The older of my sisters, Araragi Karen...
A third-year in middle school.
Had a birthday at the end of June, turning fifteen.
She's always been a tomboy who excels at most sports.
But her talents seemed best suited to combat.
She earned her black belt in record time.
She enjoyed fighting too much to appear truly feminine.
I wouldn't call her manly,
but the aggressive look in her eye makes her appear boyish.
And the younger of sisters, Araragi Tsukihi...
A second-year in middle school.
Her birthday falls in early April,
which makes her fourteen now.
Karen is, well,
exactly what she looks like.
But Tsukihi's appearance belies her true nature.
But what's important is that her true nature does not belie her appearance.
She looks extremely feminine,
but her nature is even more aggressive than Karen's.
And she's easily provoked.
Her fits could almost be called hysterics.
Black Scene
The Fire Sisters of Tsuganoki 2nd Middle School...
Black Scene
The pair has formed what could be considered
either a rescue squad or a heroic duo,
Black Scene
a game that occupies the majority of their time.
Black Scene
Of course, were you to tell them that...
It isn't a game, Nii-chan!
We aren't the good guys.
We're goodness itself, Onii-chan.
...they'd tell you.
I can usually anticipate what they'll say.
But I can say this without hesitation...
Araragi Karen and Araragi Tsukihi,
the actions of the Fire Sisters
are nothing but a game.
Because, my dear sisters,
you are irredeemable fakes.
Episode 2: Karen Bee, Part 2
Sengoku, that's how you do it at home?
D-Do what?
Those bangs.
B-Bangs?
Wh-What are you talking about?
She's pretending to have no idea.
I-I definitely didn't work up the courage
to change my hairstyle because you were
coming over to my house for the first time.
Come in, Koyomi-oniichan.
Sure...
Hey, Sengoku...
Where are your mom and dad?
My parents work on Saturdays.
Just like mine.
So that's why you answered the phone.
My room is on the second floor.
Black Scene
Sengoku, that clo—
Don't open it!
—set...
I'd never forgive anyone, even you, for opening it.
Okay, have a seat there,
Koyomi-oniichan.
There? On the bed?
You're sure?
Yeah.
You can't sit anywhere but on the bed...
This room is kind of hot, isn't it?
Wh-Why don't you take off your sweatshirt, Koyomi-oniichan?
Me?
Even if you aren't hot, you still have no choice
but to remove your sweatshirt.
I have no choice but to remove it, huh?
Black Scene
Koyomi-oniichan, let's play a King Game.
[In a King Game, one person issues orders, of an often sexual nature, to others, referred to by number.]
Sengoku, do you even know what a King Game is?
It has nothing to do with a deck of cards.
I know what it is.
It's like Captain's Orders, right?
Simon Says
The king's word is law!
Too political!
Well, I've never played one before, so I don't really know.
But, Sengoku,
you can't have a King Game with only two players.
Why not?
I'm fine with either role.
Giving the orders and taking them.
W-Well, let's not play that...
Then let's play the Game of Life, Koyomi-oniichan.
The Game of Life, huh?
Sure, that sounds fun.
The word of Life is law!
Deep!
Oh, yeah.
We used to play that at my place, right?
Yeah, I remember.
Yeah?
I never forgot.
Koyomi-oniichan will not get dirty thoughts
from looking at Sengoku's body.
Aren't you glad I'm such a gentleman, Sengoku?
Black Scene
Time Passes
Sengoku, has anything been happening lately?
Wh-What do you mean?
I mean anything like what happened before.
No, I've been fine.
I see.
But there's some weird charm circulating, as usual.
At your school?
Yeah, but not just at my school.
Among all the middle schoolers.
I think Rara-chan and the others are up to something.
Up to something?
When I talked to her a while ago,
she asked about what happened with the snake.
And since I couldn't tell her the truth,
I didn't say too much.
But she was getting others to help her investigate stuff.
In other words,
it has to do with that charm.
But to be precise, that whole
curse was basically nonsense, right?
In your case, you just chose the wrong way to handle it.
Yeah.
I was the only one
for whom anything actually manifested that way, I think.
But that's just a guess.
Then...
But I don't think they're actually worried
about anyone performing the charm at all.
I think they probably
don't even believe in the supernatural.
Yeah, I'm sure.
It seems like they're more concerned
with the fact that nonsense of that sort is going around.
They said they're trying to discover
who's spreading it.
No one's trying to spread it.
And even should they find someone,
now that it's spread, it isn't their responsibility.
That's just Rara-chan... Or rather, the Fire Sisters.
They seemed on the verge of saying
that someone had deliberately spread the word for their own reasons.
That sounds just like them...
Sheesh.
I'm gonna have to talk to Karen.
It isn't something I have to get involved in...
