I'm heading out.
Look! It's Sotoka-san from Class 1.
Even from behind, you can feel her glow.
Would you like one... of these?
Welcome Back from Elsewhere
I made a lot of them,
so there's one for everyone.
Thank you!
Oh, it's Sotoka-san.
What? She's handing out origami?
So cute!
Incredible! So cute!
Wow, so many people.
They're so popular.
Shuriken are so popular!
Hm?
Morning, Sotoka.
Shuriken again?
Good morning.
Would you like one as well, Nako?
Huh? Hm...
Well, I guess I'll take one.
You just can't help it.
I knew shuriken would be popular.
What do you mean, you knew?
Master, would—
What?!
Fr—
Frien—
Fr...
ien—
Master!
Shot down at the start of the second semester, huh.
What happened to her?
She must've started working to make friends again, now that second semester's starting.
Friends...
Hey, Bocchi.
That's turned really red.
But...
Hoping people will jump straight to being friends is a high hurdle to overcome,
so I think that's why things aren't going well for you.
High hurdle?
Try overcoming a lower hurdle first.
A lower hurdle...
I'll join a club.
The track club.
I'm not talking about actual hurdles!
But Master, why are you trying to be friends with Kurai-san?
Well...
To be honest, Kurai-san lent me her ribbon back in first semester.
Oh, fine. I'll lend this to you, then.
I thought about returning it to her during summer break, but I couldn't.
So then you should make it your goal just to talk to Kurai-san today.
Talk to...?
You can give it your best to accomplish that goal, right?
Do you think Kurai-san would join the track team?
I think that's impossible.
Are you going?
Just talk to her first.
If anything, you don't even need to look her in her eyes.
Just talk to her, even if you have to avert your eyes.
Master! I know you can do it, Master!
Yeah.
I can't.
This is going to lead to my leg cramping.
Stretches!
Courage.
Find your courage!
Bring it out! And speak!
U-Um!
I did it.
Hitori-san.
Huh?
Are you making fun of me?!
Huh?!
U-Uh...
Hey, hold on a minute!
Hold up!
Oh, right.
Hold on.
How can you run like that?!
She's jumping over the hurdles.
Impressive! What wonderful ninja arts!
I've cornered you now.
Now, Hitori-san, you're going to explain to me what you think you're doing.
A ribbon?
Were you trying to return this to me?
In that case, you should have just said so sooner.
I always thought well of you, since you always keep your uniform prim and proper.
Huh?
Always?
So I was disappointed when I saw your ribbon undone.
She has been noticing me.
She always has...
Th-Thank you very much.
I'm not praising you.
They're talking!
They're talking to each other!
Shh!
Say it properly.
Tell her you that you undid your ribbon so you could talk to her.
I can't.
Thinking back, there was always someone else there
when I tried with Aru-chan or Sotoka-san.
That's why I could give it my best.
When I'm on my own, I cry.
Huh? Hey, are you okay?
Nako?
Calm down.
She doesn't see me!
What are you doing, Sunao-san?
Calm down, Bocchi.
It's okay.
Nako-chan.
Master!
Sotoka-san, too?
You jumped over a lot of hurdles, didn't you?
That's right! Ultimate ninja style!
Yeah.
Um...
Huh?
That day I undid my ribbon on purpose.
Huh?!
I thought maybe you might notice me if I undid my ribbon.
Why would you do that?
Because I wanted to talk to you!
Huh?
Huh?!
S-So will you chat with me from now on, too?
If that's what's going on...
I don't mind chatting with you.
Really?
Is that all you wanted to say?
Then...
W-Will you join the track club as well?
Track club?
Forget about that.
Let me just say this, okay?
Huh?
For various reasons, it's my policy not to make any friends.
Just don't forget that, okay?
That's a strange policy.
A policy against making any friends?
Yeah.
Well, Kurai-san sure is always by herself, but...
Right?
So it's not like she meant she hated you or anything.
She even said she'd chat with you, right?
But she won't be friends.
Well, we won't know for sure until we can ask her why she'd say such a thing,
but I think you have a chance.
Huh?
Because it's lonely being all by yourself, without any friends.
You think so?
For now, why don't you befriend someone else first?
But...
It's all right.
Huh?
Master, you wanted to become friends with Kurai-san, right?
Yeah.
It wasn't as though just anyone would do.
You wanted to become friends with Kurai-san, right?
I'm sure those feelings will get through to her.
Sotoka-san...
Hitori
Thank you for seeing me home.
A little detour every now and then is good.
Well, cheer up now.
Yeah. Bye-bye.
Still, a lot of things can happen when you try to befriend everyone in class, huh?
If only everyone was as easy to understand as you are.
Don't talk as if you understand me.
I wonder when she's going to notice.
That reminds me. Did you ask her?
Huh?
You were going to ask Bocchi if you could be her friend and her apprentice, right?
No.
You still haven't?
Because I think Master would get mad at me.
In Bocchi's case, that's not happening.
Besides...
If I do that, would I be her apprentice?
Or her friend?
I left early, because it took a lot of time yesterday, and I was nearly late.
But today there were no neighbors around,
Pedestrian / Cyclist Crossing
and I crossed the streets right away,
so I got here too early.
Oh, maybe our classroom isn't open yet.
The key's in the teacher's office.
The teacher's office is the scariest.
Please let it be open.
Please let...
Good, it's open.
Oh, Kurai-san.
I-I hid.
What do I do?
It would be weird if I just left,
but she did just tell me we could chat the other day.
Huh?!
H-Hey...
U-Um...
Good morning.
G-Good...
Hunched back!
...morning!
