I love Shinohara!
I told her how I felt yesterday.
I'm waiting to hear her response.
You two can do whatever you want.
You really don't love her, do you?
From the start, she was just a way to kill time.
Shinohara. Are you going to...
Kusakabe.
I've made up my mind.
I don't
want to be alone
I will just obey you
I didn't use
to have a master
I just want to be with you
How can I?
I'll change the whole country
I know I can do it
If we're friends, then we're all free
I'll make us free
Yeah
We're
both liars, calm me down
I'll make it all true, just wait
I'll change this whole country
I know I can do it
If we're friends, then you're free
You'll see
I've found love
Bless my heartfire
Mu
tual Love
Chapter 7
Kyouya...
You finally came to apologize, eh?
I came to tell you.
I'm through with being a wolf girl.
What?
Thanks for everything you've done.
Huh?
What I mean is, you don't have to pretend to be my boyfriend anymore.
It was kind of exhausting.
And... I'm done chasing after you.
I'm sorry I was so persistent.
I see.
So you and I are perfect strangers now, then?
Yeah. Much obliged.
Same here.
Well, bye-bye!
I've been so stupid.
I wasted all that time.
Shinohara.
Would you like to eat outside?
The weather's nice.
Yeah, that's right!
Humans need their photosynthesis too.
Well, shall we?
From Sata to Kusakabe?
Talk about a huge step down.
But she said they're not dating, right?
They're starting as friends.
Now of all times?
What's she thinking?
Sata!
I baked cupcakes.
Would you like one?
Put it away.
Huh?
I said put it away. I don't even want to look at those things.
S-Sorry.
Don't sweat it. He might just not like sweets.
I thought I had a chance, since he broke up with his girlfriend.
Sata's vibe has kind of changed lately, huh?
He's kind of scary.
But he's cool that way too, huh?
I know, right?
So cool!
It really is great weather!
Eating outside was so the right decision.
Really? I'm glad.
Um, Shinohara.
I was thinking, today...
What's wrong?
Huh? Oh, sorry.
I was thinking, "Are the school's windows really that shape?" and kinda spaced out.
What is it?
At Nekonomiya Station, there's a place where you can play whatever you want for 100 yen per 15 minutes.
There's ping pong, karaoke, and lots of other things.
I've heard!
San and I were talking about how we really wanted to go.
Would you like to try it out with me today?
Yeah!
Oh, can I invite San?
It's more fun with more people!
O-Of course!
Why do you want me to come too?
Why not? We can all have fun together!
So where's Kusakabe?
He went to the classroom to get his wallet.
He forgets it a lot, apparently.
He's so scatterbrained!
You're one to talk.
Kusakabe. I was waiting...
S-Sorry.
Wrong person.
You okay?
I'm fine! Totally.
Sorry I took so long!
Huh? What's wrong?
It's nothing.
Now, let's go!
Here it comes, Mr. Kusakabe! You ready?!
Y-Yes!
Here's my killer smash!
You returned my screwball serve. You're a fine ping ponger, Kusakabe.
I thought you said it was your killer smash?
Oh, did I?
Kusakabe, thanks for inviting me out today.
It was really fun.
Sh-Shinohara.
What is it?
U-Um... Would you mind... going out with me on White Day?
Just the two of us.
Oh?
Sure.
Really?!
Then I'll draw up some plans.
Sure. I'm looking forward to it!
Thank you so much for today.
I had fun hanging out with you too, Sanda.
Thanks, I had fun too.
Bye.
See you tomorrow!
Hey, Erika. You okay?
Huh? Why do you ask?
You've been really restless all day.
Watching you just makes me worry more.
Are you sure you're not regretting it?
San, I'm a bird released from its cage.
Huh?
I'm finally free of him, so I'm enjoying my freedom!
And I'm free from the pressure of having to keep up the lie.
You brought that one on yourself.
I feel great right now.
I don't regret anything at all.
I've got a new romance waiting for me!
With Kusakabe?
W-Well...
I'm not sure about that yet.
Erika...
Kusakabe's a good guy. He really cares about me.
Right now, I'm at the stage where I'd really like to fall for him some day.
And Kusakabe said he'd wait patiently too.
So you're leaving him in limbo?
I can't say I agree with that.
You know very well how much it hurts to wait that long in anticipation, right?
Don't drag it out too long.
Make your decision as soon as possible, okay?
That's right.
I'd be doing the same thing he did.
I need to figure out how I feel about Kusakabe.
Mutual Love
Are these all your plans for White Day?
I just kept thinking and ended up with all these.
It must've been hard, huh?
No, not at all.
It was really fun thinking about things to make you happy.
Kusakabe...
In that case, which of these do you recommend most?
I'd like to go somewhere you like.
In that case, what about the aquarium?
That sounds great!
I hear the light show in Torazaka is pretty, so we could have dinner near there.
I can't wait!
Then when you walk down the hill, there's a park.
The fountain there is so beautiful.
They say if you watch it as a couple, your love will blossom.
It's tough being popular, huh?
Let's go!
I've always loved you.
Shinohara!
Nurse's Office
Wait here. I'll find the nurse.
It's okay. I can handle this.
