Senpai!
Are you heading home?
Yeah.
What a coincidence!
Lying
I left late because I was on day duty for my class today.
I see...
Lying...
Did you blow out a tire on your bike?
Is that a roundabout way of telling me to go on ahead?
But I refuse to take the hint!
It's not that far to the Kawai Complex,
so I thought I'd walk.
And the view from the bridge is nice.
We live in the same building, so you don't have to be so cold.
Just a thought...
Ulp...
She actually shut her book!
And I'm not sure what to think of myself for being so happy about that...
Rit-chan acts like she doesn't mind being alone,
but I think she's really lonely.
So please be there for her.
She's opened up to you so much.
I know you can do it.
...can do it... can do it...
Is Sayaka-san right?
Can I do this?
Maybe I need to be more forceful!
The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior
E p i s o d e 4
F o r N o w
Sumiko-san.
What are those?
These were a present from a friend.
Would everyone like some?
Yes!
Oh, the high school students get juice instead.
Of course.
Oh, I appreciate the offer, but I have to pass. Sorry.
Sorry
Is it really that big of a shock?
Are you going out with a new jerk?
Why are you assuming that it would be a jerk?
Jerk
I've been drinking and eating too much,
so I'm trying to control myself.
It's bad for my skin.
Come to think of it, you haven't been eating much lately.
You used to fill up your bowl like those kids in folk tales.
What?
But your tummy's so soft and squishy right now!
Tummy
My tummy isn't supposed to be squishy!
That only leaves your boobs for me to squeeze.
Boobs
Why do you have to squeeze anything on me?!
Is it the ex again?
No, it's a friend.
Hello?
Yeah, I can talk.
It's about next week, right?
Huh?
I see...
I don't know what to say.
Are you okay?
All right.
You should get some rest, then.
Yeah, talk to you later.
This is good.
Gulp
Ahh...
Konk
What's wrong, Mayumi-chan?
Thank you...
Tremble Tremble
My friend who was going out with this elite guy said,
"I'll set up a mixer with my boyfriend's friends!"
Tremble Tremble
to me in a vaguely stuck-up tone, then she said,
"You should lose some weight. Hehe!"
(lol)
Like she was giving me advice...
Tremble Tremble
She sounds like a wonderful friend.
But she just told me she broke up with her boyfriend, so the mixer's off.
Mixer's Off
Should I be disappointed? Should I feel bad for her?
Should I be happy?
If I make the wrong call, I'll be an awful person.
The fact that you're torn between those makes you awful already.
And I can only see "disappointed" and "happy" on your face.
Disappointed
Happy
I don't wanna be a woman who's happy to see her friends suffer!
It's fine if it's a stranger, though!
No, it's not.
Mayumi-chan, you never liked that friend to begin with, right?
Uh-huh.
Nod
Then she's essentially a stranger, right?
Stranger
I just realized that there was no reason for me to hit Shiro.
Thank you... One more...
What's the problem? It's just Shiro-san.
One more...
True.
Well, you know...
A girl can only have so many friends.
You can only really get close to a few.
With the others, you have to deal with habits
and all these weird rules.
It's such a pain.
I know what you mean!
Right, Rit-chan?
You want me to agree with a biased opinion like that?
I'm agreeing with you!
I don't need a woman who gets her jollies out of
Shoo
making enemies and breaking rules to agree with me.
Boo
I'm not the only one who ignores rules.
Rit-chan never makes any friends.
Wait! Sayaka-san!
I didn't choose to be alone...
That's right! Being drunk doesn't mean you can say whatever you want!
When I first entered high school,
there wasn't anyone from my middle school in my class.
There weren't many people from my middle school at all there.
And they were all boys.
I never found the right chance to talk to anyone,
so before I knew it, I was alone.
It was less stressful, so I just accepted it.
It sure sounds like you chose to be alone.
Come on!
Squish
You still have me!
I never asked for a friend who's after my body!
Well, we should wrap this up.
They're already drunk, anyway.
Waah!
Kyaah!
I'll never be able to get along with you!
Less stressful...
I can tell she's trying too hard.
