I've got to crush that boys' ping-pong team somehow.
But how?
Hey, don't I know her?
No way! That's impossible!
I swear it's true!
That is so uncool!
We did it! We pulled it off!
Did you hear them thanking us shoplifters?
I wanted this. Can I have it?
Fat chance! I got this for me.
Cheapskate! C'mon, let me have it!
Hell no!
Dividing the loot in public?
Your m.o. Was quite impressive.
Go figure, thieves among the reputable Minami High girls!
Mr. Tachikawa...
So you remember me. I'm honored, Miss Rika Abe.
Who's this guy?
My homeroom teacher in junior high.
O.K., girls, let me have your student IDs.
But we didn't do any...
Shut up and hand them over!
Reporting us to school?
Don't worry, I won't report you.
Instead, I'd like you to help me out with something.
You want to make a deal?
Oh, it's quite simple. Your target will be... them!
Well, well! You're doing serious practice for a change.
Sort of.
Certain someone has his eye on this club room.
Maeno, for Pete's sake, just don't disturb our practice.
I'm so bored, meow! Someone play with me-ow!
Go play with Izawa.
Izawa's not here, meow!
Where is he, meow?
I don't know.
Where is he, meow?
I can't find Izawa, meow! Where is he, meow?
Why would you find him down there?
I saw Izawa talking to someone outside.
Minamida... are you serious about this?
I am. You don't think I can make it?
You shouldn't be negative about it going in, but still...
I just feel that ping-pong might be something even I can play.
I want to be cheerful and outgoing like you, Izawa.
Wait a second.
Hey, you tree-thing, over there!
We're having an important discussion! Get your ass outta here!
Somebody pleeeeze play with me!
How about some practice, huh?
Scratch, scratch, scratch...
Maeno, what is it that you come to do here every day anyway?
I've never seen you win a game.
Why, you don't even do much in the way of practice!
Tanabe, is that your roundabout way of telling me to quit?
I didn't say that!
You see that? You guys miss me when I'm not around, don't you?
Yes! I can feel the love in your silence!
Too bad the whole club would be shut down if we lost a member.
Fine, I get it! I quit! Just pick a date!
No use trying to stop me!
What's wrong with Maeno?
Don't mind him. It's the same old... oh?
Oh, yeah. This here is Minamida.
He's Takeda, our team captain. You should talk to him first.
H-hello...
Those damn shitheads!
I swear I'll quit for real one of these days! Just watch me!
Excuse me.
You're Maeno, aren't you?
My name is Rika Abe. I go to Minami High.
Oh?
What's a high school gal doing, talking to me?
Will you be my boyfriend?
What game is this penalty for?
Poker? Horse racing? Or is it plain old paper-scissors-rock?
Where are your friends watching us from?
Oh, no. This isn't a practical joke.
Maeno, I've had a crush on you for a long time.
I've always watched you from a distance, to no avail.
Back in 7th grade, that incident where you pooed your pants...
Shit!
Or that time when you got tied up naked and put on display...
I know all about you. I even know you have no girlfriend.
I'm serious.
Maeno, I want to have you... all to myself!
Congratulations.
Thanks, Giant Maeno.
Thank you!
Who the hell is he waving at?
Rika.
Yes?
Promise me you'll make me happy.
Don't kid yourself!
Don't think for a moment that a Minami girl would ever want
to have anything to do with you.
You're dreaming, you bottom-dwelling leftover!
Shut the hell up!
By God, he's gotten stronger!
Jealousy is unbecoming to a man, Izawa.
Come, Rika. Let's go on a date now.
O.K.
We'll have our talk in quiet.
Maeno...
My goodness, Instructor!
What happened to you, sir?
Kamiya.
You're badly hurt. I'll call an ambulance.
Don't bother. It's no big deal.
But your nose is bleeding.
Say... Got a tampon?
I'll borrow one from a friend.
Ouch! That hurt!
Can't she tell when I'm joking?
Anyway, what should I do about Maeno?
Slow down a little, Maeno.
I don't mind that you're two years older than me.
Love transcends age difference.
That's not what I wanted to say.
What?
I'd like to make just one request.
Request?
Right. Will you do it?
You know you can be frank with me!
None of that formality between you and I.
Say the word and I'll do it.
Maeno, I want you to give up club activities.
What?
When I love someone, I want to be with him as much as possible. That's why...
...I couldn't bear waiting for you through your club hours!
My friends say I'm too controlling.
But isn't it only natural to want to spend time with my true love?
Answer me, Maeno.
Which is more important to you, me or your club activity?
Maeno.
Maeno!
You're not gonna abandon us, are you?
If we lose one member, we lose the whole team!
Maeno.
Maeno! Don't go!
Maeno...
Well, the truth is, our club is a big mess.
One dropout puts the team below the competition roster minimum.
Which forces our club to be shut down on the spot.
I see.
Well, then again, I never keep up with the practice and all...
Forget it. I'm sorry.
I was being selfish again.
Oh, no, that wasn't selfish.
God, I hate myself sometimes.
You must hate me now.
No, no, no. I don't hate you! Far from it!
Honest?
Thank you, darling.
Darling!!
The list of ten most unlikely words to be used in association with me
once included "darling."
But I did it! I hold that title at last!
