I made a seven-hour trip all the way to Tokyo from the Hiroshima countryside.
It was a few days before the start of high school...
...I happened to see a girl at my new school, and she...
...was just marvelous...
And I've never seen such a beautiful girl like her in my life.
Your profile looking up towards the blue sky
The stopped spiral of time
I'm always stubborn and hiding my feelings
I ache for you so much (I pine for you so much) that it hurts
I'm not actually that strong
In truth, I become afraid about the distance between us two
I want you to touch my heart
If I can still reach the goal taking the long way around
Start line
A story that unravels the heart
I'll say goodbye to tears and walk towards the future
Because I can go with the kindness I found clasped to my heart
Please, just for now, stay the way you are
"Suzuka"
Yamato is really late.
Miho, you'll catch cold... wait for him inside.
But he said he'd come at two o'clock.
I'm wondering if auntie told him he couldn't go to high school in Tokyo...
Don't worry. My sister said he can go as long as he stays at my house.
He's probably fooling around somewhere.
He's so irresponsible, isn't he, Goro-chan?
Sorry I'm late.
Yamato Akitsuki has arrived!
You're late, Yamato. My little princess is angry.
What?
You're late, Yamato!
You're such a big girl now, Miho!
Are you starting the seventh grade?
I'm entering eighth grade.
You're a really careless person, Yamato!
I know, I know, I really know!
Geez...
Wow, your mansion looks great after the remodeling.
A nice, big change, huh?
The bath area was renovated into a spa, too.
It's very popular these days.
This is my new home starting today...
My new life is about to start!
Well... Aunt Ayano, I appreciate your taking me in.
Stop being so formal, will you?
Well, you're my landlady.
Just make yourself at home... we're relatives.
Ah, your luggage is already in your room.
You must be tired, Yamato.
Let's go inside and take a rest. Come on.
Okay!
"Anticipation"
Your room is #301. It's upstairs.
This complex is only for females, though...
Don't cause any trouble, Yamato.
What do you mean, trouble?
Well, Yamato should be fine.
It's better than having no male help... even someone like you.
Come on, give me some credit at least.
When I have something to get done, I'm really responsible.
And not only will I get free room and board, I'll also get paid for work.
So I'll do my best either cleaning the bath or whatever.
You know what? Cleaning the bath is hard work.
So don't give me any lip.
It's a piece of cake! I have confidence in my strength!
Man... I thought it was easy, but this really is hard work...
Boy, there're Jacuzzis... and even saunas...
This place seems to be very modern... I bet young girls will come by...
Maybe that girl will come over...
Hey! You haven't filled the bath yet?
You said it's piece of cake cleaning the bath, right?
You should keep your promise!
I know, I'll finish in a minute!
Something like this...
Well, you'd better hurry or...
Here they are!
Customers?
They're the college girls who live in my complex.
Be careful! They're really dangerous!
Dangerous?
Look, it's not ready yet.
Really?
Oh, is this Yamato? The one the landlady was talking about?
Huh? Is Yamato here? Gosh, I'm embarrassed like this...
Hmm... You're kind of cute, huh?
Noooo!
Yamato, get out of here right now!
Ouch!
S-Sor...
Oh?
Ah... well... I mean...
N-No!
This is just a big mistake!
Geez, what bad timing!
Well, I was wishing she would come by, but not like this...
Darn! She must despise me...
Whoaaaa!
Yamato?
What's going on here?
This guy suddenly...
What?
No! I was just going into my room...
Yamato, look at the doorplate.
This is Suzuka Asahina's room.
Your room is over there, Yamato.
You know, I just moved in here, so I made a mistake!
You're a such a careless person.
I warned you not to cause any problems!
I'm sorry, Suzuka. You should apologize, Yamato!
I-I'm sorry...
Man... I never thought she'd live right next door...
You're a great cook, Ayano!
Well, who knows what you'd be eating if I didn't feed you.
Hey, you make it sound like I'm a dog or something...
There's not much difference.
You walked into someone else's room...
No, I didn't...
Thanks for inviting me to dinner.
No problem, anytime, Suzuka.
You treat us very differently...
Of course. Suzuka is everyone's hope, unlike you.
