It's spring! The exciting first day of a new term!
"Opening Ceremony"
We are now officially second-year students!
The new first-years were adorable!
You two should have come to the opening ceremony to see them.
Not worth it.
I'm already in hay fever hell here.
I'd blow a fuse for real if I had to sit out there with no escape.
Just take some medicine.
It doesn't work. Maybe I took too many drugs in my reckless youth...
What "drugs" are you talking about?
Anyway, where's the prince?
He's still busy with his work on the ceremony committee.
Huh, sounds rough. I bet he's getting first-year love attacks right off the bat.
Excuse me.
Sempai, I lost my student ID...
I don't see what I'm supposed to do about that.
What?! But--
Do you remember where you last had it?
Let's go look. Can you tell me your name and class?
Absolutely! I'm Satomi Arimori, age 15, Scorpio, blood type B!
My hobby is handicrafts, and my best feature is my slim ankles!
I'm Rina Sonomiya! Lots of people say I look like Kanna Hashimoto!
Well you don't, dummy!
Me next! My name is...!
Soma, I'm too scared to even be jealous of you.
The prince might end up student council president this year.
The current president's got some issues anyway.
I think Yuki-kun would rather not.
Here.
Thanks.
No problem.
I'd almost forgotten what it was like to always have you with me
You were always by my side
Giving my life meaning
Goodbye until we meet again
I'll say thank you with a smile
Oh please, keep being the person closest to me
My heart only needed you to be strong
I know that my path to tomorrow
Is right here with you again
"Fruits Basket"
Tohru-kun?
I picked up waves from the guardian seating that seemed to be Shigure-san's...
Oh, yes, he's here.
Some new Somas entered as first-years!
Haa-kun and Momicchi are essentially younger brothers to me.
Clearly I must attend the ceremony and witness their glorious debut!
Why are you giving me those blatantly suspicious looks?
Surely you don't think that I, Shigure, am attending to ogle high school girls?
It's terrible how kids these days lack all lyrical sentiment. Just terrible!
Idiot.
Hold on, you're saying there are more Somas here now?
Yes, two boys. One of them was at the culture festival.
Kyon, go get them.
Yes. Bring them here.
Why me?! Just send her!
You're planning to go say hi anyway, I bet.
Yes, I am!
Why should Tohru-kun be troubled with such errands?
But troubling me is fine?!
Yep.
U-Um, I really was planning to go say hello, so it's completely fine.
But would you like to come with me, Kyo-kun?
Come on, why should I have to see them even at school?
It might feel a little different seeing them at school! It could be fun!
See you later!
He's getting worse and worse at saying no to her.
It's entertaining.
Have you met a pair of guys named Soma? One blond and one with white hair?
Y-Yes, they're in our class!
--Go get them. --Okay!
Sheesh. If she wanted to see them, she could've at least asked their class number.
Why's she such a space cadet?
Hey, check her out. Isn't she cute?
Definitely.
She looks pretty spacey, though.
Suits me. Assertive girls are a pain, you know?
Heh, fair enough.
Let's go talk to her.
See? This is what you get for spacing out, you ditz.
R-Right! Huh...?
At least be on the lookout when you're alone!
It'll be your own fault if someone kidnaps you while you're that off-guard.
R-Right!
When you're alone, I said.
You can space out all you want when I'm with you.
Right.
I-I didn't mean that in a weird way, okay?!
What do you mean, "weird"?
What was I anxious for? Am I stupid?
Hallo!
Tohru!
Momiji-kun!
Hello, Momiji-kun!
Are you stupid?!
K-Kyo-kun, calm down!
How am I supposed to be calm when he comes to school like this?!
Yo.
Oh, Hatsuharu-san!
What idiot wears a girl's uniform, of all things?! It's creepy!
Even Hot Mess Haru over there is better than that!
Eh... If it looks good on him, I don't see the problem.
It looks good on me, right?
Yes, it suits you!
"Suits you" doesn't mean "isn't a disgrace."
Sheesh. I can't believe you're wearing that, Momiji.
Haru, you, too.
Yuki-kun, are you done with your committee work?
No, not yet. I came to check on these two while I was making rounds.
Hey, Tohru, guess what?
I got told not to run around or horseplay at school,
because I might crash into a girl.
So while I'm at school, I'm gonna play it cool!
