Murakami-senpai, what's wrong?
This is Mochizuki-san's favorite photographer.
I wonder if she already has this.
It really is a mystery.
Huh?
Aren't you and Mochizuki-senpai
complete opposites?
I've always found it mysterious that you two are so close.
I've been wondering the same thing!
They could end up being like water and oil.
Or playing like cats and dogs! How weird!
Chloe-san, the saying is "fighting like cats and dogs."
Everyone makes mistakes!
I suppose it might seem strange to others, though.
Knowing the sort of person Mochizuki-san is...
The sweat rolling off her body...
The sparkle of youth...
Tantalizing!
Absolutely tantalizing!
Oh, Mochizuki-senpai.
Hey there, Kokomi-chan.
How's it going?
Thanks for asking. My performance is getting a lot more consistent.
I'm going to shoot the tournament, too,
so do your best.
R-Right!
Oh!
Cosmos.
It must be fall.
I think I'll take some to Fumio-chan.
To Murakami-senpai?
Yeah, Fumio-chan likes pressed flowers.
Not really surprising, huh?
Hm?
Is there something on my face?
No, I'm just a little surprised that
you and Murakami-senpai are friends.
We get that a lot.
When did you two become friends?
The day our fated meeting took place was... Oh, yes.
It was just a little while after we started at this school...
Cameras and Shortcake
The next stop is Yomikiri Land
It's June already...
I need to start giving serious thought
to what I'm going to submit for the photo contest.
There, there.
Excuse me...
You can sit here if you'd like.
Sorry about that.
Thank you.
There, there.
It takes more courage than you'd think to do something nice like that.
Oh...
Did you drop this?
Now, don't do that.
It's all right.
The next stop is Shinkikyougaoka
Now that I get a good look at her, she's really pretty.
Nice...
So nice...
Super cute!!
Fumio Murakami-chan?
Yeah.
She's a first-year like us,
and on the library committee.
I can't believe I didn't have a girl as cute as her on my radar.
Okay!
Now that I know who she is,
I'm going to ask her to model for me!
Model?
Yeah! I'm going to ask her to model for the photo contest I'm going to enter.
I think that might be a little difficult.
Huh? Why?
She's always reading by herself during breaks...
She's kind of hard to approach.
Her hobbies are reading and pressed flowers,
and she's introverted and doesn't say much, according to my sources.
In the past, she was asked to model for
the arts and crafts club, but she ran away.
Really?
Super cute!!
She sounds great!
She's a cool and mysterious beauty!
I'm totally motivated now!
Sneak, sneak.
Sneak, sneak!
Did I surprise you,
Fumio Murakami-chan?
I'm Erena Mochizuki from the photography club.
Nice to meet you!
Oh, from this morning...
Huh? You remember me?
Yes. And, um...
I forgot to thank you for this morning.
Huh?
Thank you for picking up my bookmark.
You were worried about that?
I totally want to take this girl's picture!
You're great, Fumio-chan! You're great!
U-Uh...
Fumio-chan, I have a favor to ask you!
Will you be the model for a photo I'm entering in a contest?
Model?
I know I'll be able to take some great pictures if you're my model!
No, I couldn't...
Leave it to me.
I'll take such pretty photos of you, you'll be shocked!
Look forward to it!
No, but...
I can see it...
I can see it!
I see the greatest pose!
I haven't said anything yet...
Fumio-chan, good morning.
Fumio-chan.
Fumio-chan!
Snap!
Fumio-chan!
Got it.
I should have turned her down,
but I just got caught up in her rhythm.
Mochizuki-san seems like she's having so much fun...
Mochizuki-san?
A young girl bathed in the light of sunset...
It makes the perfect picture!
Right...
I'm so happy I get to go home with you, Fumio-chan.
Come to think of it, you're by yourself a lot, aren't you?
Huh?
Well, I appreciate that since it makes it easier for me
to get the perfect picture, but...
Are you not into hanging out with other girls?
Well, it's not that I like being alone, exactly.
I just end up getting absorbed in my books...
I see.
Fumio-chan!
Aw, so close!
That was a great expression just now.
I-I'm sorry.
I'd like to capture you with a more natural smile,
but I'm just not that great at this yet.
I still couldn't tell her today...
I'd like to capture you with a more natural smile...
I have to refuse Mochizuki-san tomorrow for sure.
Ready!
Fight! Oh! Fight! Oh!
That's great! That's great, Fumio-chan!
That's a great expression!
Um... Mochizuki-san.
Isn't this shot nice?
Hey, what do you think?
I really like this one.
I'm going to take one at this angle next time.
Mochizuki-san.
Yes?
You're going to disturb other people,
so please keep quiet in the library.
Sorry about that.
But, look! Isn't this picture really cute?
Look, look...
I'm sor—
That was mean.
There was no reason to hit me.
Please stop.
Huh?
Please stop taking pictures.
Okay.
I won't take any more pictures in the library.
How about taking pictures at your house?
I could get a shot of you relaxing in your room.
I'd also get to meet your mom.
That's not what I meant.
I've been wanting to tell you...
Huh?
I can't be your model.
I see.
You didn't want to be my model...
No, it's not that I didn't want—
I thought maybe you were enjoying it.
I guess I wasn't getting anywhere after all.
I didn't mean to say it like that...
Wait! Wait!
Let me in.
You're soaking wet.
You're going to catch a cold.
I forgot my umbrella.
That's just like you, Mochizuki-chan.
I'll see you later.
Shinkikyougaoka Summerfest
Photography Contest
Mom
You forgot your lunch. That's unusual for you.
I couldn't tell Mochizuki-san what I really wanted to.
