Okay, I'm gonna head to school early today.
Sure!
See ya.
Yeah...
You know, it's like it's still the same, but something has changed.
But you know...
I'm such an idiot.
I wallow in my own happiness whenever there aren't any people in pain nearby...
I'm a hopeless idiot, Ma'am.
Hey, Kei!
H-Hey!
Listen up, Kei.
You know how Matagu said he was gonna ask out the teacher?
But all he did was have her look at his schoolwork!
I-I just didn't have the courage, that's all!
Don't you mean that you're just a spineless wimp?
No, it doesn't mean that... Right?
Yeah, I guess so... Maybe.
See?
What do you mean, "See?" You idiot!
What?! Just because things are going well for you...
If you're jealous, get yourself a girlfriend!
Good morning!
H-Hey...
What?
No, it's nothing...
Koishi!
What?
Here's the CD I borrowed from you.
Oh, what did you think?
Yeah, it was really great!
I listened to the second and sixth songs over and over!
I knew it! I had a feeling you'd love it, Kaede!
Here you go.
Thank you.
Miss Herikawa...
Koishi, something happened, didn't it?
Something?
Between you and Kusanagi.
No, not really...
I can tell just by looking. You guys are acting awkward.
Is that true?
Well, um, I guess you could say that...
You're right, it's not good to hide things.
The truth is, I asked Kei out last night.
He turned me down flat.
Um... That means...
Are you okay with that?
What can I do about it?
Kei gave me a straight answer, and he had his reasons.
Kei and I are classmates, just like we've always been.
Our group of friends is still the same.
That's all. Let's just call an end to this.
S-Sure...
Koishi...
Why does it look like you're taking this harder than I am, Ichigo?
But...
You say "But..." to me, and I have to say "But..." right back to you.
Huh..?
Oh, no! I'm sorry.
It's nothing. Don't worry about me.
I'm gonna go wash my face.
Okay, it's ready now.
Okay! Great!
Come on, what's wrong with you two?
This is sukiyaki! We shelled out big bucks for this!
R-Right...
We appreciate it, Minoru. Thanks.
Wha--?! Kei dumped Herikawa?!
Hyosuke, you're being too loud!
It came as a surprise to me, too...
Even if that's true, I think all we can do for the time being is keep quiet and let her be.
If Herikawa says that she wants things to stay the way they are now,
...the only thing we can really do is keep acting like we always have.
Yeah, I guess that's true...
You're right.
What's wrong?
Nothing... Nothing's wrong.
I'm sorry... Let me stay like this for a little while.
Sure.
Morino...
What's wrong?
You left a letter in my desk like we were strangers or something.
Is it something important?
Yes...
I was the one that pushed Koishi into asking you out.
I see...
What's wrong with Koishi?
I'm sorry...
I have someone that I'm in love with.
That's why I couldn't return Herikawa's feelings.
This is one thing that I can't really control, right?
I won't forgive you.
What's up with that?
What do you want me to do, then?
Are you ordering me to go out with Herikawa?!
That would be an even bigger insult to her, wouldn't it?!
I'm trying to forget that day ever happened, and I think Herikawa is, too.
Why dredge it up again?
Morino...
I'm sorry, Kusanagi.
I know I'm asking you to do something you don't want to do.
I just wish that...
I really want Koishi and Kaede, who are my friends, to be happy.
Because that would mean they're moving forward.
Forward?
Kaede has Hyosuke with her.
He gets carried away easily, but deep down he's serious.
I think he'd go rushing to Kaede's side if anything sad happened to her.
But with Koishi, she may seem strong, but she's actually frail!
I'm sure she cried.
I just know she cried and cried.
So, what do you want me to do?!
What do you expect me to do?!
Morino..?!
H-Hey, Morino...
Morino!
She's not breathing?
But why?
Wait, could she be in a standstill?
Morino is having one? Why?!
Morino? Morino!
Morino... is in a standstill?
You awake?
Kusanagi?
Oh, it happened to me again...
So you really were in a standstill, Morino?
A standstill..?
Yeah, it's a disease where the mind and body...
...temporarily go into a state of suspended animation when you feel depressed.
You've got that disease, don't you, Morino?
Yes, that's right.
Kusanagi, how do you know about that?
Because I have it, too.
Impossible!
Why am I here..?
You collapsed in the school's backyard.
I thought about taking you to the hospital,
...but you might be keeping your disease secret.
I thought it'd be better if I didn't take you there.
So I got your address and your house keys from your school bag,
...and I brought you here.
I'm sorry I didn't ask.
No, you did the right thing.
If you say so...
You have the same disease?
Yeah...
When I was 15, I stopped for 3 years.
I'm 18 right now. How about you?
I'm 21 .
I was stopped for 6 years.
Are you surprised?
J-Just a little...
And I'm surprised at myself for not knowing anything at all about your private life.
You live here all alone?
Yes...
