01x20 - Present

[bunniefuu]

ORIGINAL WORK - SHIINA KARUHO

RECYCLABLE TRASH

The person I like is Ryu's older brother!

I'm gonna splurge a bit this year!

I wonder if Chizu-chan was able
to give him the gift?

"PRESENT"

Thank you for your hospitality.

The pleasure's all mine.

We'll be back for New Year's.

Chii never came back
after that first night.

She's probably busy.
She's a teenager, after all.

Ryu.

Tell her to swing by
for a bit longer next time.

All right. I'll tell her.

It's cold...

FOR RYU

It's... hard to see him now.

You're late.

I have a message from my brother.
"Visit longer next time."

He left this afternoon.

I... I know that!

Are you pitying me?
Or are you just picking a fight?

Pitying you?

You just... didn't tell me about Toru
because you pitied me, right?

I didn't pity you.

I'm relieved this finally happened.

Why?

Because now you can give up on him.

You... stupid idiot!

Baseball-obsessed jerk!

How's baseball relevant?

FOOL FOR BASEBALL

Idiot.

I never realized how powerless I was.

Chizu-chan has done so much for me.

If I were... someone more like Kazehaya-kun...

would I have been able to encourage her?

Morning.

Morning.

About Chizu...

Do you really think she went
to see Ryu's brother after that?

I wonder if she got to congratulate him.

In her state?

Without showing any sadness...

Congrats! Way to go, lucky man!

Wearing those jeans...

I know... I understand, Sawako.

You know, she's allowed to act
a little more depressed.

I feel awful for her.

Yeah.

What's more, I said something
to make her feel even worse.

What? Ayane-chan, are you sure
it's not a misunderstanding?

There are tons of better guys out there!

I know that hurt her feelings!

She became speechless.

Ayane-chan, what are you talking about...

No! I can't face her! No!

I wanna disappear forever.

No! I don't want you to disappear!

When I try to annoy her on purpose,
she's totally oblivious, but...

What are you two doing?

Good question. What are we doing?

Maybe we're coming to terms
with our sense of helplessness?

-Do you mean Yoshida?
-Helpless, helpless, helpless...

I see.

You're worried because of that?

Well, did you already know
who Chizu liked?

Whenever Toru came back, Chizu and I
often ran into each other at Ryu's house.

Chizu's pretty easy to read.

Ayane-chan and I are in the same boat.

She was worried about Chizu-chan
but didn't know what to do for her.

To be honest, I can't even tell
if she's playing it cool

or if she's so beyond sadness that
her feelings aren't registering.

Even though she's usually transparent...

Chizu-chan was acting
just like her usual self.

I don't know why she'd do that,

but I know she's not okay with this.

I know it, but...

Miniskirt...

Jeez! We're completely helpless!

Are they okay?

Yoshida will be fine.

Like you care!
This is exactly why I don't trust guys!

Ayane-chan!

You misunderstand.

It's because she has you and Kuronuma.

Are you listening to me?

I said we can't even say
anything to console her!

I know, but I don't think that's an issue.

If I were Yoshida,
I would feel a lot stronger...

because I have friends who really care.

If you can't say anything, I don't think
you have to say anything at all.

That's a valid role to play, too.

Maybe Yoshida can't think
of the words yet, either.

What would you do in this situation?

Me?

Jo got rejected recently, right?

I'd be completely useless!

We gotta go soon.

I was curious...

what he would do to make
his friend feel better.

I see...

I can't think of anything to tell her,
but...

Kazehaya!

-You're late again?
-Even though I can't say anything to her...

Shut it.

I hope I can be helpful in other ways.

Thank you, Kazehaya-kun.

That wuss actually encouraged me.

What? Wuss?

Now it's harder to mock him.

She's going to be all right.

She has you, Kuronuma, and even...

Ryu.

Man... Sawako and Yano-chin aren't here yet.

I'm...

relieved this finally happened.

Yano-chin, Sawako!
You two are pretty late.

Morning.

Morning, Chizu.

I never saw him
after that time two days ago.

I'm sorry I made you two leave early.

No worries, really.

We see each other every day,
you know? Hey.

Sawako, sit down.
Pin's gonna get here soon.

That was close... I almost cried.

If Chizu-chan isn't crying,
then... I can't cry, either!

