Hey!
Look out!
Hey...
He saved you, didn't he.
Why don't you try talking with Sanada more often?
Huh?
Yeah.
Just the two of you, of course.
Maybe you'll realize some things if you try talking to Sanada.
He just saved you, didn't he?
Wouldn't that put him on the same level as Kazehaya?
Same level?
How do you feel about Sanada?
I think he's really nice.
See? That's the same way you feel about Kazehaya!
Sanada doesn't avoid you or anything, does he?
N-No...
The game!
The game just started, Kurumi-chan!
Are you even listening to me?
Yes, I am.
I am, but...
You wanted to watch Kazehaya-kun play, didn't you?
When I heard about Kazehaya-kun playing baseball during middle school, I really wanted to see him play.
I wanted to see the side of him I didn't know about.
Exactly.
You don't know anything about him... about Kazehaya.
Don't you dare put our feelings on the same level.
I've been watching him ever since middle school.
Even on rainy days...
On rainy days?!
Even on windy days...
Even on windy days?!
Even in a blizzard!
In a blizzard?!
And whenever there was a chance, I'd go and talk to him, and I always worked hard to make sure he didn't find a girlfriend.
Y-
You went through a lot, didn't you...
Well, yeah! It was tough!
That was close!
Anyway, that's how much I know Kazehaya.
It's not like I just met him yesterday or anything.
I've...
I've had my eyes on him for a while, you know?
Yeah.
Out!
Let's keep this up, guys!
Right!
I know what you mean. My eyes just won't leave him.
Quit pretending like you know how I feel.
Whenever I catch myself, my eyes are on Kazehaya-kun.
I just can't look at anyone else.
I catch myself thinking about him all the time, and his face always appears in my mind before I go to sleep.
I've never felt this way about anyone before, so I thought these feelings were something special.
I... really believe I don't know anything about him.
Maybe these feelings will come, even if I'm thinking about someone else.
Maybe there's a feeling that's even greater.
I want to know.
I want to know more about Kazehaya-kun and my own feelings.
Strike three! You're out!
I'm going to try talking to Sanada-kun!
Thanks, Kurumi-chan.
She... accepted my challenge?
I'm going to be doing things my own way.
K-Kurumi-chan?
What about the game?
Huh?
M-Maybe she didn't want to watch it with me?
Kazehaya-kun must be really special to her...
She's always been watching him, after all...
I really want to go out with him.
She wants to go out with him...
Oh, so Kurumi-chan must have romantic feelings for him.
Romantic... feelings?
Romantic feelings?
That's the first term I really understood from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks for the match!
We cleared the first round!
Awesome!
Great job, Kazehaya-kun!
Great job, everyone.
Kurumi-chan never came back, after all...
Oh, so there you are.
It's hard to spot you with that hair.
Endou-san...
It's Tomo, remember?
They won, didn't they?
Yeah!
We're going to go cheer for the women's volleyball team next.
Want to walk over together?
Y-You don't mind?!
Why would we?
Don't you want to go cheer for Ayane-chan and Chizu-chan?
Ekko's also in the game.
Come on, let's go.
Did I say something wrong?
N-No, that's not it...
I'm really touched...
Thanks for inviting me. That brightened my day.
Just a few days ago, being alone was normal for me...
Everyone around me is so nice.
If even one person was missing, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
If I hadn't met Kazehaya-kun...
I would have never known how nice these people were.
He changed... my world.
Admiration...
Respect...
Romantic feelings...
I don't understand my own feelings.
I want to understand them.
I want to know.
Wouldn't that put him on the same level as Kazehaya?
Maybe I'll understand if I start talking to Sanada-kun.
I wonder if I'll find my answer.
All right, let's go back!
I wonder who's playing next.
Women's volleyball and men's soccer, I think.
Ryu.
Umm...
About earlier...
Earlier?
Do you have feelings for Kuronuma?
Oh, right. Sakako.
I mean...
Sawako, was it?
Just call her "Kuronuma", okay?
Kuranuma?
Note: "Kuro" is Japanese for "black" "Kuro"!
Ah, "black". Note: "Kuro" is Japanese for "black"
I like Kuroyama as a friend, but it's not what you're thinking.
It's "Kuronuma", geez!
Isn't that what I just said?
No, you said "yama"!
Really?
What, that thing from earlier bugging you?
Nah, it's nothing.
I only got that because I was nearby.
I know.
I know, but...
I still I wish I was the one who saved her.
Okay.
Both women's soccer and men's softball made it out of the first round.
They owe me yakiniku!
Excuse me.
I wanted to check the schedule for the sports festival committee.
Huh?
What year and class are you in?
And what's your name?
Umm...
It's fine! I can check it myself.
What?
Just tell me.
I'll look it up for you.
I don't want to make you do extra work...
What the hell is up with her?
Here you go.
Thank you so much!
Kazehaya is...
There he is.
He'll be putting away the equipment after lunch...
He needs to carry them to the equipment room.
Get out of here once you're finished.
Yes, sir!
Thanks again!
Sorry to bother you!
N-No worries.
What was with that extra smile...
I've...
I've always been watching him.
Let's see... What did Chizu want again?
Oh, if it isn't Kurumi-chan.
You're Yano Ayane-chan, right?
Sawako-chan and Chizu-chan's friend.