Does it look that way to you?
Well, I think she must be lonely.
Are you sure?
Girls in high school have to keep up
with all kinds of trends if they want to fit in.
It must be difficult.
Trends...
That reminds me...
But I guess it's not relevant...
What?
What is it? Please tell me.
Remember how loose socks used to be all the rage a while back?
Yeah.
Fidget
Following the "loose" theme, I think the next trend should be loose panties.
Jeez, they're sliding down again.
They'd always have to hold their panties up through their skirts.
Fidget
Definitely not relevant.
Go to sleep already.
Not stressful...
I'm sure she's trying too hard.
She must be.
New Release
Though it certainly doesn't look that way.
She's really enjoying herself.
But...
After she was laughing and blushing like that before,
Senpai still spends all her time reading
in the living room.
Senpai!
What a coincidence, again.
I'm walking to school today.
I won't take a hint. I won't take a hint!
Um, Usa-kun...
Are you doing this because of what I said yesterday?
If so, it's not necessary.
I meant it when I said it's less stressful.
If I've read the books without seeing the TV series,
or I don't get replies to e-mails,
or I don't get into cell phone novels,
or people ask me where I want to go and I say I want to buy the new release,
it doesn't get awkward if I'm alone.
That's all based on books!
If she's telling me all this,
does it mean she's actually lonely?
Isn't there anything I can do for her?!
That must be what he's thinking behind that look.
Glance
Um.
What is it?!
Don't you ever get tired?
What do you mean?
You always go along with other people.
People like Shiro-san, Mayumi-san, and Sayaka-san.
Huh?
Huh? Is she showing concern for me?
I don't get tired.
I'm just acting normal.
What?
What? He doesn't get tired?
Really... That's impressive.
W-Was that... a compliment?
It's not that big a deal...
He's not going along with them.
He thinks like them to begin with.
And I thought he seemed like a normal person.
He's just a weirdo.
Am I really making a good impression?
In that case, it means I do need to be more forceful!
Yes!
Oh.
Welcome back.
I'm back!
I'm back...
I'll keep refusing to take the hint!
Senpai!
I'm going to school.
Wait, already?
I'll join you, then!
Bye!
He's starting to remind me of my pet hamster back home.
Senpai hasn't come this way yet.
Maybe I'll check the book store.
Books
So she was at the book store.
Sen—
Hey, isn't that Ritsu?
Oh, you're right.
Huh?
Are they her friends?
Ritsu!
Bop
Aaaah!
Whirl
You don't have to be so scared.
Haven't seen you in forever.
H-Her friends are pretty intense.
That scared me.
It's been forever!
Since middle school graduation, right?
You still zone out when you're reading, I see.
Ritsu-san goes into her own little world.
We never hear about you
since there aren't many people from our middle school at your high school.
We were worried that you might be all alone.
Yeah!
You can be an odd one, you know.
What? That's not true.
Smile
Oh, really?
Yes, really.
Ahahaha...
I guess she is enjoying herself.
I got a new phone, so let's exchange numbers.
Sure.
We should have a get-together for everyone from middle school.
Yeah. That sounds great.
Sounds great
Ahaha...
That's great.
See you around.
Yeah, see ya.
Er, why does she look like she really didn't want me to see that?
Wait!
Why...
did she run away?
Uh...
Senpai?
Er...
I shouldn't take the hint,
right?
That was really nice, right?
You got to see your friends again.
Stop it.
Stop making assumptions and worrying about me!
Enough is enough!
Just kidding...
Sorry.
Dash
Splat
Hey.
If you don't get up, I'm gonna kick you.
Dead...
Go ahead...
Dead...
What? Did you catch Shiro's masochist germs?
Oh, I bet Rit-chan got mad at you.
Grin
Ulp!
If you knew she'd get mad, you should have stopped me!
But it was fun to—
It looked like fun to watch.
Did you really need to correct yourself?!
Plus, I've had it rough since you made me want to go visit home.
Nibble Nibble Nibble
You made me want to see Hamjiro.
I'm failing to see the connection!
I told you not to believe anything that Sayaka says.
