Kuroneko...
That's what I called the girl I was friends with when I was a kid.
Hey, did you really see an alien?
Yep.
Then one day ten years ago, I made two mistakes that can't be undone.
The first mistake was...
...not turning back at that point.
Ryota!
And the second mistake...
Why... Why did I grab Kuroneko's hand?
Ever since that day, I've been watching the sky alone every night.
Kuroneko...
I wish I could see you again...
While I Wait For You
Upon entering 11th grade, I set my sights on becoming a researcher at NASA.
Equatorial Telescope
I decided to get as close to space as I could,
and prove that aliens existed in Kuroneko's place.
That's my way of making it all up to her.
Planisphere Master the Stars
Hey, why are you so sure aliens exist?
You don't believe in them, so I'm not telling.
I do! If you say they exist...
Well, it's 'cause I've met one. An alien.
What?
I even know where an alien is!
Then take me there!
Fine.
Huh?
If you promise not to tell anyone where it is...
Kuroneko and I always played together.
I loved Kuroneko, and I thought I knew everything about her.
But this was the first time she'd mentioned aliens.
I couldn't believe her.
The alien is up ahead.
Once you see it, you'd better believe me.
Then that accident happened.
Ryota!
When I came to, I was in a hospital.
Miraculously, I was saved.
They told me Kuroneko was safe in another hospital.
What on Earth could I say to get her to forgive me?
If we could prove together that aliens existed, maybe she would feel better.
That was all I thought about while I was in the hospital.
Then on the day I got out, they told me the truth.
Kuroneko had fallen off the dam and died instantly.
It's bizarre, but I don't know her name.
All I remember are the moles under her arm
and that I called her "Kuroneko."
Morning!
G'morning!
Morning!
Hey, Murakami, did you see?
See what?
In the national mock exam we took, you were the top 11th grader.
But out of all the high schoolers, I was third. Still got a ways to go.
C'mon, don't think that way!
You're the top of the year, Murakami. That's amazing!
Thanks, Kashiwagi.
Short, as usual.
You're always so cold to the girls, Murakami.
Man.
I'm not cold. I just can't handle them.
Hey, homeroom starts now. Hurry up and take your seats.
We have a transfer student to introduce today.
A transfer student? That's rare.
The test to transfer in is incredibly hard.
This is Kuroha Neko.
Kuroha... Neko?!
Everyone help her—
Huh? What's wrong, Murakami?
She looks exactly like her. The vibes she gives off are a little different, but...
She's... gotta be Kuroneko!
That's right! It's not like I ever saw a body.
They just told me she died. Could it be...?
You're alive?!
Huh?
I'm pretty sure we're meeting right now for the first time.
No! We were little kids, so you might not remember...
...but you and I used to hang out!
Used to?
I can prove it!
I don't know what you're talking about.
Whatever! Just shut up and show me your armpits!
Her armpits?
Whoa, jeez.
Is he serious?
Did Murakami study so hard he went nuts?
I didn't think he was that kind of guy.
Hey, Kuroha. That uniform is so cute. Is it from your old school?
It's original.
Original?
I guess I just mistook her?
In today's pool lesson, we'll practice swimming underwater.
This isn't a game, so please be careful.
Okay!
Hey, check it out!
Yeah! That is one bangin' body!
I didn't know such a gorgeous high schooler existed!
This school is full of girls who only care about studying.
Kuroha, you're fine!
You can stand here!
Hey, look!
Yeah, that angle is amazeballs.
Makes me wanna dive to the girls' side and "mistakenly" touch those boobs!
Because that's not a crime or anything.
Next group, are you ready?
Yeah!
Okay, go under!
Kashiwagi!
What's wrong?
Teacher! Kashiwagi's leg got sucked into the filter, and she can't get it out!
She can't breathe!
Go tell them to stop the pump!
Ah, okay!
Kashiwagi!
Hang in there!
I knew this would happen.
Today, two students at this school...
Oh God, we're not going to make it in time!
...are going to die.
She's out! Kashiwagi, are you okay?
T-Teacher...
Thank God!
Are you okay?
You'll be all right!
Man, I thought she was done for.
That was some good luck.
Since the poolside collapsed, the pump got plugged.
Yeah, that kind of thing doesn't happen everyday.
And that timing! There's nothing else to call it but luck.
On days like this, the best thing is to look at the stars to unwind.
I just can't get it out of my head. I know Kuroha can't be Kureneko.
She's already dead.
But, no matter how many times I reconcile myself to that fact, it's hard to take.
Even though it's been ten years, I don't want to admit she's gone.
I wish I could just forget all about Kuroneko.
Huh? What are you doing here?
You can look at the stars here?
Y-Yeah...
I guess there was an astronomy boom when Apollo went to the moon.
This is an old observatory built during that popularity wave.
But now I'm the only member of the astronomy club.
Up until last year there were upperclassmen,
but if no one joins next year, I guess we'll be shut down. Er...
Sorry. You look exactly like a childhood friend of mine.
That's why I said that weird stuff during homeroom.
A childhood friend?
Yeah, a kinda quirky girl who believed in aliens.
But she died, and it was my fault.
So, to search for aliens in her place,
I come here every day to look through the telescope.
I'd like to make one thing clear.
I'm not your childhood friend, and I don't know you at all.
We only just met.
I know that. So... what did you come here for?
There's something I have to tell you.
Huh?
