Gah! I fell asleep!
Chikura-san!
Sogabe-kun.
Are you going home right now?
I couldn’t decide on a painting to give to the graduating class.
Do you mind if I accompany you?
I’m… I’m actually walking home with her.
Chikura-san… you have a really nice fragrance.
Probably the shampoo you’re using.
Or maybe…
The sunset is really pretty today.
Isn’t it, Sogabe-kun?
Oh yeah! Mm-hmm!
Looks good enough to eat, actually!
Uh… I just said something weird, didn’t I?
Sogabe-kun, I’ve always thought you were this overly serious guy.
But now I can see you’re actually pretty funny.
This is it!
Her smile!
I should now be able to say those words.
Chi… Chikura-san!
Hmm?
Uh… umm…
Well, I’ll see you tomorrow!
I did it! I did it!
Uh, yeah.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
Sogabe-kun?
Yippee! She’ll be seeing me tomorrow!
I can’t quite place my finger on it,
but Sogabe-kun really is funny.
That’s it.
Huh?
What’s with you, Sogabe?
That was the perfect opportunity to confess to her!
You dullard.
Do you even know the meaning behind those words?
She said “I’ll see you tomorrow!”
That means she promised that we’ll meet up and talk with each other again!
Aren’t you getting a bit carried away?
Right, Zaitsu?
Something’s got you bummed out since morning.
Strange, since I’m the one who’s supposed to be depressed.
There’s… been a little screw-up.
A… kappa?
Yes, a kappa.
I’ll never understand what a chick is really thinking.
You guys, do you have any idea what you just did?
You had your crushes watch her give chocolates in order for them to give up on her.
Try to imagine that happening to you!
Not once did you put yourselves in their shoes.
I know your intentions weren’t malicious.
So you can imagine the excruciating anguish they felt, right?
Enomoto seems to be handling things well.
Her sense of justice is strong.
What am I gonna do, Koyoi-chan?!
I’ve hurt Zaitsu-kun’s feelings!
Me too! I’m a bad girl for doing such a horrible thing to Big Brother!
I’m heading over to apologize to Zaitsu-kun!
Ditto for me and Big Brother!
Looks like those two got the message.
So, how was your Valentine’s Day, Enomoto?
You could say I gave it to him…
…or you can say I didn’t.
Which one?
In any case, things just didn’t pan out at all!
I am really sorry!
It’s alright.
I’m already over it.
I’m glad that I’ve been turned down point blank.
It was a relief.
See you.
Chikura-san, promise to lock up afterwards!
Okay!
Take care!
Now then…
Whenever I look at it, it’s almost as if I can breathe it in.
The number of times I’ve gazed upon your painting since I entered this school.
The number of brushstrokes I did just to approach your level.
You probably wouldn’t know, would you?
Renjou Yukito-san.
What’s wrong?
Did you forget something?
That’s right.
I guess you can say I forgot something.
Um… who am I addressing?
Are you the only member of the club?
Ah, everyone else already left.
If I’m not mistaken, that’s a Kaitei High School uniform.
Wow.
So what are you drawing?
I’m still making a rough draft…
Cherry flowers, huh?
I’m really feeling those branches.
My drawings… compared to that painting…
You mean that painting of the row of cherry trees?
Yes.
That was a painting that I made.
Eh?
Hmm, I never thought it would be put on display like this.
What’s wrong?
I… I… just love that painting.
Honestly… I always come here to view it.
I’m so glad I get to meet you, Renjou-senpai!
Thank you.
But no matter how much I draw, I can never reach the level of your painting.
I’m always thinking “How can I make such a warm and gentle painting?”
In that case, how about we try completing this painting together?
I don’t have anything to do until the graduation ceremony.
Is this really alright with you?
Mm-hmm, um…
Chikura.
I’m Chikura Nao.
Let’s enjoy this, shall we, Chikura-san?
Let’s!
Alright, first off, let’s start painting the sky.
O-Okay.
Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow.
Thank you very much.
Tomorrow…
Hey.
Chikura-san, nice to see you.
So you really came?
I thought you wouldn’t come at all.
I also want to thank you for coming.
Huh?
There’s no club meeting today, so the fact that you came anyway…
I completely forgot the club takes a break on Thursdays.
I can’t paint clouds very well.
For those, you should wait till the paint is half-dry.
Now should be just about right, I think.
You’re right!
That’s the way.
You’re painting really well, Chikura-san.
You saying that…
…makes me really happy.
Huh?
Renjou-senpai? The one who did the cherry trees painting?
You were really good back then, huh?
Excuse me, can you give me advice on my painting?
Ah, can you take a look at my painting too?
Time to close up shop!
Senpai, don’t be a stranger, okay?
Chikura-san, be sure to lock up.
