No one really disliked me during elementary school,
but I didn't have any close friends, didn't belong in a particular group, and...
Can I play?
Oh, so you were here, Sawako-chan.
Sure, you can join in.
But one day, Shino, who was in the same class as me...
Hey, Sadako!
...accidentally got my name wrong, and ever since then...
"Sadako"?
Sadako.
Sadako!
...I've been assigned the role of "Sadako".
And the people I met in middle school thought it was funny to say...
Sadako really seems like someone who can see ghosts!
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised.
She can.
And the next thing I knew, I was assigned the role of someone who could see ghosts.
And after I entered high school...
I heard Sadako can see ghosts!
More importantly, I heard that if you stare into her eyes for more than three seconds, seven days later you'll be...
Each rumor led to another... I think.
Even then, now that I look back on it, I feel as though I've been blessed my entire life.
There's been times when things would get me down, of course, but I don't think anything really made me sad.
Oh yeah.
Do you remember the rumors about Sadako?
Yeah, the thing about having Yano and Yoshida as her backups?
I-It's all a misunderstanding!
Yano-san and Yoshida-san aren't backing me up or anything.
Shut up already.
We get it.
The criminal delinquent and the whore, right?
Morning, Kazehaya.
Morning.
Morning, Ryu!
Morning.
I wonder what's up?
That's the girl's bathroom they're crowding around.
Did something happen?
Yo, Kazehaya.
Apparently, there's a fight inside the girl's bathroom.
A fight?
And guess who's fighting?
Sadako and girls from Class A.
Kuronuma?! Why?!
We were in there a little while ago, but...
It seemed like Sadako was the one who started the fight.
Something about Chizu and Yano-chin's rumors.
Rumors?
Oh, you mean the one about her beating up an old man?
The thing about Yano being with a hundred guys, right?
I heard Sadako's the one who's been spreading them!
How...
I'm going to try my best to become friends with them.
How could you possibly think she's the one behind that?!
What are you yelling for?
What's this all about?
Kuronuma's fighting hard for you two.
It's about those rumors.
Let us through.
Move it! Move it! Let us through.
Move it! Move it!
Are you holding something back?
Of course I am!
But... I can't be the one to settle this.
They have to do it, or else it wouldn't mean anything.
Hang in there, Kuronuma...
Hang in there...
Please take back what you said earlier.
Huh? What's this hand for?
Let go of me.
You've got it all wrong.
What you said isn't true.
Hey! Did you hear that?!
Yano-san and Yoshida-san aren't like that at all!
You'll hurt their feelings if you say things like that about them!
You're not one to talk!
"They're nice"? "Their feelings will get hurt"?
I'm surprised you have the guts to say that.
Aren't you the one who started all the rumors about Yoshida being a delinquent and Yano being a whore?
Me?
W-Who?
Like I said...
You're the one who's spreading all the bad rumors about those two, Sadako!
M-Me?!
I think she just got knocked over!
I-I think we should go and stop them!
Leave this to us.
W-Why would I ever say something bad about them?!
It's a misunderstanding!
There's nothing bad about them. They've only been kind to me-
You see, we don't really care.
We want to talk it out with you.
Well, I'm pretty sure...
...those two started hanging out with you just for fun...
...but I think they're bored with you now.
The same goes for you, right?
You got close to them for Kazehaya, didn't you?
And that's why you don't need them anymore, huh?
You're such an eyesore.
Why don't you be a good girl and stay away from everyone again?
If you do that, we promise to leave you alone-
That's not it at all!
I don't care whether you leave me alone or not.
So... please. Take back what you said earlier.
Huh?
What the hell are you-
Everything!
Everything you said is a lie!
All of you don't understand anything.
All of you...
...don't know anything.
I'm glad your efforts were rewarded.
Even though everyone else avoided me...
Here, drink up.
...they were so kind to me...
You're drenched!
Here, wear this!
That smells...
...without being afraid of me... without avoiding me...
You... don't know any of that.
You don't know how much I like...
...no, more than like...
...how much I love those two.
Do you like us?
R-Rather than "like"...
