Azuki Azusa isn't a pure fairy, but a normal girl.
She has a lot of emotions spinning around in her chest.
Everyone is a liar.
Why do you like tricking people?
And yet, I had only seen her as an external parameter,
like the ones in video games, to help me get my facade back.
It's so hot.
I want to go to the pool.
Maybe I'll wear the suit I just bought.
I just want to think about girls' bathing suits
The super risqué one?
and bras that can be seen through shirts.
But right now, no matter how hard I try to do that,
Don't talk to me anymore!
Azuki Azusa is spinning around in my head.
Azuki
Speak Before Getting Sad
I saw right through you.
Azusa
You didn't trick me. I let you trick me.
I would never want to be friends with you two to begin with.
Hey, listen...
Azusa
Um...
Do you not want the turtle plushie anym—
Go away!
Just leave me alone.
Oh, I'm sorry. And after you took the trouble to visit...
Ever since the day she went out with you,
she's kept herself locked in her room, saying she has a cold.
I see...
But I think she's actually happy
that two friends have come to visit her.
You know, since a lot happened at her last school.
You went to Azuki Azusa's house, too?
Yes. But she wouldn't listen to what I had to say.
I wanted to tell her that what happened
that day was my sister's fault, not yours.
I see.
Munch, munch, munch...
So how are things going with your Sister of Steel? Any changes?
I haven't talked to her since.
I don't think our relationship can be...
More importantly, are you
troubled about something with Azuki-san, Senpai?
How did you know?
I can figure you out pretty well.
I-I see...
Then, you probably know I was thinking
that your lips look rather captivating
because of the meat bun grease.
Even your brain is filled with grease, Hentai-san.
While you're at it,
if you tell Azuki-san how you really feel, maybe she'll feel better.
The thing is, once she's in front of me, I can't say anything.
I don't know what I want to say to her.
If it's, "Cheer up and let's be friends again!"
Or if it's, "Whatever, just give me back my facade!"
I don't know which is the truth and which is a facade.
Is there a reason to separate the truth and a facade?
Of course! Even when you rent DVDs,
in between the masterpieces you picked out with your facade,
you sneak in the girly video that you really
want to see to trick them, right?
Otherwise, you'd be seen as some pervert who keeps renting
dozens of girly videos every day.
That's not what we were talking about.
And you've been a Hentai-san since way before this conversation.
My bad...
I think you're putting too much thought into this, Senpai.
Isn't the hodgepodge of words you've been saying how you really feel?
I think you should just act in the way your words lead you.
But, what if I do that and end up regretting it?
Well, I might also regret how you and Azuki-san might end up, as well.
But I would speak.
That is the only way people can move forward.
So it's "go for broke," huh?
It's "speak before you break."
Speak before you break, huh?
What? Bullying?
We've totally not been bullying Little Bean.
Like, we teased her to show affection
because her reactions were always so cute.
Teased?
Well, there may have been times we totally went a little overboard.
Like, we were a little concerned since she transferred right after that.
"That"?
This is how the story went.
The two had told Azuki Azusa, who missed school quite frequently,
that the class trip was to Hokkaido.
But the real destination was Okinawa.
We totally didn't mean anything by it.
She said she liked red foxes, so we totally
thought she'd come if we told her Hokkaido.
We were like, going to tell her the truth at the airport.
Who'd think she'd go all the way to Sapporo on her own?
We totally just wanted to go on the school trip with her.
We actually really like Little Bean—
Then you should...
Then you should tell her that yourselves, you idiots.
Thanks for the chat.
Azuki Azusa-sama
Oh, my. I'll be right there.
Oh, my. Have a good time.
You pervert!
I called a taxi for you.
Thanks! We'll be off, then.
M-Mom!
What kind of bullying is this?
It's not.
It's not like I'm taking you someplace weird.
You sound like a wolf trying to lure a bunny rabbit.
I told you to leave me alone—
I'm here because I can't leave you alone!
Figure that out!
I'm starting to understand you a little.
You can't take a lot of hits, you take everything the wrong way,
you inflate your victimization, and you're quick to cry
and hole yourself up in your room.
