uso to jerashi

　

lies & jealousy

　

　

"Yui!" Manato yells, rushing up & grabbing a hold of her. Saeki dashes up a second later, worriedly glancing at a stunned Mariko & a struggling Yui.

　

Mariko sits on the bed in the infirmary, gingerly bringing her hand to the bruises on her chest. The door slides open & Saeki appears "Brought you a jersey." Mariko gives a little smile "Thank you." "It might be a little bit big." "ok." replies Mariko, taking it. Saeki takes a seat on the bed beside her "I'm sorry." "Hm?" "Well, I should have told her outright about us." Mariko simply says "Could you draw the curtains shut?" Saeki gets up, muttering "I'm sorry," drawing the curtains around the bed at the same time, giving Mariko privacy to change. "I never expected such a cheerful & cute girl to do something like that." "It doesn't matter." "Really." "Instead I'm more worried about her." "Uhm. It seems that her mother just passed away. Maybe that's why she's feeling a little unsettled right now. But it'll be alright. I'm sure right at this moment..."

　

Carrying a sleeping Yui on his back, Manato heads for the shoe lockers. "Thanks," replies Manato to Haruka when she takes out his shoes for him. "Shall I go with you?" "It's alright, I'll just let her sleep once we get home." "Sure?" "Yeah, it's better not to kick up a big fuss." "Okay," nods Haruka, holding out their school bags for Manato. Managing somehow to carry the bags as well as piggy-back Yui, Manato says a quick "Bye," & walks off with a worried Haruka looking on.

　

Walking quietly along a tree lined path, Yui suddenly mumbles "Manato." Manato pauses "You're awake?" "Uhm, actually I was awake just now." "I see." "I was embarrassed so I was pretending to be asleep." "Is that so?" Manato starts walking again. Yui ponders "Why did I do something like that?" "Don't worry about it right now." "Even when I realized it, I don't even know why I did it." "That happens sometimes." "It happens to you too?" "Remember when I first met you? Before I realized it, I was about to steal a book at the bookstore." "Hmmm, I wonder if that's the same." "It's different?" "No, maybe it's the same."

　

　

あの時僕は

いっぱしのナイトを気取っていただろうか

気付いたお姫様を守ってあげる

　

　

at that very moment

was I posing as a knight in shining armor, I wonder

before I realized it

I was protecting the princess

　

　

　

Yui asks "Hey, am I heavy?" Manato smiles "To be honest, a little." "I'm sorry," replies Yui, putting her cheek against the back of Manato's head "But, could you carry me for just a little bit longer?" Manato replies "Uhm. Of course." Yui closes her eyes, smiling.

　

　

　

だから君のことを忘れないよ

二人だけのこの道が

永遠に続いたらいいのに

　

　

that is why I will never forget you

this road that is only for the two of us

if only it would go on forever

　

　

　

[CJ - I can hear all the sighs..."Manato's not posing as a knight in shining armor, he IS the knight in shining armor!"]

　

　

Manato enters the cafe & sees Saeki waiting for him "Sorry to call you out." Taking a seat across the table, Manato replies "It's okay. By the way, how is sensei?" "She's fine." "That's good." A waitress comes by & puts a mug on the table for Saeki, at the same time greeting Manato "Welcome." "Hot cocoa please," requests Manato & she replies "Alright," taking his order. Saeki continues "However, mentally she's a little...how shall I put it....Mariko's probably a little shocked that she's the target of hatred by a student." "I see." When Saeki stares at Manato, he quickly adds "Ah, it's just that to hear you calling her 'Mariko', it's a little...." "Exciting? Are you shocked?" "That it's sensei?" "Uhm." "Hmm, I guess it's not that surprising, even if it were other teachers." "Ah, it seems that you stole Mariko's underwear before." Stunned, Manato looks around the cafe & then back at Saeki "You want to talk about that here?" Saeki laughs "Alright, we'll forget that." Manato continues "When Yui entered the classroom, I was stunned." Saeki nods "Yeah. It happened so quickly, at the speed of light." Manato asks worriedly "Will Yui will be suspended from school, I wonder." Saeki replies coolly "Well, if rumors or anything happens, Mariko will probably take care of it." Assured, Manato breathes easier "That would be fine." The waitress approaches with Manato's order "Sorry to keep you waiting." "Thanks." Saeki lights a cigarette & then asks "So how's Yui doing?" "A little miserable by the looks of things. She's just keeping herself locked up in her room, said she didn't know why she did that either." Saeki nonchalantly comments "Pre-menstrual syndrome perhaps?" Manato looks shocked "What?" "Well, from what I heard, people get irritated sometimes." Manato mumbles "Oh," taking a sip of his cocoa. Saeki adds "It's said to calm folks down." Manato looks up in surprised & Saeki says "Cocoa, they say it's good for health." Glancing at his mug of cocoa, Manato asks "Is that so?" "Where did I read it?" mutters Saeki.

