My name is Honshou Aru. I'm the class vice president.
Today I realized I was carrying an elementary school backpack,
instead of the school's designated bag.
School Route
Yes, yes, I know I'm unfortunate.
But I keep that secret from everyone else.
Right now, I'm thinking up excuses to explain this situation.
Okay, got one.
This is the start of another perfect day for me.
Aru, morning!
Oh, Hana-chan, morning!
Wait, why do you have an elementary school backpack?
Oh, this?
My cousin made a mess of my bag.
Using a normal bag would violate school rules, you know?
So this was my only option left.
I see. You're too responsible, Aru.
What you're doing is weird.
Is it?
So easy.
But it's cute!
You're embarrassing me!
It suits you perfectly, though, doesn't it?
As long as I typically remain diligent,
that can explain a few things that are out of place.
That's what everyone will think.
But there are at least a few who know my true nature.
One is...
Nako!
She's dangerous!
Happens All the Time
But then they suddenly stopped.
Y-Yeah?
Hey, are you listening?
I-I'm listening. I'm listening.
It's Nako.
She'll see through me in an instant.
Wow. Did you really mistake an elementary school backpack for your normal bag?
How unfortunate.
Who are you calling unfortunate?!
That's exactly how it would play out.
So then they were wearing this really funny outfit...
R-Really?
What's the matter?
It's nothing. It's nothing.
I want to avoid interacting with her in front of this girl.
Oh, well...
Ah!
Huh?
My leg cramped!
My leg's completely cramped!
A-Are you okay?
Just let me rest for a moment.
You should stretch it out.
I'm fine. I'm fine.
I'm fine.
Wow. Did you really—
If it isn't Nako! Morning!
What's with you?
I have a name.
Oh, Sunao-san, good morning.
G-Good morning.
Well, I'll go on ahead.
Talk to you later!
Does that girl think I'm scary, too?
Who cares about any of that?!
I told you it's taboo
to keep up this "unfortunate" campaign in front of other people!
What?!
I'm not campaigning to make you unfortunate.
That's just your reality.
Don't avert your eyes from it.
Don't patronize me!
Though, you're right.
At this rate, I'll need to act even more diligent than usual,
or I'll start standing out.
Aru-chan's quite diligent,
coming to school with an elementary school backpack, instead of a bag.
Is that a substitution technique?
The Aru-chan everyone knows is surely the perfect class vice president.
It's impossible for her to be unfortunate.
So I'll take more initiative than usual.
I'll act like the perfect me!
Now, would someone read this page?
Yes!
Okay, Honshou-san.
Yes, your pronunciation was quite good.
Yes, perfect!
But what I wanted you to read was the next page.
God damn it!
Now, would someone read page 36?
Yes!
Okay, Honshou-san.
With a heavy heart, I count the days that have passed since,
and I fear I may hurt my fingers as it reaches past twenty, then thirty days.
Very good. Perfect.
However, I wanted you to read the next page.
It pains me so!
Now, would—
This time!
Honshou-san.
Greater than or equal to!
Yes, that's correct.
Yes! That makes up for the others!
Current Me ≥ Perfect Me
It was greater than or equal!
Or it should have been...
My name is Honshou Aru. I'm the class vice president.
Today, I realized I was wearing a full elementary school uniform instead of my actual one.
School Route
Yes, yes, I know I'm unfortunate.
But I keep that secret from everyone else.
Right now, I'm thinking up excuses to explain this situation.
I can't think of anything after doing this two days in a row.
This might be it for me this time.
Even if it means being late today,
I need to get home and change without anyone noticing.
Morning, elementary-schooler!
Oh, hello.
Hana-chan?!
Aru?!
I'm finished.
I'm finally finished.
My perfect middle-school life...
Oh, are you Aru's little sister?
Wow, Aru has a little sister!
You look just like her!
Nice to meet you.
I'm Honshou Mieru.
Mieru-chan, huh?
I'm Yamada Hanako.
It's my pleasure.
You're such a good girl, so well-behaved.
Safe!
Thank God Hana-chan's so easy to fool.
Your older sister Aru is very responsible, too.
Huh?
Oh, well...
You're right. Aru is rather perfect.
Well, give Aru my regards.
Thank goodness.
I see, though.
