Huh?
B-By rumors, you mean the ones about you two?
Yeah, those.
And when people were saying I was the one spreading them?
That one, too.
And the suspicions of me being your secret leader?
"Secret leader"?
W-Well, according to the rumors, I had you two as my henchmen...
Sadako - Legend of the Secret Leader
...and Kazehaya-kun as my slave.
What?
Seriously?
That's awesome! That's actually pretty amazing!
Several steps above cursing someone, don't you think?
You're evil, Sawako!
These three are really pushing my buttons...
But that has to be a mistake.
Besides, what would Kurumi-chan get from spreading those rumors...
Wait.
According to the rumors, I was having you two as my henchmen...
...but also said mean things about both of you...
Just what the heck was I trying to do, anyway?
She probably just made those up on the spot without thinking.
It just means...
...Kurumi's simply retarded!
N-No! Kurumi-chan is really smart!
She goes around doing stupid things, which is why none of her stories match up.
Seriously, what an idiot!
This is so confusing!
Hang on. What were we talking about again?
Just wondering whether she's an idiot.
Quit calling me an idiot!
It's not my fault! I wasn't the only one spreading those rumors!
Other Kazehaya fans started the thing about Sawako being the secret leader of her gang!
If everything went according to my plan, I wouldn't have to stress over it so much!
What?
Y-You're joking, right, Kurumi-chan?
Umm... well...
What you just said may give people the wrong idea...
But... if you just explain what happened, the misunderstandings will clear up.
Since there's no way you'd do something like-
"Misunderstanding"?
It's not a misunderstanding.
I didn't care whether they were lies.
Both the rumors about those two, and that you were the one spreading them.
I'm the one who spread them.
It's... not a misunderstanding?
Huh? Did she just admit it?
She actually admitted it earlier, if you didn't notice.
W... Why?
You were in my way.
You're an obstacle, Sawako-chan.
I just thought it would be nice if you would stay away from Chizu-chan and everyone again.
Kurumi-chan...
You...
...hate me?
Yes.
It took you that long to notice?
We're friends now, right?
I thought we were friends...
I've never thought of you as a friend.
You're terrible!
See? This is what she's really like!
Give her a piece of your mind, Sawako!
You can do it!
S-Sawako?!
H-Hey!
Say something! Aren't you going to say something?
I can't hold myself back!
This is so not like me!
I'm going to say what's on my mind!
Are you okay with it, Yano-chin?!
S-Sure...
Kurumi!
What's done is done, and I'm still mad about it, but let's just forget about that for now.
I don't even care if you apologize or not!
I don't care what you say about me, but don't you dare say anything more about Yano-chin and Sawako!
And don't you dare make Sawako cry again!
And the discussion about those rumors is now over!
I feel a lot better now.
Th-That touched my heart.
I wish I could be more like you, Chizu...
Yoshida-san...
Oh, and stop using people!
It's such a pain! Seriously!
I told her. I told her off!
Now you just sound lame again.
As I thought...
...you play dirty, Sawako-chan.
What?
What's wrong with using people?!
People use me all the time and forget about me as soon as they don't need my help anymore!
Why can't I use people then?!
She still has more to say?!
In other words...
...you don't plan on changing your methods.
Why should I have to?
Oh, I see.
I just want to let you know that I'm not as soft as Chizu.
So... you don't care if Kazehaya finds out about this?
I guess I'll go tell him right away.
Are you serious?
Y-Yano-san!
Then do it.
See if I care! Tell him!
Okay. I really will, then.
Oh, we've got a volleyball match next, Chizu.
Right, almost forgot.
Just forget about her, Sawako. Let's go.
What do you want? Just go with them.
Don't you have to tell Kazehaya about what I did?
And you can earn his sympathy again.
Ch-Chizu-chan! Ayane-chan!
"Ch-Chizu-chan", huh?
She actually called you that earlier, too.
Please don't tell him.
Tell him!
I don't know why she said that,
but I'm sure she didn't mean it.
See if I care! Tell him!
I'm positive.
Please don't tell Kazehaya-kun about it.
Well, I didn't really want to at all.
If you say so...
But are you sure?
Yeah.
Because...
...there's no way she'd want to be thought of badly by the person she likes.
Hey, Sawako...
Sorry... about earlier.
I didn't think what I said would shock you like that.
Well, it's not like I didn't notice, but I couldn't help it...
I made it too personal...
What do you mean by that, anyway?
I... didn't know that bothered her.
I...
I should be the one apologizing!
I'm so sorry for dragging you both into all this!
No, we don't really care about our rumors at all!
We're more concerned whether you're okay with the rumors about you !
I'm... kind of used to that already...
Oh, okay.
And besides...
...not all of those rumors were bad, really.
