Kashima
Huh?
What on earth...
Kashima, is that... a love letter?
Kashima Ryuichi-sama
Is it a love letter?!
Usokawa?
A love letter... No fair!
Who's it from? Well?
I've never seen a love letter left in a shoe locker before!
Ushimaru-san? Is it from Ushimaru-san?!
If it's Ushimaru-san, I...
Yuki?
I-It... It wasn't me!
Oh, it wasn't you?
I see...
Who was it?
Inomata-san from the gifted class?
Well, there's no name on it.
Maybe it's a prank.
Kamitani!
Hard to imagine any girl doing something so old-fashioned these days...
I-I'll do it! I'll check it myself! You don't have to open it!
I'm not gonna open something that doesn't belong to me.
Still... it can't be a love letter.
Girls don't especially like me.
How many girls has he ignored to think that?
Excuse me!
Don't cluster here. You're in the way of people trying to leave.
I-Inomata-san...
Sorry. We'll get out of the way.
Well... I'm glad you understand.
Let's see here... "Kashima Ryuichi-sama.
I realize this is sudden, but I like you.
I love you."
"When I think about you, I can't sleep, day or night."
Who sleeps during the day?
"I love your kindness, your diligence, and everything about you.
I love, love, love, love you!
If you wouldn't mind giving me a reply,
meet me tomorrow morning behind the school building before clubs meet.
I'll be waiting."
It has her class and name written.
It really is a love letter, Kashima!
I'm super jealous... but that means Ushimaru-san is mine!
So what's the plan?
What? Kashima, do you like this girl?
Why are you blushing, too?
No, it's just... no one's ever said this to me...
Anyway, I need to give careful thought to my reply, I guess.
For now, I need to get to the daycare room.
Hey, Kashima.
You're still wearing your indoor shoes.
You gonna go outside in those?
Why is he so flustered by a girl telling him she likes him?
Man, you're...
K-Kashima-kun!
Hey, you can vent to me. Let's stop somewhere on the way home.
You're invited, Inomata-san.
M-Me, too?
B-But making detours on the way home from school is inappropriate...
Kashima
Just do it.
School Babysitters
Ryu's all red!
He's red!
Red!
You're very red!
Ryu-chan, do you have a cold?
Need a thermometer?
No, I just... I ran all the way here, so...
I'm fine.
Don't worry about me.
Really, I don't have a cold.
No need to worry, Kotaro.
I just need to calm down...
Right. I need to think of what to say...
But... my chances of dating have always felt so remote,
I've never even thought about it...
Now that I think about it, I don't even know the person who sent that letter very well...
Baby Powder
But being told someone l-likes me did feel pretty nice.
I guess maybe I am interested in that sort of thing...
Congratulations to you, Ryuichi-sama.
Uh, wha...
What's this? Has something happened worth celebrating?
Yes. Ryuichi-sama received his first letter of love today.
N-No, it's nothing!
What's this about love?
Um...
That red rice looks delicious!
What's wrong with you, Ryuichi? Do you have a cold?
Take your bath and get right to bed!
Okay...
Make up your mind before you get chilly from the bath, Kotaro.
Did you decide which one you want?
You didn't?
If you don't choose fast, you really will get a chill.
Kota sleepy.
What? You want to go to bed without a story?
That's unusual...
I need to do my homework first.
Be a good boy and go to sleep, okay?
Well, I'm off.
Have a fine day, Ryuichi-sama, Kotaro-sama.
Okay... I think I need to turn her down.
I really appreciate the sentiment,
but I'm not together enough to manage dating and taking care of Kotaro at the same time.
Although... I wonder if I can turn her down without being rude...
I only left early because I wanted to do my lesson preparation at school.
I'm not actually worried about him at all!
I'm not...
I couldn't possibly be!
I'm so silly, leaving early when I don't even have a club to get to...
I guess I really am worried about it...
Inomata-san... are you worried, too?
N-No... I'm not!
Inomata-san!
K-Kashima-kun?
My brother...
Kotaro... Have you seen him?
I let go of his hand, and the next thing I knew, he was gone!
I... I haven't seen him...
Oh... sorry. Thanks.
Wait a minute!
