I want to show you the love that is not fake
Isn't it normal to be concerned about...
...something so small that even makes me laugh?
Although I declared that is my character...
But the spirit is freer than that
Listen to me as I sing my song
As long as we can stay together
To simply believe that we will be happy
That the world goes around in a logical way
Don't say that I dream too much or that I'm too childish
I want to show you the love that is not fake
At Okitsu High School...
... it's graduation time.
Doesn't Mika-Sensei seem like her usual self?
Graduation is a time to part with the students she's nurtured.
No wonder she's melancholic.
But she doesn't teach the graduating class.
Maybe graduation ceremonies bring back sad memories for her.
Mika-Sensei?
No kidding!
Go ask her what's wrong, Iincho!
H-Hey!
Anything the matter?
Kind of.
Haa...
Um, what was your high school graduation like?
It was a very painful, sad time.
I didn't want to graduate.
So you had a boyfriend?
What? Oh, no. Nothing like that.
It's because I failed to enter a college.
Mika Suzuki, 27 years old History of being an entrance exam rejectee.
Episode 9: The Tearful Graduation Ceremony
Staff Room
Aww...
What should I do?
Huh? Where's your usual cheery self, Mika-Sensei?
What's bothering you?
Well, I've been asked to MC at the graduation ceremonies.
What?!
Isn't it awful?!
What am I going to do?!
Lucky you! You get to be the star!
They are of somewhat different races.
MC
Being the MC at the graduation...
MC ... is going to be a blast for you!
But...
I'm not really good at speaking in front of lots of people.
You do that every day in class.
That's true, but...
You just have to talk like you're in class.
What?
That's right.
And even if you come across as boring, it's no big deal.
It might even gently put us to sleep.
That and goof off while she's up there talking.
Feeling down...
What do my classes mean to them?
Cheer up.
I personally think your classes are the best, Mika-Sensei.
Really, Kitagawa?
Of course!
Just being able to stare at you gives me so much joy!
Feeling down... Um, what about the content of the classes?
Oh, what am I going to do?
Grind, grind... Oh, what am I going to do?
Grind, grind...
Just thinking about this is giving me a stomachache.
Grind, grind... You're stressing too much.
But look at this intense program.
Okitsu High School Graduation Ceremony Program
"Greeting from the Principal." "PTA President's Greeting."
"Student Representative's Speech."
It looks pretty ordinary for a grad ceremony program.
The MC only has to introduce these people, right?
But what if I make a mistake?
Anxious But what if I make a mistake?
Anxious I'd better stay up every night practicing.
Come on, don't get so worked up.
You're getting all nervous because you want to do a perfect job.
Just be more casual about it.
That's right. Tell yourself it's no big deal if you mess up.
I can't!
I can't do it unless it's going to be perfect!
I've never seen that side of her before.
Perfectionist I've never seen that side of her before.
Perfectionist
Well, she does have a point.
A flawless performance never hurt anyone.
That's right!
Say if you get a good MC for your wedding...
...you'll cherish those memories forever.
Cherished memories of my MC performance...
Mess up, and those students will be scarred for life.
Well, you shouldn't worry too much about it.
We're here to help you.
You just have to keep from getting nervous, right?
This might seem childish, but...
...write "people" on your hand, and then pretend to swallow it?
People ...write "people" on your hand, and then pretend to swallow it?
Yes! That might work!
Okay, "people", "people", "people", "people"...
I swallowed them all!
Swallow the People I swallowed them all!
That's completely ridiculous!
How could that work?!
Then try to imagine the audience as a bunch of vegetables.
Vegetables
Vegetables, huh?
Seaweed doesn't count.
Oh, I included it because you see it in salad.
Mika-Sensei doesn't cook, after all.
She's probably the type to ask a grocer for seaweed.
No, I'm not.
Uh, oh. She's getting more depressed.
I think we'll have to resort to tougher measures.
Tougher Measures Tougher measures?
What's going on?
I'm freezing! This is embarrassing!
Pheeewww...
No whining. This is going to give you courage!
Come on! Go for it!
"First, we have a greeting from the school principal."
Pheeewww...
It's freezing!
Can't hear you!
No amount of practice is going to help with a voice like that!
Tighten up your gut some more.
Maybe she should do a couple hundred sit ups to start with.
I didn't know that you were all a bunch of jocks.
This is not getting us anywhere.
