Besides...
What the heck are you crying for?!
Seeing you cry made me want to, too...
You're so annoying!
D-Don't worry; it's been washed.
It's not dirty.
Y-You won't get cursed by it, either...
Those thoughts never crossed my mind at all.
Quit crying! It irritates me!
What happened between you and Kazehaya, Sawako-chan?
I-I realized I was in love with him.
Are you two going to start dating?
Did you tell him you like him?! Or did he tell you?!
"Tell him"? "Tell me"?
O-Of course not!
Really?! You two aren't going out?!
Certainly not!
How am I supposed to know?!
If you go with the flow, it could happen!
You could let your feelings slip out!
K-Kurumi-chan...
You think Kazehaya-kun might end up liking me?
I didn't even have anyone to talk to until fairly recently.
Kazehaya doesn't judge people by something like that.
He's kind...
He's always looking after people...
Yes, yes.
And he's always willing to judge someone with his own eyes.
Yeah, doesn't it make you want to smile whenever he does?
Yeah!
And if you're really at fault, he'll scold you.
I agree.
He can be a bit short-tempered, but he hates dishonesty.
He's popular with both guys and girls...
He's honest...
He's soothing...
He's-
Why am I having this conversation with you ?!
I'm really happy.
I've never had a conversation like this with anyone.
Despite what she says, Kurumi-chan is willing to see me only as myself.
She's the same as Kazehaya-kun...
What?
Now was the right time.
Everyone started to support me after we entered high school...
...so now was the best time to make him look at me.
That's how it was supposed to be...
But that's all over now.
Kazehaya thinks I like Arai Pin!
No matter what I say to him now, he'll think I'm denying it out of embarrassment.
How did that happen?!
I miscalculated!
I don't even care anymore.
I already knew he doesn't have any feelings for me.
Even if he finds out what I was up to... Even if he has the wrong idea about Pin and me...
What's there to care about now?
You should care.
I didn't like it when Kazehaya-kun had the wrong idea about me liking Sanada-kun.
Since it's a misunderstanding, I'm sure he'll understand if you just talk to him.
Do you really think he'd understand if I told him the truth?
What are you, stupid?
She says that, but I'm sure it's bothering her.
I can tell.
We're both in love with Kazehaya-kun. We hold the same feelings for the same person.
But I guess having the same feelings doesn't guarantee our friendship.
Then what exactly will be between us, Kurumi-chan?
No bonds, just nobodies to each other?
Are we really nobodies? Or...
Could the bond between us be something else?
Kurumi!
Is your stomach feeling better?
Yes, I'm feeling much better now.
We were worried, since you just disappeared all of a sudden.
Sorry about that. I'll definitely be able to play tomorrow.
Good to hear.
Yeah.
Well then, see you tomorrow!
Bye!
Bye.
We got out a little later than I expected.
Want to stop by somewhere to eat?
Yeah, I'm kinda hungry.
Kurumi-chan, let's be in the same group!
Kurumi-chan!
Kurumi!
What? You're kidding!
You don't have anyone you like?
But you're so cute!
What a waste!
I'm so glad I'm friends with Kurumi now!
Yeah!
Definitely!
I'm glad we're in the same group!
Are you serious?!
Miyagawa said he likes Kurumi?!
That's terrible! Miki's always liked him!
I mean, Kurumi was always lending her notes to Miyagawa and stuff...
I bet she doesn't like it when guys like girls other than herself.
That's probably why she made him think she loved him.
That's so dirty!
She calls herself Kurumi, but her actual name is Ume.
We only let her in our group so that we could talk with the guys that come along with her.
Hey, we should get in her way if she starts liking somebody.
She got in our way too, so it's only fair.
Yeah!
Kurumi-chan, have you been feeling kinda down lately?
Not at all!
Guess not, then.
See you tomorrow!
Bye!
This sucks. It's raining, but we still have to attend the club meeting.
Want to skip?
We shouldn't.
What a drag.
Huh? You were still here?
Something wrong?
No, it's nothing.
You sure?
Yes.
I guess you're still here because of baseball?
Yeah. I just dropped by to pick up something.
Oh.
Ah, I knew I left it here.
Good luck!
Thanks.
Are you sure nothing's wrong?
What happened?!
He's different.
This guy, who's always at the center of all the other boys...
Hey, same class again!
...is willing to see me only as myself.
I...
I won't tell anyone.
I swear I won't.
Until Kazehaya starts liking me...
Kurumizawa...
I had no idea.
So... you don't care if Kazehaya finds out about this?
I didn't know...
...you liked Pin.
You're wrong!
Sorry about that!
That was insensitive of me.
You haven't heard?
About what?
What the heck? She really makes me mad.
Pretending that she's a hypocrite...
Kazehaya...
Hm?
What's Sawako-chan like?
She's easily misunderstood,
but she desperately tries to tell the truth no matter what the risks are.
So... I believe anything she says.
"Risks"?
Kuronuma may not feel the same way, but...
If she was someone always trying to take the easy way out of things,
Yoshida and Yano probably wouldn't have believed her back then.
Even if you want to lend her a hand, she always tries hard and does things by herself.
I always feel as though she's giving it her all.
Since it's a misunderstanding, I'm sure he'll understand if you just talk to him.
Hey!
What the heck am I saying?!
I was really talking big...
Well, later!
Kaze-
Oh.
Cheer up.
I didn't like it when Kazehaya-kun had the wrong idea...
I... don't want him to have the wrong idea.
No.
Wait...
Wait, Kazehaya!
I... don't even like Pin!
The one I really like...
