Yes?
Chihaya.
Hello. I was bored, so I'm using you as my plaything,
Toko-san.
Did you just say you're using me?
I didn't.
Self Prevention, There Are People Where You Can't See
I see that your brother's not home, as usual.
Yeah. I was actually just getting bored myself.
Chihaya, let's do something.
Let's play a game!
What? But you're rather weak when it comes to games, so I'd rather not.
I am not!
You're quick to show your emotions, and you're easily upset.
That's not true!
I'm really strong if I really try!
I see...
Then the loser has to do whatever the winner says.
Fine! I'm in!
Let's start with Old Maid.
I win. You'll have to do whatever I say now.
Fine!
What is this?
It's the hat that Mimosa Yellow from "Magical Flower" wears...
It's a hat.
Put this on.
Here.
Here you go.
Is this what you wanted?
You really are weak, Toko-san.
Th-That's because I've never really played games before!
That indeed seems to be the case with games...
But the fact that you're wearing that
and have no acknowledgment of it...
means your mind is weak, too.
I'm home.
Welcome back.
Wh-What's going on?
What do you mean?
Pardon the intrusion, Ichimiya-san.
M-Megu— Chi-Chihaya-san!
So you've come to play with Toko.
No, I came to use Toko-san as my plaything.
Did you just say "use" again?
I didn't.
Um, Chihaya-san, please don't play with my sister like tha—
That's only because you won't play with me, Ichimiya-san.
I'll be going, then.
Oh, okay. See you later.
What's wrong?
Nothing... It's nothing.
Ichimiya-san.
Apparently the care manager that was supposed to come today
can't make it due to a cold.
Oh, I see... Get well soon...
It doesn't do any good telling me that.
R-Right...
I wonder if she's still mad...
Ichimiya-kun.
Uh, yes?
I've been thinking this for a while, but are you and Chihaya-kun...
...not getting along?
Th-That's not true at all.
Really?
Chihaya-kun seems pretty quiet,
but it seems she talks and interacts with the other young'uns.
Though she seems rather distant when it comes to you...
Well, there's quite an age gap between us, like six years.
She makes fun of me all of the time despite my age.
I think that just means you need to be more assertive, sir.
Social Worker Section
Hey...
So about your girlfriend...
I'm working right now.
Just five minutes.
Who asked who out?
She did.
Does she say what she likes about you?
She says that I'm nice...
In an irritable tone.
She probably hates that part about you, too.
Chihaya-kun.
Yes?
Do you dislike Ichimiya-kun?
No.
But it doesn't appear that you two get along.
Really?
Would you like to get along with him?
Well, sure...
Maybe at least so you can be cordial?
My stuffing! I'm going to rip!
Huh? Senpai's not here...
I've asked Ichimiya-kun to organize the articles in storage.
I would have totally done that job!
He's with Chihaya-kun!
It's a plan to help them get along by making them work together!
And what, exactly, did you hope to accomplish
by having them to get along?
Sorry that you're stuck doing this.
No, it's fine. It's pretty much physical labor.
We're alone, aren't we?
We are.
How troublesome.
I'm grateful for what the Section Manager's trying to do,
but since I'm not really good with secrets,
you've been trying even harder...
When we're put in situations like these, I don't know what to do...
Ichimiya-san... You're so nice.
She's irritated?!
D-Did I say something I shouldn't have again?
No, not at all.
Though, being distant is rather awkward, as well.
It might be better to have more interaction.
Yeah...
Therefore, let's get along better.
Why are you taking off your clothes?!
You know why, don't you?
Well, doing that in an empty room
while in an office love affair tends to happen.
That's not a good thing!
It'll be fine. It'll be over quickly.
I think...
Wh-What does that mean...
W-Wait, we can't! Chihaya-san!
Calling me by my last name at a time like this... Treating me like a stranger even now?
U-U-Um... Er...
Yamagami-san.
Y-Yes?
I actually...
...got a little lightheaded.
Are you all right?
So that's why Ichimiya-san was holding you?
Yes, right...
I believe there's an empty room.
Let's have you lay down there!
Ichimiya-san, I'll leave the documents for now...
My stomach hurts...
Are you all right?!
See you later!
Thanks for your hard work!
I'm really sorry...
Do you have a little time after work?
Ichimiya-kun.
Uh, yes?
Could you stay a little later?
Huh?!
Um, actually, I...
Yes, sir.
Thanks for your hard work.
Thank you, too!
Toko-chan, are you okay staying out this late today?
Yeah. Apparently, my brother's going drinking with coworkers.
I always thought your brother was stuck to you,
but I guess he goes out drinking, too.
