It's Sanada and Sawako-chan!
See? I told you.
Let's cheer them on in the shadows, okay?
Kaze...haya...
Since it was my first time experiencing something like this, I wasn't sure whether he was really special or not.
But... if I stayed true to my heart...
...I hoped...
...I truly hoped...
...that these were indeed romantic feelings.
I...
I really...
I really... felt that way.
W...
Why?
Well, whatever.
Why?!
What?! Kurumi was the one who started those rumors?
In all likelihood.
That bitch...
Hold your horses.
I-It's not fair, Yano-chin!
Why didn't you tell me something like this sooner?
Well, that's because...
Hang on, why would Kurumi do that?
I've given her plenty of reasons to thank me, but I haven't done anything to deserve that!
I'm getting there.
Could it be...
What's your guess?
I'm just asking for the sake of it.
Well... this is just a hunch, but...
You know how sharp and quick-witted I am.
The possibility of this ran through my mind before, but...
Could it be that Kurumi is in love with Ryu?
I bet she has the wrong idea about my relationship with him.
You know, we're like brothers.
Kurumi, huh...
Kurumi, eh?
It'd be kind of awkward to become her brother-in-law...
Are you retarded?!
W-What?!
Shouldn't it be obvious that she's liked Kazehaya from the start?!
What?! Why?!
So you really hadn't realized it...
Sorry about that.
I just couldn't hold myself back.
It's just been bothering me for a while.
I'm... shaking...
Kuronuma.
Do you...
...like Ryu?
"Like"?
Like...
Like?
I... like...
I like...
I like Kazehaya-kun so much...
...that I don't know what to do with these feelings.
I'm... madly in love with him.
M-My feelings towards Sanada-kun aren't anything romantic.
Sanada-kun was nice... and he saved me...
But... But...
I don't like him in that way.
The way I feel about him... is totally different.
Really?
Yeah.
Then that's what I'll believe.
Yeah.
So that's how it was...
Please don't look at me right now.
I'm really embarrassed.
Did I... just say something really rude to Sanada-kun?!
Well... But I really respect him as an individual.
He's really nice, and... well...
Umm...
It's fine.
Sorry, it's all good.
Because love... is this feeling inside my heart right now, isn't it?
This feeling that wells up when I look at him sitting in front of me...
This is what you call "love", isn't it?
Geez...
It's like I'm contradicting myself... even though I wanted to be the one to save you.
Huh?
Hey... there may be times I won't be able to support you from now on.
I'm going to apologize beforehand.
I'm not like the person you think I am at all.
I'm really selfish, and I just have to have things my way.
It's okay.
I don't care if you're selfish or have to have things your way.
I don't care if you can't support me or do anything for me.
I don't mind.
Hey, since we're kind of on the topic...
What do you think about two people going out?
Huh? Going where?
No, I mean...
Like boyfriend and girlfriend.
I-I-I think that's a very mature decision!
Umm... I-I-I think that's a very mature decision!
R-R-Really mature! Umm...
R-R-Really mature!
It's like... I can't even imagine anything like that!
It's just so far beyond my reach that I don't even know how I feel!
I guess... she hasn't thought about being in a relationship herself.
Maybe I didn't study enough... I don't know how to answer. I guess... she hasn't thought about being in a relationship herself.
Maybe I didn't study enough... I don't know how to answer.
I wonder what Yano-san would say in this situation...
Well...
I guess that's enough.
That's enough for now, I guess.
I don't get it at all!
So... like...
If she really likes Kazehaya, why did she help out all those girls who liked him, too?
So, to put it simply, she didn't want him to find a girl.
What?
Her plan was to make everyone agree to that stupid pact from the start.
And that's why she helped rivals who didn't stand a chance.
What? I still don't get it.
I guess it's okay if you don't understand.
Oh, hey Ryu.
Ryu!
Sadako was looking for you earlier.
Yeah.
Already met up with her.
She called me out there.
Called you out?
Well, it seems it wasn't from her, after all.
What's that?
Th-This...
This clearly isn't Sadako's handwriting!
Did you find that in your locker by any chance?
Yup, I did.
Did someone drop by when you were with Sawako?
Shota and... whatsherface.
Her name reminds me of the summer, and she has really long hair.
Kurumi?!
Oh, I see.
What's with the evil look again?
I'm feeling a lot more certain about it now.
I don't really get it, but let's look for Kurumi!
Hang on!
What is it?! Why do you keep on holding me back?!
It's not fair, Yano-chin! You know all these things I don't!
I knew you'd run off like that, so I decided not to tell you until I was absolutely certain.
If you're certain, let's go!
Not yet. We need more evidence.
Evidence?
Precisely.
We need some type of evidence that Kurumi won't be able to deny.
Then we'll knock her to pieces until she won't be able to make a single excuse!
She's... scary...