Because of the disease?
What other reason would there be?
Oh, that's also why you live with distant relatives.
It's not like my parents avoid me, but I do get in the way.
That's why I came to live with my uncle, who's a doctor.
It's something like that for me, too.
I see...
Yes...
So the reason you were so fixated on me and Herikawa was because...
...you didn't want to come to a standstill?
I'm sorry.
No, you don't have to apologize.
Six years...
That's twice as long as mine. That sure is a long time...
Don't try to just write it off!
Sorry.
My sister who is a year younger than me is already married.
She's going to be a mother next year.
I don't want to stand still...
I'm sorry I got you involved in this, Kusanagi.
And I know you're not to blame.
But I... I...
I don't want to stand still, either.
And as much as I don't want to stand still,
I don't want to make you come to a stop either, Morino.
Kusanagi, I...
We're going to move forward.
We can't stand still...
You may say that, but how do we do it?
I--
I know. Leave everything to me.
But...
Morino, promise me one thing. Promise me you'll move forward, too.
That I'll move forward?
Yeah...
It's not enough for you to be satisfied...
...with urging people on or just by watching other people move forward.
You have to move forward on your own.
Were you able to, Kusanagi?
Not completely, but I'm starting to think that maybe I can do it.
So you can do it, too, Morino.
I'll try to believe in what you're saying.
I'm going to move forward... I'll do all I can to move forward.
I'm home.
Welcome back. You're awfully late...
I took a slight detour.
Ma'am...
Hm? What is it?
Maybe we should stop living together.
Why?!
Is it because of Miss Herikawa?
That's part of it, but... I'm worried about Morino.
Miss Morino?
Yeah...
She comes to a standstill, just like me.
She's got the disease.
Miss Morino has the same condition you do, Kei?
I heard it directly from her, but Morino is from a well-to-do family,
...and they've been keeping her condition secret all along.
She's been living all by herself.
And the only friends she's made this whole time are Herikawa and Misumi.
They mean everything to Morino right now.
So if Herikawa is sad, she's going to come to a standstill.
Just like you mean everything to me, Ma'am.
I-I understand the situation.
You're thinking that you don't want Miss Morino to come to a standstill...
But that means that you and Miss Herikawa will--
Don't say it, Ma'am.
But--
Don't say it!
Ma'am, you've never been in a standstill, so you wouldn't understand.
I was in one for three years, and Morino for six.
I'm sure it's nothing compared to the size of the universe.
But it's huge... So huge that your life goes out of whack.
When I woke up, it was the same old scenery.
I had thought that nothing had changed.
But things had changed.
Three years had passed me by.
All my friends were now adults.
I couldn't follow their conversations.
Behind my back, they mocked me and laughed at me.
I ran away from it all.
That feeling of loss when everything you took for granted is lost in an instant...
Only those who have experienced it can understand.
That's why I've reset my life. Tried to start over from square one.
I made new friends.
I have buddies who will do things with me.
This was supposed to be my everyday life...
But Morino doesn't have anybody like that.
I don't want Morino to come to a standstill.
You can't leave her alone?
No.
And besides, the more I think about it...
Ma'am, it's just too hard to live this way.
Your main job is to watch over the Earth,
...so when your tour is over, you'll probably go back to your home planet.
And stuff like our life spans and growth speeds may be different...
Didn't we walk into this knowing it would be hard?
Isn't that what we chose?
If you come to a standstill because of Miss Morino...
I won't.
Can you move forward?
I'll move forward... It just won't be in the same direction as you, Ma'am.
This is your priority one, I take it?
Yes...
Yes.
Huh? Hey, what's wrong?
I'll be sleeping over here from now on.
Wha--?!
Hey! What happened?!
Did you have an argument with Miss Mizuho?
I'm really tired, so just leave me be for now...
Hey, Kei!
This is how it is when you grow up...
You become strangely logical, and you can't ask the impossible.
You want to ask the impossible, but you can't...
Kusanagi...
Kei...
Farewell.
Don't stop... I can't stand still!
If I stand still, I'm sure Morino will, too!
Got to move... forward!
Ma'am...
I'm in love with you, Ma'am...
I love you, too.
But...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Ma'am...
Hello, Herikawa Groceries.
That voice... Is that you, Herikawa?
Huh? Kei? Why are you--
Um, I need to talk to you about something.
Can you step out for a bit?
Is it good news?
I don't want to if it's bad news.
I think it'll probably be good news...
"This is for the best. I'm moving forward."
That's what I was desperately telling my heart, which was trying to fight me.
So desperately...
You have to watch the next episode, too!
This is a priority one!
Some things just can't be helped.
Reality is acknowledging such things.
I know that it's the only way.
But...
Words of denial join together and well up out of me.
I love you, Ma'am.
I love you, Kei.
- But... But... - But... But...
Next time on Onegai Teacher!
"But..."
You have to check it out!
Because this is a priority one.