Suzuka is amazing. She's an Aoba high school freshman, like you.
But she got scouted by the track and field team.
You meanwhile made it from the waiting list.
Scouted? Wow, that's impressive!
That's why she was practicing, even during spring break...
Maybe she'll represent Japan someday.
If so, I can boast that she used to live in my apartment!
I'll do my best.
She's so cool... just perfect. Are we really the same age?
Suzuka, how about another bowl?
Thanks, I'm fine.
You have such a small appetite.
I'll have another!
You're eating well, Yamato.
I'm a growing boy!
By the way, I'm very impressed that you were scouted!
When I played baseball in junior high,
I couldn't hit or field well and everyone laughed at me.
So I told everyone if I couldn't get a hit, I'd buy juice for everyone.
Then I was able to get a hit somehow.
I guess you could say I'm a lucky fellow.
That's so like you.
You're an all-or-nothing person.
What were you going to do if you couldn't get a hit?
Well, I didn't think of anything in particular...
Maybe say I'm sorry.
I hate such irresponsible thinking.
Thanks for dinner.
That was a joke. Don't take it so seriously.
"Asahiyu"
Miho... What's wrong?
Umm... please don't hate Yamato.
He's kind of clumsy and careless, but he has some good traits.
He's nice and good at making okonomiyaki... (Japanese-type pancakes)
About earlier...
Saotome was teasing Yamoto...
...so, I pushed him. That wasn't Yamato's fault at all.
You came just to tell me that?
Yes.
You look after him, don't you?
I can't leave people like him alone.
Maybe it's some sort of maternal instinct.
I understand.
Thank you!
Oh?
Is this guy... your boyfriend?
Umm... he's just...
I know! Someone you admire.
He looks a little like Yamato.
What?
Don't be upset.
Anyway, please don't hate Yamato!
They don't look alike at all.
Man, what's with Asahina? Did I do something wrong to her?
Well, I did... But she shouldn't say something like that.
C-Could it be... Asahina?
Did she come to say sorry about her comments?
Good evening, Yamato!
You shouldn't do this, Saotome!
- I'm coming in! - W-What's this?
Let's do something fun!
- Hey! Are you drunk? - No, I'm not.
Whoa! Your breath smells like alcohol!
Ouch! Watch where you're walking!
Saotome, why are you talking to the wall...
No, I'm not talking to the wall.
Hey, don't you have any alcohol around here?
Go drink, Yamato!
Please stop it!
Sorry, Yamato. I'll take her back to her room now!
Please!
Megumi! That's why you don't have a boyfriend!
I don't understand what you're talking about!
Shut up and drink up!
A-Are you all right?
Oh? Not much left... Did you drink this?
This lady is crazy...
Asahina-sempai! We hope you do great in high school!
We're all wishing for your success!
Man, I'm surprised, Asahina. You cleared the 169cm-high bar, didn't you?
That's the best in Kanagawa!
The principal is overjoyed, too!
You are the pride of our school!
169cm... I've gotten so much attention and offers since that one jump...
Everyone is expecting me to jump higher...
So I have do better. And yet...
Are you listening, Yamato?
Yeah, yeah, I'm listening.
Every guy who comes up to me is the same.
They only look at my breasts, that's it...
My name is Megumi Matsumoto! My name is not Breast!
Boy, this drunken lady is swearing at me.
Listen to me!
O-Okay!
I bet you're looking at my breasts as well, huh?
N-No...
Then go ahead and look... there!
H-Hey, Megumi...
What are you looking at!
I need to slim down some more.
Well, they finally went to sleep... What should I do with them?
Damn! It's already midnight! I have to go clean the baths!
Asahina must have heard all that noise.
Oh well... She hates me already anyway.
Darn, the lights are still on...
Ayano will be angry with me again.
Oh, the sauna is the same thing...
Asahina?
Hey! Are you all right? Asahina?
Why can't I open this door!
Asahina! Asahina! Hey!
This is bad! I guess I have no choice...
Sorry, Ayano!
Asahina! Come on!
Asahina!
Don't worry.
She was dehydrated, but I gave her some water,
and her temperature has gone down, so she'll be fine.
