Sawako!
G-Got it!
Sawako-chan!
Huh?
Keep at it!
O-Okay!
So if someone passes the ball in this direction...
...you need to move like this.
Okay.
I get it...
This is important. The other team will try to get in the way, of course.
When that happens, don't panic. Just pass it behind you.
How do I put it... It's good to imagine the flow of the game in your head.
They're really getting into it.
The festival is coming up, after all.
Sawako-chan!
Try to like, drop your hips a bit.
And pretend you're gouging out the ball with the inside of your foot.
Then, you kick! Kick!
Kick! Kick! Kick!
I see... Kick! Kick! Kick!
"Gouge out"? Kick! Kick! Kick!
Kick!
Then, one more-
Sawako-chan! Then, one more-
Sawako-chan!
Bye-bye!
Bye...
Wait, what was that about?
We're friends now!
You're joking, right?
Geez, are you serious?!
You really seem to dislike her, don't you...
How can you tell?
Because you're simple.
Don't get me wrong, it's great that Sadako is making other friends...
Friends, huh...
Bye-bye...
But still! Bye-bye...
It'd piss me off if she became friendlier with her than us!
Bye-bye... It'd piss me off if she became friendlier with her than us!
You're so cute, Chizu.
I made a new friend.
To be honest, it doesn't feel very real since I didn't particularly work for it...
We're...
...friends now, right?
Maybe that's how people usually make friends.
Even though it feels unreal, it doesn't change the fact I'm really happy about it.
Ku-ro-nu-ma.
W-Why did Kazehaya-kun just pop up?!
He has nothing to do with what I was thinking of!
I can't sleep!!!
Even though I'm really blessed now that Kurumi-chan is willing to become friends with me,
some things aren't going very well.
Here you go.
T-Thanks.
Y-You're welcome.
What's with those two?
Can't you tell?
They're nervous around each other.
O-Oh no...
For some reason, I'm having a hard time talking to Kazehaya-kun...
Kazehaya!
What's up?
Here's the printout from the committee meeting.
They told me to bring it to you.
Here.
Thanks.
Oh, right. Your CD.
Give me just a second.
Wow, you actually remembered?
Thanks!
Let's see...
Ah, here it is.
Here you go.
Yay, thanks!
Everything seems so natural...
She's cute, charming, and friendly!
She's really different from other people...
Sorry to bother you.
Kurumi-chan doesn't stiffen up like that.
Everything she does... seems so natural.
I wish I could be like her...
Sawako-chan! I wish I could be like her...
Sawako-chan!
What's up?
Thanks.
It's my fault. Sorry for startling you.
I kept calling your name, but you didn't hear me.
No, I should be the one apologizing!
There.
Thanks again...
Umm... well...
K-
K-Kurumi-chan...
I-I used her first name!
I wonder if that was too bold of me.
That's the first time you called me that!
It makes me happy!
She didn't mind!
Isn't that heavy?
Let me give you a hand.
No no, it's fine.
This is my job, after all.
Your "job"? You're such a funny girl, Sawako-chan.
I wish I could be more like her...
Kazehaya! Here's your printout!
Now lend me your CD!
Sure thing!
Awesome!
Thanks a lot!
Don't mention it!
Americans?
Sawako-chan?
Hey, is something bothering you?
Huh?
If something is, let me know.
If you don't mind telling me, I'll try my best to help you out.
No, nothing's really bothering me...
You can always ask me for advice!
My role model... if offering to give me advice?
Bring it on! I dare you to hit the ball this way!
Throw the ball!
You're having a hard time talking to Kazehaya?
Yeah. I guess it's a lot different from talking to other girls.
You're thinking too hard.
So I was right!
Since I've known Kazehaya really well since middle school, I'd say...
Yeah?
Whenever someone can't blend in with the rest of the class, he can't leave them alone.
And he talks with anyone, and I mean anyone as though they're really close...
Even if he's talking to you, I'm sure he'll treat you like everyone else.
Yeah, I get it!
I know exactly what you mean!
You know... it doesn't make you special just because he talks to you a lot.
So I don't think you need to stiffen up.
I get it!
Oh... but you two are really, really different kinds of people.
Yeah.
With that in mind, maybe it'll be easier to talk with other guys who have a similar personality to yours,
rather than someone as cheerful as Kazehaya.
Everyone has their own match, after all.
I think I get it.
So that's why it appears so natural to see the two of you talking.
Maybe so!
Kazehaya and I have a lot in common, after all.
That's amazing!
Kazehaya-kun... uses her first name, too...
After all, you two are really close.
What?
No way! We're just friends.
Really?! You two are just friends?!
Wow, so "just being friends" is more intimate than I'd imagined...
I learned something new!
Wow... So if that's the way he interacts with his friends, maybe it's normal for me to be so nervous.
Well, what do you say we head back now?
Yeah.
Morning, Kuronuma.
I couldn't even greet him properly at first...
Even though that wasn't anything out of the ordinary...
Yeah...
Say, Kurumi-chan?