　

Manato walks in through the front door & is surprised to hear Yui talking cheerfully with his father "No way! & then what happened? Did you go?" Irie laughs "Of course I did." "Really? Poor thing! I would've been totally embarrassed! So you really went." Manato walks into the living room & Yui greets him brightly "Welcome home! Where have you been?" Manato replies "Nowhere in particular. It's pretty lively in here." Yui smiles "Seems like it was pre-menstrual syndrome...." Manato pauses "Oh, so it was that after all?" Yui adds  "...when Mama was in the hospital." Manato looks surprised "Mama? Oh," walking into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table & then without a word, stares at the both of them talking cheerfully. Yui continues  "& she asked Papa to go buy napkins for her." Irie laughs "That put me in a spot! It's embarrassing for folks of our generation so I told her to ask you but she said no." Yui replies "Mama just wanted you to pamper her." "I know. So I went to the convenience store, put it in between a magazine..." "Just like renting a porno video?" "Yes, yes....& hiding it between videos of masterpieces!!" Yui laughs "Mama was very happy, wasn't she." Ire smiles "Yes, very." "Ah, the bath should be ready by now." "Then I'll go take it first," says Irie, getting up from the couch & walking out of the living room. Yui gets up & walks into the kitchen "It's fun, talking about this." Sitting at the dinner table, Manato breaks his silence "Are you alright?" Checking the pot on the stove, Yui turns around "What?" "Nothing...." replies Manato, staring at her, a frown creasing his forehead.

　

At the game arcade, Yui shouts "Left! Left! Right! Come on!" Manato stamps his feet in a totally uncoordinated attempt on the dance machine. The machine announces "Game Over!" & Yui moans "Aaa....Manato, by any chance are you're hopeless at sports?" "Ah, it's really fast & this is my first time," Manato tries to explain himself. Yui jumps up onto the machine beside him "Alright, let's do it together this time!" Manato looks at his watch "The second lesson should be over soon." When Yui looks at him in wonder, Manato tries to explain "It's not that I don't want to be with you, just that it feels strange not to be in school. It may sound weird, but then I start pretending that nothing's happening & put on an expression of feigned ignorance." "Expression of ignorance?" Manato crosses his eyes "Uh, something like this?" Yui laughs "Isn't it more like this?" sticking out her tongue, tilting her head with spaced out looking eyes." Manato laughs.  Yui says "Let's play it again? How much is it?" Manato replies "200yen." As Yui digs into her coat pocket, out falls her pink colored bell key holder. Her expression changes as she bends down to pick it up. Manato asks "What's wrong?" but without a word, Yui grabs her coat & runs out of the arcade. "Hey wait! Yui! Where are you going?" Manato runs after her. Not stopping to answer, Yui yells "To school!" "Are you ok?" "No I'm not but it's something else...." "Something else?" Suddenly Yui stops running & turns around with a smile "I want to see senpai. I want to see him." Manato freezes, silently watching Yui run off.

　