I was able to make friends.
I...
...have Chizu-chan and Ayane-chan.
So I have people to tell how I really feel.
I wonder how things were between Kurumi-chan and me...
Darn it!
Not like there was much we could do.
Most of the people on the other team are on the volleyball team.
Chizu-chan...
Okay! We've got soccer next!
I wonder where Kurumi went...
Yeah, she didn't even make it to the match. I hope she's okay.
Well, maybe we won because she wasn't playing.
You know the girl who replaced her, Mariko? She's really good at sports.
Kurumi doesn't really put effort into that kind of stuff, after all.
She needs to tie her hair up when she's playing. Seriously.
You're so right!
I guess... Kurumi-chan hasn't come back since we spoke.
She's so full of energy...
You're Kuronuma Sawako-chan, right?
I'm Sadako.
No, you're Sawako!
That's a wonderful name.
You go, Chizu!
Keep it up!
Kurumi-chan called me by my real name...
She told me we were friends.
I've never thought of you as a friend.
Even so...
She talked to me back then and said we were friends.
Even if those were lies,
they made me really happy.
You're the only one I've ever told.
Was that...
...also a lie?
Or was it true?
Thank you for the match!
Sadako!
Yay! Bump!
I... had something I wanted to tell Kurumi-chan.
What? To Kurumi?
I'll be right back.
Sawako barely said anything to her back then, after all.
Yeah, I guess it was just us talking our mouths off.
I don't know her very well...
...and there are still so many things I don't know about her...
...but... she was willing to tell me her feelings, which she holds so dear.
So I want to tell her my feelings, as well.
These feelings that mean so much to me.
Huh? The women's soccer match is over already?
Kazehaya!
What, you just got here?
It's not my fault! Pin wouldn't let me go!
Oh, I forgot. You're a committee member for the sports festival.
It sure is tough being so popular with the ladies...
What are you looking at?
Is this where we're supposed to question what you just said?
Question what , exactly?
Don't tell me you guys have fallen for me as well? Give it up, kiddos.
What?
Hey, where's Kuronuma?
Sawako went to go see Kurumi.
Kurumizawa?
Ah, that girl.
What do you mean, "that girl"?
I mean what I said.
I'm such a sinful guy.
I'm sure she's depressed right now...
...while she still has feelings for me.
Oh, no... I broke yet another girl's heart.
You two better not fall for me, got it? Like that girl did.
I'm not interested in kids!
Pin!
Don't go spreading it! Don't you feel bad for her?
What the hell?
I'm pretty delicate. You dare say something like that to me?
Did you hear that?
Kurumi-chan has bad taste.
It just had to be Pin, huh...
This is so unreal.
Hey... for the first time in my life, I feel awful for Kurumi...
Yeah, even I have some sympathy for her.
So...
...you were still here.
What, did you come here just to laugh at me?
Did you come here to give a complaint you forgot earlier?
Hurry up and say it, then.
Or... don't tell me you're feeling pity for me?
I'm... in love with Kazehaya-kun.
I have feelings for him...
Romantic feelings.
I actually came looking for you earlier to tell you this.
I wanted to tell you.
That's the first time I've put it into words.
I didn't know it makes your heart beat so fast when you tell a friend something like this.
My heart is beating so fast...
...and it's beating so fast that it reminds me of...
...how much I love Kazehaya-kun.
So this is how you felt when you told me the same thing.
I told you, I'm not your friend!
Stop comparing yourself to me!
Weren't you... nervous?
Weren't you...
...a little embarrassed?
Didn't it...
...make you a little happy?
When you told me, and when you finally realized you were in love with him...
"Happy"?
Why would telling you make me happy?
I told you, you're just in the way!
You can be with Kazehaya without even trying, and I hate you for it!
I was positive I could win if I were to be matched up with you.
Because...
I'm so much more...
So much more...
She's right. She suits him far better than I do.
So much more...
...in love with him than you are!
I can swear by my life.
She must really love him...
She must love him so much...
I... think you're much cuter now...
...than my first impression of you.
I know how pretty I am!
But... that doesn't matter at all.
If Kazehaya won't fall in love with me, what good is it if I'm pretty?!
I know Kazehaya doesn't have his eyes on me!
I can tell!
Because... I've always been watching him.
Why did you come back?!
I... wouldn't have had to cry in front of you!
Because you know so many nice things about Kazehaya-kun.
Because... you're the only person I can go to for something like this.
I...
...hate you.
I'm sure I didn't envy Kurumi-chan for her beauty...
...for the air she gives off, or for how good a match she is for Kazehaya-kun.
It's probably because I noticed how cute she is when she's in love with him.
They're willing to view me as someone none other than myself.
Now and forever.
Next time: Rival.