Well...
I'll be off then.
Have a good time!
Sawako's leaving for her first sleepover!
What...
What should I do?!
You don't have to do anything.
W-W-Well...!
Oh!
I'll give them a call!
I need to give my regards to their family.
Make sure you give them those red bean jellies, okay?
Okay.
Today, for the first time in my life, I'm attending a sleepover.
Ayane-chan and I are going to be staying over at Chizu-chan's house.
Chizuru.
Thing is...
Tomorrow...
Morning, Chizu!
Good morning.
Morning!
What's that? A sleepover kit?
Yeah.
You were saying?
Nah, it's nothing.
Anyway, don't visit my place for the next two days.
Make sure you stay away.
Hey-
Why?!
W-What's up with him?
What? You made him angry?
Gosh!
Darn that Ryu...!
I was planning on having us play a game to cheer you up, and then...
Then why don't we?
It's Ryu's game.
I was gonna take you guys to his place...
Hey, so you don't know what you did to anger him?
Not a clue!
Well, the last time he came over, I kicked him out like a pest.
What for?
He was close to finding out about this.
Yeah, that's gotta be it.
W-Why did he get mad over that ?!
And he calls himself a man?!
What are you getting mad for?
Don't visit my place for the next two days.
What the heck...
The day after tomorrow is his birthday...
Screw this thing!
I-I can't do it!
Let's go play his game, Chizu.
He never said that you couldn't visit today, right?
And while we're at it, apologize and make up with him.
Bring the gift with you, too.
What's the point in holding back on the gift? You've already made him mad because of it.
I love you, Yano-chin!
There, there.
Friendship...!
Wow, a defenseless strategy!
A cross-counter of love!
I'm the lead character, okay?!
Just for today!
Oh.
So because of that, you haven't told her yet.
I just can't get the proper timing.
Is it really okay?
She can just see him on New Years.
And it's not like I really wanted her to see him, either...
Why are there so many people here?!
What are you guys doing here?
Same thing goes for you.
We're just having a party to cheer Joe up.
Yano!
A fellow comrade with a broken heart!
Actually, great timing!
We can cheer both Joe and Yano up!
S-Sorry about this, Yano-chin...!
No, don't worry about it.
Don't you hear about stuff like this quite often?
Two people with broken hearts start to console each other. Then slowly but steadily, love begins to blossom between them.
Yano, huh...
You'd earn my respect, Joe!
Mine too!
I can visit today, right?
I guess.
Tanaka, can you guys make some room?
Sorry for barging in on you guys.
Sorry for intruding.
Doesn't anyone have a good story to tell?
Nope.
Probably not.
Guess not...
Yeah...
Hey, Yano!
Why did you and your boyfriend break up?
Several reasons...
This feels a bit mysterious...
Can I get something to drink? This feels a bit mysterious...
Can I get something to drink?
Spending the night at a friend's house, being surrounded by all these people...
Listening to others talk about love...
Exactly.
Oh yeah, about earlier...
Unexpectedly running across the person you love... Oh yeah, about earlier...
Unexpectedly running across the person you love...
I guess that right now, all of this is actually happening to me.
Ryu.
Can you bring us more cups?
The ramen they serve there is just amazing!
The soup's made with a fish base, but it's also-
Give me a second. The soup's made with a fish base, but it's also-
I'll go lend him a hand.
I guess I'll hand him the gift while I'm at it.
I hope he'll like it!
So, what's your ideal type?
A mature, broad-minded man with a lot of money.
Ryu!
Are you mad about something?
No?
Really?!
I'm not mad, but...
Even I would get a little hurt if you kick me out like that.
Sorry about that.
Don't take it personally or anything.
I just wanted to save it for later.
Oh.
Did you have something to tell me earlier?
I'm here to listen.
What was it?
Go on.
Well...
Wow, I'm beat.
I'm home!
Chi!
Tohru!
Tohru!!
Ouch, that was quite an impact.
Chi!
You've gotten taller!
What the heck?! I didn't know you were coming!
Sorry, my fault.
You're not even sorry at all!
Geez!
Weren't you coming home tomorrow?
Well, I was let out early from work today.
I-Is that him?
What's going on?
Tohru!
Hey, it's Shota!
Grew your hair out, I see.
Hey! What's wrong with you, Kazehaya?!
I'm talking with him right now!
W-What's wrong with you ?
So this is the person Chizu-chan is in love with...
Whoa, you've got some girls over, too!
Not bad, Ryu!
Yeah, those are Chizuru's frien-
They're my friends from school! Yeah, those are Chizuru's frien-
They're my friends from school!
Sawako and Yano-chin!
Come on, introduce yourselves.
Wow, he's actually my type...
Hide Yano!
Hide her in a closet or something!
I-I'm kidding, geez.
You haven't changed at all, Chi.
L-Look at me!
I'm wearing my sleepwear and jeans!
I should have worn my mini skirt, even if it isn't new!
