What will we be able to harvest in May?
Hmm, carrots... turnips... and chives.
Strawberries, too.
Yay, the time is coming! I look forward to it!
Yeah, me, too.
--Are you okay? --Yes.
It's colder than usual for April today, isn't it?
You go back inside, Honda-san. I'm almost done here anyway.
But...
And I'm hungry, too.
I'll take you up on your offer and go start cooking, then.
Yes, please.
It's been a few days now since I met Akito-san.
Yuki-kun is looking as well as ever, though.
I'm really glad.
What happened?
There are clothes lying on the path.
It's almost as if someone undressed here...
Could a zodiac member have--
Honda-san!
Honda-san, what's wrong?!
S-S-Something crept underneath my clothes!
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"
Damn, I'm hungry.
I bet Tohru-kun will be back soon.
Forget it, I'll make myself something.
Hold on, Kyo-kun. For now...
...let's snack on this and wait for her.
You're just messing with me to kill time!
My, my! You mustn't waste food, darling!
Oh, look, they're back--
Skin this thing and cook it. Right now.
Huh?
A-ya?
Well, if it isn't A-ya! What brings you here?
U-Um--
--Skin this thing. --Let's all stay calm, okay, Yuki-kun?
This is Ayame Soma. As you can see, he's the Snake.
Right...
The cold really does a number on him.
Chilly weather transforms him like that sometimes.
Winters must be hard.
Me, A-ya, and Hatori are the same age,
so we were together from elementary through high school.
It's only natural that we became the true BFF Trio!
Oh, really? Wow!
Why "true"?
I can picture Hatori's suffering.
So, Yuki-kun, what were you so mad about?
It's too appalling to say out loud.
Oh, come on, that's not a nice thing to say about your own brother.
Huh?
I shall explain the incident myself!
I was dreadfully cold in that moment.
I sought warmth.
When a warm human body approaches me at such a time, I must latch on to it.
Is it instinct, is it not?
Greetings, all!
How have you been, my brother?
It's Yuki-kun, Adult Version.
Not an acceptable excuse! Consider yourself lucky we didn't call the police!
What did that jerk do to you, exactly?
--Oh, just, um... --Huh, so Kyonkichi really does live here.
I told you not to call me that!
--Well, Kyonkichi aside-- --I said stop it!
Missed ya since New Year's, Gure-san.
Missed ya since New Year's!
You'd better not have cheated on me during our time apart, Gure-san.
No man would do such a thing while he had you in his life, A-ya.
--Great! --What's great?!
Well... apparently his personality is different from Yuki-kun's.
So anyway, this is Tohru Honda.
You came here to meet her, right?
Yes, indeed! I apologize for the incident earlier.
I am none other than Yuki's older brother, Ayame!
R-Right! I'm pleased to meet you!
I see, so you are the "princess"!
Pardon?
The lone belle in this shabby den of beasts. The captive princess!
Nah, we're not holding her captive.
Would you stop making fun of her?
How rude. Whatever you may think, I am paying her the utmost respect.
All right, Princess, make some tea. And bring us lunch as quick as you can.
That's not respect!
A-ya, that's how you treat a handmaid, not a princess.
Is it? Bring lunch at your leisure, then!
That wasn't the issue!
Oh, why must this be so complicated? Fine, then.
Tohru-kun!
--Yes? --We shall eat out!
U-Um--
Fear not! It shall be my treat!
No point in getting angry at me.
Go ahead, order whatever you like.
--I shall be having the gyoza lunch plate.
--Is that a woman? --I shall be having the gyoza lunch plate.
--I... think it's a man? --I shall be having the gyoza lunch plate.
--I... think it's a man? --R-Right...
You don't need to worry about Yuki and the others. They're not children.
They'll manage lunch on their own.
But they're giving me a home, so--
Are you saying you cannot accept a meal from me?
N-No, of course not!
Good.
Cook, we'll have two gyoza plates.
Yessir!
I'm getting swept along.
I'm surprised, to be honest. Yuki-kun never mentioned having a brother.
He wouldn't have mentioned it. As you can tell, we don't get along.
Well, perhaps it's more accurate to say that we aren't close.
We're ten years apart, and Yuki was more or less quarantined from birth,
partly because he was sickly.
I did as I pleased, and spared him hardly a thought beyond
occasionally remembering I had a brother.
Quarantined?
By the time I noticed it, the rift between us had grown deep,
with steep cliffs on either side.
So, I hear that Yuki met with Akito at school.
Oh, um...
You did, too, didn't you?
I can't tell you the details myself, but to Yuki, Akito is a source of terror.
It's more extreme than the fear the rest of us feel.
I worried that meeting Akito might have made him depressed,
so I actually came to check on Yuki, more than to meet you.
But he seems fine.
I was disappointed, frankly.
I wanted to take advantage of the chance to act brotherly.
Do you... regret letting the rift grow between you?
Things we didn't understand as children become strangely clear as we age.
What we should have done. What we should have said.
We start to realize those things.
What I feel may be closer to repentance than regret.
Perhaps I want to let my ignorant younger self off the hook
by repenting now.
Perhaps that's why children say adults are high-handed.