Rather than saying I "like" you...
...I'd say...
I love you two.
So...
Y-Yoshida!
You're going to stand up for her even after all those rumors she started?!
It wasn't her.
There's no way she'd do something like that.
What the hell are you-
That's what we think, so everything's fine.
Now run along.
W-What the hell?!
You guys don't have anything to do with this!
I just have something to say to Sadako-
You think you can beat me in a fight?
We went to the same middle school, so you've heard the story, right?
Ninety-nine wins in a row for one-on-one fights against the guys.
What the hell...
If you lay a finger on Sadako again, I won't let you off with just a scratch.
F-Fine! Whatever!
Let's get out of here.
Wait!
Really, everything you said is just a misunderstanding...
Geez, you're so annoying!
Okay! I get it!
I take it back.
Happy now?
She... understands now?
Yano-san! Yoshida-san!
They understand now!
They really do!
They realized none of the rumors were true!
It's fine, Sadako.
We don't really care about that.
It wasn't her.
There's no way she'd do something like that.
Yano-san...
Yoshida-san...
Thank you!
Thank you... for believing me.
K-Kazehaya, did we... happen to make you mad?
I'm not mad!
Y-You totally are!
I just...
...hate it when people spread trashy rumors.
You all should have known those rumors about Yano and Yoshida were fake.
Did you honestly think Kuronuma would start something like that?
Well, umm...
We don't know much about Kuronuma, and...
Since it became such a big thing, I started to believe that Sadako really did start it.
Sadako was standing up for them.
Standing up for them?
Even after those girls knocked her down, she kept sticking up for Yano-san and Yoshida-san.
We... couldn't do anything for her...
But... Yano-san and Yoshida-san saved her instead.
Yano and Yoshida really came to her rescue?
Yeah.
Which means... it was a lie that Sadako was the one spreading the rumors.
Oh, so it wasn't true.
I knew it was strange from the start.
Changing the topic here, but weren't her notes amazing?
Yeah! I aced yesterday's test because of her notes.
Yeah, me, too!
Sadako is really amazing!
Yeah, I kinda figured the whole thing was a lie.
I'm sure Kuronuma would love to hear this.
It's thanks to you two, Hirano and Endou.
Good job, Hirano, Endou!
You can do it, Kuronuma.
I thought I'd be able to clear up the misunderstandings on my own...
Sadako...
I've... always believed there wasn't anything that could be done.
"I messed up again. Oh well."
Even though I really wanted to get along with everyone,
in my heart, a part of me had already given up.
But...
I just couldn't give you two up.
I knew that more rumors would spring up if I stayed by your side, and that those rumors would end up hurting you two again.
But even then, I just couldn't find it in me to let you two go.
I... didn't know how to cheer you two up when you were feeling down...
But...
I... want to be with you two.
Just like how we are now.
No...
I want to be closer to you two than we are now.
If misunderstandings do spring up again, I'll try my best to clear them up, no matter what it takes.
I'm... being really selfish right now...
Despite that, they're still listening to me... without looking away.
I... I want to become...
I want to become friends with you two!
Sadako...
You...
You thought we were hurt because of that?
You thought that if you were with us, you'd end up hurting us?
But even then, you wanted to be with us...
Sadako... that's what you were hurt over?
Y-Yano-san, I-I'm dirty from falling down earlier...
Idiot. Y-Yano-san, I-I'm dirty from falling down earlier...
Idiot.
You're such an idiot.
Geez... you already answered all the questions I've been meaning to ask...
I'm ashamed for doubting you even for a second.
I'm sorry, Sadako!
Please, don't get used to being alone again!
Don't you know?
We care about you so much.
Don't you know?
You don't ask to become friends.
When you actually realize it, you're already friends.
We've been friends all along, Sadako!
Friends?
We were already friends?
Darn it!
Let's all hug to show our love for each other!
Hey! Stop saying things that'd create more misunderstandings!
You're going to start more rumors!
Geez, you cry too much!
Friends?
You're tearing up, too, Yano-chin.
I...
I memorized a ghost story, by the way.
My... very first friends...