But what other choice do we have?
Then, what about this?!
Ta-daa!
Wh-What's that, Seki?
You've got to look good to start with.
If you can pull off wearing that...
... I'm sure your nervousness will vanish!
That may be so, but...
But it'll also mean that her dignity will vanish as well.
Precious thing But it'll also mean that her dignity will vanish as well.
No! No way!
So, that idea's been rejected.
Rejected
Too bad...
Rejected But I'll wear it!
Rejected Rejected!
REJECTED Rejected!
REJECTED
There must be something we can do to liven up her performance.
Yeah...
Pro Wrestling How about we play theme music like they do in pro wrestling?
She's only an MC.
To get the crowd going!
You've got to put on a show!
What kind of theme music?
Something suited to graduation.
Something that celebrates new beginnings.
Wasn't there a song about "Becoming a Freshman"?
Yeah.
About "becoming a freshman and making 100 boyfriends"?
No!
That song's for a commencement ceremony!
I think the theme music idea is a bit tough.
I get that feeling, too.
I guess it's best to just focus on her performance.
I doubt an MC could get the crowd worked up anyway.
Mika-Sensei is being unreasonable.
Yeah!
What?!
But I haven't said anything.
Pheeewww... Come on! Stop whining and get practicing!
It's too cold! Let's call it a day!
You'll mess up unless you practice!
All right, then.
"Next, we will all sing the school song!"
Okitsu Okitsu! Okitsu!
Okitsu High School Okitsu High School!
Is that how our school song goes?
She's just making it up.
Mike-Sensei is so cute when she gets passionate!
Cute! Mike-Sensei is so cute when she gets passionate!
Anything seems okay with you.
But you know, I think she's got her courage now.
Okitsu! Okitsu!
Sneeze!
Huh?
The next day...
Sneeze!
Did you catch a cold, Sensei?
Yeah. A little.
You're not very tough, catching a cold after a little practice.
You don't have enough spirit!
I mean, I've never had a cold!
That info is not that helpful.
A you-know-what doesn't catch a cold, after all.
What's a "you-know-what"?
Are you all right?
Thank you, Kitagawa.
My eyes and nose won't stop running.
You should've taken the day off.
But I've got to practice being MC for the grad ceremonies.
MC But I've got to practice being MC for the grad ceremonies.
Poor thing
Poor thing.
So cute!
Huh?
You missed the last bit, Kitagawa.
"So" You missed the last bit, Kitagawa.
"So"
So cute! So cute!
Her eyes are spinning.
I don't have a fever, but my eyes and nose won't stop running.
Sounds more like hay fever to me.
Pollen Sounds more like hay fever to me.
Pollen
No way! That can't be! Impossible! Impossible!
Pollen People who react like that are just the sort to get hay fever.
Pollen
You're just imagining it.
Tree
Imagining it?!
You take care of yourself.
Awww...
Aww, come on...
Mika-Sensei, I hear it's hay fever you've got.
Yeah.
Matsumoto-Sensei gave me some medication, but...
Aren't hay fever medications the kind that make you drowsy?
That's right.
I just hope it goes away before the grad ceremony.
Health Improvement Through Massage
Mika-Sensei...
Health Improvement Through Massage There's a kind of massage therapy that'll relieve hay fever.
Massage There's a kind of massage therapy that'll relieve hay fever.
What?! Is there really something like that?!
Makes sense.
It's an allergic reaction...
...so I suppose that kind of therapy does exist.
That's right!
Let's do it! Let's do it!
Blob...
Um, Kitagawa...?
Why are you grabbing my belly?
This is massage!
Blob... This is massage!
I wish you wouldn't touch my belly.
Your pudgy little belly is so soft and squishy, it feels awesome!
Th-This is massage though, right?
Of course, it is!
All to get rid of that hay fever.
I can't get enough of this squishy feeling!
Is that really going to help her hay fever?
Who knows?
Another day...
It's wonderful being healthy!
Good-bye, hay fever!
Pepepepenope... Good-bye, hay fever!
Has your hay fever gone away?
Yes. I nipped it in the bud.
You've recovered quite quickly.
Did you get some special treatments for it?
Well, sort of...
Treatment?
Then you can handle the MC job at the grad ceremony.
The grad ceremony!
MC The grad ceremony!
Good luck!
I'm looking forward to it!
Aww, I'd completely forgotten about the grad ceremony.
