Mei, take care of Nagi.
Sweet.
Salty.
Sweet.
Spicy.
Megu, good morning.
I bought you those mustard leaf rice balls you like.
Sasano!
Kurosawa-kun.
Where's Kitagawa?
The publisher called and said they can't contact her.
Yeah. She won't answer the door even if I call her.
What should I do?
Kitagawa!
Are you in there, Kitagawa?
Yamato-kun?
Megu!
Did something happen?
You can tell me if you wa—
Leave.
Megu, open the door!
No!
Who asked you to come here?
I'm not going back!
Megu...
No one needs me!
No one!
Why would you sa—
You don't need me either!
Don't pretend to be my friend when
you don't actually care about me!
Megu...
I've had enough of people using me and laughing at me.
Pretending to be my friend when it's convenient.
You'll all betray me eventually.
If that's the case, I don't want friends!
I don't need them!
Go away! Leave me alone!
Kitagawa.
There's a girl who like you,
used to say that she wanted to be alone.
That people are quick to betray you.
That she didn't need friends.
She's right. All they do is hurt you.
Not everyone is like that!
There are even people who want to help you!
They're really thinking about you!
Just look around you!
Staying in your room won't change anything.
We won't be able to help you either.
You'd be betraying the people who are worried about you.
Megu, I'm sorry.
I left you alone because I'm weak.
I'm sorry.
Why are you apologizing?
I can't imagine why you're in pain right now.
Even if you tell me, I might not be able to understand at all,
but I want you to tell me.
Your mother's worried about you, too.
Please let me hear it,
even if you just want to complain or yell at me.
Everything I've done to make people happy was all pointless.
No matter how hard I try, they'll never choose me!
No one needs me!
Nobody needs me!
Who cares about that?
It doesn't matter what anyone thinks!
You've worked so hard since you were little,
got really cute, and you're supported by lots of people.
That's the truth.
That's all that matters.
There's no reason for you to destroy your efforts.
I've always thought you were cooler than anyone else.
That's why I want you to think you're the coolest.
I've always been watching you!
It must be nice to be tall.
I'm in the back because I'm the ugliest...
Don't pay any attention to them.
See? You're cute.
You should be more confident in yourself, Megu.
The person who was always nearby
and would listen to what I had to say was...
Momo-chan...
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Sorry.
Megumi-san went back to work.
I'm terribly sorry.
Megu.
Did it go okay?
Yeah.
I feel relieved.
Really? Oh, here.
From: Mom
To: Megumi
From: Mom
Will I be able to accept myself?
Will I be able to change?
A weak heart hurts others.
You're just a lowly amateur model. Quit acting like you're special.
This is what I get for everything I've done until now.
Don't do that anymore.
What? She ignored you.
We did it for you.
She didn't do anything to you.
You're just ganging up on her.
What's wrong with you?
Enough, forget it.
Don't be ridiculous, moron.
Why do people layer unpleasantness on top of unpleasantness?
What are you doing?
G-Good morning!
What are you doing to my desk?
I-I'm sorry!
It's just the opposite.
So mean.
The opposite?
I thought I'd... take it back to the classroom...
Why would you do that?
Because I couldn't just watch.
You're a nice person.
I couldn't watch them do this to you.
You're wrong.
I haven't been acting like myself.
I was just being nice to you when I felt like it.
That's right.
You've always been nice to me.
You've taken me out to have fun.
Even if you say that's not really kindness, it made me happy.
I don't hate you!
I'll be fine.
I've had other things done to me, so I'm used to it.
Sorry for yelling at you.
Thanks.
No problem!
I won't put on an act anymore.
I realize my lies hurt myself and the people around me.
I won't try to read anyone's expressions,
and I won't form lots of shallow friendships.
I want to live as the real Kitagawa Megumi.
Is this what you wanted?
Yeah, thanks.
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Good morning.
Megumi-san, you cut your hair?
Yeah.
It looks nice.
I have so much trouble changing my haircut.
I don't want people to say things about it on the Internet.
Who cares?
What?
If you say that, there's no end to it.
You'll never be able to do what you want.
I don't want to take everything people say
behind my back so seriously, anyway.
I want to live openly and honestly.
Sorry.
I had to work late.
Good work.
And then... The seasons changed...
Where did I put it?
Leave half for me.
The summer festival is coming up.
Really?