I can just pretend to be somebody else.
Okay, then I'll act like someone else until I get home—
Nako!
I'm Aru's little sister, Honshou Mieru.
There's no way!
Nako!
You, are you serious?
Don't take pictures!
"I'm Honshou Mieru!"
If you keep laughing, I'll hurt you.
You already are.
Listen. I'm going home to change, so I'll be late,
but don't say anything weird.
I mean it this time!
Don't worry.
There's nothing weirder than you, Honshou Mieru.
Don't call me "Mieru"!
Damn Nako.
But I guess people who know me would figure it out.
I need to be careful.
S-Sor—
Sor—
Sorr—
S—
Bocchi hasn't figured it out.
S—
Sor—
Master, you're mistaken. That's Aru.
S—
Huh?
Oh, Aru-chan.
No.
I'm Honshou Aru's little sister, Honshou Mieru!
Little sister?
Oh, pardon me.
Your big sister does a lot for me.
I'm Sotoka Rakita, Master's apprentice.
They're easily fooled.
Y-Your big sister is always kind to me.
Um, I was really happy when she...
became my friend.
E-Excuse me.
Farewell.
Bocchi.
Sorry. It's me, Aru.
Aru-chan.
The substitution technique again?!
It's Aru-chan! Good morning!
How do you tell people apart, Bocchi?
Still, why are you...?
Sorry.
I was embarrassed about others seeing me as unfortunate
for wearing an elementary school uniform.
No, I'm happy, since it's as if I got to meet the elementary school you.
I wish we had gone to the same elementary school.
Jeez.
Oh! Me, too!
Are you really sure about this?
It's fine. It's fine.
I have a feeling it'll work out.
Aru-chan.
Besides, who do you think I am?
Huh?
The world's class vice president!
Okay, here we go.
Good morning!
I'm Honshou Aru's little sister, Mieru!
Just kidding.
Aru, what's that about?
What's up with that outfit?
U-Uh...
Damn Nako!
Sunao-san burst out into laughter.
I've never seen her laugh before.
You're incredible, Aru-chan!
Getting Sunao-san to burst out laughing like that!
You're so brave to do all that for a gag!
Huh?
Oh, well...
The moment has finally come.
Today, I'm going to make you cry "uncle."
I challenge you, Nako!
In tennis!
Tennis Club
Going Home Club
This is unfair.
Who do you think will win?
I've heard Nako isn't good at sports.
Besides, Aru is a member of the tennis club, right?
Yeah.
Then you think Aru-chan will win?
Yes.
Aru's being unfair.
Shut up!
Listen?
When you lose the match,
you're going to promise me you won't laugh at my misfortune in front of others,
or tease me, or do anything to ruin my image as a perfect class vice president!
You have an image as a perfect class vice president?
I do!
I'm the class vice president!
I have to do well in school, be friendly, and be reliable!
Well, I don't care if you feel that way,
but what happens if I win?
Huh?
W-Well...
That's not going to happen, so don't worry about it.
The first to score ten points wins.
We'll swap after each serve. Okay?
Sure, sure.
Still, why do you think Nako accepted this challenge when she's at a disadvantage?
I know Nako-chan doesn't like moving a lot.
For some reason, I think I can beat Aru on these terms.
Then once I win, I'll tell her wholeheartedly
that she's unfortunate!
I'll give you first serve.
That gives you the advantage.
It's a handicap, a handicap.
Is that so?
I guess I'll try this.
L-Look, what's that?!
Huh?
She's unfortunate, falling for that trick nowadays!
Though everyone else fell for it, too!
She's mine!
Hey, I don't see anything.
What is it?
I don't know.
Hey, what did you think you saw?
There was nothing th—
Ow! Ah! No fair!
You served while I wasn't looking!
Yeah.
No fair! Cheater!
Whatever.
You can only use that trick once.
Now it's my turn!
This is my serve as a tennis club member!
Aru-Aru Beam!
Shoot!
I've been skipping going to club too much.
They'll make fun of me.
They'll definitely make fun of me for missing my swing!
No, no, no, no, no!
It happens all the time.
Don't worry about it.
Why is she so nice?!
Normally, a point's awarded after two missed serves,
but we can count that as a point for you.
It's a handicap, a handicap.
I don't get it, but whatever.