Good.
You surprised me when you came in half-crying and saying, "Asahina is dead."
That's because she didn't respond to me. I was in a panic.
So was I, because the door of the sauna bath was really broken.
Well, I pushed, but it didn't open...
You pull it to open the door.
I was very upset... And I tried to rescue her in a real hurry...
Well, that's why I like you.
Let me go clean up the bath.
Will you give her some more water when she wakes up?
Okay.
Sorry, Asahina. If I'd just cleaned the bath a little earlier...
That's okay.
Are you already up?
Because of your loud talking!
Why did you break the door? Are you crazy?
You're the one who's crazy! Why do you think I broke the door?
I can't believe you stayed in the sauna bath until you fainted!
The instructions say the maximum time is 12 minutes! You should read it!
I did read it.
Then you should follow it, stupid!
Let me tell you something...
I'm sorry! I know that.
Huh?
I thought if I could lose some weight, I could jump higher!
Team members, school officials, parents...
Everyone says the same thing when they see me.
Jump higher!
It's not easy to jump 169cm!
No one was more surprised than I was by that jump!
But everybody overestimates me,
and somehow I felt the bar looked higher and higher.
I just felt... scared!
Asahina...
You know... I don't know about track and field...
And I don't know any secrets about how to high jump.
But you made it once... So you'll be able to make it again.
Huh? That's so thoughtless...
Well, forget about the people who say those things.
You do the high jump because you like it, right?
Yeah, but...
Then you should enjoy it instead of doing it with a face like this.
I don't look like that!
See, you seem fine now. So I'll go help Ayano...
Wait!
Listen, don't tell anyone that I cried!
I don't know, you said a lot to me...
Hey, promise you won't tell!
Okay, okay.
Then can you give me some water?
Okay, okay.
Can you change my towel?
Don't get so carried away!
I thought she was a cool person... But she has her own problems...
I feel like I understand her a little better...
Awwww... I'll still sleepy, Asahina.
Why do I have to accompany you on your morning training?
Yamato, you told me I'd be able to jump, remember?
So you should be helpful until I jump!
I didn't say I was responsible. Oh!
What are you doing?!
Sorry. What's the height?
I'll start with 164cm.
Oui, Madame.
Hey! It's crooked! Can't you do a better job?
She nags so much.
There it is. Can you make it? It's pretty high!
I'll show you!
I'm always clearing...
that height!
Wow, she is so cool...
Hey, you touched the bar. It was very close.
I can't believe it... I never had a problem with this height...
Well, everybody has a day like this...
I've never... had a day like this!
I know... You're still tired from yesterday...
Just stop it! You don't have to say that.
Cripes! I even have a problem with 164cm, not just 169cm...
What am I going to do?
What?!
W-Wait a minute! How did you set the bar?
Well, I thought I set it to 164cm.
No, you're supposed to set the top part of the bar at the 164cm mark, idiot!
How am I supposed to know?!
You're a really careless person! Now what am I supposed to do?
It's because of you, Yamato...
I set my new record without even realizing it.
173cm... That unofficially ties for 12th nationally all-time
among junior high school girls.
But more important... she seemed totally different from her usual cool self.
That was the cutest expression I've ever seen.
I'll become the wind on the green field
Right now, I'll just...
Get a little "reckless" and "fired up" and speed up
Let's go
Run
Stop
Advance
Falter
Jump
Squat
Sing
Shout
Triumph
Fall short
I'll live, right here
Living recklessly like this isn't altogether bad, either
Something'll happen, I have this feeling
Day after day of getting covered in bruises
Some days, I feel my "limit", though...
I'll become the wind on the green field
I'll run right through the moment
The shapes of things change, it's just the way it is
You can't stop it...
A little "stubborn" and "mischievous"
"Competitive"
That spirit
Run
Stop
Advance
Falter
Jump
Squat
Sing
Shout
Triumph
Fall short
I'll live, right here
You are so smooth. I can't believe you flatter women just so you can be popular!
Idiot, all women like compliments!
"Next episode: Smile" Idiot, all women like compliments!
"Next episode: Smile" I'm wondering if Asahina wants to hear them, too?