Do-Your-Best Fairy
It's been two months since I started middle school.
I have friends now, too.
There.
Two of them.
I hope I'm able to keep going like this and overcome my shyness.
I'm heading out!
Oh my, madam.
Good morning.
It's gotten warmer, hasn't it?
It really has.
How is your son doing?
Oh, he's doing very well.
Seems that I have a long way to go.
I need to be able to greet people at least.
I need to have courage.
Good morning.
Okay!
G-Good ...ing!
I'm heading off.
It's fine. It's fine.
Just opening the door means I'm doing incredibly well today.
How's your daughter doing?
It's that lady from earlier.
Well. She's out playing with her friends every day.
That's nice.
I-I can't get by them.
They're coming over to play at my place today.
What do I do?
I see.
I wonder whether making obvious footsteps would get them to make way?
I received some candy the other day.
Really?
Could I have some?
Sure. They're sweet.
Oh my, it's Hitori-san's...
Have a nice day.
G-Good... ing.
I screwed up.
I need to hurry.
But up ahead...
is the crossing of hell.
For Pedestrians and Cyclists Only
Until the light turns green, it's just the two of us, and I panic...
Did you forget anything?
Huh?
Oh, thank you for your concern!
For Pedestrians and Cyclists Only
There, it's green!
But I can't!
Going now won't change the fact that she's talking to me.
I need to slip in with the others.
Good morning...
Good morning.
Yes, good morning.
Now!
Take care.
I did it! That went well!
What went well?
Huh?
I'll Be Your Apprentice
I recognize this person.
She sits next to me.
She has blonde hair,
blue eyes,
and she's a foreigner.
If I recall, she's...
Sotoka Rakita
Sotoka Rakita-san!
She's sparkling!
I've been looking for you for so long.
Huh?
Normally you hide your presence,
but sometimes you move very nimbly.
You can't fool my eyes.
Yes, you are...
I am...?
A ninja!
Huh?!
A ninja!
No.
S-Sorry.
Sorry.
I wonder whether that was mean of me, after she made the effort to talk to me.
But I'm not a ninja.
Oh.
Nako-chan, Aru-chan!
Ah, I'm sorry!
I had the wrong people.
But I'm doing incredibly well today!
I've talked a lot.
Nako-chan...
Nako-chan!
No!
I need to be sure I know who it is first!
I'll go by them and then turn around.
Ow!
Bocchi.
Nako-chan...
Thank goodness, it's you.
Hey, what are you two doing this early?
Dunno.
Wait. What are you so happy about?!
Greetings?
Yeah.
I managed to actually greet my neighbors.
And that's not all today.
I actually spoke to the person sitting next to me...
You're not a ninja.
Ninja?
What?
We're talking about you being unfortunate, right?
Don't call me unfortunate!
Um...
Whoa, when did you?!
Weren't you smiling until just now?
Nako-chan, Aru-chan...
There's something I need your advice on.
What kind of person is Sotoka-chan?
Yeah.
She sits next to you,
so you've at least spoken to her, right?
No.
I see.
Speaking of Sotoka-chan,
I hear she's drawn a lot of attention outside our class as well
for her blonde hair, blue eyes, and great figure, but...
But?
Well, because she stands out so much,
she hasn't gotten close to anyone.
I also heard that since she immigrated to Japan on her own,
she doesn't have any friends from elementary school, either.
She's by herself?
You know a lot.
I am the class vice president!
So, what did she say to you?
Ninja.
"Ninja"?
No way, not Sotoka-chan?
That's right.
It seems that she's completely lost her glow.
Even though she's so beautiful and has such good figure?
Yeah.
She doesn't seem well.
It's my fault.
Ninja
You're not a ninja, right?
Is that true?
Yeah, yeah.
Wh-Why are you so into ninjas?
I came to Japan for ninjas,
and I thought I had I finally met one.
School Store
Why don't we eat on the roof for once?
The wind's strong there.
I'll be fine.
Because you can't be unfortunate in the classroom?
That's not why.
I think it's about time you stopped pretending to be an honor student, isn't it?
That's none of your business.
See? The wind's really bad.
This breeze feels just perf—
Nako-chan, Aru-chan!
I always have a ton of fun when I'm with you two!
Why say that out of the blue?
When I entered this school,
I had no friends,
and I was lonely and scared.
But after becoming friends with both of you,
I've found coming to school to be very fun.
That's great.
I still want to throw up when I think about becoming friends with everyone in class, but...
Forget that for now.
I imagine Sotoka-san's also lonely
after coming to Japan by herself without any friends.
I've been looking for you for so long.
I...
I've been wondering whether there's something I could do for her.
Bocchi.
I know it's a little impossible for me to start chatting with others, but...
That makes things hard.
Who cares, though?
I think those feelings are more important.
Yeah.
Go give it a shot the way you always do.
Yeah!
But how's she going to help without speaking to her?
Well...
I actually have a bit of an idea.
Origami?
What are you doing with that?
Well,
I don't know whether this will work.
You're good!
Origami is something fun you can do even without friends, so...
Good!
Now...
None here.
There she is.
You need to hurry before break time's over.
Yeah.
There!
Ah!
Idiot! Why'd you hit her?!
You were supposed to miss her!
Th-This is...
a shuriken?!
Wow, it's made from paper!
Incredible!
She's really happy.
Are you the ones who made this?
Yes.
This girl bought some origami at the school store and made it.
You're...
She said you'll learn how to make one if you open it up.
Open...
I see!
Wow! The two pages become one one shuriken!
I'm not a ninja,
but will you be my friend?
Friend...
You heard her.
I've thought about a lot after the other day.
It was my fault for calling out to you on the street like that.