Isn't there something else you should say instead of going pale and blaming yourself?
I can help you search! Got a problem with that?
P-Please, let me help you look for him, too!
I've lived here a long time, so I know the area.
I'm sure we'll find him!
Thanks.
Kotaro...
Where are you, Kotaro?
Kotaro...
Kashima.
Kamitani?
He wandered into someone else's yard to bring you this.
Nii-chan. Lemon.
Baa-chan's medicine.
Oh... I see.
I worried you that much?
Idiot...
That's no reason to leave your brother behind and run off!
I'm sorry!
You sure about this?
You seemed so happy about it, but you turned her down?
Yeah.
Right now, Kotaro really has to be my first priority.
That's a tangerine. Give it here.
Lemon.
No, it's a tangerine.
That doesn't sound healthy.
Leave me alone!
Hey, Inomata-san...
Does this mean we basically both got turned down, too?
I-I told you, I'm not at all interested!
In fact, I'm more relieved to hear him acting like himself.
That's a good point!
Hey, Inomata-san...
Is it okay if I start calling you Maria-chan?
You're Inomata Maria-chan, right?
I hope we can be friends!
D-Don't call me by my first name!
Why not?
It doesn't sound like "me"!
Don't be like that!
No! It's embarrassing!
Maria-chan!
Oh? Inomata-san?
I... I didn't come here to see you.
To see me, then?
Not you, either.
I was just asked to bring these print-outs to this room.
Thanks, Maria-chan.
I told you not to call me by my first name!
It's nice to see Inomata-san making so many friends lately.
Maria-chan! Maria-chan!
Yes, Morinomiya Estate.
Quit stalling and give your name, dummy.
Are you a pervert?
But it wasn't Ryu who answered!
If you're gonna get all shy, don't insist on calling yourself.
Ask for Ryu and Kotaro!
I'm sorry, but could I speak to—
If you want the color of my underwear, it's black.
I don't.
Forgive me. It was a joke.
I shall call Ryuichi-sama at once. One moment, please.
Hello? Kamitani?
Hey.
Put me on! Nii-chan! I wanna do it!
You guys free?
I wanna ask him!
Yeah, I'm free...
Hang on a second.
What is it? You want to talk?
Talk already.
Where are you trying to listen from?
Kotaro, come to the festival with me!
I asked him on the phone!
What was that sound? Everything okay?
Yeah, Kotaro just bumped his head when he nodded in response.
He's okay.
That was dumb.
Yeah... I can't deny that.
Festival?
Yes.
You're free to go if you wish, but don't be wasteful with your money.
Many stalls try to swindle their customers, so be careful.
I don't understand people who would willingly go out in a crowd just to buy trash like that.
R-Right...
It's true that festivals sell a lot of things that,
if you sit down and think about it, you would never want.
They make you want to eat a lot of stuff, too...
Ryuichi-sama, Kotaro-sama.
As you will be heading to the festival, I have prepared yukata for the two of you.
If you don't know how to put them on, I shall assist you.
Today, I'm a hero!
Don't swing that around. You'll get in people's way.
Darn it... Why'd you have to bring that, anyway?
Don't blame me if you lose it.
I'm not gonna lose it!
You definitely will.
Kamitani!
Sorry. Did you wait long?
It's fine. It was a sudden thi—
Why'd you put so much effort into your outfit, too?
Are you gonna do a bon dance or what?
Well, er...
Saikawa-san, and probably the chairwoman, put a lot of thought into it,
so I couldn't not wear it...
Ah. The guy with black underwear?
Underwear?
Kotaro, let's go! We're gonna walk around!
Hey! Wait!
You'll get lost without us!
And you shouldn't run in a crowd, either!
That idiot never learns.
Maybe I should give him a whack on the head first.
Please don't!
We just need to make sure we keep our eyes on them.
Let's go!
Nii-chan!
Yeah, it's really neat, like a cloud.
I'll open it for you so you can eat it.
You don't want to eat it yet?
You'd better hurry, or it'll shrivel up.
What are you looking at?
Transformation Belt Power Change!!
Hey, boys and girls! Come one, come all! 500 yen!
Boys
For just 500 yen, you can win the newest game system or the most popular toys!
Well?
