01x06 - Friends

[bunniefuu]

ORIGINAL WORK - SHIINA KARUHO

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DAYS

During elementary school,

I wasn't particularly disliked, but...

I didn't have any close friends, either.

I lacked a social circle.

Can I join you?

I didn't even see you, Sawako-chan.

Sure, let's play.

One day, Shino-chan, a classmate of mine...

Sadako!

She called me "Sadako" accidentally.

Sadako?

-Sadako.
-Sadako!

Ever since, I became "Sadako."

My middle school classmates
made a joke about me.

Sadako can sense spirits.

Yeah, I sort of expect her to.

It's only natural!

Before I knew it,
I was known as a "spirit magnet."

And then, when I entered high school...

I heard Sadako can sense spirits.

What's more, stare into her eyes
for over three seconds...

and in seven days...

That single rumor
spawned many other myths.

Supposedly.

That being said,

when I reflect on how I was in the past,

I think I was fortunate.

While I did get upset at times,

I never felt absolutely miserable.

Oh, by the way. Remember Sadako's rumor?

The one that says
Yano and Yoshida are her backup?

That's a misunderstanding!

Yano-san and Yoshida-san are...

not my backup.

You're annoying.

We know that crap.

The...

delinquent and slut, isn't that right?

"FRIENDS"

Morning, Kazehaya.

Good morning.

Morning, Ryu.

Yo.

What?

The girl's bathroom.

What's going on?

Oh, Kazehaya.

Some girls are arguing in the bathroom.

Arguing?

Guess who's fighting?

Sadako versus some Class A girls.

Kuronuma? Why?

We were in there a minute ago.

It seemed like Sadako started it.

She's mad about Chizu's
and Yano-chin's rumors.

Rumors?

The bloody old man
and the -guy conquest rumors.

Apparently Sadako is spreading the rumors.

Ridiculous.

I... I will try hard
to become their friend!

Why would Kuronuma do that?

What are you guys screaming for?

What's going on here?

Kuronuma is giving her all...

to defend you two from the rumors.

-Let me through.
-Move, move!

Are you... holding back?

I am!

But this isn't...

for me to meddle in.

They have to address it themselves.

Hang in there,

Kuronuma.

Just hang on.

You can do it.

Those words you just said...

take them back.

What's this hand for?

Let go.

What you just said... is a misunderstanding.

It's wrong.

Hey, did you just hear that?

Yano-san and Yoshida-san are...

not who you say they are.

If you say such cruel things...

Yano-san and Yoshida-san...

will be hurt.

You're one to talk!

"Nice girls"? "Be hurt"?

How dare you.

The stuff about Yoshida being
a delinquent and Yano being a slut...

you revealed that yourself.

"Myself"?

Who... who is...?

I said...

Yano's and Yoshida's rumors
first spilled out of your mouth,

Sadako!

Me?

She was just shoved!

Shouldn't we stop them?

We'll handle this.

Why would I...

say bad things about them?

That's wrong!

It's the opposite.
They're both very kind to me!

I couldn't care less...

about your whining.

We're here to put you in your place.

I mean really, even those two...

were probably
mocking you behind your back.

Now they've lost interest.

Same for you.

You got close to them...

because of Kazehaya, right?

And now they're just in your way.

You're pissing me off.

Just stay away from other human beings
and sit alone in silence.

If you do,

I don't mind leaving you alone...

You're wrong!

You don't have to leave me alone.

Just take it all back.

-What're you saying...
-All of it.

Everything you said is wrong.

You really don't understand at all.

You're...

blind to the truth.

I'm glad it worked out for you.

When everyone else ignored me...

I got this for you. Drink up.

They never feared...

or avoided me.

You're totally helpless.

-Here's the tracksuit.
-Yuck.

You don't know how kind...

they really are.

You...

don't know them at all.

You don't know how much...

I care for them.

It's way more than just "like."

I really, really like them!

Do you like us?

It's not "like," it's...

it's more like...

well...

I really like them both so much!

That's why...

Yoshida!

You'll still come help her,
even after she spread all that crap?

It's not Sadako.

-Sadako would never do that.
-Sadako would never do that.

What are you two...

We're just stating facts.
It's all good. You got that?

So how about you scram?

What the...

It's none of your business.

I'm talking to Sadako here!

You think you can win against me?

You're from my middle school,
so you know about me, right?

I've got the record for consecutive
wins fighting guys from our school.

Why are you gloating?

Lay your hands on Sadako again,

and it ain't gonna be pretty.

You're totally psycho.

Let's go!

Hey, please wait!

Everything you've heard...

is completely untrue.

God, you're annoying.

Fine. I get it.

I'll take it back!

Are you satisfied?

They... understood me?

Yano-san, Yoshida-san!

I fixed the misunderstanding!

They get it now.

They know the rumors are false.

That's enough, Sadako.

That wasn't the issue.

It's not Sadako.

-Sadako would never do that.
-Sadako would never do that.

Yano-san, Yoshida-san...

Thank you...

for believing in me.

Thank you so much.

Kazehaya?

Did we do something to make you mad?

I'm not mad!

You are!

I just think...

hateful gossip...

is disgusting.

You guys,

you know the rumors about Yano and Yoshida
are total lies, right?

Do you really think Kuronuma
would say those things?

Well...

I don't really know much about Kuronuma.

Since it became a rumor, I kind of
wondered if Sadako really said it.

Sadako's been trying to defend them both.

Defend?

Even when pushed
against a wall, she kept trying.

All for Yano-san and Yoshida-san's sake!

We couldn't do anything for them...

But... Yano-san and Yoshida-san
saved Sadako.

Seriously? Yano and Yoshida
really saved Sadako?

