I'll be waiting outside.
Okay, I'll be out soon.
Soma still hasn't replied?
No.
It's already been three days.
Soma's so spineless.
Seriously, what should I do about this?
I got less than half right, huh?
Well, I DID skip class after I got a recommendation.
Izumi-senpai, you in here?
Oh, there you are!
Okay!
My answer won't change, no matter how many times you ask.
You don't have any friends, do you, Senpai?
I thought you'd be lonely during lunch.
I have friends, like, Haruto.
Let's eat.
Well, my true objective is getting to know you better, you know.
Don't bother.
You're the type of person that doesn't turn down their friends' requests, aren't you?
I thought you'd even give me the okay for the photo.
Oh, right! Did you make any progress with the President?
Nope, none at all.
That red book you had... That was her first choice, though.
I was wondering why you'd have that when you got a recommendation.
Don't worry. I'll keep it a secret from her.
Oh, lemme have this one!
Your mom's really good at cooking!
Here, I'll give you this.
Your mom's cooking is tasty, too.
I made that, you know.
Wanna have a cooked carrot, too?
Here, open wide!
Eita, you got a minute?
Wah! S-sorry I interrupted!
When the hell did Eita get to first base?!
Whoa!
It's not like that!
Hazuki?
It was from my little sis.
Did this "something" have to do with Morikawa-san?
I got a LINE message from her on Sunday, but I haven't replied to it yet.
It's already Wednesday!
So... what do you think I should do?
All you can do is say sorry for ignoring her message for three days.
I can't do that! I don't have any idea what she wants to see me for, and I'm scared of making things clear!
I thought I'd kind of make things clear to Soma.
Making things clear, huh?
Eita?
Haruto, you got a minute?
Hm?
Oh, Soma!
AND the much-talked-about gakuran-clad transfer student!
Hazuki, look.
We're gonna have a one at-bat game, okay?
What for?
Hit another home run, then you can respond to Morikawa-san.
I don't get it!
He went this way, right?
Forget it, Momoka!
Oh, there he is!
Whenever you're ready.
That was close!
Dude...
You sure are bein' REAL cocky!
So, what about you?
What do you mean?
I'm talkin' about what you'll do if you win.
It's unfair if you don't say, right?
Okay, I'll make things clear, too.
Make what clear?
Don't worry about it. Come on.
You've always been this way, Eita... Bein' a man of a few words.
It went really far! Is that a home run?
That was a foul.
What, are you taking this seriously?
Oh, another foul.
Your pitch has gotten faster, hasn't it?
Another foul. What ball is he on?
And another.
Hazuki, where are you going?
Head back without me.
I'd always listened to you trumpeting.
It was you! You were giving it your all, more so than the others.
Sorry!
Hell yeah!
Oh, crap. I'm supposed to respond to her message, if I hit a home run.
What is this feeling?
Let's head back, Mio.
I need to do my best, too.
Mio?
I already suck at playing.
New Year's Eve was the right day to go to Sangubashi.
The Romancecar is romantic!
It's a romancecar because it has loveseats.
It's just romantic.
The seats are two-seaters, after all.
It's just romantic.
It's because he only pitches straight balls...
That reminds me, did you get permission to enter the photo?
Not yet.
Is that okay? The deadline's next week, you know.
What do you think I should do to get permission?
Uh...
If you can't push him, then all you can do is back off, right?
That's it!
Soma!
You need something?
I've been wanting to tell you something for a while.
I'm gonna go.
No, stay! I'll be done in a minute.
Well... Huh?
Soma, hold out your hand.
Hm? Like this?
What's this?
An eraser.
I know that. But what's this for?
You lent me one in middle school, remember?
Huh?
I thought I'd give you another eraser. Or I guess I should say I always forgot about it.
Well, something came up.
Something?
Anyway, that's why I'm giving it to you.
So, what happened?
Nothing, really.
What? Tell me!
Next time, okay? Next time.
Come on, you can tell me!
So, what was that about? Come on, you can tell me!
So, what was that about?
Figure that out yourself.
Could it be that Natsume-san...
What should I do?
Has Morikawa-san replied?
Nope.
Was it Wednesday when you sent her a reply?
Yeah, two days ago.
Why don't you speak to her directly? You're in the same class, right?
Well, I thought about doing that, but...
She's clearly avoiding you. She's mad at you for sending a late reply, isn't she?
How can you say what people are sensitive about?
I can say what people are sensitive about, because it isn't my problem.
Did you guys fight or something?
No, we didn't.
You better bury the hatchet.
You should bury the hatchet.
Backing off isn't having any effect, though...
Komiya. Just the person I wanted to see.
Ugh.
I don't have anything to talk to you about, Slides.
Well, I do. It's about the Photography Club.
I'm talking politely to the Broadcasting Club about combining clubs starting next year, too, okay?
I said I'd show some results at a competition before!
Why are you so obsessed with the Photography Club?
It doesn't matter!
Anyway, that's that!
Hey, Komiya! Komiya-san, what do you mean?
I'm not even being mean, you know!
I can't memorize all of this.
I've already given up on struggling in vain.
Oh, yeah! Mio! Did anything happen with Soma afterward?
No, not really. I just returned his eraser, after all.
You didn't confess your love?
What?
We knew how you felt about him this entire time.
That's why you gave me this.
Mio and I are focused on our entrance exams.
We've got the National Center Test! The Center Test!
Aw, you're no fun!
Then, are you gonna confess after you're done with your exams?
Hm... I don't know.
If you don't hurry up, he might end up going out with someone, like with that girl in Band Club.
No way!
Anyway, let's go home now. We've got the Center Test.
Hey, Mio.
Hm?
Do you really like Soma?
If you don't know, then we won't know what to do for you.
I don't really know anymore.
I thought I was just elated.
But ever since that day, I felt refreshed. It was like being done with homework.
What's that supposed to mean? Still, I'm glad you told me that.
You're coming home for dinner, right?
Yeah, that's the plan.
Did you reply to Soma?
Not yet.
I see.
I thought I'd reply once I'm able to play perfectly.
Well, I'm sorry!
I called him over.
That song...
Would you play it for me?
That... Huh? I don't know the song title.
"In Unison."
I'm in the process of improving my playing ability, so I suck.
I sure do like you.
No, I meant your trumpeting!
Well, I mean, I like you, too, of course, but...
Thank you.
S-sure...
I felt like I needed to give you an answer again.
Huh?
For the thing you said to me during the first shrine visit.
I got your answer.
At the time, I was really caught off guard, and I responded immediately...
So, I wanted to give you an answer again, after I think it over.
What? Does that mean... Hold on!
Does that mean I haven't been rejected yet?!
If you're okay with it, I'd like you to give me some more time to think about it.
I wanted to tell you that.
I'm okay with that! Totally okay!
But I, um... My college is in Hyogo, so you shouldn't get your hopes up too high...
Besides, Natsu-
Hell yeah! Besides, Natsu-
Hell yeah!
All right!
I'm telling you, that girl took a photo of me without my permission!
Hey, is it okay to invite you out somewhere again in the meantime?
Like, with the group that went to the aquarium?
Well...
It's a no, right?
No, Natsume-san...
Right, she's got entrance exams.
Yeah.
Then, once she's done with the Center Test, let's have a celebration party!
Yeah, that'll be fine.
It's settled, then!
Morikawa-san was able to talk to him.
No way. It's snowing?
How come...?