Racing down the corridor, Yui dashes into the music room where Saeki is playing on the piano. Tilting her hear to one side & sticking out her tongue, she looks at Saeki. "What's with that face?" asks Saeki & Yui replies "Feigned innocence, pretending like nothing happened." "Isn't it more like this?" Saeki nonchalantly raises his eyes, staring up into space & making a face. Yui laughs "I'm glad." "Hm?" "I thought that you wouldn't come here anymore." "How come?" "I thought you'd be angry." "& why is that?" "Hmmm...." "Actually, more like I should apologize to you." "Apologize to me?" "I was the one that pushed you into a corner." "It's not your fault." Saeki gets up from behind the piano "I should have been the one to explain everything clearly to you. I shouldn't have asked Manato to do that for me." Yui looks surprised "Manato?" Taking a seat on one of the chairs, Saeki nods "Yes. It appears that he didn't say anything to you. In any case it's all my fault, so don't blame Mariko." Yui sits down next to Saeki "I don't blame sensei at all. I really don't know why I did that yesterday, I really don't know..." "She made a promise to you didn't she? that she wouldn't come back to me." "Yes, but sometimes I don't keep my promises either. I oversleep, leave my things about..." Saeki smiles at Yui's innocence. Worriedly, Yui looks at Saeki "senpai..." "Hm?" "Do you hate me?" "No I don't." "Really?" Saeki nods wordlessly. Yui continues "It's just that you like sensei more than me?" "What?" "To say it simply." Saeki reluctantly replies "Well, sort of..." "So sensei is number one, & I am number two?" Saeki makes a face, bemused "....ye-ah...." "If that's the case that's fine." "I'm sorry." Yui shakes her head "No, don't apologize yet. I'm still doing my best." "What?" "If I'm number two, then if I try hard enough, I'll become number one!" "Yui!" "So don't apologize yet." "In spring I'll be...." Saeki tries to explain but Yui interrupts "Just until then." Saeki gives in "Just until then." Yui nods "Uhm, okay?" Saeki takes a deep breath "Ah huh." A grin appears on Yui's face "Ah huh."

　

Up on the roof, Haruka says "What's the meaning of this?" Surprised, Manato asks "What?" Haruka holds out a green envelop "I received this letter this morning." "Oh. It was just something I said." "Something you said?" "That in junior high, I liked this girl who was a transfer student, even now." "Who was it?" "Do you remember a Hirase Ai?" "Hirase? A girl who wore glasses & looked quite matured?" "Uhm, I don't really remember too well either." "& then?" "Yui wanted me to write a letter to her. Yui wanted me to tell her that the reason you & I weren't getting along was because of her.  Although it's not the nicest thing to say, she wanted me to tell her how I felt." "I see." "It's stupid huh. But I heard from Saeki that he wanted go back to sensei & he asked me to tell Yui about it." "So because you felt sorry for her, you did as you were told?" "Well, yeah...." "But why did you send the letter to me?" "Well, if I sent it to someone I couldn't talk to about it, I'd never get a reply." "But...." "You know Yui, if I don't get a reply she'd ask me to write again." Haruka stares at the letter in her hand "So you sent it to me." Manato looks apologetic "I shouldn't ask you to but..." "You want me to reply?" "Yes, say sorry, you've already got a boyfriend or something, anything will do. Then it'll be settled once & for all." When Haruka remains silent, Manato adds "If it's too much trouble then forget it. I'll figure out something & settle it myself." Suddenly Haruka asks "Why? Why didn't you tell Yui then how you really feel about her?" Manato starts "Ah, well...Saeki...." "Because you knew that Saeki was going to turn his back on her so you felt sorry?" "Ah, well...ye-ah...." "I don't think so." "What?" "I'll bet you thought that the time wasn't right, that someday your turn would come. So even if you told her then, it would be meaningless." "I don't..." "I'd certainly think that way...because it would be cowardly.....because it would be dishonest....wouldn't you hate yourself if you were like that?" Manato stares at Haruka, not saying a word. Haruka asks emphatically "Aren't you going to change? I am." Letting out a deep breath, Manato avoids her question "Throw that letter away. It's makes no sense for me to have it." As Manato walks off, Haruka presses "Aren't you going to tell her how you feel? Not to Ai-chan but to Yui-chan." Manato stops in his tracks & turns around, a calm look on his face, shaking his head. Haruka mutters "Irie-kun." Finally Manato says "I am me. I don't want to go back to being an imposter." With that, Manato walks off, leaving Haruka wondering "An imposter?"

　

Mariko returns home & walks up the stairs of her apartment building to find Yui waiting for her. Both women exchange stares, neither saying a word.

　

By the fountain, Haruka waits all dressed up. Taking out her compact mirror, she checks her lipstick & make up. Suddenly a horn sounds & she looks up to see Saeki get out of his car & saunters up towards her "I was wondering who it was, all dressed up! I've got to send something to Haneda for my Dad, would you like to go on a drive with me?" "No thank you." "Oh! I see you've got on make up." Embarrassed, Haruka turns away "It's nothing." "Looks good. It looks really good. But I think the eye shadow's a little too much, it's..." "Leave me alone!" "You're not going out on a date with Manato?" "It's none of your business, go away!" "Have the both of you made up?" Before Haruka can say anything, someone calls out "Haruka!" As Haruka comes running up, Muroi on his bike, asks "What's happening?" "Nothing, just some weird guy trying to hit on me." Muroi stares at Saeki, who puts both hands up in surrender. Haruka gets up onto the bike "Let's go." Staring at them as they zoom off on the bike, Saeki with a worldly look on his face, says "uh hmm...."