Cool?! Is that outfit cool?!
Your dubiousness is justified, Kyo Soma of Class 2-D!
Your orange hair bothers me,
but a boy wearing a girl's uniform is unprecedented! Brazen! Shameless!
The teachers may allow it, but I shall not!
For I am student council president Makoto Takei!
Otherwise known as commander of the School Defense Force!
Another idiot appears.
Just what do you think you're doing, Hatsuharu Soma? Your hair is white!
And you're practically jangling with jewelry. The audacity!
President Takei, that's his natural hair.
Oh, Yuki-kun! How nice to see you!
But more importantly, natural?! Part of it is black!
Even so.
I don't believe it! It defies common sense!
And we can't say that it's because he's a cow.
Now what's the meaning of your appearance?
Is that your natural self, eh, Momiji Soma?!
Have you no male pride?
If you're like this at your age, your life is on the fast track to failure!
But... But this uniform looks better on me!
U-Um, please don't be too harsh on him--
I am not being harsh, Tohru Honda!
I am expressing an opinion
--in accordance with common sense.
--Shut up. --in accordance with common sense.
Quit playing king of the hill, you human trash.
Wh-Wh-Wh-Wha--
--Oi, Haru! --Fine, let me ask you:
--Um, Hatsuharu-san... --are guys wearing neckties never muggers?
Are guys without piercings never bullies?
Do guys with black hair never murder people?!
Who do you think you are, eh? God?
Dark has arrived.
Well, ain't that something! Give us a few words, God! Go on!
Mr. President!
Oi! Cut it out, he's got no training!
Butt out, you stupid cat!
Don't call me stupid, you damn brat!
Say what?! Don't act like you're so great.
You ran from our last fight with your tail between your legs.
You're the one who called that fight off!
--What, are you on his side? --Mr. President!
--You think he's right?! --Stay with us!
--You're both wrong, nitwit! --Want some candy, Tohru?
Hey, ladies.
Don't drag them into it.
What do you think?
Take Momiji there--don't you think he's fine in that uniform?
He'll grow eventually. What's the harm in waiting to dress like a man until then?
He'll be a real looker, trust me.
Want some candy?
--He's fine. --Don't let him brainwash you!
Wh-Wh-What's the matter with you?! This is unheard-of!
It's always best to wear what looks good on you, huh?
Unacceptable! That's pure selfishness, and unfair to other students--
You just won't quit.
Okay, then, what if Yuki wore a girl's uniform?
President Takei...
--It's fine. --It's not fine!
Haru, I'm cutting ties with you if you don't give it a rest.
Rhetorical, it was just rhetorical. Don't be mad.
President Takei...
Magnificent.
Don't imagine it!
O-Oh, dear. I seem to have gotten carried away.
You're a formidable opponent, Hatsuharu Soma.
Can you prove that's your natural color, then?!
Sure can!
Oho, you have proof? Hard evidence that--
W-Wait...
Um... excuse me...?
Incontrovertible proof. I see I still have much to learn about the world.
--Did he show him? --He showed him.
You win for today!
But I'll get you all next time!
See you later, Momiji-kun!
What did that guy come here to do?
Um...
How did you prove that was your natural hair color?
Wanna do it and find out? I'm in if you are.
It's fine, we don't have to be hugging each other to--
Dark is the one guy I can't handle.
E-Er...
Never mind. Don't worry about it, Honda-san.
I'm kinda tired now.
Oh, yeah? You're tired, huh?
Oh, that's the bell!
Would you be willing to meet my friends before you go home today?
Your friends? Sure, of course!
Thank you.
That reminds me-- Hey, Yuki and Kyo!
Could you stay behind? I need to tell you something.
I'll go on ahead, then.
Sorry, Tohru.
It's no problem!
What's with the formal request? You know I'll thrash you if it's something dumb.
Yeah.
Wow, that was a big to-do!
But if every day is like that, it may wear out Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun...
You look like you're having fun.
I heard that we... have a visitor.
It's Akito.
There are things that I wanted. Things I pictured, inside that dark room.
They were...
Apparently, Akito suddenly said, "I'll come along."
We thought we should tell you two.
Especially if you don't want to cross paths.
A-Akito-san...?
That's right...
...Tohru Honda.
I'm very pleased to meet you!
Wh-Why is Akito-san at our school? Should we really be meeting so casually?!
