!

What?!

I swear I'll make you look my way.

Um...

What do I do now?!

Time for the school study trip!

It's going to be so much fun! Yay!

Do you even know what that means?

It means we study. The whole trip.

R-Really?!

Really.

I had to say something,

or she'd never pipe down
and I'd never sleep.