But... she said that Senpai was opening up to me...
It made me so happy to hear that,
I had to believe her!
So please be there for her.
I know you can do it.
That part probably wasn't a lie.
Eh?
Though I wouldn't go as far as to say she's opening up to you.
R-Really?
That means...
Everything was fine as it was,
but I went overboard and ruined everything!
Yes, good work!
I told you, she's as evil as they come.
Does she have to be such a bad person?!
Food! Food!
Think of it as training for being eaten by a lady spider.
No first year should have to train for that!
And I get nothing out of it!
Screw your youth!
You're just as bad as she is!
Rit-chan?
Gloom
What are you doing over there?
I'm pulling weeds.
Are you feeling down?
Not really.
You're so easy to read.
Did something happen with Usa-kun?
Why do you ask?
Because Usa-kun's been moping since yesterday.
It wasn't really... with Usa-kun...
It's not like that!
I just want to get to know her better!
Since, you know, we live in the same place and we go to the same school!
I think she'd probably be fun to talk to!
I'm a little worried since she's always alone.
Was that last comment necessary?
Usa-kun's got a rough road ahead...
I knew it.
Shiro-san and Senpai?
Do I really look that lonely?
People talk when they both know they have nothing to say.
They exchange phone numbers, but never call.
If that's how it is, I'd rather be alone.
I don't dislike people,
but I sometimes wish they'd just stop talking.
But I just smile and go with the flow...
Yet, while I don't mind being alone,
I don't want people to think that I'm alone.
Enough is enough!
I keep contradicting myself,
and I took it all out on Usa-kun...
Are you saying you hate yourself?
I don't really get it, but...
Where'd you get that stupid idea?
It's a typical concern that young people have.
I wouldn't waste time worrying about that. Too much effort.
Well, I don't particularly like myself, either.
Wait! You've got it all wrong!
When you're young, you want to keep everything neat.
I was the same way.
I was completely off the mark.
But one day,
you'll learn to accept who you are.
The way I did.
So feel free to worry away.
Senpai's opening up to Shiro-san.
Don't tell me that she's in...
You don't hate yourself? Seriously?
I expected that.
Good. It was just my imagination.
What, that didn't sound like a nice story?
Not at all.
Just as sharp as Sumiko-san!
That was just wrong.
For now,
I'll take the hint.
I won't try to talk to her.
But I'll stand next to her
I'm standing next to her, but she still feels far away.
Went back
That's the fourth green light, and she still hasn't moved.
Is she going to make it home?
There's a lot of traffic. Isn't that dangerous?
Come to think of it, she does come home late a lot.
She looks as happy as a little kid.
Man...
Senpai, the light is green.
Plop!
Usa-kun.
Wait!
Don't shut your book.
It's interesting, right?
So, I'm not saying that we should walk home together,
but we're going in the same direction...
And if I don't say anything, you'll stand there forever.
You don't have to worry about holding a conversation.
Think of me as one of those ladies who
waves flags to motion traffic through.
I don't have a flag on me, though.
Chuckle
What was that? You're weird.
You're so weird, Usa-kun.
For now, this is enough.
You're pretty weird yourself, Senpai!
She's already back to her book!
Directing Traffic
Senpai! Senpai!
A rainbow!
Oh... Sorry for interrupting you.
Thank... you...
...you
Huh...
Did you say something?
I couldn't hear you.
No.
Okay...
You're welcome.
You heard me fine.
Next Episode Preview
Hey, Senpai!
Do you have any good books I could borrow?
Wow, Usa.
You have the virgin power to get off to anything Rit-chan has touched!
The imagination of a teenage boy is limitless!
I shouldn't need to say this, but I wasn't planning to use them that way!
You plan to use them as weights to pickle veggies?
I know! You're going to lift books to get into shape so you can run from cops!
Don't bring me to your level!
Then what are you gonna use them for?
What else?! I'm following Senpai's example and...
Rit-chan's example? Oh, you're going to use them as weapons?
Heavier books hit harder, and the corners are effective...
E p i s o d e 5
T h o u g h t S o
You too, Senpai?!