You know, my mother once said
that she only understood how parents feel after becoming a parent herself.
But she also said that what she had to understand, what she mustn't forget,
was her childhood self.
The first time she did a flip on the jungle gym, the first time she got yelled at...
She said if she could always remember how she felt as a child,
she could still communicate with children when she grew up, or became a parent.
Even if she couldn't understand 100%, she could at least meet them halfway.
And isn't it more fun to think that way?
Er, s-so what I'm trying to say is, um...
It's not too late! You and Yuki-kun can meet each other halfway!
I'm sorry.
No, I was just impressed that you said that.
Yes! My mother is the best in the universe!
I meant you, actually.
Anyway, I can see why Yuki is doing well.
Maybe there's still time for us, eh? I guess I'll give this a shot.
Here you go!
Ah, here's our food. Let's dig in, shall we?
Yes!
And you...
You keep being friends with Yuki, too.
In that moment, Ayame-san was...
I'm home!
Honda-san, are you okay?!
Yes. Were you three able to eat?
Forget that, did my brother cause you any trouble?
No, he bought me a gyoza lunch.
Say, Yuki-kun...
Do you hate your brother?
N-Never mind, I was just wondering! I'm sorry.
I guess it's more like I find him difficult.
I can never really tell what he's thinking...
If you find me difficult, you can simply overcome the difficulty!
Now is the time for us to meet each other halfway...
...my brother!
I-I'm sorry! He transformed again right after we left!
He said that snakes die if they get too cold...
And I'm a snake!
You're no brother of mine, you scum!
Yuki-kun!
One cannot alter the truth, Yuki!
Oh, hi. Welcome back, you two.
But Yuki-kun, in that moment, Ayame-san...
...was smiling a brotherly smile.
Wanna sleep more...
I'll kill you!
I had no choice but to do that.
Yuki locked his door to keep me out.
You could've slept in Shigure's room!
Gure-san never lets me get any sleep.
Come on, honey, not in front of the children.
Cut that out!
--How long are you gonna be here, exactly?! --Ignore him, ignore him, ignore him...
Not to fear!
I'll sleep in Tohru-kun's room tonight.
Go home!
I get the feeling the rift between them is only getting deeper...
Huh, so Aya is visiting.
I haven't seen him since New Year's, either. Aya lives outside, too.
He does?
Maybe I'll come over and see him.
I shouldn't get in the way of their brotherly banding, though.
That's "bonding."
How was Yuki? Did he seem glad?
W-Well...
Oh, it's Yuki.
Is he sick?
Hmm? Um...
Right, I understand the situation.
Is it okay for Aya to ignore his shop, though? He's the owner.
Wow, Ayame-san runs a business?
He sells, like, wedding dresses...
...and nurse and maid outfits...
Is it a clothing store?
Aya says he sells men's dreams!
We're home.
--What good boys you are, coming straight home after school.
--He's still here. --He's still here! --What good boys you are, coming straight home after school.
--What good boys you are, coming straight home after school.
Were you that eager to talk with me?
Personally, I'd prefer more time alone with Tohru-kun.
That's what we were worried about!
What were you looking at?
A photo album from our high school days.
Tori-san is there, too, see?
Young and handsome, right?
Yes!
So your hair was already long back then?
Indeed! Although it was against school rules.
Yuki, you come look, too. It's a chance to get to know me!
I'll pass.
You're so stubborn. Well, you leave me no choice.
Now I am forced to explain why I was permitted to keep my hair long!
Why?!
--Yes, it all happened at the beginning of freshman year... --He just wants to tell the story.
I don't care!
I may have approved your hair color, but I don't recall approving that length!
Get it cut before tomorrow.
But Mr. Principal...
I said no. Rules exist to be followed.
...I am a member of a royal family.
What?
I've kept it a secret until now, but I am actually from another country.
Wh-What the heck?
The reason why members of our royal line must always have long hair
arises from a divine revelation that our first king, King Lulubara,
had at the age of four.
In it, the great Kandla chanted "ma ludu muni" as his forehead shone with blue light,
upon which King Lulubara's body was unleashed like a colt struck by a whip,
and along with the passionate waves of lovingkindness,
willowy hair streamed from his head like unto trees bending in a light breeze.
Well, might you wonder where the great Kashipalu was at this time.
He was in his chambers, sleeping as soundly as a bud waiting to flower,
but when his heart suddenly began to beat wildly, he spoke!
"Kampanil!" he said.
--In our language, the word "kampanil" means--
--Right, sorry, I have an appointment I need to go to. --In our language, the word "kampanil" means--
I haven't explained Kandla yet, sir.
Never mind! You can have long hair!
And thus, he was persuaded to give me permission.
Y-You're royalty, Ayame-san?!
Obviously he was lying, you dolt!
Ah, the memories.
Unbelievable.
I'll tell you something even more unbelievable:
A-ya was the student council president!
That's amazing!
He was more popular than you would think.
"Student Council President"
People liked his good looks, sure, but what appealed to them most
--was the sensational behavior. -Stop messing around and get going.
School rules and events changed a lot during his tenure, and got more fun, too.
Maybe he had a talent for leadership.