Rika, I'll quit the club for you.
What?
I'm going to make us happy by quitting the club!
All right!
What would Fate have in store for the Inachu ping-pong club?
Rika, I'll quit the club for you.
But that would be the end of the ping-pong club!
Rika, I'll do this to make you happy.
I'll quit the club!
Wait right here. Here goes!
Good work. Very nicely done.
You were fantastic, a reminder of your drama club days.
Here's the pay I promised. Take it.
I don't want it.
Anyway, what am I supposed to do now?
Go through the motions for the next two days.
After that, you can do whatever you want with him.
Couple more days and it'll be all over for that club!
I feel terrible about driving the club out of existence.
But I'm quitting this club as of today!
I'll take on any protesters!
Almost!
Never mind. Never mind.
C'mon, fight me...
Minamida, you're pretty good!
Sure are! You're a natural.
You got an eye for talent, Izawa.
Think so?
It's no use trying to stop me.
O.K., I'm giving you an underspin serve. Ready?
Unreal! Tough love already?
Here goes!
Nice!
Not bad!
Pretty impressive actually.
Nice going, Minamida.
Better than most first timers!
You'll beat me in no time.
So far so good. Next I'll...
Takeda, do you know the meaning of "good-bye"?
I sure do.
Now I ask you. Do you know this story?
Once upon a time, there lived in a village
a boy who was always pulling pranks on people.
I see a wolf! There's a man-eating wolf!
- What? A man-eating wolf? - Everybody hide!
You fell for it so easily! Dumb suckers!
So it was another one of your pranks, you rascal!
Nah-na-na-nah-na.
These pranks reoccurred again and again.
And one winter night...
What a beauty!
Oh? So that's what that looks like...
God, I wish I could jump into the bath with her.
What is it? Can't you see I'm busy right now?
Knock it off.
I said, knock it off!
What a persistent pest! Who are you?
Can I take a peek, too?
Don't tell me you're scared of me now, young man.
I've heard you talk about spotting me all the time.
I was lying! It was all lies!
Lying is not nice.
Liars have no right to object if I should eat them up!
There's a wolf! Help me!
Peeping this time, you rascal?
Old man, I'm serious.
I saw a wolf. I'm telling the truth this time!
Shut up! You won't get me again! Get the heck out of here!
You look smelly, but I guess I could eat you with my nose pinched.
Help!
Wait.
Thus the boy was devoured by the wolf.
Know what I'm driving at?
That I shouldn't peep in winter?
Wrong!
Do you know how many times you've threatened to quit?
Up in three digits all in all.
I'm not kidding this time.
Besides, if I quit, you'll be short of team minimum and lose your club.
No problem. Minamida here just joined, so the team will stay.
You may leave in good conscience.
I'll go to Shibazaki and hand in the new member registration.
Please do, thanks.
You look like you want to say something. You want us to stop you?
Look, kiddo, save your breath.
Quit already then!
There'll be no farewell party, but you don't mind, do you?
You heartless bastards! You show no regard for my feelings!
I hope you get hit by a tofu and turn into soy beans!
Damn you all!
I guess he had second thoughts.
Hi, thanks for waiting.
You were gone so long I was coming to get you.
Shall we go?
Hey, wait for me!
What happened to your eyes? Have you been crying?
Me, cry? No way!
What did your teammates say?
They said they couldn't help it if my mind's made up.
I see...
Is that ectoplasm?
I guess habitual lying is not such a good thing after all.
What? Oh, the club is finished, huh?
No, that was avoided. But the thing is...
A new member?
That's right. His name is Minamida.
Nice to meet you.
What's his problem?
See him turn bright red?
Shit! I never saw this coming!
How could anyone want to join that club?
I'll show you in the end!
Really? Aren't you glad the club won't be closed down?
Serves him right! Idiot Tachikawa got busted!
This completes my mission.
Now I can do whatever I want with him...
Ectoplasm again?
He's like a zombie! To think he was all pep not so long ago.
Rika... Promise me you'll make me happy?
I feel sorry for the poor guy.
All right. This whole thing is my fault in the first place.
The least I can do is give him a few good memories.
Listen, Maeno.
I'll grant you a wish.
Huh?
You can do anything you want with me.
Just like that?
Anything?
Anything.
Anything up to a kiss.
I want you...
...to forget about me.
I think I'm going back to the club after all.
Maeno! You're so cool!
You were watching? Did you see me?
How was I? C'mon, tell me!
You were magnificent!
I hate to admit it, but I couldn't help but idolize you for a sec.
Write it out! Put down on paper how great I was.
Oh, yeah! Sure! I'll write it down!
I'll make an entry in my diary, too.
So long, Maeno.
Good-bye.
Bye...
At that moment, Izawa did not fail to take notice.
From Maeno's tightly clenched left hand,
he could see the blood falling to the ground, drop by excruciating drop.
I should've at least copped a feel of her boobies.
Izawa...
Suckle on this.
Maeno, you're late! Get changed now!
Ein, zwei...
Maeno showed up in the room as if nothing had happened,
while his teammates behaved as they always would on any other day.
A lie a day keeps troubles away, if you know what I mean.
For your information, Minamida dropped out after two days.
Oh, my! Someone help! It's a man-eating wolf!