You don't have a date?
What do you mean?
What do I mean?
Couldn't you ask him out?
Why?
Why? Come on.
Chiharu-chan.
You can go now.
Oh, okay.
What about you, Mei-chan?
Is something happening?
The festival.
Chiharu-chan, are you going with someone?
Oh, well, um...
Really, Chiharu-chan?! You've got a boyfriend?
You should tell me. Don't be so secretive.
Oh, right...
The festival is today.
It's from Asami-san.
Everyone, wanna go to the festival today?
From: Oikawa Asami Sub: It's a Festival~~~
If you can go, let's meet up in front of the objet in the shopping district at 3:00 p.m.
Everyone, wanna go to the festival today?
If you can go... in front of the objet at 3:00 p.m.?
Closed to Vehicle Traffic
Mei!
Mei-chan!
You're late!
Sorry, I had work...
Sorry for the short notice.
I wanted to go with everyone.
It made me happy.
That's good.
Where are Kai and Kitagawa?
They said they're busy.
Your invitations are always too sudden.
You say that, but you're excited to be here.
You're such a gangster's wife.
Aiko-chan, you're so cool.
Okay, let's go.
I'm going to eat so much.
Come on, let's go!
Candied apples!
Asamicchi, let's get chocolate bananas.
What? Why?
Everything looks so good.
Mei, where should we start?
I wish
I had a yukata, too...
Mei, you look cute enough the way you always dress.
In front of everyone!
No, it's not...
Oh, don't mind us.
Jumbo Grilled Chicken on a Stick
Hot Dogs
What? What?
It's hot enough already, and you're making it hotter.
Mei, what do you want to eat?
Gohei mochi.
Goldfish Catching
Sorry about that.
I've got a cat at home, so...
We had fun catching them, so it's fine.
Thank you.
American hot dogs!
Asamicchi, wait.
She's eating more?
Are you okay?
Asamicchi, you ate too much.
Maybe you should go home and rest.
Yeah.
Can you walk?
Sorry about that.
Sorry.
What should we do? Wait for the fireworks?
They're not for a while.
I'm going home. My feet are killing me.
Want me to carry you?
That's not cool.
Then, I guess we're going our separate ways.
Yeah.
Let's take breaks on our way home.
Okay.
Don't push yourself too hard.
See you later.
I'm home.
Mei, where have you been?
Didn't you notice my calls?
Your calls? Oh, sorry.
I rushed home, so I could help you put it on.
Huh?
A yukata!
I thought you were going to the summer festival,
so I got it out for you.
Come on, hurry up.
It's fine.
I already went.
Sorry.
You went through all this trouble getting it ready...
Go again.
You're not alone this year.
You have Yamato-kun, don't you?
I told you. I already we—
You have to go.
Not like that, but wearing a yukata and makeup.
But...
You can, at least, be a girl on a day like this.
The important thing is doing everything
you can for the person you love on days like this.
Let me help you.
This is all I can do for you.
Come, Mei.
The fireworks display will begin shortly.
The fireworks dis—
From: Mei (No Subject) Come to the shrine.
See you later.
Bleh.
What does that mean? What about the festival?
Meeting people is such a hassle.
I just ran into you, anyway.
That's harsh.
It's beautiful.
Yeah.
Why do I have to spend time with you?
What?!
It's so hot.
The fireworks are ending.
My hair's a mess, and my makeup is ruined...
The fireworks display has ended.
Thank you very much.
I didn't make it in time.
Why am I thinking about this?
Dad, Mom.
Their hands showed such kindness.
Even if something bad happened at school,
I felt like they were saying, "I'll protect you."
Yamato!
Um, sorry for asking you to come out
even though you already went home once.
I...
Yamato?
Oh, sorry. It's just... You're so cute...
My mom got a yukata out for me.
She helped me put it on.
The fireworks are over, but I really wanted you to see me.
Sorry
for inviting you out for something
so stupid.
It's not stupid.
It makes me happy.
Going forward...
No matter what happens...
Episode 12 - I'll Protect You
To: Mom Sub: Nice Weather Sorry.
Thanks.
Sending
I love you
Everything that begins must also end.
The seasons change, and time flows calmly.
It's from Yamato.
What's this?
"I caught a cold. Achoo. (Cry)."
Yamato, are you okay?
It looks like there's a little more trouble ahead, meow.