Morning, Kazehaya.

Morning, Yoshida.

TO SAWAKO

If she unloads her emotions on us,
let's listen to what she has to say.

And we'll let her whine
as much as she wants.

Yeah.

Yes, Ayane-chan.

Until then, I will act normal around her...

like I do every day.

Maybe that's all
I can do for her right now.

-All right! Lunch time!
-Lunch time!

Kazehaya, what are you eating today?

Cafeteria food!

And you, Ryu?

Got rice balls.

Gotcha.

Kazehaya, hurry up!

All right!

See you later.

Sure.

I'm gonna go buy some bread.

Want company?

Nah. It won't take that long.

See you soon!

Be right back.

Ryu and Chizu haven't spoken
to one another today, have they?

Did something happen between them?

You're curious too, right?
Did Ryu follow Chizu?

Did he?

You're curious, right?

Half and half, Elizabeth bread,
cheese bread, the mayo one, a bagel,

melon pan, nut bread,
and a dried fruit bun!

Please!

Sure...

A bountiful harvest.

Chizuru.

My bread!

My bad.

You haven't even looked at me today.

Yesterday...

What, you're gonna apologize
about the bread and last night?

I'm not going to apologize
about last night.

You were thinking that way the whole time?

You thought I liked Toru,
even though I didn't have a chance?

Were you thinking
I should've been rejected much earlier?

Yeah.

I didn't start liking Toru
in order to get my heart broken!

I didn't go to your house yesterday
because I wanted to see Toru!

What? What's going on?

An argument?

But you...

All you could say was, "You're late"?

I would've gladly gone
to see him again... if I could!

But...

I couldn't go... so I purposely went
to your house after he left...

just to give you the gift!

But you...

You stupid jerk!

Chizuru, your bread...

Screw it. It's all yours!

Don't talk to me for a while!

How can I eat...

all of this?

I didn't start liking Toru
in order to get my heart broken!

At least let me thank you.

Chizu...

Why're you two here?

We got curious about what was going on.

Did you happen to see that?

Yep...

That's embarrassing.

Me and Ryu kind of got
into a fight last night, so...

I...

I can't hold it in any longer!

I'm so sorry! I'm really sorry!

I thought you'd been making creepy faces...

Here.

Thank you!

Chizu... are you all right?

I'm so pissed! Ryu really pissed me off!

I just went to give him
the gift yesterday!

It was hard to see him too,
but I worked up my courage and went!

He said he was relieved,
and how I can finally give up on Toru...

What the heck?

He pretty much confirmed
that I had no chance!

He's too honest, that idiot!

Chizu...

Did he see me
as a pathetic dreamer or something?

He pissed me off! I'm so angry!

But... what really annoys me is myself,

for taking it all out on him.

Even that gift...

I wanted to give it to him with a smile.
I was looking forward to giving it to him.

But I threw it at him.

It's too much!

I still can't even comprehend
that Toru's getting married!

But I totally vented my anger at Ryu.

-She's whining...
-She's whining...

Chizu's whining!

Yes!

I'm so glad!

Yes!

What? You're happy?

Don't worry.

What were you saying? Complain more!

If you don't vent your stress now,
when will you get the chance?

Yes, yes.

I mean,
you aren't really taking it out on him.

Ryu's totally the villain here!

Yeah, he's a jerk, right?

Yes, totally. He's a jerk!

If I were you,
I wouldn't have given him any gift!

Really?

Chizu, you did a good job!

Yeah!

Yano-chin! Sawako!

That's my girl. Let it all out.

You know what, he's really mean cause...

when I went to his house,
he was like, "You're late!"

I shouldn't have given him all that bread!

I'm so darn hungry!

Even though I couldn't say a word
of consolation

to Chizu-chan...

But on our way home that day, she said...

You know what?

What's up?

Seeing Sawako's tears made me cry,
and now I feel better.

All right, let's go
to the all-you-can-eat cake buffet!

Sure!

Yano-chin, come on, come on!

All right, all right.

Keeping you company makes me fat.

Hello.

Hello?

You know...

I have a lot of bread here. You want some?

What?

All the bread from Chizuru.

FOOL FOR BASEBALL

PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE

The shimmering night sky...

Nostalgic memories make them smile...

Next episode: "First Snow."