I didn't expect someone so young. And just as beautiful as Yuki-kun...
And...
This is the person who hurt Hatori-san's eye...
Well, you strike me as feminine and gentle.
Thank goodness you seem to be a good person.
And most importantly, you're quite cute.
What? Oh, no, you flatter--
Don't get flustered. You really are cute.
Sorry it took me so long to introduce myself. I'm just rather shy of strangers.
Are you angry?
N-No, not at all!
Oh, good. Well, let me formally introduce myself, then.
I'm Akito, the current Soma family head. Pleased to meet you.
O-Oh, no, the pleasure is mine!
A-Akito seems softer than I'd imagined, somehow...
I'd like us to get along well.
And please take care of Yuki and the others.
Akito!
Ah, Yuki!
I've missed you, Yuki!
You know, it feels like it's been forever since I last saw you.
You're looking grown-up.
--And taller-- --What did you do?
What did you do to Honda-san?!
Nothing.
I was just saying hello.
Right, Tohru-san? Wasn't I just saying hello?
Um, yes!
More importantly, Yuki...
...there's something I really want to ask you.
Why did you skip New Year's?
Why would you do that?
And when I've become so generous lately, too.
When you do things like that, it seriously hurts my feelings.
Do I have to reeducate you, I wonder?
In your special room?
Will I be forced to spend long days teaching you proper disposition again?
I-I'm sorry. We have to go back to our classroom...
...or, um, we'll get in trouble...
Oh, right. Sorry.
I should be going back to Shigure and company, too.
They're probably worried.
Yuki, I hope you have a fun school life here.
It'd make me happy if you came to visit sometime soon.
I shoved my way between them without thinking.
I didn't know what they were talking about, but...
I think Akito must be...
...someone scary.
That look... maybe that's what "hostility" means.
Am I... hated?
But...
--Honda-san. --Yes?
Did Akito really not... say anything strange to you...?
N-Nothing at all, I promise. We really were just saying hello.
Okay.
But why Akito-san hates me isn't the most important thing right now.
Yuki-kun, let's play!
School lets out early today,
so I was talking with Uo-chan and the gang about having some fun afterwards.
Let's seize the moment and all play something together!
Right now, I just want to banish the terror of Akito-san from Yuki-kun's mind.
Paper team and Rock team!
Why do I have to join? And why badminton?
Real men don't bitch about details.
I have to play wearing a mask, you know!
You don't have to play!
What are we in groups for? What are the rules?
What? There aren't any.
No rules are necessary in badminton.
You serve with all your might, and return with all your might.
I suppose you could say the first one to collapse loses.
I like it. Easy to understand.
Too easy!
Oh, shut up already. Just go man your battle station.
Battle station?
Here we go, prince! Time to take Carrots down!
Excuse me, Gangster Girl?!
Shall we, Yuki-kun?
Ready, go!
Tohru-kun is "ugly," apparently.
On the car ride home...
She's really ugly. The worst.
She seems stupid, too.
With a pathetic girl like that, I don't need to worry.
Yuki is bound to come back to me.
After all, he's still scared when he sees me.
That proves he can't forget me, doesn't it?
If you lock a kid up in a dark room
and psychologically torture him for that long...
Get me out.
Get me out of here.
...I guess that would be too traumatic to forget.
But Akito doesn't understand.
Just as there are people who inflict pain,
there are people who try to soothe that pain.
If nothing else, that gives us courage.
Plus, there's the other thing.
Tohru-kun is so cute, you just gotta love her!
That sounds criminal coming from you.
There are things that I wanted. Things I pictured to myself.
Parents who would hug me.
A home I'd want to return to.
A place where everyone smiled.
A me that everyone wouldn't leave...
A warm place.
A warm person.
They really exist.
They're real.
It's sunset already. Time flies when you're having fun.
I'll see you tomorrow, Tohru-kun.
How come she's not exhausted like the rest of us?
Guess we should go home, too.
I was worried at first...
...but Yuki seems okay.
Honda-san, thank you.
Mom, I met the head of the Soma family today.
He struck me as a very unusual person.
Is he one of the zodiac, too?
To be honest, I felt a little scared of him.
Well, shall we go home, too?
Yes!
But after spending some time with my friends, that fear feels worlds away.
"How Have You Been, My Brother?"
How have you been, my brother?!