01x23 - The Two

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ORIGINAL WORK - SHIINA KARUHO

"THE TWO"

TO: SAWAKO-CHAN

DEAR SAWAKO,
DON'T BE SHOCKED, BUT THERE'S NO SANTA

Well, then...

It was real!

It was all real!

Dad...

Thank you...

Sawako...

You must have been shocked.
Perhaps you were even flabbergasted.

Can you still appreciate
the present even if it's from me?

Sawako!

Sawako went out to get the paper.

Sawako! Sawa...

KURONUMA

Today is December th.

We have our closing ceremony.

Yesterday was really surprising.

Yeah!

You mean Sadako, right?

As soon as she showed up for karaoke,

Yoshida gave her the microphone,
she sang a song,

and she just left after that!

Didn't she come with Kazehaya,
or am I remembering it wrong?

I kind of got that feeling, too.

No way... There's no way...

You guys are so dense.

I called Sawako over.

Kazehaya lost to me in a bet yesterday,
so I made him wait for her,

since Sawako didn't know
where the karaoke place was.

-That makes sense!
-It sure does.

We still have "fun" events like
Valentine's Day on the horizon.

I'm not going to let
these idiots ruin it for me.

-How about a punishment for the loser.
-Yeah.

I feel a chill running down my spine.

But Sawako isn't ready for anything more
in the first place.

She might say something weird
about damaging Kazehaya's reputation.

-It all makes sense now.
-Good morning.

-Good morning!
-Good morning!

People are responding to me!

Kazehaya.

You're early today!

I'm always early!

Yeah, right.

It's a belly warmer...

I knitted this with my father in mind.

So it's not for me...

There was a mistake, and it got switched
around with what I had made for you.

If you'd like,
you can give it to your father,

mother, or grandfather...

But I can keep it, right?

Thank you.

He's so kind!

He'll probably never wear it,
but he still accepted it as a gift.

But I guess
he wouldn't have worn the hat, either.

It probably didn't matter
all that much to him.

Morning.

Good morning.

For me, on the other hand, it matters
a lot because of the feelings I put in it.

It's snowing hard today!

Your tie!

It's for the closing ceremony.

He's shining even brighter than before.

Morning!

Good morning, Chizu-chan.

Morning, Sawa.

Morning.

Morning, Yano-chin and Kazehaya.

It's so cold, but you're all fired up.

Today's our closing ceremony.

Starting tomorrow, we're on winter break.

That makes me feel a bit lonely.

It's been a while, everyone.

-Who's that?
-Who's that?

Outta the way! Move it!

Zen! It's Zen!

-Our homeroom teacher!
-Finally!

It's very sudden, but I've decided

to succeed my wife's family brewery.

So today will be my last day
as your homeroom teacher.

-What?
-What?

I thought you were sick!

Are you okay? I heard you were dying.

Sick?

I heard you got in an accident.

Not at all. Business is booming, and I'm
getting along well with my wife's family.

He married up.

Gold digger?

Mr. Arai.

How about a farewell party?
We should have one.

Thank you!

But I must return today.

I'll never forget the days
I spent with you.

-Zen...
-Zen...

You can hold a party to welcome me
as your new homeroom teacher, instead.

Anyway,
we're going to the closing ceremony,

so please line up in the hallway.

Single file, you sheep!

The second term was full of drama.

She's cute even when making that face.

So many things happened.

You'll be on winter break
starting tomorrow,

but remember to maintain self-control.

Welcome the upcoming term
with renewed enthusiasm...

So much happened all around me.

There were sad moments,

but there were many more happy moments.

This is a card with good-byes
from all of us.

Is... that you, Kuronuma?

Don't worry. If anything,
she only exorcises.

Stand!

It may seem like
an ordinary academic term...

Bow!

But throughout it,

I thought of and experienced
many things for the first time.

Hooray! Winter break starts tomorrow!

Let's go get something to eat later!

Sure.

Where do you wanna go?

Kazehaya!

Let's go to a karaoke joint!

We just went yesterday!

Once I go home, I won't get
to see him again until the third term...

Thank you for this year.

Because of you, it was so much fun.

Kazehaya! Let's go!

He's leaving!
I need to say something quick!

Yeah!

Have a happy new year...

See you next year.

Well done, Sawa-Papa!

Did you already set up an email address?

I haven't read
the entire user's manual yet...

You're reading that?

That's so unnecessary.

I'll do it for you. Let me see it.

Yes, please.

What do you want it to be?

Well...

You'll get less spam
if your address is longer.

Like, your name and birthday.

SAWAKO. NOT. SADAKO. @XX

It'll clear up any misunderstandings, too!