Hey, Mika-Sensei?
I thought you said you'd gotten over your hay fever.
Okitsu High School Graduation Ceremony
Graduation Day
Good morning, Sensei!
How are you feeling?
Well, I just can't keep from going to the bathroom.
You can't help that.
Age
It's your age.
It's my nerves!
Mika-Sensei...
Say things like that and you'll never become a great principal.
Principal?
Principal
Imagination Principal
Dreamy...
Principal, huh?
Yes!
Did I just light a fire in her?
Who would've thought she was the ambitious type.
I thought of this when Mika-Sensei was practicing her delivery.
Don't you think she'd make a great newscaster.
A newscaster?
Imagination Female Newscaster/Male Newscaster
Dreamy...
Female newscaster. Yes!
What do you mean by, "Yes"?
I love it when she gets serious!
At the graduation ceremony...
And now...
...we will begin the graduation ceremony.
First, we will have a greeting from the principal.
Mika-Sensei's doing pretty good.
She didn't have to get worked up about it in the first place.
She's surprisingly good when it comes to the real thing.
Real thing
Real thing?!
Kudo, don't you get any dirty thoughts.
I'd probably be fast at the real thing.
Come on. Don't make a mess of the grad ceremony with your blood!
So, Iincho's up there as our class representative...
... but where's Kitagawa?
Hey, there she is.
I'm sure that your three years have been a great experience.
You are the leaders for the 21st century...
Next, we have a few short speeches from the class representatives.
Awesome, Dad.
This is perfect.
Stupid Parents
Mika, I pass down this scroll to you...
...for tomorrow's graduation ceremony.
Scroll A Method for Doing Your Graduation Ceremony MC Duty 10 Times Better
What is it, father?
A secret Suzuki clan document.
Family Secret A secret Suzuki clan document.
Family Secret A method to make your graduation ceremony MC duty...
Family Secret ... 10 times better.
Thank you, father!
Come on.
Stop this nonsense and get to bed.
You won't be able to wake up on time.
Okay!
End of Flashback
And a message from the representative of the student body.
Congratulations, new graduates.
As the representative of the student body...
... it is an honor to be here today and I am...
I am...
TV Guide: 13:00 Koro-Chan Live!
I wanted to see that show...
Exclusive Premier Broadcast
Iincho...
Moved
Clap, clap, clap...
After a successful ceremony...
Piece of cake... Piece of cake... Piece of cake...!
And you were so out of sorts before.
You think I was?
Absolutely.
Nervous...! Thump, thump...! I'm so nervous!
Nervous...! Thump, thump...! My heart's beating so fast!
Nervous...! Thump, thump...! Come on! That's all in the past!
Nervous...! Thump, thump...! Do you want to watch the video?
I'm so nervous! Do you want to watch the video?
I'm so nervous! - I'm so nervous! - When did you take those?
Mika-Sensei Graduation Ceremony - My heart's beating so fast! - I have a complete record!
My heart's beating so fast!
You can't show that to anyone!
I guess graduation is a time for romantic memories in your life.
That's right.
Standing by the school gates to stop the one you love...
So you've experienced that, Kudo?
Was it a cute one? With long hair?
No. He had a short jock cut then.
He's still totally cute, of course.
Oh, my! Look what you made me say!
Suetake
Suetake?
No doubt about it. It's Suetake.
Hey, have you seen Mika-Sensei around anywhere?
She might've gone back to the gym.
I'm worried that she might be in shock...
...so I'm trying to find her.
Good point. Maybe we should check on her.
Kitagawa!
Can I have a button?
I guess so.
I thought the girls gave buttons to the boys when they graduate.
This is a bit different.
The times have changed.
Oh, Seki!
I've been looking for you!
Hey!
Hey, check out Seki.
This is the way it's supposed to work.
I promised that you can have my skirts!
Oh, I'm so happy!
This is beyond different.
The times have changed.
Maybe it's just our school.
Hey Watabe!
May I have your second button?!
I'm not Watabe.
Nakayama, I'm not a graduate.
Oh, I'm so happy!
I get to spend another whole year with you!
What the...? What's with this girl?
So, how about giving me a drawing?
I said I'm not Watabe.
Why should I draw you a parting gift when I'm not even a graduate?
It's because you're good at drawing!
What can I say?
So, what do you want me to draw?
