So, what is it?
It's about Yui-chan.
F-Furukawa?
You know, I talked to Yui-chan while we were waiting for everyone today.
Okay.
And I think we got to be pretty close.
I see. That's great.
At times, I have these moments where I think I might be bad with people.
I want to be friendly with every person I meet,
but there are times,
when the moment comes and I don't know what to talk about.
But you know, I want to talk with Yui-chan much, much more.
I see.
It's probably because I think of Yui-chan like a little sister.
A little sister?
Speaking of which, Yui-chan said that you were like a father.
A father?!
Yui-chan's kind of different, isn't she?
A father, huh...
Do I look that old?
Sou-kun, when you think of Yui-chan...
Huh? What?
No, nothing. Night.
Sure.
I'm confident we can change the past and future
Hope to be with you even after rebirth... Rebirth
As today becomes the past, tomorrow comes closer
And this ordinary fact of life cuts me to the quick
The "world" we saw that day, let's recreate it once more
If a day will come when it comes true, I don't need anything else
No matter who mocks me that there isn't a chance in the world
The fate that comes back around over and over, until I can see the next you
No matter what that path's like, I'll never, ever give up
"See you again tomorrow," it's that "future"
To make sure I never lose that
Because I want to dream with you of the beginning without end
Don't let go of these hands joined together
I'm confident we can change the past and future
Hope to be with you even after rebirth
I'm confident we can change
"Episode Six 'Career Counseling for a Bird in a Cage'"
This is our first time together, isn't it?
Yes.
I've always wished that I had a little sister.
Then, we'd be able to wash each other
and tell each other things in the bath that we couldn't tell anyone else.
Things you could not tell anyone else?
Yes.
Is there any chance you feel like sharing yet?
There just might be something I can do to help, too.
If I could, I would like to...
No, there was even a time when I did...
My old self...
Hey, Akiyama.
Have you decided on a career path?
Oh... Right, well...
The look on your face says you haven't given it any thought.
Make sure you think about it.
If you're not careful, never mind your career,
you could even end up jeopardizing your graduation.
Yes, sir.
It came out of nowhere, so I mean...
I got asked, too. About my career path.
You'll all be pulled in for a meeting once the school festival is over.
It happens every year.
Oh, I had no idea.
Anyway, what about you, Airi? You're going to college, right?
Me? Of course, I plan to go on to college, but...
Oh, thank you.
To be honest, I can't make up my mind.
Going to law school and becoming a lawyer or something would be cool,
but going into the sciences
and becoming a researcher sounds interesting, too.
You're solid in both the sciences and humanities, after all.
Huh...
What about you, Kaori? What's your career plan?
Me?
As for me, well,
I plan to go somewhere with a domestic sciences department.
Huh...
I want to become a certified nutritionist.
That's great!
You'll be an even more unattainable flower.
You're not making any sense, Kenny-kun.
You guys are thinking farther ahead than I'd thought...
Nah, my plan was to think about it after I got back stateside.
And I might actually be told to go work right away anyway.
Oh, right, you're going back.
What about you, Sou-kun?
Aren't you going for astronomy or something in that direction?
That's right.
Somewhere where you can study space engineering or something.
Space engineering, huh?
Sou-san will be fine.
When the time comes, he'll be able to choose appropriately for himself.
D-Do you think so?
For example, even with love,
when the time comes, you have to choose one person.
It's the same thing, Sou.
Jennifer again?
Let's see. What do you have this time?
What the heck is this?
A photo of when she won at an eating contest!
Oh, that reminds me, the pictures from the other day
are coming back from the developer today.
I'm going to go get them.
I also have something to take care of, so you'll have to excuse me.
But before I do, Airi-san, I believe you have something for Yui-san.
Right.
Here.
What is this?
A badge that says you're a member of the Astronomy Club.
This is coming a little late, but...
We all have one.
This makes you a member of Team Astronomy Club, too, now.
We've got the school festival, of course,
but it's our way of saying
that we hope you'll continue to feel welcome among us after that, too.
Uh, um...
Thank you very much.
Nagisa-senpai, is something wrong?
What do you think of Yui-san?
What? Uh...
Uh, what do I think?
Nothing especially. I think she's a normal, nice girl.
You're right, she's a nice girl.
Um, but that doesn't mean I have special feelings for her or anything...
What?
Mm-hm.
M-More importantly, what did you need to take care of?
It's fine. Let's just go get the photos together.
What? Uh, okay...
These turned out quite well.
Look. Like this one.
Ooh, it came out looking good. I'm glad.
Yui-san looks great in this photo, too.
I had no idea Airi'd snapped this...
Hey, since we have these, how about we put them up in the club room?
Yeah, all right. Shall we put them up on the bulletin board on the wall?
We can order extra prints of the ones we want and...
Oh, go ahead. You can get that.
Nagisa-senpai?
They hung up.
Yeah, I guess...
You're not going to call them back?