　

In Mariko's apartment, Yui pours milk into her tea & stirs it. A little awkwardly, Mariko offers "Sugar?" Yui shakes her head & Mariko nods. Suddenly, Yui asks "Are you startled?" Mariko looks surprised "What?" "That I was waiting for you, & thinking maybe that I would do something to you again." Mariko smiles "No." Looking appropriately ashamed, Yui apologizes "I'm sorry." "There's no need, instead I am the one who should be apologizing to you." "Because you broke your promise to me?" "Yes." "Because you said you wouldn't go back to senpai?" "Yes." "So does this mean that you're now really back with him?" "What do you mean by really...?" "Then what about the guy you were going to marry?" "I've officially broken off with him." "Wasn't it tough?" "Well, yes..." "But you've made everything clear with him & gone back to senpai?" "I'm sorry." "No, I'm not blaming you for anything, I just want to find out how things are between the two of you." "Things between us?" "Yes, things between you & senpai. I was just wondering if senpai will really accept you back." "That is...." "Tell me the truth." "I'm sorry, but I think he will." "I guessed as much. So right now I'm losing out to you." "Right now?" "The both of you might be going abroad in spring, isn't that right?" "I still haven't decided..." "So that's why senpai said that until then, I could go on trying." "Saeki-kun said that?" "Yes." "I see." "I think perhaps he was only trying to be diplomatic." "I don't think do. Even I think that you're young & pretty." "Thank you." Mariko takes a sip of her tea & finds Yui staring at her intently. Suddenly Yui leans forward "I'd like you to tell me something." Startled, Mariko asks "What is it?" "What makeup do you use? & which hairstylist do you go to?" "What exactly....." "Ah, no? I guess you can't tell your own rival these things. I guess so too. But I'm running out of time so I was just thinking that maybe it would be a good idea if I tried to look a little more like you." "Like me? Even if you don't, just like I said just now...." "But because of that I'm number two! I think senpai prefers your look." "No such thing." "I don't think so. I think that if I looked like you, senpai would like me more." "Why do you think that?" "You said so didn't you? That you would marry someone else. If it were me, I could never say that. So if we were just competing about that, I'd be number one, senpai would end up liking me more." "Well, there's also one's character..." "Don't move! Sorry, could you let me study your face some more?" Yui stares intently at Mariko's face from different angles "Ah! Could you lend me something to draw with?" A little taken aback, Mariko nods & takes a notepad & pen from her table, handing them to Yui. Taking them, Yui starts to sketch a picture of Mariko. Looking at the childlike drawing, Mariko laughs. Yui looks up "Ah, that's a nice shot! So that's the way you smile! I see!" Mariko merely sits there silently observing Yui, letting her do as she pleases.

　

Tensely, Haruka sits on the edge of the bed, dressed in a bathrobe. Muroi, with just a towel around his waste, comes out of the bathroom & sits on the bed beside her. Quietly, he asks "Are you sure about this?" Nervously, Haruka replies "Don't ask." "Hm?" "Don't ask me that." Muroi nods & Haruka looks at him "Just do it." Muroi nods "Uhm," & without another word, slowly reaches out & loosens her belt, taking off her bathrobe.

　