Want to try a pull, my friends?
Nii-chan! I wanna do it!
Okay, let's find something more substantial to eat.
Yeah, good idea.
Let's do that, Taka-kun!
What do you two want to eat?
Those strings aren't even connected.
They're totally not connected.
Especially to the game systems and stuff...
No, no! I wanna do it! I wanna do it!
Oh?
Ryu-chan and Hayato-chan!
Usaida-san. What are you doing here?
Look at you, in that yukata...
Very elegant. Kotaro's, too.
So, what's wrong with Taka?
He looks totally deflated already.
I wanted the belt!
Um, he just...
Actually, Usaida-san, what are you doing here?
Part-time job. A neighbor asked me.
Here, Taka.
You can have this. Scoop up a goldfish and cheer up.
You, too, Kotaro.
You're sure?
Yeah. Of course, you have to pay.
You're charging us?
I'll make it 200 yen, just for you.
You're making a hard sell.
I don't want a goldfish!
I wanna pull the string!
Shut up.
If you don't get a grip, I'm dumping you on Usaida.
Also, what happened to the sword you brought?
Oh, that's right. He had his little sword when we got here...
Sorry, I don't have it.
No, don't look at me. I couldn't have it.
You...
lost it.
T-Taka-kun...
Get a grip already.
It'll be okay, Taka-kun.
If we retrace our steps, I'm sure we'll find it in no time.
Hey, Kashima.
Forget him.
You two go around the festival together.
We're not at school. You're under no obligation to look after him here.
And you don't want to drag around a pain-in-the-neck like him.
This isn't about clubs. I just want to help you look.
We're friends, right?
Wait...
Was I the only one who thought we were friends?
Knowing Kamitani, it's entirely possible...
You're really something.
How so?
If he wasn't my little brother,
I'd never spend time with a pain-in-the-neck like him.
I don't wanna play with you either, Nii-chan!
Please stop making him cry, Kamitani.
I don't see it around here, either...
Hey, you guys. Good timing!
Have you seen the girls around?
We have a plan to accidentally bump into them.
Sorry. Haven't seen them.
We're looking for something.
Looking for what? Hotties?!
Hey, Kashima, why are you wearing a yukata?
W-We couldn't find it...
My... my sword...
Hey there, kiddo.
If you dropped something, there should be a lost-and-found at the festival office.
Thank you!
Okay, let's go, Taka-kun!
Welcome. How can I help you?
Yagi-kun?
I was wondering why there were so many girls around here...
What is this, a host club?
I live in this neighborhood, so I'm helping out.
What about you two?
Actually, Taka-kun here lost his toy sword...
My sword...
How... awful.
You're the one looking awful!
Are you okay?
Don't mind him.
That happens all the time.
The lost-and-found is over here, Kashima.
Nezu-kun!
We have quite a few toy swords, so just wait a minute.
Suekichi, Kichi, get them out.
Okay.
Mine's not here...
I see.
I'm afraid these are the only ones we've received.
I'm sorry I couldn't help.
Taka-kun...
Hey, Taka.
We've done a lot of searching, and we can't find it. You need to give up.
No! I wanna keep looking!
Then look by yourself.
Hey, Kamitani, don't be like tha—
Shut your mouth.
In exchange, if you give up, I'll take you to that lottery booth.
Deal with it, idiot.
This is the best compromise you're getting.
And make sure you thank Kashima for looking for it.
If he hadn't asked me to look for it, I would have made you give up from the start.
Without the lottery offer, of course.
Well? Gonna go look for it by yourself?
I...
I give up.
Okay, then, let's go.
Go on. Draw your lots.
Go on. Pull one.
Kamitani, give him a minute. He needs to think.
Kotaro!
Incredible!
It's just like Taka-kun's old sword!
Great job, Kotaro!
Hey, old man. Let's talk.
No, I swear I didn't just find it!
As an apology, the old man gave us the newest game system...
or rather, a piggy bank shaped like one.
What on earth is this?
It's a souvenir.
I'm glad to see that you had a satisfying day.
Next Episode Preview
What? A next episode preview?
You mean like Saikawa-san usually does?
Sorry, I can't stand in for him.
I'll probably spend the next episode asleep.