Though, do you really have the advantage when you're serving?
Maybe that's all a lie?
A strategy to get me to make these difficult serves?
I see it now.
It seems you really intend to win this today, Aru.
You can go ahead and keep serving.
Huh?
This is a serious match.
So show me the serve of a real member of the tennis club!
I'll let you keep serving until you do!
Why are you being so nice?!
Now I've forced it onto her!
A real tennis-club serve...
She can tell that I can't do it well after skipping tennis club too much.
Is she telling me to practice, because it'll get harder to go to club like this?
Don't show me that kindness!
Aru-Aru Beam!
Yes!
Nako 2 - Aru 0
I won't...
I won't lose over this.
Don't lose, Aru.
Shine, Aru!
Aru-Aru Beam!
Nako 3 - Aru 0
Beam!
Nako 4 - Aru 0
Beam!
Nako 5 - Aru 0
Just a little farther!
Nope, nope, nope, I can't!
Aru-Aru Beam!
Nako 6 - Aru 0
Beam!
Nako 7 - Aru 0
Aru-Aru Beam!
Beam!
Nako 7 - Aru 1
I guess she's finally gotten the hang of it.
Now that she landed it, I'm stuck with the disadvantageous serve, too.
This is bad for me.
Nako.
I lost, okay?
I got your message.
I'll properly attend club from now on.
Also, I'll say this once...
Th-Thank you.
Hey, hold on.
What are you saying?
Huh?
Didn't you do this all for me?
Of course not.
Then why did you let me keep serving?
Because I thought I could win by just standing in place.
But why did you agree to a tennis match when you know I'm in the tennis club?
Because I had a feeling I could win.
Is she saying...
This was all my misunderstanding?
That's unfortunate for you.
Who are you calling unfortunate?!
At least you finally landed your unfortunate serve.
I told you not to laugh at me!
Well, I didn't lose the match.
Th-That's...
But isn't it cruel to laugh at me so hard in the classroom?
I always thought you were the type who wouldn't do that.
Aru really surprised me today.
I bet she did that just to make Sunao-san laugh. Had to be.
That's our class vice president for you.
I thought so, too!
Aru-chan's so incredible!
Did she laugh like that to protect me?
Nako.
Mieru.
No, no, no, that can't be!
She just ticks me off!
Ah!
Is there danger, Master?!
That reminds me. I ran into Aru-chan's little sister.
No, I told you that was me all along!
Her name was...
Honshou Mieru.
My name's not Mieru!
The Next Day
Aru-chan.
Oh, sorry.
Today, I'm helping out the beautification committee,
and afterward I have club, so you can go home without me.
I see.
Okay.
I'm really sorry.
Next time, okay?
Work hard.
Thanks!
Today, too?
Yeah.
Is she still aiming to be her perfect self or whatever?
I don't know, but...
Master! Let's train!
Master?
Huh?
Oh, yeah.
Futago
Honshou
Sorry for making you help us, Aru-chan.
It's fine. It's fine.
I just need to pull out the weeds in this area, right?
Just another push to be the perfect me.
It's exhausting to be on guard all day long,
but I'll overcome these trials and grow from them!
Incredible!
I'm beat.
But I still have to go to club.
Don't lose, Aru!
Shine, Aru!
Aru-Aru on top of an aluminum can!
Reliable Aru!
Perfect Aru!
Wh-Wh-What are you all doing here?
Aru-chan.
What was that song about?
Master said to wait for you.
But I told you I still have club.
We didn't get much chance to talk today,
so we were waiting until you finished with club.
Time went by fast while we were training.
Yeah.
Fine, then. I'll skip club!
Huh? But...
Let's all go home together.
I'll go get changed.
Yeah!
Like this!
Like this?
Next is like this!
Like this?
Are you really sure about this?
It's fine.
Skipping today won't ruin my perfect image.
Well, you can do whatever you like.
But...
I don't think you need to be perfect.
In fact, I think Bocchi might like unfortunate Aru more.
I don't hate it, either.
Wha?!
Nako-chan! Aru-chan!
Let's go.
It's not like I'm happy to hear that!
Aru-chan!
I'm coming!
Next Episode:
Summer Comes in 5-7-5
Next Episode: "Summer Comes in 5-7-5."