That's why you ran away, isn't it?
I'm surprised you realized that.
That's right.
This girl has a bit of trouble talking to others.
Because ninjas are secret operatives!
Huh?
A real ninja would never admit they were one that easily, right?
She still thinks I'm a ninja?!
Uh, listen...
I understand.
It's supposed to be a secret.
But after seeing this, I'm certain.
You really are...
a ninja, aren't you?
This is your way of secretly letting me know, isn't it?
N-No.
No.
I know. I know.
You can't ever admit it.
Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.
I'm so happy.
I finally found one!
N-No, I...
...friend...
Friend?
That's right.
With me?
Uh-huh.
I can't.
I'll be your apprentice instead of your friend!
Apprentice?
Yes!
Please teach me well, Master!
Hey, Bocchi's dying.
Airheads are scary.
And that was how...
I got an apprentice.
Nako-chan, what do I do?
Don't look at me like that.
Okay, that's all for today.
Master!
Let's train, Master!
She's passed out! She's passed out!
What am I supposed to do?
Ultimately, you still haven't become friends.
But it seems that she's grown attached to you.
For now, as her master, I'm studying the art of the ninja, but...
You're okay being her master?
Oh, then why don't you end her apprenticeship
either by disavowing her or certifying her mastery,
and then become friends afterward?
You're right.
That is one option. Just...
Disavow her!
Certify mastery!
That one?!
Introduction to Ninjas
I need her to achieve mastery quickly, so we can become friends.
You're so dedicated.
Master!
I found you!
You're as good at hiding as ever, Master!
Hold on.
What are you doing, Nako?!
Go on, Sotoka-chan!
Defeat Nako-chan!
Whose side are you on?
Sotoka, come with me for a moment.
Why?
Listen. There's an important need for distance between master and apprentice.
Distance?
They're getting along well.
They're just talking.
An apprentice doesn't suddenly hug her master.
She's your master.
Your teacher.
Talking doesn't amount to getting along well?
Not exactly...
Master.
You're right.
Thank you.
You're nice, Nako.
Does that mean I don't get along well with you and Nako-chan?
Ah, that's how you took it?
Nako-chan!
What's wrong?!
What happened?!
Master.
Yes?
Nako told me.
My training was lacking.
I'm sorry.
I-It's all right.
Uh...
My image of Sotoka-chan as a sparkling beauty is...
Hang in there.
Yeah.
W-Well, we'll start your training now.
All right!
Like this.
Like this!
Perfect.
You've achieved mastery!
Huh?!
So fast?!
Please teach me more, Master.
Huh?
But you've achieved mastery.
There has to be more!
Oh, uh...
Um...
That's enough.
Aru-chan...
I'll take over.
That's the class vice president's job when someone's in trouble.
Wh-What is it?
I'll teach you what I know.
Which is...
to do this, and...
Ninja Beam!
I don't think that's right.
It's rather unfortunate.
Your unfortunate nature was spotted in two seconds, Aru!
Who are you calling unfortunate?!
Unfortunate?
You don't need to do that, Sotoka-chan!
Forget what we just did!
Yes!
Forget It Beam!
Pfft!
Huh?
You're unfortunate, Aru!
Stop it!
Beam!
I-I'm not unfortunate!
N-No, that was just—
There's more!
Really?!
Yes.
Training on how to run.
Like this.
Oh!
Like this?!
I'm not going to lose.
Running like that is dangerous.
Now you run.
Oh! Like this?
Perfect.
I'll get you back!
See? I told you!
Ow.
Are either of you hurt?
I'm fine.
Master's...
Master!
Your leg is hurt!
Oh, I'm fine.
I'll carry you to the nurse's office!
Don't lift her up!
She's passed out! She's passed out!
I-I'm heavy, so it's really all right, Sotoka-san.
It's okay.
You're light.
Besides, I'm your apprentice, and you're my master.
But...
You're a girl, Master.
It would be sad if you got a scar.
I'm fine.
I already have a different scar on my other leg.
What?!
A scar from training, right?
Why do you love ninjas so much?
Huh?
I have to become a ninja, no matter what.
Besides...
Besides?
Don't you think they're cool?
The way they sneak about
without ever being noticed or standing out, and how they prove useful to others.
Without standing out?
Yeah.
Nurse's Office
I guess the nurse isn't here.
I'll go look for her in the teacher's office.
Oh, that's okay...
Bocchi, you okay?
Where's Sotoka?
Oh, she went to the teacher's office.
I think you should go with the disavowal route, don't you?
You don't have to force yourself to play along with her, you know.
Huh? Force myself? I'm not.
Kai-chan and I always pretended to train.
That's when I got the scar on my right leg, too.
It's a scar from training?
Yeah.
Besides, Sotoka-san really cherishes ninjas,
so when she found me
and thought she finally found one,
she had such fun training.
Introduction to Ninjas
Beginner Level
I still don't know what I can do for her,
but...
I want to try to do what I can to help.
I see.
Well, then why not?
Yeah!
Okay.
Then...
Time for the class vice president's full power...
Give It Your Best Beam!
You're the only one who's gotten hooked on that, you know.
I have a name!
Thank you very much.
I'm glad I found the teacher.
Well, then let's train on our way to the school gate and go home.
All right!
We'll practice walking without making a sound.
Right!
Now...
Like this...
Like this?
Perfect.
What is this?
Sotoka-san.
Yes?
I'll do my best, okay?
So once I've passed everything on, then...
Then...?
Will you be my friend?
Master...
Yes! Of course!
I'll do my best!
Huh?
I told you to stop that!
Happens All the Time
Next Episode:
Next Episode: "Happens All the Time."