Hold up, your birthday is
on New Year's Eve?

Yeah.

Chizu-chan, Ayane-chan...

If you'd like, can we meet
during winter break, too?

When you have no plans.

Like when you have absolutely nothing...

going on.

Only if you'd like, of course...

You're so silly. Of course we'll hang out.

I'm surprised you'd say
that sort of thing at this point.

Now it's easier to get in touch.

I don't have to wait until the third term!

You know, I always visit the shrine
on New Year's Eve with Ryu.

Why don't you two come with us this year?

Sure, I don't mind.

I could see everyone
on New Year's Eve! I really want to go!

I... I...

I'm going to check right now!

-Speed dialer!
-Speed dialer!

You're going to go with Chizu-chan
and Ayane-chan? That's lovely!

Tell your dad when he comes home.

He feels bad about last night,
so he won't say no.

Yippee!

-Yesterday must've been crazy...
-Yesterday must've been crazy...

I can meet with everyone
on New Year's Eve.

I can be with everyone
on the day I turn sixteen.

Do you know Kazehaya's number?

Yes. When I saw him yesterday, he...

Did you call him yet?

No. I don't have any reason to.

Well, you do now.

Right now, it's just Chizu, Ryu, you,
and me who'll go to the shrine.

I don't mind that it's just us,
but if you want to see Kazehaya too,

you have to invite him yourself.

Invite him?

You better call now, or else Kazehaya
might make some other plans.

Of course, I can't force you.

Only if you want to see him...

If I don't call him now, I won't be able
to see him until the third term.

I don't know how to send
messages yet, so I'll call him!

Hello, this is Kuronuma.

Hello, this is Kuronuma.
I'm... New Year's Eve... visiting shrines...

Deep breath!

-Now we're nervous, too.
-Now we're nervous, too.

It'll be my lucky day
if he agrees to meet with us.

Not to mention how happy it would make me.

Good luck, me.

More! More! More! Get absorbed in it!

Hello?

This is Kuronuma!

Would you like to go with us to...
visit the shrine on New Year's Eve?

So far, it's Chizu-chan,
Ayane-chan, and Sanada-kun.

They're all free.
Well, I mean, if you're free...

I'll go!

Yoshida, Yano, Ryu,

and you, right?

I won't be a burden!

I'll go.

I'm looking forward to it.

He said he's looking forward to it.

Nice going!

Of course he did.

I'll get to see him.
And on my birthday of all days...

I can see him!

Now, then...

What to do?

It's like a dream come true.

Time continued to march on,
until December st.

It's finally New Year's Eve.

My, my! You don't need to clean up!

Aren't Chizu-chan and Ayane-chan
coming for you soon?

That's right. You shouldn't make
your friends wait, Sawako.

Sure. Thanks.
I'll wear the poncho you gave me.

You're going to the shrine
with all your friends...

Yes, Chizu-chan and Ayane-chan
are my friends.

But are Sanada-kun and Kazehaya-kun
my friends too?

Especially... Kazehaya-kun...

We're here!

Good evening!

You're early.

Welcome, girls!

Sorry to intrude.

Let me get my coat.

Actually, you mind if we go to your room?

Okay, come in.

What are we doing...

Don't fidget.

Sorry.

Don't worry. It'll be so light
you won't even realize you have it on.

Okay, now look down.

Like this?

Don't blink.

Didn't you want to look cute
after you met Kurumi?

Think about it again. Why did you
think that way in the first place?

There, done.

I'm almost done, too.

Anyway, this is from us.

-Happy birthday, Sawako.
-Happy birthday, Sawako.

Wow, you look adorable!

We have great taste!

It looks cute!

The hairpin looks good, too!

Don't you dare cry!

Hold it in!

I won't waste their diligent efforts!

The makeup makes her...

even scarier.

Thank you...

Thank you...

I'm really, really happy right now.

So many wonderful things happened
after I met the two of you this year.

All right.

We're getting close to the spot.

Let's bolt, Chizu.

You got it, Yano-chin.

Well, we're taking off now.

Enjoy your time with Kazehaya!

Wait! Where are you going?

Don't mind us! By the way,
Ryu won't be joining you, either.

Give us all the juicy details later.

What're you afraid of?
You asked him out yourself.

For this moment...

Chizu-chan and Ayane-chan tried
to make me look as cute as possible.

Ryu isn't here yet.
Where are Yoshida and Yano?

They aren't coming.

Sanada-kun isn't coming, either.

Did I disappoint him?

Is he upset by this? Will he just go home?

Let's go.

December st.

Thirty minutes till the new year.

PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE

Threads of feelings knit into words...

Snow reflecting the moonlight...

Next episode: "Birthday."