But given the percent
of Sengoku Nadeko involved, it's delicate.
K-Koyomi-oniichan?
It's nothing!
I'm fine, Sengoku.
Anyway, Sengoku...
You look better that way.
I mean your bangs.
You should do it like that outside.
B-But I'm embarrassed!
But if you want me to...
I'll do my best.
Yeah, doing your best is always good.
Anyway, we're almost done with the Game of Life.
What do you want to do after this?
Twister!
I don't know Twister.
How do you play? Show me.
Okay, I'll show you...
I'll show your body.
Black Scene
I can't wait!
After that, Sengoku's mom suddenly came home.
I-I didn't tell them you were coming over!
She'll get mad! She'll get mad!
If she sees me dressed this way, she'll think I'm a pervert...
I wonder why...
I think the fact that there was a problem at her workplace
saved something important for me, as a man.
It was supposed to be tomorrow, but eh...
This is Kanbaru Suruga!
Kanbaru Suruga...
Primary weapon, accelerator.
You're a cyborg?!
That voice and joke...
It's you, Araragi-sempai.
Yeah, but...
Hey, you're at home, right?
Yes, I am.
Would you wait a minute, Araragi-sempai?
I'll take my clothes off, this minute.
Why?
What are you talking about, Araragi-sempai?
It may be over the phone, but I'm still speaking to you.
Thus, courtesy dictates that I must be naked.
Don't speak as though I've never heard of courtesy.
And stop trying to find excuses to strip!
You've underestimated me.
I guess you don't understand how fast I really am.
I'm already naked!
Already naked?
Your perversion has finally gone further
than I'm willing to go, Kanbaru!
Oh, my...
This is my house, and this is my room.
No matter what I may wear or don't,
that's a decision for me, and no one else.
You're right.
Sorry.
You weren't getting naked outside or anything.
I'm sorry for yelling.
No, so long as you understand, it's fine.
No matter how liberated I feel when naked,
I only go outside naked occasionally.
You do it occasionally?!
Like in a bath.
Or with the basketball team...
You won't trick me this time...
I bet it was at the bath, during your team trip, right?
Close.
It was on our trip.
During our first year, I led a naked team trip.
I hope your team gets banned!
What's wrong, Araragi-sempai?
It was obviously a joke.
For you to believe such an obvious lie,
you may be even dirtier than I am.
Wh-What?
Black Scene
What's wrong, Kanbaru?
I accidently forgot to close the partition to my room...
Grandmother
And my grandmother came down the hallway.
She looked at me with sad eyes,
and passed me without missing a step!
Well, the granddaughter she raised was on the phone,
while stark naked.
My life is over...
How can I ever talk to her again?
Hey, Kanbaru.
Sorry to interrupt your emotional trauma,
but I unexpectedly have the day off from my test prep.
I know I promised to help clean your room tomorrow.
But how about today?
Sure...
That's fine.
Whatever day is best for you.
Then I'll be right there.
Black Scene
Oh, it's you, Nii-chan?
I thought it was an enemy.
Do you have enemies?
Jeez.
Doing handstands that way, in public...
Don't you have any dignity?
You should act more like a girl who's going through puberty.
What if you get a reputation?
I'm not sure I follow,
but I think you're trying to avoid talking about yourself.
I'm not doing that at all.
What are you doing out here?
Community service.
Just a bit of volunteer work.
Volunteer work?
You don't even know what that word means, idiot.
What are you doing, Nii-chan?!
That's dangerous.
What's dangerous is what you're doing.
And what are you doing?
I told you, community service.
Who do you think I am?
I don't know.
Who are you, anyway?
Slayer of a thousand demons...
Hell's guard dog, the Gumshoe Master!
How cool...
Super-cool and perfect!
I guarantee that, if nothing else, that pose is not cool at all.
Well, I'm a brightly burning girl.
Burn to death.
Black Scene
But I will admit that I enjoy the inherent humor
of saying cool things in that ridiculous pose.
I see, I see...
Then we'll make it a running gag of mine.
Okay, let's practice.
Say something cool. Anything at all.
You shall not pass!
Cooler than expected.
And the reverse...
Leave this to me. You go on ahead!
Anyway,
I'm busy with some stuff right now.
Nii-chan, if you want to chat,
we'll do it tonight with Tsukihi-chan.
Will that work?
Hello?
Oh, yeah...
Nii-chan...
It's okay.
It looks like this really will be over soon.
Seems I'll have a heroic tale
to tell tonight!
Who'd listen to that?
The worst part of my day so far
is finding out that you've nearly finished middle school,
but still walk on your hands through the city.
Bye!
Hasta la vista!
Suruga's Grandmother: Ah... Be kind to Suruga, Koyomi-kun.
K-Kanbaru?
Is that you, Araragi-sempai?