What do you mean stuck on me? That's not true!
He values relationships with his friends at work, too!
I see.
He goes out, goes for drinks.
He'll sneak around, talking on the phone.
When I ask him who he's talking to, he'll turn blue....
He's totally interacting with his friends.
The problem is there's not even a sign of a girlfriend despite his age.
Actually, there are very obvious signs of a girlfriend...
Well, hello, Toko-san.
Chihaya!
Good evening.
What? Are you shopping?
No, I made plans to go drinking with a coworker,
but they're going to be a little late because of work, so I'm killing time.
I see.
Kanon, this is my brother's coworker, Chihaya.
Hello.
H-Hello.
We sort of met before, didn't we?
We did.
Are you two friends?
Pretty much.
I go to the ward office all the time
and Chihaya's at my place all the time.
And she comes over without calling or texting!
Right out of the blue! She's there even when I'm not.
The only other person at my house is my brother, for Pete's sake.
Toko-chan, this person is, without a doubt, your brother's girlfriend...
Oh, yeah!
My brother said he was going out to drink with a coworker, too.
Get a clue, Toko-chan!
It's cute, but expensive...
I can probably make you a similar one if you'd like.
Really?! But I'd feel bad...
It's fine.
It'll be outfit making practice for me.
Chihaya...
She's being subtly manipulated...
She's hiding that she's going out with Toko-chan's brother
and she's just using Toko-chan as a way to see him.
Toko-chan's being made a fool!
Then I want it to be pink and black.
I think yellow would be better...
I have to protect Toko-chan!
Give me strength, Dad!
Is that her brother?
I'm a little busy right now, so I'll call you back.
She put Toko-chan first?
Let's go to the fabric shop sometime soon.
If there are any other clothes you'd like to wear, let me know.
Okay, thanks.
I wonder if they really do get along...
Pick about twenty of them...
in the next five minutes.
You've got to be kidding!
Or maybe she just likes making clothes...
Um, are you and Toko-chan's brother going out?
I do go out and have fun with Ichimiya-san.
With both siblings.
I like them both,
so I'm a little troubled by our current situation.
Actually, I want them to realize it,
but they won't, so it's a bit troublesome.
I can imagine...
Yes?
Me-Megumi?
I'm sorry...
About what?
I'm sorry that I don't know why you're mad!
What's wrong?
My coworker's waiting for me, so I better get going.
Make sure you two don't get home too late.
All right. See you later!
I never know what she's thinking,
but Chihaya's not a bad person, is she?
Yeah...
Sorry to keep you waiting.
So you did come!
Chihaya-san!
"Chihaya"?
Oh...
I'm sorry! Megumi! I'm really sorry about that!
Miyoshi-chan looks bummed out again.
I wonder what's wrong now.
Miyoshi-san was being asked by her regular, Tanaka-san,
to marry her grandson, right?
Yeah.
Apparently she's having a hard time declining,
and Tanaka-san said she'd bring her grandson here next time.
I see...
I think that's what's got her down...
But why do you look so pale, as well, Hasebe-san?
I'm not pale...
I just have a slight... just a slightly bad feeling...
Oh! Could it be...
Hasebe-san. Do you want to go out with Miyoshi-san?!
You mustn't! You can't trouble Miyoshi-san even more!
Is this the mouth that's being insensitive?
That hurts!
Whatever.
I'm going to the cafeteria.
Don't look for me.
Let's Protect the nature of Mitsuba
Is what he said...
I apologize for making you worry.
Not at all.
But I feel rather bad for Hasebe-san...
Speaking of Tanaka-san,
she hasn't been by these past few days.
Wow, that's rare. She's usually here every day.
So I'm more worried about that.
Pardon me.
Yes?
I'm Tanaka.
The younger Tanaka-san is here!
H-Hello. What brings you here today?
What am I going to do?
He's definitely Tanaka-san's grandson, right?
Wh-What am I going to do?
I'm clearly in the way...
But Miyoshi-san won't let me go.
Um, are you the Miyoshi-san who's been taking care of my grandmother?
Oh, um, yes.
I apologize. It appears she may have said something awkward.
I'm here today to apologize about that.
Oh, thank goodness.
So he's not here for that reason...
Putting that aside, I came to see what you looked like.
Apparently, he's putting that aside...
It's a family rule that anything my grandmother says must be followed.
T-Tanaka-san...
Is your grandmother not stopping by today?
My grandmother's caught a bit of a cold...
So she's at home resting.
He really does seem like a very responsible person...
It's probably because of the change in seasons.
She said he's a banker?
They say that civil servants
and bankers both are very stable occupations...
But they seem completely different...