Yes.

That means Sadako being responsible
for spreading the rumors is a lie?

I see. It was all fake.

I thought it was weird from the start.

I mean, Sadako's notes
were really great, right?

No doubt. Thanks to them,
I think I aced my midterms!

Me too, me too!

Sadako is amazing!

I thought this all felt really phony.

If Kuronuma hears this,
she'll definitely be happy.

All thanks to Hirano and Endo.

Nice, you two.

Hirano, Endo!

Hang in there, Kuronuma.

I thought maybe I could fix
the misunderstanding.

Sadako.

Up until now... I always told myself that
some things are just the way they are.

"It didn't work out again."
"That's just the way it is."

While I want to be friends with everyone,

deep down,

I had given up hope a long time ago.

But... Yano-san and Yoshida-san...

I couldn't give up on you two.

Even if it meant that my presence

around you two would create more rumors

and hurt you even more.

Still...

I couldn't give up on you.

When...

when you two get hurt,

I don't know how to console you,

but still, I...

want to be with you.

Yoshida-san, Yano-san...
Just like this, just like now.

No, I want more than that.

I want to be closer friends with you.

If another misunderstanding comes along,

I'll fix it, no matter
how many times it happens.

I'm being unreasonable and selfish.

But they're listening to me,
without looking away.

They're listening so closely.

Yano-san, Yoshida-san...

Yano-san, Yoshida-san, I want to be...

friends with...

I want to be friends with you!

Sadako, you...

Did you, maybe, think
we were hurt because of that?

Did you think being with us...

would hurt us?

Even so,

you chose to hope
that you could be with us?

Sadako,

you suffered for something so trivial?

Yano-san!

-I'm dirty because I was on the ground...
-Idiot.

You're such an idiot.

Jeez, everything we wanted to ask you...

is on the table already.

I'm ashamed that I ever doubted you,
even a tiny bit.

I'm sorry, Sadako!

Don't be okay with being alone ever again!

Did you know...

that we're...

unable to hold back our love for you?

Didn't you know?

Friendship...

was already built
before you even realize it.

We've been friends since we met,

Sadako!

Friends?

We've been friends...

since we met?

Idiots!

I'm gonna ravish both of you!

Hey, knock it off!
They'll get the wrong idea!

What if they spread another weird rumor?

Jeez, you cry way too much, Chizu.

-Friends...
-Yano-chin, your eyes look watery, too.

I...

can tell...

one ghost story now.

My...

first...

friends.

They're crying and cracking up
at the same time.

They seem really close.

-What's going on?
-Kinda scary.

Reconciliation!

There has been a dramatic twist, and...

they've reconciled!

Hear that?

No need for me to console her.

Is there a fight?

Where's the battleground?

The champ is here!

What? What do you want from us?

This is a private party.

What the...

What's this rotten tomato scenario?
This isn't what I want at all!

You three! Start slugging each other! Now!

Are you really a teacher?

Crap! Move! Move!

Fan out, everyone!

Scurry like ants!

The idiot known as Pin
totally ruined this.

Kazehaya-kun...

Way to go.

I could hear...

what you were saying.

Yeah!

"Hang on."

"Hang on," right?

I heard it all along.

Thank you,

Kazehaya-kun.

Just now, Sadako...

She was smiling.

I saw it. I definitely saw it.

After everyone finished midterms...

I found out I didn't do very well.

No way! Sadako's th?

That's still amazing.

I suppose I did fail all
of the first day exams...

For some reason, our average class scores
in all subjects were really high.

It's thanks to the Sadako Note.

-All thanks to you!
-All thanks to you!

Zashiki-warashi.

Zashiki-warashi...

Sadako warashi?

It may just be my imagination,

but it feels like they see me
in a slightly different light now.

That's what I believe.

Was I...

really able to do my best?

Sadako, let's go eat ramen.

Me? Can I really join you?

That reminds me, we haven't
heard your ghost story yet.

I want to tell it!

Please don't, ma'am.

Sadako, do you have cash?

A little.

It'll be fine, then.

My chance to be alone
with her suddenly vanished.

Kazehaya, wanna go out with us as usual?

It's been a while since I had ramen.

You know what?

I feel like I've been reborn.

I've felt this way
ever since I met you, Kazehaya-kun.

That's unfair...

What's up, Kazehaya?

Didn't you know?

-Friends eat ramen together.
-Now I have...

-Really?
-...precious friends.

I was able to do things...

that I couldn't do alone.

Once I see that happy smile,

how could I ever stand in their way?

Kazehaya.

What's wrong, Kazehaya? Are you okay?

Wanna see the nurse?

Oh, Sadako!

Your buddy.

I'm so happy for you. Your wish came true,
and you've made new friends.

Yes!

Friends!

Please be good friends with Sadako.

See ya!

It's official.

-Sadako!
-Sadako!

It's not that you "like us", but rather...

How did it go again?

-I really...
-Really...

I really, really like you!

I see.

You really, really like us, Sawako?

Sawako!

After I met Kazehaya-kun,

so many things changed.

I've come to know...

so many feelings.

Oh yeah. Tell us your ghost story.

Sure. I'll listen too.

Yeah!

Hoichi was...

a fine lutist.

Is this "Hoichi the Earless"?

Then Kazehaya got all angry.

Yep.

He said hateful gossip is disgusting.

He was referring to us,

right?

Will she be okay?

Yuka. She's had
a long-standing crush on Kazehaya.

Hey, wait!

Yuka!

Stupid girls.

Making such a big fuss.

It's a given that Kazehaya hates
girls who do that.

PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE

Friends I really, really like.

Precious time.

Next episode: "Saturday Night."