Improper posture is bad discipline.
Straighten out your back.
R-Right!
Wh-What are you doing?
Going around and wiping down the desks.
We spend the majority of our day at these desks.
I-I'll help, too!
You can bend your back for this!
Thanks to your help, I finished early.
Huh?
Thank you.
I-It's fine.
Um, then shall we chat?
Sure.
U-Uh...
What's your favorite food?
What are you reading?
Ah!
Some of the words disappeared because I wiped down the desks.
But that's okay!
I wrote them in my notebook, too!
Lately, I've been preparing backup plans.
Please stop making such sad backup plans.
Wahaha!
If you laugh, then you can get good grades!
Hm?
Nako!
Shh!
Hm?
U-Uh, first...
Question "Why do you have a policy against making friends?" Her answer... 1) Family custom -> That's an odd custom, isn't it? (With surprise) 2) To become strong -> I think you're already strong enough, Kurai-san! (Nod firmly) 3) I prefer being alone -> Me, too! (With a bright smile)
What?
Pass for now.
Pass on what?
Um, why do you have a policy against making friends?
Oh.
To become strong.
Strong?
Having friends just creates weaknesses in your heart.
I'm going to be a strong person capable of living on her own.
Uh, nod firmly.
Uh-huh.
I don't think you were supposed to read that part out loud.
I said I didn't mind chatting,
but are you having any fun talking about this stuff?
Yes. It's a lot of fun learning more about you.
You're trying to become strong enough to live on your own, huh?
Yeah.
That's amazing.
You're amazing, Kurai-san!
I never thought of something like that before.
If you want to be strong,
you can't be lacking in discipline.
So...
Hunched back!
Good morning.
You.
Huh?
Your thread's fraying.
Let me see that for a moment.
Huh?!
Good morning.
What's wrong?
Did you bring your handkerchief today?
Ah...
Good grief. At least carry a handkerchief with you.
I'll lend you this one.
Oh, really?
Kurai-san's incredible..
Thank you!
I wish I could be like her, too.
Strong...
Strong!
Master!
Sotoka.
Nako?
What is it?
It's about Bocchi.
Strong...
She's thinking about something again.
Whatever.
I'm sure it has something to do with Kurai-san.
Master!
It's lunchtime!
Let's train!
Today we can—
Oh, right.
Nako will get mad at me.
Master, please do your best to chat with Kurai-san during lunch as well.
Yes. Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
Oh, yeah.
Right.
Strong, strong...
K-Kurai-sa—
Hunched back!
I told you. Improper posture is bad discipline.
R-Right!
You did well holding back.
Nako, I held back!
I tried not to get in Master's way!
Yes, yes. Good girl, good girl.
I'm training by myself, even when Master isn't around.
Dog!
Oh, that's folded beautifully.
Wait, that has nothing to do with ninjas!
I can fold many other things, too.
That's not the issue here.
So then...
What's wrong?
Oh, it's nothing.
Gym class is also training!
Wow, Sotoka-san's incredible, no matter what she does.
Yeah.
In contrast, I'm surprised the one who sucks at gym...
is Nako.
How lame!
Strong...
What is that?
Hey there, Sotoka-chan.
Aru!
Hey there, hey there.
How's it going lately?
Have you been lonely with Bocchi focusing on Kako-chan?
Watch the way you swing your arms!
Yes!
That's not true.
This is for my master.
And we go home together.
I promised Nako I wouldn't get in her way,
so she'll be mad if I break it.
Really?
But you could probably defeat Nako easily right now.
No more...
You still haven't asked her after all this time, right?
Whether you can be her friend and still be her apprentice.
You should say something.
I'm sure it'll be fine.
But wouldn't that be wishy-washy?
Wishy-washy?
I imagine Master would get confused about whether I'm her friend or her apprentice.
Aru...
What?
You were making fun of me, weren't you?
Dunno.
She was.
Strong?
So that's why you've been like that all day?
Yes!
But you don't have a policy against making friends, right?
That's right.
Come on, now.
Kurai-san has a policy against making friends and wants to be strong,
but I want to be her friend.
What do I do?
Well, you'll probably just have to be patient and keep at it.
Though you sure do a take a liking to the ones that are difficult.
Why don't you befriend Hana-chan first?
Hey, hey, come on. Listen to this!
It's incredible!
When I was at the convenience store yesterday...
She'd be an easy one.
I made eye contact with Yamada-san the other day.
Oh, Sotoka-san?
Um, p-please do your homework.
Homework?
For your ninja arts.
Ninja Arts Drills
Nin, nin!
I made some for you, if you don't mind.
For ninja arts?
I'll do it!
Really?
Yes! I'll do my best!
Okay! I will, too!
Do-Your-Best Fairy
Oh, this is the Do-Your-Best Fairy!
O-One moment. I'll go get some change!
This is hard!
What are you going to do?
I'll do my best.
I'll stop being wishy-washy.
For now, I want to be able
to repay Master for everything she's taught me as her apprentice.
I see.
There.
Incredible.
You're incredible, Kurai-san.
I haven't had enough training.
Okay, well I'm heading that way, so see you tomorrow.
Yeah.
Sotoka-san, you live by yourself, don't you?
Do you get lonely living on your own?
I'm fine.
If it stops being fine, then I'll go back home.
Talk to us before then, okay?
Well, then...
Later.
Bye-bye.
It's not lonely at all!
Speed walk!
I'm home!
Aru Now Welcome home! Nako Now Welcome home. Master Now Welcome home.
I'm home.
Next Episode:
Perfect Curry Pancakes
Next Episode: "Perfect Curry Pancakes."