Not to mention, it's like comparing apples to oranges, to begin with.
I work at a bank nearby.
I had some time during my lunch, so I thought I'd stop by.
Miyoshi-san isn't saying a word.
I see.
"She listens to people very well!"
So that's how he's taking that...
Um, more importantly, is your grandmother doing all right?
Miyoshi-san just said "more importantly."
Wow...
So kind to the elderly!
This conversation isn't connecting,
but it seems he likes you, Miyoshi-san!
Yes, that's right.
It appears to be because of the change in temperature recently.
But her fever isn't too bad, so I think she'll get better soon.
Miyoshi-san let go of my hand,
so I wonder if she'll be okay if I were to leave now...
I see.
I thank you for being so kind and caring to my grandmother.
I'm not of any use here, anyway.
I think Hasebe-san would be really good at dodging these situations...
Oh, Hasebe-sa—
Hasebe!
What?!
Um, sir...
Hasebe!
What are you doing at a ward office
after disappearing without telling me?
How do you think I felt not being able to see you for so long—
Hey! Please don't just leave this alone!
Are you two friends?
No, I don't know him.
Hasebe...
At last, the time has come...
Hey. Lunchtime is about to end.
I'm heading back to work.
He is responsible...
I'm glad you're feeling better, Tanaka-san.
I'm sorry I made you worry.
My grandson is accompanying me today.
Indeed, he is.
Not only today, but he's been by every day, lately...
Well, what do you think?
My grandson is very responsible and a good boy.
I-I don't know how to respond to that...
He's so responsible!
I wonder if being responsible is all he has going for him...
Is Hasebe here?
I apologize that it's the same every day, but he's currently not here.
Um, it's not that I'm purposely not letting you see him,
but because of his job, he's out quite a bit. I'm sorry.
That's fine. Work is paramount. However...
I can feel his presence...
He's so cruel!
He said, and left.
Sorry for making you do this...
No problem...
But why is he so fixated on you, Hasebe-san?
Whisper, whisper, whisper.
He stole his woman?
Could you not do that, Chihaya-chan?
I told you.
We were just together all throughout school.
That doesn't appear to be the only thing...
It has nothing to do with you, Lucy.
Lu—
I'm sorry!
I'm so sorry for sticking my head into someone else's business!
A complete stranger that I have nothing to do with,
and it's something that I'm not really dying to know in the end!
It's amazing how you can hurt someone while apologizing to them.
There we go...
I was wrong... to ask about my coworkers' personal lives...
They're not like friends at school, so I've got to restrain myself...
Be more careful.
What?
Oh, uh, I'm sorry.
I was just thinking about you, Hasebe-san.
Uh, uh, it's not like that.
Um, I'm really sorry about earlier.
It's rare for you to avoid people, so I was curious...
Well, Tanaka... the grandson,
isn't the prodigy type, or rather,
he gets results from putting in effort.
Meanwhile, I'm the genius type.
He just called himself a genius...
And because Tanaka hates to lose,
he'd always challenge me in various things...
But he's never won.
I wonder if that's why he said Hasebe-san was cruel...
And that's how it's sort of been since we were kids.
S-So it's an unjustified resentment.
No, not quite...
Well, it'd be troublesome to explain that part,
so I'll just leave it at that.
See, it's not that big of a deal, right?
I didn't really want to say it because it sounds like I'm bragging.
It's not like I was dying to know...
This girl...
But it sort of makes me happy you told me.
Is something the matter?
You're so... honest all of a sudden.
R-Really?
Damn it! You're so cute!
I want to further our relationship!
Let's go get something to eat today!
It's before pay day, so I can't.
You bring me up, just so I can come crashing back down, Lucy...
Um, about this...
Come on, Lucy.
It'll be my treat.
No.
They're flirting again. Explode alone, Hasebe.
It's a good thing they get along.
Get along?
Tanaka-san?!
Wh-What brings you here? Lunchtime is over...
Oh, apparently my grandmother forgot her purse, so I came by.
Really? I'll go look.
Thank you very much.
Um...
How's Hasebe at work?
He's irresponsible, and gaudy.
As you just witnessed, he's hitting on the girl with the glasses.
Hitting on...
I wonder if he just enjoys messing with someone so serious.
I'm sure he's just messing arou—
Stop saying mean things about Hasebe!
My apologies.
Um...
I apologize! Thanks for the purse!
D-Did something happen?
Whisper, whisper, whisper.
Huh?
What does BL mean?
This Week's Saba Quiz!
It's time for this week's Saba Quiz.
What is Hasebe's height, weight, shoe size, and measurements?
The answers will be on the website—
Like I'd list that!