Wait, Kanbaru!
Do not turn over right now...
If you turn over, we'll have a big problem!
Oh, I apologize for this...
I'm embarrassed to be this way in front of you.
But for you to open the partition without knocking...
That isn't anything like the Araragi-sempai I know,
the paragon of virtue.
Um, well...
I wanted to see you depressed...
If such an ugly thing satisfies you, you're free to watch as much as you like.
Look long and well.
This is who Kanbaru Suruga truly is.
With nothing at all concealed.
Well, that is...
Sorry.
Sorry, Kanbaru.
Let me take responsibility.
Responsibility?
What could you mean by responsibility, Araragi-sempai?
Let's get married!
Wh-Why marriage?
Well, even if it was just your back half, I saw you naked.
You're skipping a few steps there.
By that theory,
how many girls would you need to marry?
That isn't a very nice thing to say!
Araragi-sempai,
that's an extraordinarily attractive offer,
but you don't need to take responsibility.
If you did that, Senjougahara-sempai would get mad at me.
Instead, Araragi-sempai, I do have a request...
Would you fulfill it?
Sure, anything.
For today, I'm your slave!
I'd like to get dressed. Could you wait in the hall?
Kanbaru, what's this?
Oh, my team uniform.
Come to a Complete Stop
I wondered where it had gone.
And there it was.
No Entry
A practice uniform?
No, it's a memento from my first year,
when we made it to the nationals.
Turn it over, and look inside.
All of my teammates signed it.
Do you not understand the concept of treasuring your memories?
My memories are always in my heart.
That's a great line, but...
Actually, I've only seen you play
in a single basketball game...
Hey, Kanbaru.
Would you put this on?
Sure.
I've grown out my hair, so I'll look different than I did then.
Your hair grows awfully fast...
Yeah?
No Entry
I've heard normal hair grows at
a rate of one centimeter per month.
But yours has grown at least five.
No Entry
Well, I'm really erotic.
She said it frankly!
That's right.
I'm so erotic,
I thought that "peperoncino"
was a dirty word for years.
You should have realized that when you ate it!
I once misheard "family rate" as "family rape."
Family Rape
Dangerous Object
I mean, I once misheard "family rate" as "family hate."
Family Hate
That doesn't really make it better!
And I remember recently thinking
"bracelet" meant "let's take a breath."
Erotic
That isn't erotic at all. It's just a misunderstanding!
"Bracelet,"
I said, rather than, "Don't worry," during matches,
getting really embarrassed.
I'll never forget my teammates' stunned expressions.
Stop it...
That episode is too embarrassing!
Here...Well?
Something like this, Araragi-sempai?
When I wear this, I feel the way I did back then.
Back then?
When you played basketball?
No Entry
No, the naked team trip.
You're totally aware of it?!
Black Scene
The Glasses-Wearing Secretary and the Glasses-Wearing Prince
We can throw this one out...
I guess it goes in the flammable trash.
Araragi-sempai,
that is not flammable trash.
It may be rotten, but I need it.
Black Scene
But all of these look the same...
Can you tell the difference when you read them?
Of course.
Watch for Falling Books
Any time one isn't familiar with something, it all looks the same.
Knowledge and education
are required to properly judge a thing.
I see.
But even still...
The Glasses-Wearing Secretary and the Glasses-Wearing Prince
I guess they're all handsome.
I was just thinking you like 'em handsome...
Maybe you aren't really a big pervert.
Don't all girls like handsome guys?
So it's natural to enjoy seeing handsome guys together.
It's basically like an idol group, right?
P-Please don't use simplified examples!
It's not as though you only like guys who weigh more than 100 kg,
or are turned on by the smell of old men.
U-Um, well...
If you say that to me, there's nothing else I can do...
I'll strip!
I'll strip right now.
No, no, no, no.
When you think about it, being underdressed
at home is actually pretty normal...
And even outside, it's only in a bath, right?
I'm sorry for all the things I've said.
I don't want you to apologize!
Araragi-sempai,
listen to what I have to say.
And as you, yourself, said on the phone,
maybe I'm the bigger pervert...
She fell into complete disarray.
That's... No!
I just happened to have a lot of books like that around there!
There's harder BL on a lower stratum!
I know that BL is more than just handsome guys!
Keep looking!
Come on, Kanbaru.
If you actually have to look for it, it isn't really you...
Now I have no choice but to prove my innocence...
Araragi-sempai, prepare yourself!
Prepare myself for what?
Don't worry...
It only hurts at first.
It'll feel good soon.
Pedestrian
Construction
You have a pretty nice body yourself.
I like these muscles.
They feel great to touch!
Stop struggling...
It makes it harder to remove your underwear!
I swore then that
no matter when or how I encountered Hachikuji,
I would never open the conversation
with sexual harassment.