I... feel much more optimistic after talking to you.
Thank you so much!
I'll change my motto to "one step at a time"!
Even though he makes me nervous, I'll just have to try my best!
Wai...
Bye!
Sawako-chan?!
I wonder if I'll be able to become more like you if I work at it...
No, no... I shouldn't fool myself. I know that's impossible.
Sorry! Forget about what I just said!
Kurumi is, well...
How do I put it...
This was back in middle school, but...
Yeah?
Chizu-chan!
Yumi-chan really likes Kazehaya.
Since you're good friends with him, do you think you could lend her a hand?
It made me happy to have people count on me, after all.
What, you want me to somehow get you two alone?
That's a piece of cake!
You're reliable as always!
That girl asked him out but got rejected.
Well, it was all fine up until then, but...
Chizu-chan, could you take care of her, too?
Chizu-chan, can you set her up now?
Me, too, Chizu!
Chizu, don't forget me!
Hey... some girl wants to talk to you again.
What's with all this lately?
Shut up! I'm not doing this anymore!
What?! Why?!
You helped Yumi out, but you won't help me?
So you were on her side all along, Chizu?
This is such a pain...
Come on, Chizu!
Why won't you help us?
Wait!
It's not Chizu-chan's fault!
It's bad for all the girls in class to fight each other!
If we can't all get along, it would be better...
...if none of you confessed your feelings for him!
I... couldn't care less...
That's right!
Kazehaya belongs to everyone, after all!
I... really don't care...
So basically, all the girls who were afraid of having Kazehaya stolen from them decided to join forces.
I see.
So, yeah.
She's not a bad girl, but...
Helping each other out...
...is really a drag!
We just don't really get along!
I really don't want to have anything to do with her!
You're really easy to manipulate, aren't you?
What?
After hearing what you just said, I have a pretty good idea what that Kurumi girl is like.
Now... I wonder if things will go according to Kurumi-chan's plan.
Got it!
Let's take a quick break!
Okay!
I'm going to buy a drink.
Could you get me some tea while you're at it?
Sure.
I wonder if I'll be able to become more like you if I work at it...
I think that was a little shameless of me...
I'm so embarrassed...
Kuronuma?
K-Kazehaya-kun?!
Oh, no!
I was able to say your name, but now I'm so nervous, I don't know what to say...
Nervous?
Did Kazehaya-kun just say he was nervous?
We haven't really talked much lately, after all.
What the heck am I saying?!
It's just that I saw you on my way to the vending machine!
That's all!
Oh...
So I wasn't the only one feeling nervous...
I'd better go.
He must have been thinking about the same things I have...
That's the first time since we met up at Ryu's place.
A...
Smile. ...smile.
That's the first time I've seen you smile since then.
I'm so glad!
Oh, yeah. Maru's gotten much bigger.
Really?
I'd say about this much.
Wow!
He really plays around a lot, so he makes a pretty big mess when he runs around inside the house.
I see!
I need to build him a doghouse soon.
Maru-chan!
Want to come see him next time?
Yeah.
But he really hates being alone.
I don't know if he'd agree to live in a doghouse.
Sawako-chan!
Kurumizawa!
"-zawa"?
Her name is... Kurumizawa Kurumi?
Wait, you didn't know?
Her name is Kurumizawa Ume.
Kurumizawa... Ume?
Yeah.
Right, Kurumizawa?
Yeah.
So your name is Kurumizawa Ume!
Yup. Kurumizawa.
Oh... so he wasn't referring to her by her first name.
Kurumizawa... Ume-chan.
So her name is Ume-chan.
Huh?
I feel relieved for some reason.
K-
Kazehaya!
Mind if I borrow Sawako-chan for a bit?
Well... sure, I guess.
We need to have some girl talk.
Girl talk?!
Why is it that someone's always interrupting us?
I wonder what she meant by "girl talk"?
I wonder where we're going, anyway?
Hey... Kuru-
Ume-chan!
Don't call me that!
Kurumi-chan...
...is fine, okay?
O-Okay, Kurumi-chan!
Oh, it must be her nickname!
Wow... for a second there, I thought I made her mad by being overly familiar.
The thing is... there's someone I like.
I really want to go out with him, but I don't have the confidence to take action...
I was wondering what to do.
What do you think I should do?
W-
What she should do?!
I-I wonder...
She's relying on me, and yet, I can't think of anything!
In other words, I want you to help me out here.
Me?
Help Kurumi-chan out?
R-Really? You think I can help?
It's not a matter of whether you can handle it.
I want your help specifically.
This... may be the first time anyone's relied on me so much...
I-I'll try my best!
Really?!
Great!
B-But, what am I supposed to do exactly?
I'll tell you what to do, so don't worry too much about that.
But won't I kill the mood if I interfere?
It'll be fine!
It's someone you know really well.
It's Kazehaya.
The person I like... is Kazehaya.
Kazehaya-kun?
Wavering emotions.
Feelings that cannot be compared.
Next time: Special?