At his desk, Manato reads aloud a letter he's written "To be honest, I don't really remember much about you, I'm sorry. & right now, I have a boyfriend..." Manato tilts his head & moans "Would a girl be that direct?" As he scrunches up the letter, there's a knock on the door & immediately Yui enters. Manato growls "Hey!" "I knocked!" "It's meaningless if I don't answer!" "Alright, then I'll do it over again." "Forget it. What is it?" Yui comes into the room & shuts the door behind her "I went to sensei's place today." "Sensei? Asami-sensei?" "Uhm," nods Yui as she takes a seat on the bed. Manato sits next to her "To apologize to her? You could've told me, I would've gone with you. It wouldn't have been as bad." "It was alright. I even had tea." "I see." "She asked if I wanted to have sugar but I decided play it cool & refused it." "& then?" "She apologized to me too. I don't like being apologized to & yet, even senpai apologized to me too." "Well, that's because they hurt you too." "If they apologize to me that'll hurt me even more." "I guess that happens too." Yui shows him the sketch she did "Who do you think this is?" Manato takes a good look "Who is this? A kokeshi?" With a frown, Yui grabs the piece of paper back "It doesn't look like her after all!" Manato asks "You're not saying that it's sensei?" "Yes, I guess a photograph would've been better. Next time I'll ask." "Are you just doing this for fun?" "I'm not playing around! I'm absolutely serious." "Well, I don't understand any of it." "I was thinking of looking more like sensei." Manato looks at her "What?" Yui explains "Senpai prefers sensei's appearance, doesn't he? Strictly speaking, I guess it's her style to." "So?" "I was thinking that if I looked more like her, senpai might like me a little more." Manato turns away, not saying anything. Yui asks "What's wrong?" Manato mumbles under his breath "You haven't given up..." "What?" "Nothing," replies Manato, going back to his desk. Yui cheerfully asks "Hey, do you think sensei's hairstyle suits me? Hey Manato." Irritably, Manato replies "Don't be ridiculous! Unless you go for plastic surgery you'll never look like her." Yui explains "I don't have to look exactly like her, just a little bit." Manato retorts "That would be senseless!" "Why do you have to say that?" "What do you mean?" "You're being mean today." Manato calms down "I am not." "I know, you're in a bad mood because you didn't get a reply from Ai-chan, right?" "Not at all. I was just thinking that the exam results should be out soon." "I see." "I've been thinking a lot about what's happened this year." "I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about myself." "No you're not." "I'm sorry." "Don't apologize. & I..." "You don't like to be apologized to either?" "Uhm, I guess." Yui smiles "Just the same like me. It's probably the first time." "Probably," nodding, giving her a loving smile.

　

[CJ - A kokeshi is a folk craft wooden doll with a spherical head & cylindrical body without any limbs.]

　

Late into the night, Muroi's bike pulls up in front of Haruka's house & she gets off. Muroi apologizes "Sorry it's so late." Haruka returns the helmet "Thanks." Awkwardly, Muroi asks "So how was it?" Sheepishly Haruka replies "Don't ask!" "Don't ask anything?" "Yes, don't ask anything." "Well then, was the experiment a success or a failure?" "Probably...a success..." "I see. That's good. Well, call me anytime, with a great experiment like this  I'll go out with you anytime." Haruka makes a face at him & he laughs "Well then I'm off." "Goodnight." Watching Muroi ride off, Haruka turns pensive.

　

Entering her room, Haruka pauses, leaning against the wall in darkness. Noticing the letter from Manato, she turns on the light & opens the letter, reading it.

　

　

Suddenly receiving this letter

I'd think you must be very surprised

I am Irie Manato

we were in the same class together

before  you transferred to another school

I guess even if I told you that

you wouldn't remember me, would you

I wore glasses, looked very dull

& barely spoke to anyone.

with a filter in my heart,

I never even realized that

somehow I became someone else,

an imposter.

　

　

Haruka mutters "An imposter?"

　

　

All the loneliness, the sorrow,

the happiness, the coward that is me

I hid it all inside

but that is the real me

　

　

Haruka stares at herself in the mirror "The real...me?"

　

　

I have never been in love before

that's to be expected isn't it

because that wasn't the real me

when I realized that, I felt a little lonely

& all of a sudden

your face appeared in my mind

of course

I know that this would put you in a spot

but I think I've fallen in love with you,

Hirase Ai-san...

　

　

Manato walks out from his room & leans wearily against Yu's door, closing his eyes. Looking out her window, Haruka stares at Manato's window, tears in her eyes.

　