I think she's cracking up while crying.
But they really do look friendly with each other.
What's going on?
It's a little scary to watch...
Sign: Reconciled
Reconciled! Sign: Reconciled
The cast changed halfway through the show, and everything ended happily ever after!
Sign: Reconciled The cast changed halfway through the show, and everything ended happily ever after!
There you go.
Well, I guess I don't have to cheer her up anymore.
A fight?!
Where's the fight at?!
Where is it?!
What?
Can we help you?
We're kind of in the middle of something.
What the hell is with this air of youth floating around?
I'm not interested in this!
Hey! Start punching each other!
And you call yourself a teacher?!
I'm out of here!
Move!
Everyone, out of my way!
Scatter like ants!
Pin totally ruined the moment.
Kazehaya-kun...
Good for you!
Your words... echoed in my mind the whole time.
Thanks!
"Hang in there... Hang in there..."
I could hear you the entire time.
Thank you, Kazehaya-kun.
Hey, Sadako was...
...smiling just now, wasn't she?
Yeah, I saw it.
Then, the exam period ended,
Sign: Kuronuma Sawako
and I noticed that my grades had dropped quite a bit. Sign: Kuronuma Sawako
and I noticed that my grades had dropped quite a bit.
No way! Sadako only came in thirtieth?
That's still really good, you know.
I did really bad on the first day...
I don't have to take make up tests! For some reason, our class average went up dramatically.
Me neither. For some reason, our class average went up dramatically.
Me neither! For some reason, our class average went up dramatically.
It's all thanks to Sadako's notes!
Thanks!
Sign: Zashiki Warashi
Zashiki Warashi? Sign: Zashiki Warashi
Zashiki Warashi. Sign: Zashiki Warashi
Sadako Warashi? Sign: Zashiki Warashi
Somehow, it feels like people are looking at me differently now.
These days, that is.
I wonder... if I was able to give it my best?
Sadako, let's go get some ramen!
M-Me? I can come along, too?
Oh yeah, you haven't told us your ghost story yet, either.
Yeah! I really want you to hear it!
Please, no.
Sadako, do you have money on you?
Not much, but yeah...
You should be fine, then.
There won't be many opportunities for me to be alone with her now!
Kazehaya, let's hang out today!
It's been a while since I've had ramen. Kazehaya, let's hang out today!
It's been a while since I've had ramen.
Hey, I feel like I've been reborn.
And it all started when I met you, Kazehaya-kun.
N-No fair...
What's wrong, Kazehaya?
Did you know? Friends go out to eat ramen together.
I've met people who have become really important to me. Did you know? Friends go out to eat ramen together.
Really? I've met people who have become really important to me.
Really?
She's just pulling your leg.
I was able to do things I never could have done on my own. She's just pulling your leg.
I was able to do things I never could have done on my own.
I can't help but let those two have the spotlight for a while...
...after you showed me such a smile.
Kazehaya!
What's wrong with you?
You okay?
Want me to take you to the nurse's office?
Is that you, Sadako?
That girl from before...
I'm so happy for you!
Your dearest wish came true! You were able to become friends with them!
Yeah!
Friends...
Please take good care of Sadako!
Later!
I made sure of it!
Sadako.
So if you don't like us...
...how do you feel about us again?
I...
You...
I really love you two.
Oh, okay.
So you love us, Sawako.
Sawako!
So many things have changed since I met Kazehaya-kun.
I've... experienced so many new feelings.
Oh yeah! Tell us the ghost story already!
F-Fine, I'll listen.
Okay!
H-
"Hoichi was an expert at the biwa..."
Your "ghost story" is Hoichi the Earless?!
Kazehaya-san looked really mad back then, didn't he...
Yeah.
He said that he hates it when people spread trashy rumors.
He... was talking about us, right?
I wonder if she's okay?
Huh?
Yuka has been head over heels for Kazehaya ever since middle school...
Wait up!
Yuka!
Those girls are so stupid.
It should be obvious that Kazehaya wouldn't like girls who cause such a commotion.
My dearest friends and the priceless hours spent with them.
Next time: Saturday Night.