Graduation Memories
Get your graduation photos!
Graduation Memories How about a picture for your album?
What are you doing, Kobayashi?
This is the last chance for the girls to get their pictures taken...
... in high school uniforms!
Last chance to be a sexy high school girl!
If I didn't respond to their needs...
Last chance to be a sexy high school girl! ... it just wouldn't be fair to the seniors.
Let's get some light to show off that skin!
A gentle breeze blowing through your hair.
And available only at Okitsu! A shot with Mika-Sensei!
What?
A picture with me?
Graduation Ceremony
I'm so happy I could have my picture taken with Mika-Sensei!
Graduation Ceremony
I'm not a third year teacher, but this is still fun.
They look taller when they stand next to Mika-Sensei.
She's like those cigarette packs you see in commercials, to show scale.
Thank you, Mika-Sensei!
You're welcome!
Okay, next!
I'm next.
You're not graduating, Kitagawa.
Come on. Peace!
What?
The cherry blossoms are out. It sure feels like graduation time.
I don't like it.
The blossoms falling to their deaths.
Iincho...
I'm on cleaning duty this week.
Next week would've been better?
Yeah.
Look, some of them are crying.
They're so adorable.
You were the same, back then.
You think? "Adorable"?
Adorable You think? "Adorable"?
That's not what I meant.
Hay fever The hay fever.
Hay fever Those girls came to the infirmary to get some medication.
Hay fever, huh?
Sneeze! Sneeze! Sneeze!
Kudo, what's the matter?
Mika-Sensei...
Um...
Hay fever It's not hay fever, is it?
Certainly not.
You mean...!
A student you love is graduating?
No.
I was imagining my own graduation when Suetake and I...
...will go our separate ways.
It made me teary.
Oh.
Thank you so much for everything, Sensei.
I'll never forget about you, Sensei.
Moving... Wow...
I hope to be the kind of teacher whose students...
...will leap to embrace when they graduate.
I'm sure you will.
You think?
Of course. Look.
Come to me anytime you want!
Come on Uh, that's not what I...
Come on
It's not that I want to go leaping into someone's embrace.
Evening
I guess that's it for the graduation ceremony.
Most of the students will be going on to university.
That's right.
It's time for you all to start thinking about your futures.
I suppose...
Watching you, I almost want to become a teacher.
How flattering of you!
Moving... How flattering of you!
I figure that if you could make it as a teacher...
...then it would be easy even for me.
Feeling blue...
Aww...
Can't we start thinking about our futures after we graduate?
I suppose.
As long as you graduate, that is...
What?!
Am I that close to flunking?!
Everyone's gone now.
It's kind of sad.
If you feel that way already...
... how are you going to deal with our graduation?
I bet she'll cry big time!
Uh, I won't cry!
I won't cry. I won't cry.
When I cry... When I cry...
If I cry... When I cry...
If I cry...
Cry, if...
I might cry!
To cry I might...!
Sob, sob...
Her grammar's starting to slip.
Sob, sob... And she's bawling already.
Sob, sob... What'll she be like when we actually graduate?
But just the thought of you all graduating next year...
Okay, then. We won't graduate.
Yeah! We can't graduate if it's going to make our teacher cry!
We'll fail everything and all flunk the whole year!
Yeah! Yeah!
You can't do that!
No!
You can't do that! No!
No! No! No way! No way!
Fail everything!
Yeah! Fail everything!
Yeah! - No! No! - Yeah!
No! No!
- Yeah! - No! No! - You can't do that! - Let's flunk the year!
Yeah!
End of Episode 9
DON'T STOP. DON'T STOP THE MUSIC
Running up a steep hill of frozen asphalt
I can barely catch my breath
I feel like I'm about to fall apart LONELINESS
Let's listen to Rock'n'Roll If I feel like I'm about to be jilted
I put on my headphones and crank up the VOLUME
Dance like crazy and strut along in M IDNIGHT
I don't need anything
The night is harsh
But neither tears nor lies flow
DON'T STOP. DON'T STOP THE MUSIC
Let me hear the cool numbers
It's only ROCK'N ROLL (ROCK'N ROLL)
It is indeed ROCK'N ROLL (ROCK'N ROLL)
I laugh away the silly romance put to the rhythm
I smile as I lay down low
I am dynamite
Next time - Episode 10: The Kyoto Field Trip Incident of Love and Hate!