It's fine. It's probably nothing important.
You wanted to see me, Father?
Yes. Well, have a seat.
About that matchmaking meeting the other day...
It seems Hikaru-kun took quite a liking to you as well.
As long as you're in agreement, we're talking of exchanging betrothal gifts.
Father, I am planning to go to college and...
I know that.
I won't object to you going to college.
But you do understand that this match is not just about you?
Yes.
This has to do with our Group and the Reito Group.
Both of our trading companies, affiliate companies, and subcontractors...
All of their futures are riding on this.
Yes, I am well aware.
Good. As long as you understand, we're done here.
Yes, sir. Please excuse me.
Nagisa, tomorrow is Saturday, isn't it?
Yes, I have classes in the morning, though...
It just so happens
that there's going to be a meeting concerning merging operations
and Hikaru-kun is supposed to be coming by the house.
You should get back home as soon as you can, too.
Spend some time together.
I understand.
Senpai...
"Home"
Are you sure it's okay?
It's okay.
Never mind that, let me hear about you.
Me?
You're not so enthusiastic about space engineering?
Oh...
Environmental sciences, physical chemistry...
There are actually a lot of choices when it comes to studying astronomy.
If you'd like, I could loan you a book.
Nagisa-senpai.
It's not that I'm not sure or anything.
I actually don't want to think about it.
What?
It's not that I don't care about the future,
but I'm mystified as to why I should have to be in a rush
to narrow things down right this minute.
It's not that I'm trying to escape from it,
but I want a little more of what I have now, easy and...
Or rather, spending time having fun. That's kind of how I feel.
Is that sort of thinking kind of bad, after all?
Sou-san, I sometimes feel that way, too.
Wishing that things could stay the way they are now forever.
Before then, I'd never desired anything.
There was nothing I wanted and nothing I didn't want to lose.
There was no future that I wanted to go after.
But the current members of the Astronomy Club are very dear to me.
It's the first thing that I've ever wanted to not lose.
Senpai...
I'm in love.
Huh?!
I'm in love, you see.
Huh? Wh-What?
With having lunch with everyone in the Astronomy Club,
talking about inconsequential things,
and getting dragged into ridiculous trouble.
R-Right! It's fun, isn't it?
Sou-san, why are you so flustered?
Don't look at me.
Okay, then, I'm going back to school.
I'll come, too.
What? I thought you had something to take care of...
Nagisa-san.
Oh...
I was on my way home from your place,
where I'd hoped to see you again, but...
I'm glad.
Um, who is this?
Hikaru Reito-san.
The heir to the Reito Group, and my fiancé.
I see...
F-Fiancé?!
Nice to meet you. I'm Reito.
What? U-U-U-Uh, um... N-N-Nice to meet you.
And this is?
Sou Akiyama-san.
He's the person I'm dating right now.
H-H-Hello, I-I'm Akiyama.
Wait...
You're a mean person, Nagisa-san.
I'd thought to take you for a drive or something today, but...
Let us go. For a drive.
Now. The three of us.
What the heck is up with this situation?
This person is Nagisa-senpai's fiancé
and he's taking her out for a drive on a date...
So what am I doing here?
Akiyama-kun, was it?
What? Oh, yes.
What's Nagisa-san like at school?
What? Nagisa-senpai?
She's beautiful and smart and good at everything and...
It's kind of like, she teases ordinary mortals like me
to amuse herself, I guess.
That doesn't exactly tell me much.
What kind of person is Akiyama-kun from your perspective, Nagisa-san?
Sou-san is absentminded,
marches to his own beat, doesn't have a strong presence,
and has nothing in particular to recommend him.
But while he seems ordinary, he can have some unexpectedly zany ideas
and be a go-getter when it really matters.
He's a person with surprising charms.
Hmm.
You're not angered by what I have with Sou-san.
Even if you were to have a boyfriend,
it wouldn't change the fact that you're my fiancé.
Now, where do you want to go?
Anywhere is fine.
Since we're out anyway, let's go somewhere you've never been before.
Somewhere I've never been before...
I had no idea you had any interest in place like this...
"A place like this"? How rude.
It's an amusement park run by a subsidiary
of my company, the Reito Group.
So this is what they call a gaming center.
Have you decided?
I don't know which one would be good.
--Yes! --Hmm, let's see...
Somewhere in this range might be good.
That might be too light.
You should take this one.
This seems a bit heavy.
It is, right? Perhaps this would be better, after all.
A novice might not know this, but with bowling balls,
one that's a bit on the heavy side is perfect.
Thank you very much for that condescending little speech.
You're welcome.
"Name" "Nagisa" "Sou" "Hikaru"
Oh...
No worries, Senpai. That's about how it goes for everyone at first.
You had good form, though...
Maybe it's the ball, after all.
No, her fingers must have slipped.
Senpai, we've still got a long way to go. This is only the beginning.
I'm starting to get a bit fired up.