Okay!
Ah, screw me! Final exams are next week, right?
Be careful on your way back.
Uh, Senpai?
If you don’t mind,
could you have a look at my painting?
I’m sorry if I sound selfish, but…
I couldn’t make any progress today.
I also thought I’d stay behind a while before leaving.
Really?
Yep.
Will you be alright painting this by yourself, Chikura-san?
Eh?
The Final exams are next week.
During that time there will be no club meetings.
And after I’m done with my graduation ceremony,
I won’t be able to stop by so often.
And I promised we’d finish this together, I’m sorr-
I’ll…
come to the club!
Chikura-san…
The time you teach me how to paint is more important than any exam!
Alright then.
Thank you so much.
Even though I should be looking forward to the painting being completed,
my conscious self prays that I never finish painting it.
I pray that I’ll always, always stay by Senpai’s side.
I was wondering, Senpai…
You said that when the graduation ceremony is over, you won’t be able to come very often.
You’re probably getting ready to go to college, right?
Nope.
I’m going overseas.
You’re studying abroad?
That’s amazing!
Where are you going?
I’m not studying abroad.
Huh?
There is a Japanese organization that helps foreign countries in desperate need.
My dream is to become a member and spend my life
visiting those places and painting pictures with the children.
Your life…
Mm-hmm. Paintings memorialize things, right?
The scene you see right now, the dreams painted in your heart,
even the smile of a cherished person you met in the past.
I think it would be great if those paintings would resonate in someone’s heart.
Chikura-san?
I’m sorry. I’m… just so moved.
Moved? You’re making me blush.
You are really amazing, Senpai.
I think you’re really amazing.
Senpai’s words still rang in my ear.
I couldn’t say much right after that.
A lifetime, huh?
Hey!
Chikura-san.
Sogabe-kun!
Is he someone you know?
He’s a former member of the fine arts club.
His name is Renjou-senpai.
He’s really good at painting, and he goes to Kaitei High School.
Huh?
Did you say “Kaitei?”
Barely anyone from our school gets accepted there.
Mm-hmm! Amazing, isn’t it?
But instead of going to college, he’s going to become a volunteer.
Hardly anyone ever does that.
He probably won’t be coming back to Japan.
His dream is to visit many countries.
That’s…
Sorry!
I made you walk with me even though you had a bike.
Nah, it’s fine.
I live over there.
Right.
Thanks. I’ll see you.
Sogabe-kun!
I’ll see you tomorrow!
What can I possibly say after that?
I’ll see him tomorrow, huh?
That’s right.
The painting isn’t finished yet.
Tomorrow is another day.
Tomorrow…
Today was my high school graduation ceremony.
Eh? Is that true?
Uh, um… I congratulate you for graduating.
Thank you.
Actually, I was planning to finish it by the time of the ceremony.
Even though we didn’t finish it before the ceremony,
I would want to complete it before the cherry blossoms are blooming.
Renjou-senpai…
I truly admire what you are going to do with your future.
So I hope you do well!
Chikura-san…
…thank you.
I really, truly thank you.
Senpai…
Well, I’ll see you tomorrow!
Hell yeah! The tests are over!
Party at Ayumi’s house!
Let’s go shopping!
Chikura, are you coming?
Sorry, today won’t work.
Hope you all have fun.
…and we need to buy some cake!
More club stuff?
She’s been awfully psyched about it lately.
I want to see him.
I want to embrace them.
The times I spend together with Senpai.
Senpai!
Huh?
Each time he would have already arrived…
Well, I guess waiting for Senpai is half the fun.
What’s keeping you, Senpai?
Hmm?
Is that… me?
Senpai…
To Chikura-san.
By the time you read this letter, I will already be on a flight out of Japan.
I truly apologize for leaving without telling you a thing.
But, when I saw how much fun you had making that painting,
I couldn’t bear to tell you that I was leaving today.
Up until recently, I was unsure whether to go through with it or not.
My parents, my good friends, even my teachers were against it.
That was why I came back to my junior high school.
I wanted to remember the time I had the most fun…
…painting pictures.
I am really glad that I met you, Chikura-san.
That we painted that picture together.
I will neither forget the last words I heard from you nor your smiling face as long as I live.
So I wish you’ll never stop smiling.
Senpai…
In the end, I never did finish the painting.
Nevertheless… your colors are like the cherry blossoms budding outside.
Very soothing… very brilliant.
Paintings memorialize things, right?
…even the smile of a cherished person…
I guess I did paint it really well.
Right, Senpai?
Are you in love right now?
An overjoyed Kusuda has been asked to appear in a play
by Miss Melons from the drama club.
Huh? A rival appears on the scene?
That skeezebag kappa,
he can go to hell for all I care.