No Entry
What's our next class again?
Math?
When is math ever gonna be useful to us?
Seriously.
I told you, don't touch my hair!
Hey! What are you doing?!
When our eyes met, we'd always look away once...
Then we'd make eye contact again.
That was Kou and I in our first year of middle school.
Nobody else knew...
...about those times we fumbled through together.
I want to see Kou!
I want to talk to Kou!
These are the advanced course students' shoe boxes...
Who are you looking for?
Kou!
I was looking for you!
There's something I wanted you to hear.
What, that you made up with your friends or something?
No, that didn't work out.
Oh?
But I think it's natural that not everything you try will go well, right?
So, I'm gonna start again from scratch.
I think that's for the best!
I'm glad.
Kou!
Hey, I was still talking to you.
Hey! You're that girl from before.
Oh, hey.
If it's about that thing from before, it's already done.
Give it up already.
It's not about that.
As I was saying, I'll be coming by to cook today, so please be at home.
And I'll be staying the night, too.
Staying the night?!
Guh! Could that mean... that they're...?
Idiot. What are you thinking about?
My big brother.
We weren't really hiding it, but we also don't advertise it, I guess.
I guess most people don't know about it.
His brother!
Of course! I thought they looked alike!
Are you two dating?
Huh? Dating someone who eats more than me?
No way.
You loved me when we were in middle school, though!
You loved me.
You said you loved me too, though!
Oh, that?
That was a lie. I just got caught up in the moment.
Huh? But you totally made eye contact.
Are you sure that wasn't just because of how you were staring at me?
This is stupid.
Either way, it's not relevant now.
Running away!
At least, I can tell you're close.
Um, Miss...?
Yoshioka Futaba.
That's a nice name. Futaba, huh?
Futaba, huh...
Futaba...
Oh, Futaba-san!
A teacher's making a pass at a student.
What?!
No... I wasn't!
No, no! I really wasn't!
Darn it.
Yoshioka Futaba, huh?
Yoshioka Futaba
Yoshioka Futaba?
Who's that?
Don't look!
What? Is that a girl you like?
Shut up!
I see.
So you don't live with Tanaka-sensei?
For now, since we're student and teacher at the same school.
Kou, you moved out on your own?
No... my brother moved out.
Then you're back in your old house?
Yeah.
With your mom?
Just me.
Why don't you change your family name ba—
I've had enough.
You're so annoying. It's none of your business.
N-None of my business? You're the one who brought me into it!
There.
I let you go. It's fine now, right?
Kou. Why...
Right now... we're making eye contact...
But it feels like he's not really looking anywhere.
Didn't you want me to let go?
So... let me go.
Where is Kou's heart right now?
Y-You disappeared all of a sudden, then reappeared all of a sudden...
I have a lot of things I want to ask you!
There's so much I haven't been able to get straight in my mind!
You're so annoying.
I told you not to cry.
Sorry.
Kou?
The summer festival.
That day at Sankaku Park.
Did you wait for me?
I did wait for you.
I waited so long.
Yeah. I'm sorry.
I thought you hated boys, so...
That was just...
No. I still meant to go to Sankaku Park that day.
But right after summer vacation began, we had trouble at home.
Things got complicated.
I'm sorry I couldn't make it that day.
Kou...
That's right. A lot of things happened in Kou's life.
A lot more than mine. And yet I...
I'm sorry.
I was insensitive, and asked too much.
It's okay.
Wanna go home?
Yeah.
Caution
Bye.
I have to go this way, so...
Sure.
Kou!
You're looking forward to dinner tonight, right?
Huh?
Don't say "huh!"
Because Tanaka-sensei's coming to cook for you, right?
Oh, that's right. My brother's coming.
So long! Bye bye!
I'm so happy! Kou talked about himself to me.
Tanaka
Mabuchi
Tartar Sauce
Kou age 12 Youichi age 11 Kou age 11 Youichi age 10 Kou age 10 Youichi age 9 Kou age 9 Youichi age 8 Kou age 8
Your big brother's waiting.
Always...
That's right. If you lose something, just build it again.
And this time, with greater care.
Starting today, I'm going to rebuild everything from scratch.
Yoshioka... Yoshioka...
There I am! Class 2.
Ah!
Makita Yuuri Murao Shuuko Yoshioka Futaba
Makita-san!
It's starting today!
Okay!
Let's get started!
Yoshioka-san!
Oh, yeah!
Murao!
We're in the same class again! Nice to see you!
Hello.
During our first year,
you said you didn't want to remember anything about your class.
But I won't let you say that about your second-year class! No matter what!
Looks like there's an overbearing guy in our class.
Kou!
Hey.
After class today, you wanna—
What? Why?
I'm... in the same class as Kou?!
Morning!
So sleepy.
It's starting.
I won't get so fixated on surface-only friendships
that I pretend to be someone I'm not.
In my new class, I'll build it over from scratch!