You went to the same middle school as Chizu, righ-
Hey, what kind of toner do you use?
I don't really wear makeup.
I'm doing a facial tonight.
The expensive ones my sister bought!
I'm surprised you know my name.
Oh, well I guess it shouldn't be a surprise, after all those rumors.
Rumors?
You shouldn't worry about them.
Those who believe them are wrong.
I agree.
The ones who believe them are idiots.
Hey, you've also heard the rumors, right?
Did you ever spread them?
Of course not!
I didn't believe them in the first place. I just heard some girls talking about them.
I thought so.
I can never imagine you spreading rumors.
You think too much of me.
Only someone who likes Kazehaya would start a rumor like that.
She probably thought Sawako was in the way.
And it's hard for the person to do anything about it if Chizu and I are with her.
Putting my rumors aside...
...most of Chizu's rumors were real, but heavily exaggerated.
So I'm thinking that the girl who started the rumors must have gone to the same middle school as Chizu and Kazehaya.
I wonder what she'd do if Kazehaya were to find out.
I wonder.
But you can't really accuse anyone without proof, you know?
Yup.
This conversation kind of dragged on.
Yeah.
I'd better get going, since my match starts soon.
Well, good luck to you.
Thanks, you, too.
Thank you.
Oh, one more thing.
Sawako's pretty tough, isn't she?
She really fights head on.
Kazehaya has another match coming up?
He was assigned two, remember?
And he also has his duties as a committee member...
What are your plans now, Ryu?
I'm going to go grab lunch and take a nap.
It's not even lunchtime yet!
Then a siesta?
Trash?
But I wanted to take a nap...
What's up, Ryu?
Oh, well...
I'll just take a nap outside.
Outside? Where?
Somewhere near the equipment room, I guess?
I-If I may ask... Why?
"Tough"?
I just miscalculated a bit, that's all.
Good work! Here are towels for you two.
Thanks, Sadako!
Did you see me?
Yeah, you looked so cool!
Being so red and all!
Gosh, you're making me blush.
So you just wanted to be red?
So, what now? Want to go grab lunch?
Fine with me.
I'm hungry now.
Me, too.
I have something to do, so...
Something to do?
Sanada-kun saved me from getting hit by a ball earlier, so I want to go thank him.
Wow, he really did that?
So even Ryu does something nice every now and then.
And...
There's also something I want to confirm.
I don't really understand myself either, and I don't know where to begin, but...
Umm...
Do you mind hearing me out when I finally understand?
Not too sure I understand what you mean, but...
Of course we'll be there for you.
Thanks!
I'd better get going now.
Sawako.
Don't be fooled, okay?
You just need to trust what your heart says.
Okay!
Wait, what was that about?
Well, I guess it just means she has a lot to think about.
A lot?
And there are also things we need to take care of, too...
You look like a villain, Yano-chin!
Sawako-chan?
Kurumi-chan!
Have you met up with Sanada yet?
I saw him earlier.
What's with that face?!
Y-You're still willing to talk to me!
I was thinking I may have said something earlier to make you angry!
Geez, you're so annoying!
That was amazing, wasn't it?
Yeah!
S-Sanada-kun was headed for the sports equipment room.
Thanks for telling me!
Sh-She's not really tough... I'd say she's difficult...
S-Sanada-kun?
Oh, so you're finally here.
Huh? What do you mean?
Kuro-
Kuronuma Sawako.
You got it!
Wow, I'm amazed!
Nah, it was written here.
Huh?
Wow, I wonder how my thoughts made it on that piece of paper.
Umm... thank you for saving my life earlier.
Thanks to you, I still have my life ahead of me.
No, I don't think there was that much power behind that ball...
Please take this.
I can have it?
Is that it?
W-Well, the thing is, I wanted to have a chat with you...
About what?
About what...
Do you happen to know what romantic feelings are like?
Romantic feelings?
In other words, you "like" them, but not really as friends...
They're more special-
No, you don't need to explain it to me. They're more special-
No, you don't need to explain it to me.
Yeah, I do.
I... only love Chizuru.
Keep it between us, okay?
I...
I think you two would make a great couple!
Thanks for the praise.
Kazehaya!
Kurumizawa.
That looks heavy. Want me to carry a few?
This is...
What?
No, I was just thinking what Kuronuma would say...
"This is my job, after all."
Hey...
Is it really true you rejected Sawako-chan before summer vacation started?
What?!
People are still talking about that?
No, I didn't reject her.
Is that so?
And besides, it's not like she confessed her feelings to me or anything.
She doesn't like me that way.
Yeah.
When I asked her if she wanted to date you, her reply was, "No way."
And she wasn't even watching you earlier.
Huh? Earlier?
During the softball game.
Her eyes were on Sanada, and Sanada only.
I guess you can't blame her for falling for him, after Sanada saved her.
If she really does like him, let's encourage them!
For her sake.
When did you start liking Yoshida-san?
Let's see...
What made you start liking her?
I'm trying to think...
What made you realize she was special?
Well...
Are those questions that need to be answered logically?
When I became aware of it, I realized she'd always been special to me.
I can't even compare her to anyone else.
S-So if you can't compare someone with others, does that make them special?
I don't know...
Would you rather have it be that way?
If... that was true...
See? I told you.
Let's cheer them on in the shadows, okay?
I...
I really...
I really felt that way.
Next time: Love.