Your turn is next, right, Sou-san?
As my boyfriend, will you show me how awesome you can be?
What? O-Oh!
Leave it to me!
Do your best.
Will do.
I lowered my center of gravity, just like you taught me.
You really are a quick study.
I want to see you rapidly get involved with our company's operations, too.
Both my father and I think it would be best for us to get married quickly.
Yes, I heard about that from my father.
Let's make it a conglomerate that's a global driving force someday.
Yes, let's...
That was no good.
You said you hadn't played in a while, but you put up a good fight, too.
"Name" "Nagisa" "Sou" "Hikaru"
No...
You did impressively for your first time, Nagisa-senpai.
Um, Reito-san.
"Score"
How about we play one more game?
I lost.
Good work out there.
I think you put up a perfectly brave fight.
Do you suppose so?
Well, I'm in the Astronomy Club. It's not like I'm a jock...
Sou-san...
How did you meet that guy... that person?
It was through a matchmaking meeting.
He's an important business partner of my father's, so...
This is, in part, a contract.
A contract?
He's actually quite the elegant gentleman, isn't he?
And at the very least, I know he's a good bowler now.
My future is fixed already, so...
Now, then, shall we go home?
Reito-san, we're here already anyway,
so keep me company for a little bit longer.
Losing to me, a member of the Astronomy Club?
You must be pretty out of shape.
I can't say that winning against a guy who works a desk job says much.
Here.
Yes!
Take that! And that! And that!
Looks like I win this time.
Damn it...
You got me.
Oh? Where's Nagisa-san?
What?
Oh, shoot, I was trying to show off for her.
Ooh!
What's going on?
Oh, there she is.
Hey, you two aren't really a couple or anything, are you?
Oh, so you had that figured out?
Well, it'd be stranger if I hadn't noticed after all that.
She's most likely not enthusiastic about marrying me.
Playing at being a couple with you is her expressing her will, right?
If you think so, then why...
We're the same. Birds in a cage.
It's not as if rebelling will give us the freedom to choose our futures.
Nagisa-san should know that better than anyone.
And knowing all that, you won't escape from your cage, either?
No, I live for my father and the company.
You're good with that?
It's not about good or bad.
When you grow up, you'll understand, too.
I... suppose...
--Whoa! --No way!
What the?!
So cute!
Wow, I didn't know she could smile like that.
If anything, that's the Nagisa-senpai I see every day.
What?
Do you suppose she'll smile like that for you inside the cage?
What?
H-Hey...
Senpai, I need to talk to you for a second.
Sou-san?
What? But I'm not done yet...
I'm sorry for dragging you out here.
Leaving Reito-san behind, too.
I'm sorry, but I kind of wanted to talk to you in private.
I see.
Are you okay with this, Senpai?
With this marriage... Or well, engagement... Or well...
I'm used to it now.
I was born into this environment.
So it can't be helped. It can't be changed.
Seeing this look of resignation on your face...
I kind of hate it.
I'm sorry. It's selfish of me to say so.
Ever since I was little, I was raised being told to grow up quickly.
In point of fact, I was surrounded by grown ups,
and among them were those who tried to curry favor with me as well.
No one had any interest in who I really was
and along the way, I'd become unable to let my guard down with people.
Let's go home already.
That's not true.
I'm not like those people.
And neither is the gang.
I don't really understand what this environment of yours is,
but giving in to decisions made for you by others
by saying there's nothing to be done, that it can't be helped...
That's not like you.
Please be your usual highhan... freewheeling self.
Even if it doesn't go well, I'm sure we can help you.
Probably...
Wha...
N-N-Never mind me! How about you worry about your own future?!
Senpai...
Wh-What?
That's adorable.
I-I should hit you for that!
Are you done with your little private chat?
Reito-san...
The sun is setting. I'll drive you both home.
Man, I'm tired.
What was so rough?
Well, lots of things...
Here you are.
Thanks.
Oh, that's right. Airi-chan came up with this idea
and we decided to do a trial run making the sweets here tomorrow.
Huh...
So, make sure you stay at home tomorrow, too, okay?
What?
Don't "what" me.
Did something good happen?
It's not as if the future is completely set yet...
That's the feeling I'm starting to get.
Evening twilight, on the way home
We walk, side-by-side
The orange-colored sky
Enveloped the town
I love you
I worked up my courage to lay my feelings bare
What kind of response will you have for me?
The things that can't be changed, I want to change for good
In search of the time that was lost
That season I spent with you
"I'll see you again tomorrow, right?"
Surely...
I miss you
May it reach the future
Until we meet someday
--Combined with photosynthesis... --I suppose it'd be an extracurricular activity.
--Treasure! --I suppose it'd be an extracurricular activity.
--A certain person's face in profile... --Why did you put those two together?
--Please call me Yui. --Why did you put those two together?
It's light that finally made its way here.
Episode Seven, "Hope From Across 2.39 Million Light-years".