Hey. How does it feel to fall from advanced classes into regular ones?
What do you mean?
Aren't you thinking "Why do I have to hang out with these dummies" or something?
Wow, that's a backhanded way of putting it. Crafty jerk.
What do you mean? I'm not especially smart, you know.
Huh?
In middle school, I really worked myself to death studying.
When I got into high school, I relaxed just a little.
Then before I knew it, my grades totally dropped.
Mabuchi, you're Tanaka's younger brother, right?
Yeah.
I thought you looked alike.
Wow, he navigated that one really well.
I guess he's really good at setting the atmosphere of a place.
What's wrong?
Oh, nothing.
What's with that? Is he in elementary school?
Just like he's in elementary school, huh...
Morning!
Hey, you see that girl?
I hear that in the first year, all the girls avoided her.
Huh? How come?
I dunno why, but there must be something, right?
Forward
She's... pretending it doesn't bother her, right?
It's pretty easy to sway someone's opinion, huh?
That includes mine, too...
I could create an atmosphere that will keep Makita-san from getting excluded!
Hey, Makita-san!
Look, look! The thing you gave me before.
Oh, you put it on?
Thank you!
EEEE!
No, thank you!
What? She's just talking normally.
She doesn't seem that bad to me.
Okay! That's going well!
Now, let's keep it up...
Oh, that girl!
At the end of first year,
That Girl
I hear she had a big fight with some girls in her class.
Oh? Is she a scary person?
She has pretty severe features...
Is she a delinquent? Seriously?
I might have severe features, but I'm not a delinquent!
Did I just create an atmosphere where I would get excluded?!
Murao-san! M-Morning!
Morning.
She seems surprisingly approachable!
Murao-sa—
The Rowdy Gang Leader Goes on a Journey
"Don't Address Me Again" aura
I've been totally blocked out!
Murao! Morning!
Whatcha readin'? Whatcha listenin' to?
I was thinking,
we really are lucky to be in the same class in our second year, too.
That fruitless attempt at conversation...
It'll reflect on me, too, so please stop!
That's right! The other day I went shopping, and...
I can't seem to get moving.
How's your new class?
Oh... um...
Well, how to put it... a lot of things aren't bearing fruit.
How about volunteering for class representative?
I'm not really cut out for that sort of thing.
Your high school life will be over before you know it.
There are things you can only do now.
You should do as many of them as you can.
Still... easier said than done...
Full-Packed Kalbi Bread
How gloomy!
Coffee
Kou...
You depressed?
I can't find a foothold to take a first step.
I even got labeled a scary person.
Of course, I know you're really a wishy-washy person.
That doesn't make me look any better.
Oh? I wasn't trying to make you look better.
You talked about starting from scratch,
and this is how you're acting on day one?
Day one made me realize how helpless I am.
Well, what's the big deal?
If you get crushed that quickly, it won't bother anyone.
And by the same token, if you don't give up, it won't bother anyone either.
After all, nothing's started yet.
Just do what you want.
Nothing's started yet. I haven't started anything, either.
If I really want to start something new...
...it goes without saying that I'll need
more power than usual to get things going.
Class Representatives Event Representatives
No candidates at all?
The longer you wait, the later you'll be getting home.
I'm no happier about it than you are.
Because you can't get things going...
...if things always stay the same!
Oh, Yoshioka. You want to do it?
Yes!
Okay, Yoshioka will be our female class representative.
Yoshioka, you take over the procedure.
Sure.
I want to start something!
Class Representatives: Yoshioka Futaba Event Representatives
Okay! Well!
I'd like to pick a male class representative.
Any candidates?
Someone who will really fire up the class with me?
Please!
Guess I gotta...
I don't mind doing it.
Kou!
If there's no one else, Mabuchi-kun it is!
He got the jump on me.
Well, Mabuchi-kun. Please join me in handling the procedure.
Go for it, Kou.
What?
N-Nothing...
Th-Thanks.
Dummy. I just wanted you to pick so we could go home sooner.
Let's get the rest picked already.
We need three event representatives! Anyone wanna do it?
I-I'll do it.
Makita-san?
You'll do it?! Thank you!
That's a big help!
Well? Two more.
Murao-san?
I'll be an event representative.
Murao-san... if she's in, then next up is...
Yes! I'll be an event representative, too!
Knew it!
That happened really fast.
But even so, what a strong group.
Okay. Class representatives and event representatives
will need to participate in leadership training.
Leadership training?
It's an overnight workshop. Tanaka-sensei runs it.
What? You have something to say?
N-Nothing.
It's starting. I'm starting it!
Something I can only do now!
Class Representatives: Yoshioka Futaba Mabuchi Kou Event Representatives: Makita Yuuri Murao Shuuko Kominato Aya
From this moment forward... with these members!
Next Episode . . .
I hope that someday, when I remember this, the people I shared it with
will see it as a "happy memory" with the same warmth that I do.