Th-That's not true.
I just like being by myself...
That's also why you missed a lot of school
and ended up transferring from your last school, right?
Then you tried acting like the princess of our school,
but you don't like to be alone.
Yet, you raised your standards and expected people
to meet them through "reward time."
You're silly. You're cute as you are,
but you keep adding all these unnecessary attributes.
"Cute"?
What you need is not to look for things from others,
but to strengthen your own heart.
If you just act normally, I think people will like you normally.
And that's the Azuki Azusa I like, as well.
L-Like? I see...
I wanted to bring you here.
Come on, let's go.
I don't... have any shoes.
Carry me...
Um, could I ask you one thing?
What's that?
According to what you just said, if I were to give up my facade and be normal,
you'd end up w-w-weally... liking me, right?
Nah.
Huh?
In terms of love interest, I don't like you that much.
You don't really excite me.
What I was saying earlier was just a general point of view.
More importantly, I have something important to tell you about your facade.
Let's see, where should I begin...
Oh, I had this very special hugging pillow named Barbara-san...
So, to put it simply, that's how things are...
You liar!
So everything was a lie after all!
You didn't even like me, you just wanted to get your facade back...
Yeah, that's how it would be.
But I got the wrong idea...
I'm an idiot.
I'm like some flightless chicken desperately flapping its wings.
There's more I'd like to tell you.
I finally understood what I wanted to do then, and what I couldn't do.
I'm sorry I lied to you.
I know I hurt you.
What the heck?!
You're just saying that to get your facade back.
Well, yeah.
You idiot!
But besides that, it's also true that I can't leave you alone.
I know that you have a temper and that you cry easily.
I know that when you cry,
you can't stop your tears or snot coming out of your nose.
I know that you toss around in your sleep and that you're stubborn.
But I want to be your friend.
Whether or not you have a facade
doesn't matter when you're with real friends.
So I can really believe you this time?
Yeah. It's no lie that I want to be friends with you.
And you're not lying about wanting your facade back, either, right?
Right.
You really are a terrible pet.
So...
Next time, you need to fool me better.
Otherwise, I'm going to get really angry.
May I be able to get rid of my unnecessary facade.
Wh-What's...
Azuki Azusa-sama, I'm sorry. Please be my friend again.
Tsutsukakushi Tsukiko
I wonder if it's possible to be friends again.
Especially if I'm honest all the time...
Of course. I guarantee it.
But... But no matter how much a chicken flaps around, it's still a chicken.
It can't really do anything!
Really? There was a chicken at my elementary school that could fly.
What? Really?
Not to mention, you're human.
So if you try hard, you can do anything.
Of course, chickens can't fly, at least for now.
But because it was for her, I was able to say it.
That's right... I got my facade back.
All right!
Huh?
Wh-Who are you?
Senpai...
I couldn't communicate
very well with the children today, again.
It doesn't seem like my dream of becoming
a kindergarten teacher will come true.
Speaking of dreams, I had a precognitive dream the other day.
After a hundred or even a thousand years,
the children still didn't like me.
I think you'd be able to get closer to the children
simply by removing your mask.
That's not true!
I'm too juvenile.
I get flustered and cry very easily, and whatever
I'm thinking shows up on my face.
Is that a bad thing?
I may be able to become the kids' friend,
but I wouldn't be able to be their teacher, then.
A teacher must be someone who isn't easily agitated.
So you're wearing a mask to hide your expressions?
I think there's something wrong with that.
There isn't anything wrong with it! It's a perfect plan!
Grr...
Well, I sort of understand.
I don't really like the track team all that much.
I like bathing suits much more.
But I can't quit the team because of the bathing suits.
I'm not seeing the connection between the track team and bathing suits,
nor do I see a connection with what I was just saying...
Meaning, how you really feel is important, but so is a facade.
So why not try putting on a different mask?
Eh?
If you're going to put up a facade,
it's better to have a pleasant one rather than that one.
What's wrong?
Something like a bug went into my clothes!
P-Please get it out!
One sec...
