It's my first winter since becoming friends with Fujimiya-san.
November 7 Friday
Lately, I can tell that Fujimiya-san's
memories are building up inside her again.
It's strange.
What is?
I used to feel so uneasy on Fridays.
But now, I feel fine.
Because you have your diary?
Yeah.
When I read this, instead of questioning whether it's true,
its contents just melt into me naturally.
It fills me with a warm feeling...
Fujimiya-san, is something wrong?
No, it's nothing.
I was just thinking that I really made friends, like my diary said...
Thank you, Hase-kun.
Huh?
For always being my friend.
Fujimiya-san...
You're very important to me.
You're important to me, too.
Things aren't exactly like they were before...
But I believe we're steadily making progress again.
#11 Important Friends.
Here, Shogo.
It's on me.
You're so easy to read...
Give back the amount you just drank.
Here.
Back when I had just become friends with Fujimiya-san,
you said friendship isn't something you can work toward.
That it naturally happens, if you let it...
I guess I did.
But you can also work at friendship.
If it'll help to build up Fujimiya-san's memories like before,
I can work as hard as it takes.
I want to help her get back to where
she was before Kujo arrived, as soon as possible!
Ah, hot!
Do what you want.
After I told you to try harder,
I can't tell you not to try at all.
Throw your trash away yourself!
Hot, hot!
She's clearly avoiding you.
So anyway, then...
Saki?
What are you doing?
You made Kiryu-kun mad?!
Huh? Why?
Come to think of it, I haven't seen you two talking lately.
Did you apologize to him?
When you make someone mad, you have to apologize!
But I'm scared...
It's not like I don't understand...
He's hot, but he's kind of scary, since he always looks so serious.
Yeah, but just try to imagine Kiryu-kun smiling all the time.
No! That's even scarier!
Isn't it?
I hear an incredibly rude conversation going on.
That's all for today.
Oh, I left the class journal behind.
Today's class officer is... Kujo.
Go get it from the faculty office.
Okay!
Fujimiya-san, want to go home together today?
What do you think? Shogo would be with us.
Um...
She can't!
Today, Kaori-chan's going home with us.
Huh? Uh...
It's okay, right?
Th-Then, let's all go together...
It's just the girls today! No boys allowed!
Anyway, that's that. Sorry.
U-Uh, sure...
It can't be helped, then.
I understand why you'd want her to yourself, but you can't hog her!
U-Uh, Hase-kun, bye-bye... See you next week.
Hey...
Nishimura-san?
Listen, I'm just asking to make sure,
but did something happen with Kaori-chan at the crêpe place?
The crêpe place?
Why?
She refuses to go to the crêpe place.
We invited her before, but she turned us down.
She said something about her diary entry from the other day...
Now that you mention it, today...
Shogo, sorry... You go on ahead!
Kujo!
How unusual, for you to talk to me.
I want to ask you something.
About Fujimiya Kaori?
Yeah.
Looks like things are going well for you.
The other day, Fujimiya-san ran home from the crêpe place.
What happened?
I wondered what you wanted to say... And you're dragging that up again?
Dragging it up? I just...
I don't know, either.
Okay...
If you remember anything, could you let me know?
Hold on!
They might know.
Hey, are you free now?
Could we meet today?
There's something I want to ask you.
And bring Ota, too.
Could you do that for me?
Okay, let's go.
Huh?
They're late...
Who are we waiting for?
Remember those two girls in front of the crêpe place?
In sixth grade, they were in our class.
With Fujimiya Kaori and me.
Oh...
She didn't even tell you about that?
So what?
Nothing, really.
Your relationship with her has nothing to do with me.
Besides, I don't care about her anymore.
What?
I was just thinking that you always say things like that.
Huh?
Do you actually like Fujimiya-san?
What kind of stupid joke is that?
Why did you hesitate?
I'll hesitate as long as I want!
Fujimiya-san...
Just kidding.
Can I hit you, just once?
Sorry.
Anyway, if I told you you're right, what would you think?
I thought you were a creep before, but I'd feel some affinity.
That doesn't make me happy at all.
I'm hungry. Maybe I'll go home.
I want to hear about when you were little!
That's gross.
I'm curious what a wiseguy like you was like when he was little.
You say some pretty rude stuff sometimes, you know that?
It isn't that interesting.
I was always popular, surrounded by people.
I don't think I want to know after all...
She was the same way.
Who?
Fujimiya Kaori.
What?
I'm sure you can't imagine it now...
Do you remember my first name?
Huh?
Hajime... Right?
Yeah.
I used to hate my name.
Why? It's a cool name.
But when I was a kid,
I thought the way my name was written,
with one horizontal line, was uncool.
I hated it when people said my name was easy to write...
But Fujimiya Kaori was the first person who complimented my name.
Want to hear about it?
What my relationship with Fujimiya Kaori was like...
Were you dating?
No way. We were in elementary school.
Why did you have to phrase it like you were?!
Then, let me ask you...
Are you and Fujimiya Kaori just friends?
Well...
Don't you want to think your relationship is special,
even though you aren't dating?
I felt the same way.
We were friends, but I didn't think we were "just friends."
For example...