In Saeki's apartment, the atmosphere is tense. Mariko takes a sip of her tea "I can't go with you." Seated at the dining table, an equally somber Saeki replies "So you want to stay in school? I've told you before, if you do that then I'll stay back in school again." Putting her cup down on the coffee table, Mariko says "I'm thinking of going back to my hometown." "Didn't you say you that because you cancelled the engagement that it would be tough to do so?" When Mariko remains silent, bitterness enters Saeki's voice "What is this?! Talking about leaving me again? Is it because of Yui?" "Do you dislike her?" "I do not." "Then you like her?" "I don't know what you're getting at!" "I'm wondering if I love you more than she does, more than that cute & innocence girl..." Saeki gets up "Okay, now I'm beginning to understand. So you've lost your self confidence, comparing your feelings about me to Yui's. & you even wanted to marry a man you didn't love. Perhaps I'd be better suited to Yui? Even our ages are closer...what rubbish!" "Stop kidding!" "Kidding?! You're wrong! I'm doing my best to stop my anger from exploding! Do you understand? There is something of the utmost importance that you've forgotten." "Utmost importance?" "My feelings." "That's why...." "Do you dislike her? Or do you like her? Don't kid. For your sake I pretended to be ill & repeated 2 years in school!! No matter what anyone else says, I am true to my own feelings! If you've lost all that confidence then I'll stay back in school for years for you! You're the only one that I need in this world." "Saeki-kun..." "Even for example, even if you said that you don't love me, that you will no longer love me, even if you slept with another man in front of my eyes.....I would hate that but I will never change! I love you!" A pause & Mariko finally says "You....could even become a politician," clapping her hands. Saeki grimaces & just then, his cell phone rings. Walking over to the dining table & picking up the phone in resignation, Saeki replies "Hello, this is the Saeki electoral office..."

　

In their favorite hangout cafe, Manato apologizes to Saeki "Sorry to disturb you on your holiday." Across the table, Saeki coolly takes out a cigarette "What are you saying? Aren't we good friends?" Surprised at being considered so, Manato asks "Good friends?" Saeki replies "Yes. From now on we'll help each other out." "Oh." "So which is it today? It's probably my turn to help. You want me to help you out with that number one girl of yours?" "Ah, it's something I've spoken to you about." "You shouldn't pass the shot but take it yourself." "Look who's talking!" "I guess that's true," laughs Saeki good naturedly. The waitress approaches "Sorry to keep you waiting." "Thanks," replies Saeki, taking a sip of his drink. Manato asks "So how are things between you & sensei?" "What do you mean?" "Going overseas as planned?" "Of course I would like to do that but...." "But?" "All of a sudden she said she wants to go back to her hometown. Just like some trendy drama!" Manato tells him "It seems that Yui went to sensei's apartment." "&?" "I don't know what actually happened but when Yui came back, she was really insistent. She was saying something about becoming number one." "You think that she threatened Mariko?" "I don't know. Maybe that's a possibility so I'm a little worried. She's really direct so I don't know what to do. Anyway, you have to tell it to her once & for all." Saeki nods "Alright. I could've said something that gave her the wrong impression." Manato presses intently "If you tell her outright that there's absolutely no chance at all, I think she'll give up. Rather than tell her you don't like her, tell her that you hate her." Saeki looks up at Manato intensity & Manato suddenly pulls back "Ah, I..." However Saeki smiles "Thank you." "What?" "I'm glad that you're Yui's brother." "I'll handle things after that." "The sooner the better huh." "I think so too." Releasing sigh, Saeki takes a sip of his drink & finds Manato staring at him. At Saeki's questioning look, Manato asks "What is it about you that Yui likes so much, I wonder." Saeki pulls a face "My face?" "Well, that's part of it too." "My voice? Or my hips? Ah let's stop it, even I get the creeps talking about it," laughs Saeki. Suddenly Manato asks "Shortcake." "What?" "Do you like strawberries?" "Not particularly." "Well, supposing you did." "okay." "On top of the shortcake, there is a strawberry. Where would you start eating?" "Where would I start? Strawberry?" "Why? Wouldn't you leave it to the last because you liked it?" "Because I like it, it would be first." Manato stares at him. Saeki smiles "What's this? Some psychological test?" "Well, sort of..." Manato's face darkens.

　

Manato comes home & Yui calls out "Manato?" "Yes, I'm home." Yui comes stomping down the stairs. "What's all the commotion about?" "Congratulations!" Yui pulls a cracker & streamers come flying out, giving Manato a fright. Taken aback, Manato asks "For what?" "Congratulations!" "I asked what for?" "Ah, it's not the exam result." "I know that, it's not announced yet." "You got a reply from Ai-chan." "You're kidding." "I'm not, see?" Manato stares at the yellow colored letter Yui holds out. Turning it around, he sees the name "Hirase Ai" on the back of it. Yui says again "Congratulations!" Manato mumbles "This is nothing to congratulate me on," walking off. Following Manato into the bathroom, Yui asks "Why not? You're not happy?" "It's a rejection letter, probably saying that she has a boyfriend or something like it." "No such thing." "In any case, this is the end of it." "Hmmm, & she said that she would like to meet up with you too." "Who?" "Of course it's Ai-chan! Sorry, I read the letter already." Manato takes the letter from her & starts to read it. Yui adds chirpily "She says that she remembers you. Not only that, she used to steal glances at you. Aren't you happy? & right at the end she said that your sister is cute too!" Without a word, Manato heads for the stairs with Yui asking "Are you going to reply? That's great!"