Personally, I thought Tori-san would have been a better choice for the job.
It's a lot of responsibility.
Do you remember what happened on our school trip?
That's not something I'll ever forget.
What? What happened?
W-Wow...
Yuki-kun seems curious about Ayame-san now! It's his chance!
Now is your chance to cross the rift, Ayame-san!
You see, a few of the students decided to visit, well,
the pleasure district.
What?
Now, now! Do not judge them without hearing their side.
Any red-blooded boy might find himself doing the same thing.
Also, we didn't go along.
We were already bored with that whole scene.
--He just... --...casually admitted something really extreme...
And then, in a stroke of bad luck, the teachers found out.
They wanted to expel these students.
Naturally, I protested this in my capacity as president.
And so a meeting was held
between the students, their guardians, the principal, and the teachers.
Minors such as ourselves journeying to a pleasure district
is certainly not something to be proud of.
If we do not uphold the law, there can be no social order.
However, I find it regrettable that sexual desire itself is being rejected
as if it were the source of all evil.
You see, it is my view that sexual desire contributes to the great task
of maintaining the unbroken chain of human history.
Mr. President...
--Ayame-kun is being unusually earnest today. --Is that shameful? Is that a crime?
--So he was just pretending to be a moron this whole time. --And so I propose this:
When youths struggle with lust that has no outlet
within the indeterminate state called adolescence...
...let us extend a helping hand!
From now on, you may all direct your lust...
...toward me!
It is only natural that I, as the students' representative,
accept their desires!
Moreover, surely their guardians have less cause to fear acts between men!
Come! Lust for me with all you have!
Indeed, should you wonder whether I am a "bottom" or a "top"...
...I am a bottom!
You're a moron!
A brilliant story, is it not?
It's a moronic story!
Excuse you. They all escaped expulsion thanks to that speech.
Why?!
Because Haa-san smoothed things over afterwards.
Well, Yuki? Do you understand your brother a little better now?
Get out.
The rift... The rift...
Even that didn't work? I shall tell you
--about the chairman's statue, then.
--Not necessary. Get out. --about the chairman's statue, then.
--Not necessary. Get out. --It all happened one summer day.
--Get out! --It all happened one summer day.
--The rift! The rift! --I went to school only to find that the statue of the school chairman that stood in courtyard
--Shut up and get out! --I went to school only to find that the statue of the school chairman that stood in courtyard
--Shut up and get out! --had been painted fluorescent pink.
--Shigure! Do something about this guy! --had been painted fluorescent pink.
--Shigure! Do something about this guy! --Obviously, the teachers were hell-bent on finding the perpetr--
--What? Why? This is fun! --Obviously, the teachers were hell-bent on finding the perpetr--
Yes, this is fun!
Well, it's painful for us!
The thing is, he basically never listens to me, either.
If anything, he only listens to--
Oi.
You left your door unlocked, so I let myself in.
Hatori-san!
My goodness.
Tori-san! Why the unexpected visit?
Hatsuharu told me to come collect you.
Why don't you call it a day and go home, Ayame?
--Okay, bye-bye! --Huh?!
Yuki, it's a shame all the commotion left us so little time to chat.
But have no fear, for I shall visit you again, my beloved brother.
You're the one who caused the commotion.
All right, Tori-san, let us go. Gure-san, see you when I see you.
Yep! I'll drop by your place.
Farewell to all!
Bye.
What just happened?
A-ya's always listened to Haa-san, if no one else.
Really? Why is that?
Admiration, he says.
Haa-san has qualities that he wants to have, but doesn't,
so he admires Haa-san and wants to cherish their friendship.
A-ya confided that to me once a long time ago, and he was serious.
He likes Haa-san, is what it boils down to.
So because of that, Hatori wound up being his keeper?
Also accurate!
Sorry for causing you trouble.
If you're sorry, try thinking a little more before you act.
I assure you, I did.
But I can't manage to open Yuki's heart.
Yuki isn't stupid. He's just young.
There are still a lot of concessions he can't make, that's all.
No need to be anxious.
Tohru-kun reminded me a little of you.
You both try your hardest when it's for other people.
I really just...
...can't resist that.
How do you always say what I want to hear?
I'm no match for you, Tori-san.
Ayame-san is a lot of fun!
No, he's a hopeless case.
Eep! U-Um, but he--
Still...
He can get over himself and be friendly to someone who has what he doesn't, and...
I think that's... great.
We can at least meet halfway.
Haru.
What is it?
Listen, um...
Thank you... for worrying about me.
And isn't it more fun to think that way?
Oh, no! I forgot to ask him what kind of store sells nurse and maid outfits!
Say what?
A themed sex club?
Let's give this memorable day a gold star
A lucky day wrapped in great love
You kept on talking to me
Even though I was always quick to look away from you
I need the sunrise
Need to chill out a little bit more
What shall I start?
Something more exciting
I swear, one day, I will respond to you
I've been here with you, and now
I know I wanna protect you, that's for sure
I hope I can call what connects us a bond
Everything changes
Everybody changes
Please stay as you are, stay here forever
Stay here
"That's a Secret"
That's a secret.