What's the meaning of this, Ryu?!
Why didn't you tell me?!
Huh?
What's wrong? Come in.
I-Is it okay?
Are you sure?
Why not?
Is this everything we brought?
I took the rest out of the car.
Good evening!
Oh!
G-Good evening!
Umm, so...
Is she your girlfriend?
Yeah.
We're getting married.
Nice to meet you all.
Getting...
...married?!
Ch-Chizu!
Get a hold of yourself!
Hey!
This is my brother, Ryu.
Come on! This is my brother, Ryu.
Chizu!
I'm his little brother.
I'm Katayama Haruka.
Also...
I'd like to introduce you to this girl as well.
Her name's Yoshida Chizuru.
I call her 'Chi'.
She's been like a little sister to me ever since we were kids.
I'm Katayama. Nice to meet you!
Uhh...
Well...
I'm Yoshida, and I live near these guys.
I'm not even related to them, but...
It's a pleasure to meet you.
The pleasure is mine!
Chi!
Stop, you're depressing me!
They're getting married...
Come on in.
Okay.
Ryu.
Let's call it a night.
It's only once in a blue moon that Tohru comes home.
Yoshida, same goes for you girls.
Let's all leave for tonight.
Yeah, good idea!
I feel like we chose a bad time to visit.
You outsiders!
We're leaving!
What?!
Are the curtains finally closing on my lead role?
Hey, you're also an outsider.
Yeah, we're leaving too!
Thanks for letting us stay!
See you later!
Later!
See ya!
Bye! See ya!
Later!
See you guys later!
Chi!
Have a safe trip home!
Man, you haven't changed at all.
I live right over there!
Also, I'm really strong.
Time to go home!
I wonder... what Chizu-chan's thinking right now...
Later.
Shota.
Thanks.
If I were to say something to Chizuru in that situation,
she'd get depressed after thinking I was trying to be considerate.
I wouldn't mind if she were to get mad,
but right now, she'll definitely feel depressed.
Yeah, you're always worrying about Yoshida, Ryu.
But hey, it's not your fault. Don't let it get to you.
Well, I'm not going to be depressed.
I don't get it...
Was I... really worrying about her?
I think you're still worried about her.
He must like Yoshida.
Oops, I won again!
We've been playing cards for four straight hours since then.
Okay, what should we do next?
Chi-
Chizu.
Well...
Are you okay?
Oh.
You're referring to Tohru.
Now that I recall it, I haven't even congratulated him yet.
Maybe I'll go see him tomorrow.
The person I've been admiring forever is going to get married!
You're exactly right!
There are better guys out there!
Bad idea.
Guess you're right!
Sorry we had to leave his house so early.
And this thing was planned to cheer you up.
No, no! I totally forgot about that last part!
Wow, it's already so late.
Want to sleep soon?
I can keep up a one-sided love for years!
I know I'm too young to make him look at me.
That's why I'm going to grow up to be one hell of a babe.
There's no knowing what can happen once I become an adult, right?
The one I like... is Ryu's older brother.
She's already awake...
Sorry, did I wake you up?
I'm going to wear a mini skirt!
Maybe... she didn't actually wake up.
She may have not slept at all since last night.
Like this training wear?
It's a hand-me-down from my older brother, so there's a hole right here.
But it's easy to move around in.
Yeah...
See you guys at school!
I was expecting her to cry and complain like she always does.
At first, I couldn't even tell whether she was hurt or not.
Aw, geez!
I wonder... if there's something we can do for her.
I don't think there's much we can do in this situation...
She won't even tell us how she really feels.
And even if she did, there's n-
She was so happy that she was going to wear her mini skirt...
I couldn't even comfort her or try to cheer her up...
I just didn't know what to say...
I... couldn't do anything for her...!
We're on the same boat.
I couldn't say anything to comfort her during such a crucial time.
I wonder what friends are supposed to do when faced with something like this...
Pops sounds like he's having the time of his life.
He says I'm sort of like his daughter, but that doesn't actually make me his daughter.
Tohru says I'm sort of like his little sister, but doesn't actually mean I'm his sister.
And we're not related or anything, either.
Does a mere 'neighbor' have the right to barge in during such a precious day for their family?
A neighbor, huh...
Ryu!
Let's fight!
Give it all you've got, else I'm going to kill you!
Oww, that hurt!
Ryu, you shouldn't make girls cry!
Pain, pain, go away!
Tohru, I caught a bug!
Look!
Tohru, a bug!
Tohru!
A bug!
Why bugs?
I don't understand how I thought that was a good way to show my affection.
But...
Whoa!
Awesome, Chi!
Tohru always smiled when I showed him one.
He was always dating someone, but none of them really lasted that long.
Even if they were dating, I figured that was all that was going to come out of it.
That's why... my wish was always to become Tohru's bride.
I guess...
...I wasn't meant to be the one to get my wish.
Feelings that can't be conveyed.
Tears that flow.
Next time: Present.