Why?
Why aren't you coming back, Kazehaya?
Should I have gone after him to get in the way?
But then he'd really think I'm annoying.
Don't tell me they're going to start dating now?
Kazehaya... please, come back!
Ka-
Ka?
Go away!
She's... that creepy one from earlier!
Wh-What are you doing here?
I... I was just about to put these cones away.
What? Then hurry along.
There's been a mix-up, and another committee member has the key to the storage....
So I'm waiting for him.
What? The key?
I've got a spare right here, so put the cones away.
Why... aren't you leaving?
Well... the thing is...
Why aren't you leaving?!
Kazehaya could come back any moment now!
Why are you fidgeting like that?
Why do you always show up wherever I go?
Why are you being flirty?!
Th-There's no other explanation!
Sorry, I'm not interested in kids.
What did you say?
I mean, I totally understand how you feel.
If I were some other girl, I would've fallen for me right away.
What?!
Well, how should I put this...
You're ten years too young for me.
You get it, right?
Hey! What are you-
Why the heck am I being rejected?!
And by this guy!
Just deal with it and go after someone your own age.
S-Sorry.
I didn't mean to eavesdrop.
Y-You've got it all wrong!
Yeah. I know.
I promise I won't tell anyone.
Promise.
That's not what I mean-
Shota, you brat!
You were loafing on the job, weren't you?!
Oh, crap!
Kaze- Anyway, good timing.
I'll give you something really tough to do.
Give me a break, geez!
Kazehaya! You've got it all wrong!
Oh, right.
Just give up on me, okay?
Pin! Don't go off telling people about it, all right?
Who are you to order me around?
That's...
That's completely wrong!!!
What? Those rumors?
It's kind of like, when we heard it, everyone was already talking about it.
Yeah.
It's hard to pinpoint who started it.
Oh...
Sorry to be useless.
People don't really remember this kind of stuff, huh?
I guess we should ask the girls in Class A...
That's probably a better idea.
It's Tomo and Ekko.
Okay! Let's ask them.
What?!
Seriously?!
Y-Yeah.
I saw her talking about it.
And you're sure the girl was Kurumi?
Yeah.
She visits Kazehaya from time to time, so I know what she looks like.
Right?
Yeah.
And that was the first time I heard rumors about you two that had to do with Sadako.
I was surprised how exaggerated the rumors were.
Thanks a lot, Tomo, Ekko!
We can confront her now, Yano-chin!
I've got you now, Kurumi...
There it is! The face of the evil stepmother!
She's dangerous, you two! Stay back!
Just watch!
I'll beat everything out of you, including the type of toner you use!
What? Is this getting personal?
Yano-chin?
Huh? I don't see Yano-san and Yoshida-san...
Oh, they must be practicing for their next volleyball match.
Hey... there's someone I like.
I wonder what they'll say if I told them that.
I can't even imagine it!
And... it's kind of embarrassing...
W-What's she doing? And... it's kind of embarrassing...
A victory dance? And... it's kind of embarrassing...
A victory dance?
Shadow boxing?
The twist?
But... my heart is content.
Coming to a conclusion with the help of others feels a lot better than I had expected.
Coming to like Kazehaya-kun and being able to tell someone how I feel...
...makes me feel so much happier than I had thought.
There's someone I like.
The person I like... is Kazehaya.
I have to tell her.
Since she told me how she felt, too.
I want to tell Kurumi-chan.
So now, we can talk about love.
So... mind telling us what this is all about, Kurumi-chan?
Didn't you tell me earlier that you didn't spread any rumors?
What are you talking about?
No use playing dumb.
I've gathered evidence from the girls in Class A!
This is so cool! It's like something out of a historical play!
Mind shutting your mouth for just a bit?
Even if I happened to be seen talking about it, there's no proof I was the source of the rumors.
What?
So you're still going to insist that you don't use any treatment on this silky skin of yours?
Do you honestly think I can't tell the difference between treated and non-treated skin?!
Yano-chin, I think we're getting a bit personal here.
We asked everyone in school before coming to you!
How can she tell such a lie?!
And Kurumi is acting a little different than usual, too...
Go, Chizu!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Kurumizawa Ume!
I went and found a copy of your handwriting!
And here's the evidence!
And? What about it?
What? W-Well...
B-But, this is your handwriting!
You know liars go to hell, right?
You did well, Chizu. I'll take care of the rest.
So, you're acting really different from earlier.
But anyway, did your plan go well?
Huh?
Ayane-chan! Chizu-chan!
Kurumi-chan!
Sawako.
I-It's rare to see the three of you together!
Are you three friends now?
Nope, we're trying to crack down on her.
Crack?
She's the one who started those rumors about us.
Sawako.
She's the one who put you through all that hardship.
Huh?
I want to tell her the answer I've reached.
Next time: Kurumi.