No! It tickles!
My God!
Here I go... Forgive me!
N-No! What are you...
It'd be awful if a bug were to get into this beautiful navel...
I will protect the peace of this world!
No!
A-Are you a Hentai-san?!
I just recalled something very weird...
I will take my leave, then.
Faculty Room
Hey, wait a second, p-pervert!
Oh, hey. How've you been?
Fine...
Um, so... It's summer vacation...
So do you want to... h-h-hang out sometime?
Just the two of us.
Yeah, sure.
What?!
Do you want to go to the arcade again?
Sure, I guess that'd be fine... But maybe somewhere farther away?
An arcade farther away?
That's not what I meant. Maybe Okinawa?
An arcade in Okinawa?
Would you forget about arcades already?!
Oh, Tsutsukakushi!
What are you doing here?
I see that you made up with Azuki-san.
Huh?
I saw the two of you talking earlier.
Oh, I see.
Well, she seems to be in a better mood, at least.
It's all thanks to your advice. I have to thank you.
Moon Cat
Thank me?
Then go on a date with me. Just the two of us.
A-A date?
Is that a no?
No, I totally don't mind, it's just...
Doesn't it seem like a waste for you to ask me?
I'd like to ask you myself.
By the looks of things, it appears you got your facade back.
Yeah, I did.
Oh! I did get it back, but I meant what I just said, and um...
If you want to thank me,
please hang out with me for a little while.
Huh?
I'm in the Child Welfare Club.
We go to preschools and play with children.
I was in this club in junior high, as well.
Oh, I see.
That's a rather minimal response.
Oh, come on.
I'm not some pervert who's going to respond to the word preschool.
Though I'd probably respond to the moms going to the preschools.
That's not what I'm talking about.
I believe I told you that you were already a Hentai-san long ago.
Well, never mind.
I want you to watch my picture story show
and comment on my performance.
Performance?
Yeah, sure.
Moon Cat
Now then, Moon Cat begins.
Meow.
That's...
Yes! A new mask!
That looks great on you! Way better than before!
And because of this, I was really popular with the children, too.
We held hands, played, and in the end,
I was able to make a wonderful memory.
In the end?
Yes. I don't think I'll be able
to come back to this preschool for a while.
Oh... I see...
Because...
I'm going to be a student at your high school starting next month!
R-Really?
Yes!
Maybe we'll see each other in the halls or the gymnasium!
Or even the pool.
Well, that's fine, too.
Will you remember me? You won't forget me?
Would you be able to find me even without this mask?
Of course. I'll find you right away.
In that case, I won't introduce myself.
So when you find me, you should talk to me.
Huh? Sure. But why are we doing something so troublesome?
I'm leaving it to fate.
If we're able to meet each other, then...
Then, what?
Well, who knows, Senpai?
The End
And so the cat was able to make a precious friend for the first time.
Happily ever after.
The end.
How was it, Senpai?
Um... The illustrations are great,
so I think the kids will love that...
I see.
So the acting was too flat and terrible?
Um, uh, that's not true...
You don't have to use your facade just to be polite.
It is hard to put on a picture story for kids
when you're not able to express any emotions.
But I was honestly happy when you said the illustrations were great,
because I'm the one who drew them.
Oh, I see. You must have worked really hard.
I'm thinking about being solely behind-the-scenes for a while.
I'm actually quite the versatile player.
I can make great lunches, and my massages are second to none.
I see. Then how about...
Not a chance.
I didn't even say anything yet!
I'm kidding.
What is it?
Um, uh, well...
I think that if you were a manager of a sports team,
you'd be considered priceless...
You know, since you're versatile.
Munch, munch, munch...
A manager, huh?
You'd be super popular for sure!
For example, the track team.
You're in it, so no.
So mean...
I'm kidding.
The one I really don't want to see is...
Stop dawdling! Put everything you've got into it!
I've been meaning to ask you...
Why don't you two get along very well?
That's because...
What are you doing?! Quit playing around!
She hates me.
How to Defeat the Carefree King
Next time: "How to Defeat the Carefree King."