But it'd be better for her
to get a good picture for her contest.
The chocolate at that shop is really good.
I'm sure Mochizuki-san
will be fine.
Hey, Murakami-san's in the cafeteria.
You're not going to take pictures of her?
Huh? The cafeteria?
Yeah.
It's unusual to see her there.
Is she trying to avoid me?
What are you sighing for?
Well, I was rejected.
What?
You were in love?
Rejected by who?
Fumio-chan...
What?!
She told me she couldn't be my model.
Oh, that's what you meant.
I thought we'd gotten to be good friends,
but I think she might hate me now...
Maybe it can't be helped.
I don't think Murakami-san's really cut out to be a model.
Yeah, she's quiet and not very expressive.
Huh?
I bet she wanted to turn you down,
but couldn't bring herself to say it.
You think so?
So you'll have to start looking for a replacement model, huh?
Yeah.
If there's anyone you're interested in, I'll introduce you.
Okay...
This is for the best, isn't it?
But I'll have to decline.
Huh?
Fumio-chan was the one who really inspired me to take pictures.
So I can't switch to another girl just like that.
Fumio-chan...
So you were on duty today?
Yeah, I have Wednesday and Friday.
I see.
Sorry about before.
Huh?
I mean...
When I hit your camera.
I didn't mean to...
Don't worry.
It won't break from something like that.
Really?
I'm glad.
You really never change, do you, Fumio-chan?
Huh?
That reminded me of when we first met.
You know, when you went out of your way to thank me, even after the fact.
Oh, yeah.
Thank you for today.
I need to head to the photo studio,
so I'll see you later.
Um...
Hm?
I hope you find a model.
Huh?
I know it's weird for me to say that, but...
Actually, I was thinking of quitting this time.
Huh?
I don't mean it that way.
I wasn't really ready for it in the first place.
There'll be other contests, anyway.
See you next week.
Should I really just leave things like this?
I was thinking of quitting this time.
Is this really...
Erena Mochizuki
Want to go on a date tomorrow?
Here
Fumio-chan!
Um...
Never mind, just have a seat.
The cakes here look really good.
Want to get something to eat, since we're here?
I'll pay today.
Huh? But...
My apology for the library.
Do you not like cake, Fumio-chan?
No...
Tiramisu Mont Blanc
Let's have some, then.
Mochizuki-san, I...
You've decided?
I'll have the strawberry shortcake.
Excuse me, could we get a strawberry shortcake and a gâteau au chocolat?
Okay!
I did it again...
I made you order cake, didn't I?
I know I need to fix that habit...
The moment I think something sounds good, I just push ahead with it.
I'm sorry for forcing you to model
without realizing you didn't really want to do it!
Huh?
I never properly apologized...
Thank you for waiting.
Here's your strawberry shortcake and gâteau au chocolat.
Hey, are you Sasahara-san from Class D?
Yes?
I'm Erena Mochizuki from Class C.
Oh!
You work here part-time?
Yeah.
My grandpa owns this shop.
That sounds nice.
Do you get to eat all the cake you want?
He takes it out of my pay.
I see!
Enjoy.
Thank you.
Well, let's eat.
It'll get cold if we don't eat it now.
Wait. I guess cakes don't get cold...
You're amazing, Mochizuki-san.
Huh?
You can say what's on your mind, and you act on your thoughts.
I always just sit and think to myself.
You're amazing yourself, Fumio-chan.
Huh?
I'm digging in.
I will, too.
This is good!
I had you come today because I wanted to ask you a favor.
A favor?
Please let me take your picture!
But...
It has nothing to do with the contest.
I just want to take your picture, Fumio-chan!
You're going to give up on the contest?
That's not it, really.
There's no point in submitting a photo I'm not happy with.
I photograph what I want to.
And right now, that's you, Fumio-chan.
Why me?
You said just now that all you do is think to yourself, right?
Yeah.
I don't think that's true at all.
It might take some time,
but if something's important to you, you'll tell me, right?
I love that about you.
That isn't true.
There's something I haven't told you...
What is it?
I think you've misunderstood my reason
for not wanting to be your model.
It's not that I don't want you to take my picture,
or that I think you forced me to do it.
I just don't think I can be of any help to you.
Why?
I'm not good at smiling happily, posing,
or expressing my emotions...
You'd get a better picture
if you got someone who can deal with being in front people to be your model.
That's why...
So that was it?
What makes a good picture?
I'm still trying to figure that out.
But...
Look at this.
That's a good picture, don't you think?
So this is how I look when I smile...
You like shortcake, huh?
Yeah.
Fumio-chan, you have lots of different expressions.
I'm sure there are plenty of wonderful things about yourself you haven't noticed.
I get really excited when I'm taking your picture,
and I want everyone to know how great you are.
I might not be the best photographer,
but I want to take a picture of you,
one where you're being yourself, and not faking anything.
Mochizuki-san, you've really been watching me closely, huh?
It was unrequited love at first sight.
I watch you every chance I get.
Can you still make the contest?
Huh?
Of course!
Did you know there was a girl this cute at our school?
I never knew she could look like that.
Winner
Erena Mochizuki
I thought she was more cool and collected.
Looking back now, I'm grateful that she asked me to model.
I think I was able to put myself out there a little
because Mochizuki-san helped pull me out.
Award Winner Erena Mochizuki
Preview
Kinoko Himejima here.
Do you like bamboo shoots or mushrooms more?
I like mushrooms more, I think.
It's cool how they seem so mysterious.
More on that next time in: Cats and a Rainy Night.
Episode 4: Cats and a Rainy Night
I'll be waiting for you.