No, you should have it looked at.
You don't want it to get worse, and you're a girl.
Th-Thanks.
I'll be right back.
Kusakabe's so nice.
No way.
Why?
So awkward.
What did he come here for?
Are you not feeling well?
You're as stupid as ever.
Huh?
Your leg.
You know that a scar on a woman reduces her value.
And yours was low already.
Shut up. There are people who will accept me anyway.
Lowering the bar for your partners?
You've got no ambition.
But I'll turn down people who set it so high that they look down on others.
So, how are things going with that wimp?
Don't you worry.
We're getting along very well.
Oh? Good to hear.
You dating?
How about you?
With me gone, you can have your pick, right?
I told you. That's just a pain.
I have no interest in any of them.
I see.
What a waste!
Looks like the nurse isn't coming. I'll get going.
Do you love him?
It doesn't matter to you, does it?
You can't answer clearly.
That means you don't.
That's just for now.
Then in the future?
Do you really believe you can fall for him?
I don't know.
But I want to fall for him!
Besides, you and I are perfect strangers now, right?
Leave me alone.
If you want to kill time, there are plenty of other ways.
Sorry I'm late. The nurse is in a meeting...
Kusakabe, it's really not that bad, so don't worry.
Let's go.
S-Sure.
It's an axolotl!
So cute! It's like an alien!
It's very pink and squishy.
The name's great too. "Axolotl"!
It sounds so happy.
Yeah.
This sucks.
I forgot all about White Day.
Karaoke with guys only? No way.
What's the big deal?
The town's all pretty. It's not bad.
This is nicely done.
Italian, huh?
Yeah.
I love escargot. What about you?
I don't really...
Oh?
Erika...
I want to fall for him!
Hello—
Hey! What are you doing?!
Shut up. You're busting my eardru—
Erika was with a guy!
Near Torazaka.
They had a pretty good mood going!
What are you going to—
Hey. Kyouya?!
That escargot was delicious!
Really?
Yeah.
I'm so glad.
Shinohara. There, look.
Oh! It's beautiful!
The aquarium was really fun.
Thanks for all this.
I'm the one who should be thanking you.
Huh?
I meant to do it for you, but I really got a lot out of it too.
Thanks.
You know very well how much it hurts to wait that long in anticipation, right?
If I date Kusakabe, I know I won't get hurt.
I won't have to suffer and cry when it doesn't go how I want.
If I fall for him...
Don't call me Sata. Call me Kyouya.
Kusakabe, there's something important I have to say. Please listen.
I'm sorry.
I can't return your feelings, after all.
I wasn't ready to end it after all.
It seems I'm still helplessly in love with him.
Shinohara...
I really wanted to fall for you.
To find a new romance and move forward.
But I was just running away.
To protect myself, I lied even to myself.
Saying that I was through with being a wolf girl was a big lie in itself.
After you sincerely cared about me, I've done something so awful to you. I'm so sorry!
That's okay, if it's true.
I knew that when I confessed my feelings to you.
But I don't mind.
What?
Shinohara, if you want to fall out of love with him,
then turn your eyes elsewhere, and you might forget him one day.
I think that deep in my heart, I want to be in love with Kyouya.
No matter how hard it is, I don't want to lie to myself anymore.
So... I'm sorry.
You don't have to apologize.
I run away and get lost sometimes too. I can't hold that against you.
And I think... on some level, I knew that.
Kusakabe...
I couldn't become your boyfriend, but I'm glad that I fell for you.
What?
By loving you,
I found more things to love about all kinds of things. About myself, about school...
Thank you.
Kusakabe... you're way too nice.
I'll work so hard!
To make him love me!
No matter how many years it takes!
It might not be all that far away.
Huh?
I'm taking her back. Okay?
Treasure her this time, okay?
Let's go.
Why?
Why couldn't you let me be?
You don't care if I'm not around, right?
Hey! Why?!
Such an annoying mouth.
Do you understand now?
No more whys.
I don't understand!
I've been through a lot with the barbaric way you've treated me.
I bet you thought it'd be as easy as just doing that!
I'm not just going to go with the flow anymore,
so just say it clearly already!
I already said that you belong to me.
That was when you were pretending to be my boyfriend, right?
It means you aren't just a way to kill time.
So? What does that mean?
Well, in general society, they'd usually call it love.
Right?
Hey.
Then instead of being my fake boyfriend, I'll let you be my real boyfriend.
Ow.
You're not letting me. I'm letting you.
Don't get carried away, dog.
What was that?
Shouldn't you be nicer to the girl you love?
This is enough for the likes of you.
Oh, come on!
Outside I can see the rain puddles
None of that is important for us
I didn't know
I could understand alone
Into this world
light has come
We live a total lie,
but it let me meet you
You influence me
like I'm under a magic spell
We live a total lie,
but it let me fall in love with you
Play around more
with my wolf heart
Don't give peace
to my wolf heart
The two embark upon a new relationship.
Ideal and illusion. Ego and pride.
With two opposing answers before her, which will Erika choose?
Next time: "Self-Contradiction. - Spring Storm -"
Next time Chapter 8 Self-Contradiction
It's all in the name of love.