There were lots of people around during breaks.
But after school, Fujimiya Kaori and I would stay by ourselves
and study together.
She helped me with my math.
She wasn't at the top of our class or anything,
but she said it helped her do better.
From then on, our grades in math improved.
Everyone praised us for it... It was a great feeling.
Then, Fujimiya-san likes math because...
What?
Nothing...
There you are!
Sorry we're late.
Karaoke
And that's why Saki can't even look Kiryu-kun in the eye now.
So we want you to help her, too.
Huh?
We want you to create an opportunity for Saki and Kiryu-kun to talk.
Y-You don't need to do that.
Kaori-chan looks uncomfortable...
I'm not uncomfortable!
If there's anything I can do, I'll do it.
Kaori-chan...
Should we extend our time?
We still haven't talked about what we're doing for winter break...
We should go someplace we won't have to worry about the time.
Let's go to a restaurant.
Kaori-chan, are you okay on time?
Huh?
Let's talk a little more!
Okay.
So, what did you want to ask us?
What were you going to say next?
You said Fujimiya Kaori took me first.
"Took you first"?
Are you sure?
You didn't seem to know anything about it.
Just tell me.
Okay, we'll tell you...
The Sunday before you moved,
you invited Kaori-chan to the park near school.
Where did that come from?
That had nothing to do with you.
It happened on a Sunday evening...
Oh, right. I think she'd gone out to meet an important friend.
That was you...
Huh?
Nothing.
Then what? Keep going.
Do you remember Shigehara Naomi?
Yeah, she was Fujimiya Kaori's friend, right?
Naomi knew you'd invited Kaori-chan to the park...
Huh? How?
I don't know.
But she always liked you.
It seems she didn't think very highly of Kaori-chan...
Huh? But they were really close.
Weren't they friends?
That's why!
We're here.
Welcome.
Table for four? This way.
I'm going to call my mom.
Okay, we'll go on ahead.
Okay.
Hase-kun!
What, then?
Did Naomi and her friends tell Kaori—
Tell Fujimiya Kaori not to take me first?
What happened?
I don't get it.
Because Naomi was jealous of Kaori-chan, obviously...
Kaori-chan, why are you the only one seeing Hajime-kun off?
Don't you think it's unfair?
Did you ever think about Naomi-chan's feelings?
You're the worst.
You're trying to get ahead of her.
You aren't our friend anymore.
It's no wonder Naomi-chan hates you!
You know, Hajime-kun actually hates you.
Later, Naomi and her friends went to visit her in the hospital.
And apparently, she pretended not to remember anything.
I mean, of course she would.
Fujimiya-san...
I see...
So that's why...
I lost my memories...
I was surprised,
but it doesn't bother me as much as I expected.
Huh?
I really feel fine, but... That's strange...
I wonder why...
Fujimiya-san!
Kaori-chan, your order...
Let's go.
Saki-chan?
We'll take Kaori-chan home.
Bye.
I'm home.
Welcome home!
You're late.
Do you want dinner?
Not today, thanks.
Even after I moved...
I wanted Kaori to remember me.
That's why I invited her to the park.
It was my fault...
Because I was thinking only of myself,
Kaori lost her faith in her friends.
Special friends? Yeah, right!
Monday
Fujimiya-san!
Oh, good... You came.
Huh?
I guess a lot happened on Friday, so I thought you might not come.
But I'm glad you did.
You don't remember?
No...
I still remember the memories that came back to me then.
But I'm fine!
I cried the other day because it was so sudden, but I'm fine now.
Fujimiya-san...
When I learned why I lost my memories,
it was like my fear disappeared...
I feel like it's in the past now.
I think it's because I had you and Saki-chan with me.
I...
You're a special friend to me, Hase-kun.
Special friends? Yeah, right!
Oh, right... There was something I wanted to ask you if I saw you!
Apparently, I talked to Saki-chan and her friends about our plans for winter break—
Fujimiya-san...
I'm sorry. I'm a little cold.
I'm going to the bathroom.
O-Okay.
I saw your text.
Not that I care, but it was too long.
Isn't it good that you learned these things?
If she's still optimistic after that, I don't think there's anything to say.
It might mean Fujimiya won't forget as many things from now on.
It isn't that simple!
Just because we know why she lost her memories...
It isn't that simple.
Maybe not.
But you knew that from the beginning.
And you still wanted to be her friend, right?
Yeah, but...
Idiot.
What good will thinking do you now?
Just go with your feelings, like you've been doing.
But is that really the right thing to do?
Seeing Kujo made me realize that my situation isn't so different.
What am I going to do if,
someday, I'm the one to make Fujimiya-san lose her memories?
Kujo never had any intention of hurting Fujimiya-san, either.
That's just what happened when he acted on his feelings...
No matter what, I don't want to make Fujimiya-san suffer any more.
I don't want to see Fujimiya-san
in pain anymore.
You dropped this.
Here.
Thanks.
Anyway, is there anywhere you'd like to go over winter break?
Well, I don't know... Where would be good?
What about the shrine on New Year's?
Where's the best place around here?
Maybe Hachimanzama—
Fujimiya-san...
We're changing classrooms next.
Hase-kun?