...is you, Kazehaya.
You're the one I've always been watching!
It's you...
You're the last person I'd want...
...to have the wrong idea...
...about who I really like.
Sorry, Kurumizawa!
I apologize.
I'm really sorry.
I'm so sorry.
There's someone else I'm in love with.
I just can't bring myself to put anyone above her.
I'm sorry.
Of course. It's obvious.
Are you even the least bit happy that I told you I like you?
Yeah.
Thanks.
Could you call me by my name... just this once?
My first name, that is.
Ume.
Gee, I guess this "old lady" name isn't that bad after all.
Gosh, I wasn't even planning on telling you.
So many things have gone wrong with my plan.
Your plan?
But the person who really messed up my plan was you.
You're never going to find a girl as cute as me, you know.
Why did you actually believe I liked Pin, anyway?
That's just impossible!
Ah, I feel so refreshed now.
I don't remember you being like this, Kurumizawa...
You've got bad taste in women, Kazehaya!
Bye!
Oh, no...
I told him...
I wonder if Kurumi-chan and I would have been on better terms...
...if we'd been in love with different people.
I wonder...
What? You like Kazehaya?
All right! I knew it!
Wow, really? All right! I knew it!
Wow, really?
Why are you playing dumb, Yano-chin?
I'm so happy, but I'm so embarrassed! Why are you playing dumb, Yano-chin?
I don't know, just felt like it. I'm so happy, but I'm so embarrassed!
I don't know, just felt like it.
Wow...
Hey, so what made you realize you like him?
What made me realize...
That...
...would have to be Kurumi-chan.
But if we liked different people, I'm sure there would still be things unclear to me.
Kurumi, eh?
I'm surprised she can get that aggressive for a guy.
I kind of respect her for that. I wouldn't be able to do it.
I-I wonder what I would do...
I might... turn into a demon!
A demon?
Who are you talking about?
B-Back on topic...
I'm happy for you, Sawako.
Things are going to get even more fun! Promise!
I'm so glad... I told them.
Geez, why did I make plans with my boyfriend?! I'm so glad... I told them.
PLACEHOLDER Geez, why did I make plans with my boyfriend?!
It also made me happy when I told you, Kurumi-chan. Geez, why did I make plans with my boyfriend?!
You should treasure your boyfriend more, Yano-chin. It also made me happy when I told you, Kurumi-chan.
You should treasure your boyfriend more, Yano-chin.
It also made me happy...
...when you told me how you felt about him.
Morning!
K-Kurumi-chan?
What's with the sunglasses?
Don't worry about it.
Hey, you. What's with those sunglasses?
You're supposed to wear them outdoors, not indoors.
Hey! You're that girl who fell for me!
What, your eyes went all puffy after I rejected you?
I guess it couldn't be helped then.
Yeah, yeah.
I hope you fall in love with someone your own age next time.
You know, whenever a girl confesses to a guy still in high school,
it doesn't matter if he likes the girl, his mind'll be filled with thoughts about her for the entire day.
Since kids are stupid!
Later!
I wonder... if that's true...
All right, time to win the rest of the soccer matches!
You really enjoy this stuff, don't you?
We're going to win the championship and party hard!
I need to pull myself together. We're going to win the championship and party hard!
Bummer, we lost. I need to pull myself together.
Bummer, we lost.
But what's done is done, right?
Kurumi-chan...
...looks so cool!
D-Do you need to talk to them?
W-We'll be waiting for you over there!
I was happy, too, when I fell in love with him.
Even when people were praising Kazehaya, I never joined the conversation.
I never told anyone how much I liked him.
I kept it to myself...
Even if worse comes to worst, and you and Kazehaya do work out,
I swear I won't give you a pat on the back.
It's only natural for me to hate all girls Kazehaya falls in love with!
We won't be able to become friends... right?
"Friends"?
You mean "rivals", right?
"Rivals"?
Rivals...
I'm so jealous!
Why the heck did I lose?!
It's so unfair!
Y-Yeah!
We're actually pretty upset, too!
Let's grab something to eat on the way home, okay? PLACEHOLDER
W-What's with her? Let's grab something to eat on the way home, okay?
W-What's with her?
Who knows?
Wow, if she'd been like that from the start, I wouldn't have minded her.
S-Seriously?
After that...
Why?!
...our class lost every match...
Yaki...ni...ku... PLACEHOLDER
...and Arai-sensei lost his soul. Yaki...ni...ku...
...and Arai-sensei lost his soul.
The sports festival came to an end.
Okay, let's head home first! The after-festival party starts at six!
Okay!
We got sixth place!
I don't think that's too bad.
Yeah!
It's my first time going to an after-festival party...
When I went home and looked it up in my dictionary...
Note: rival - def. A worthy opponent.
I made... my first rival.
So, when did you start liking him?!
When you confessed in front of the entire class?
Entire class?
Nah, I don't think she liked him back then.
I do think I had romantic feelings for him then.
I wonder when I started having these feelings...
What are you going to sing next, Kazehaya?
I'm off to take a quick break.
Then I'll sing!
Where's Kuronuma?
She said something about her face feeling too hot, and went out to cool off.
Gotcha.
I wonder who did that to her...
Kuronuma?
Hey.
Is she... asleep?
Sawako.
Yes?
I-Is she talking in her sleep?
Wow...
I was thinking too hard.
Sawako.
Your name is Kuronuma Sawako, right?
At that moment, my entire world changed.
Yes.
The moment he called me by my name, I fell in love.
Idle chatter gathers in the middle of the night.
Next time: Night Talk.