Today, two students at this school were supposed to die.
What?!
One was supposed to die in the pool, but she was saved.
Hey, what are you talking about?!
And the other one who is supposed to die... is you.
What do you mean, I'm gonna die?
The last bus leaves at 8:20.
Yeah. That's the bus I always get on.
Don't miss that bus.
If you don't get on that bus, you'll die.
So you're saying I should believe this "prophecy" of yours?
I don't care. Just don't miss it.
Well, I don't need you to tell me to catch the last bus.
If I don't catch it, I can't get home.
Oh? Well, that's good. Guess I'll be going...
How many constellations are there in all?
Oh, those are old constellations. There's a list, isn't there?
This? One, two, three...
You don't have to count. It's six rows and eight columns: 48.
Wow, you added them up so fast.
Are you kidding? If you know your multiplication tables, it's a cinch.
What's a multiplication table?
What?!
Huh?
You can't not know! You learn 'em in second grade!
Of course I know multiplication tables! Duh...
I... uh... just don't sit at them very often...
Two times two.
Huh?
If you know your multiplication tables, you can answer!
What's two times two?
What?! Umm...
What's two times two?
Twice?
Eight by two?
A two-by-four?
Eight times eight!
Shut the gate?
How did someone who doesn't even know their multiplication tables get into this school?!
Shut up, shut up, shut up! I have my ways! Plenty of them!
"Ways"?
Well, whatever. I'll give you this one. Even if you're a little more clever than me,
I'm definitely way stronger!
Huh?
Did you used to play sports or something?
Hm? Not really.
Argh. What's up with this girl? She's just saying whatever.
There's no way I'll lose to a girl who hasn't even trained.
Come on, I'll arm wrestle you.
Sure.
Okay, let's go. One, two, three, g—
Owww!
I'm sorry! I didn't control my strength very well.
Lemme see your arm!
She's not particularly buff.
More like delicate!
What are you blushing for?
N-No one's ever touched me like that! Wouldn't you get nervous?
Huh?
Don't get weird on me.
Actually, now that I get a good look at her, she's pretty cute.
Well, that makes sense. She looks just like Kuroneko, totally my type.
Are you satisfied now?
No, I'm not. Lemme see you flex.
Huh? Flex?
Yeah. Give it a shot.
Is that all you got?
Why would I lose to a squishy girl like you?!
I dunno! Maybe you're just a wimp!
CQ, CQ. Yeah, it's me. Over.
An amateur radio?
The forecast changed, but now it's even worse. Over.
If it won't make a difference whether he gets on the bus or not,
then I guess we should just have him die? Over.
Yeah, okay. I'll let him know. Over and out.
Actually, it's fine if you miss the bus.
Hey, what the heck was that about just now?
Well, more than miss it, you should just not leave this building.
What?!
Since you can't get home if you miss the last bus, spend the night here.
Got it? I warned you, so you'd better believe me.
Once you see it, you'd better believe me.
Let's suppose all the stuff she said is true...
If me getting on the bus or not is the difference between living and dying...
I get it.
If her prediction is correct, it should start raining around here soon.
So much for that! The forecast for today is clear.
Wh—?! It's really raining?!
So I was able to save both of them.
Hang in there, Akane! Akane!
I'm... not... gonna make it.
Neko, take this and run.
You can forget everything else, but not this.
You're the only one... who can save this world... from ruin...
Akane! Akane!
Honestly, I don't even know what saving the world from ruin means.
Akane! Stay with me! Akane! Akane!
But saving people I know are going to die is something I can do.
CQ, CQ.
What? No way!
I stayed off the bus like she said, but I left the observatory.
So now, according to her, I'm gonna die.
Do I believe her?
No... but I want to.
Even if it means risking my life, I want verify if what she said is true firsthand.
If the time it takes to miss the bus makes the difference between life and death...
Well, it's hard to imagine getting mixed up in a crime in such a deserted spot.
If it were a large scale disaster, like an earthquake, there would be other casualties.
So, what's a smaller scale disaster that occurs in the rain?
An avalanche!
No way!
Shit! I can't move!
She... She actually knew the future!
This is why I told you not to go home, you idiot!
What's with this girl? She split the boulder?!
Jeez, I knew you'd die if you missed the bus.
That's why I warned you.
But the moment you made the decision to catch it, the forecast changed.
If I had gotten on the bus, the time it was stopped would've meant
the bus and me would've been crushed under the boulder, right?
I could gather that much from what you said.
If the bus had gotten crushed, way more people would have died.
So, you told me not to leave the observatory.
If you figured that much out, why did you come here?
More importantly, who or what are you?
I... I'm...
...a witch.
Huh? Don't be ridiculous.
Oh, you don't believe me? Even though you believe in aliens?
Aliens don't go against science.
But magic is the very definition of "unscientific."
Ahh... but unless you're a witch, there's no way to explain all this.
I mean, you split a boulder in half and beat me at arm wrestling with that squishy arm...
Don't pick on me!
Hey, if you're really a witch,
how did you get your powers?
Surgery. That and drugs.
What? That's not magic!
I really wanted... to get by without using my powers.
I ran away from the researchers, so I didn't want anyone to find out I was a witch.
But I couldn't hear a word she was saying.
Somewhere in my heart, I guess I had still been hoping...
"Couldn't Kuroha be Kuroneko, after all?"
But she didn't have Kuroneko's moles.