　

In his room, Manato dials Haruka's number. "This is Sawamura." "Hello." Recognizing Manato's voice, Haruka replies "I'm in my room." Drawing the curtains open, Manato sees Haruka doing the same, smiling back at him "I thought you'd call." Manato holds up the letter "What's the meaning of this?" "She didn't notice the postal stamp on it? I think Yui wouldn't notice that." "I don't think she did but...." "Well, you did ask me to write back." "Yes I did, but what you've written is different! You were suppose to reject me." "I shouldn't have done this?" "Rather, it's just that Yui will ask me to write again, & then expect another reply." "What's wrong with carrying on like this? Being pen pals?"  "What?" "It's better this way. Until you tell Yui how you really feel, it's better this way." "Why?" "Girls everywhere all wish that they are liked by someone. Even if they are obsessed with someone else, it's still nice to know that someone else likes them. So Irie-kun too, don't be someone who's rejected, but rather, it's better to be someone else's obsession. That's why I hoped you'd be happy with what I wrote. Especially after having been disappointed in love, I don't want you to be miserable." "Are you making fun of me?" "I'm on your side!" "Why?" "I don't know....I don't even know why myself...in any case from now on, Sawamura Haruka & the bespectacled Hirase Ai....yorishiku" Haruka smiles & Manato returns it, quietly saying "Same here."

　

　

Yui runs up happily like a little kid into the snow covered playground. With Saeki sitting on one of the swings, Yui shouts "I want to sit on the swing too!" Without a word, looking grim, Saeki lights a cigarette. Yui, not noticing Saeki's expression, happily gets on the swing.

　

Manato enters the living room to see it empty. Looking around, he spots a note on the table & picks it up. "I've got a date with senpai at the park, Yui."

　

With the swing screeching, Yui says "When I was young I used to swing really high up! Now I'm too heavy." Without looking at her, Saeki says "This is how you deceive everyone huh." Yui stops "What?" "Artlessly, cheerfully, naively...." "Senpai?" Tiredly Saeki gets up "Even I came dangerously close." Not understanding, Yui says wonderingly "Senpai?" Standing in front of her, Saeki tells her "Don't bother me anymore, or Mariko." "Why?" "Don't ask why!" "But I'll try harder!" "I'm fed up! I'm fed up with you! Don't assume that just because we had sex once that you're my girlfriend." Tears well up in Yui's eyes. Saeki turns away & heartlessly continues "You should understand. That was just to fill the loneliness when Mariko left. It had nothing to do with liking or disliking you. It could have been anyone. & Mariko's back now. I don't really want to say this but....you're....'no longer in use'. Do you understand? If you ever do anything to Mariko again I won't let you off that easily, that's a promise. Don't just sit there, just give it up." Stunned, Yui gets up "You hate me?" Not looking at her, Saeki says "Didn't I just say so? I neither like you, nor hate you....." Turning back to look at her straight into her eyes, Saeki adds cruelly "....right from the very beginning." "I see..." mutters Yui. Without another word, Saeki walks off & Yui start to cry. From a distance hidden behind a tree, Manato watches in painful silence.

　

　

あの時僕は

唯の前に現れて

優しく抱きしめようと考えていた

それなのに何故か

凍り付いたように

一本足も動かなかったんだ

　

　

At that very moment

I wanted to appear in front of Yui

& gently put my arms around her

but I don't know why

it was as if I was frozen

I couldn't move a step

　

　

　

Alone at a table at the cafe, a disheartened Manato sits alone at a table, the evening's sunrays streaming through the glass walls.

　

　

　

フィルターをはずして

僕は本当の自分を取り戻したのに

相変わらず僕は

惨めな人間だった

　

だから君のことを忘れないよ

君はこんな僕を

たやすく忘れたとしても

　

　

Having taken off the filter

I regained my true self

& yet just like before

I was just a wretched being

　

That is why I will never forget you

Even if you've simply

forgotten about me

　

　

Taking the strawberry from atop the shortcake in his fingers, Manato stares at it. Slowly, tear in his eyes, Manato takes a bite.......