02x24 - Here You Are

[bunniefuu]

Speak up if you have a color request.

No way! I'm Pink! Pink is for me!

What color do you like, Kuragi?

The moment he asked…

What?

…I lost sense of what he asked me,

who was standing before me,

and who I was.

I'm a void.

We've finally gotten over
the last big hurdle of the year.

Good work, Yun-Yun!

Don't forget about our routine duties.

Don't be a wet blanket!

Have you taken care of your work yet?

-You bet.
-Oh, listen!

But, you know? Our work is nearly done.

You want to have a party tomorrow
to celebrate?

A party?

You know about the new fancy restaurant
near the school?

Lunch is cheap, plus tomorrow's
the start of winter break.

Weren't you thinking
you maybe wanted to take me there?

Maybe?

Enough with the shy act.

But it could serve as
our year-end party too. Sounds good.

You'll come too, Machi?

You'll come to the party tomorrow?

No, it's okay!

Machi, Nao, and Kakeru,
don't force yourselves to come.

Right, Yun-Yun?

-Hey, what?
-That would just be called a date.

No, thank you.

You already have plans for tomorrow?

No.

Then is it because
you don't like the location?

Oh, you'd rather go somewhere else?

Again, he asks me things
I don't know the answer to.

He probably doesn't remember
the last time.

You don't need to be so considerate of me.

Plus, I don't think my personal
preferences are any of your concern.

I guess you're right.

But I just want to see what the world
looks like through your eyes, Machi.

Airheaded idiot!

You're so loud! What the heck?

Freaking airheads! Airheads freak me out!

People normally can't say
that sort of stuff with a straight face!

Say what? It's normal!

-I'm going to hit you!
-Unaware and so violent!

Okay, guys! I sent you all
when and where we're meeting up.

Machi, you don't have a cellphone, right?

This is for you. Here.

-I'm going on a date now!
-Isn't our meetup location too crowded?

What? It's pretty average.

Oh, right. You're a princess.
You might faint from large crowds.

Exactly!
I'm of good upbringing, after all.

I'll make you walk through
a shopping district after dark one day!

Stop messing around and go home!

-All righty. Let's go, Yuki.
-Sure.

See you, Machi.

Let's go to the shopping district
next time.

-What?
-They've got some awesome croquettes.

-Really?
-Yes!

Yes?

Machi, you're home late. Out having fun?

Student council.

Oh, I forgot that
you're in the student council.

How are things? The same?

Things are the same.

Have you made some friends?

How's Kakeru? You two getting along?

Don't let him best you!

You must master every subject
with perfection!

What a dull child.

Get away from me!

You make it seem like I'm to blame.

Machi?

Again with the silence?

ENGLISH READING PASSAGES

What's going through your head?
You haven't changed, Machi.

It's because you're so dull
that people don't want to talk to you.

Mom!

Yes, coming!

Okay, I'll call again sometime.

Dull.

It's true that I'm dull.

I don't have a favorite color
or a favorite place.

I've never thought about it.

I desperately struggled to meet demands.

Only to be abandoned.

And what was left of me
was an empty shell.

A dull person.

I haven't changed at all since then.

Him.

He has changed… little by little.

Look, it's him!

That's Yuki Soma.
There, the one in the middle.

He's so beautiful! I totally get
why they call him the Prince!

You think he'll go out with me?

Not a chance.

They call him the Prince
because he's such a chick magnet.

He's not going to end up alone.

But… he seemed lonely.

Loneliness seemed to gnaw at him

every time people gave him
special treatment.

But now, he seems to smile
from the bottom of his heart.

He's changing… I'm sure.

You haven't changed, Machi.

Morning.

What to do?

Do I really have to go?

What a drag.

What the world looks like to me…

He asks strange things.

What does he mean by "the world"?

I don't even get "myself,"
let alone have awareness of "the world."

I've always been a void.

I'm a void.

I'm nothing.

I'm like a doll with missing parts.

A broken doll unable to become human.

Defective.

People always pass by me.

And I pass by them.

Are they invisible? Or am I invisible?

Am I the one unengaged with this world?

Am I needed?

Is my existence necessary?

Am I needed in this world?

Machi.

Oh, good.

I thought I came a little too early,
but here you are.

Machi!

Are you all right?

Are you hurt?

I'm fine.

All your stuff spilled out.

What?

What's with the bottle opener?

I was half-asleep
when I tossed it in this morning!

But a bottle opener?

-Don't pick it up for me. I'll do it mys--
-Machi…

Is this the maple leaf I gave you?

Give that back!

It's a different maple leaf?

It's a different one!

I see. Sorry.

It couldn't be, right?

It could be, though.

Which is it?

I didn't keep it for any special reason.

I just thought it would be a waste
to toss it, so I made it a bookmark.

That's the only reason.

Thanks.

For what?

What? Well, you seem to treasure it.

I'm happy.

I don't treasure it!

What? But you made a bookmark from it!

I just stuff it in my book!
I don't treasure it!

But you're using it
because you like it, right?

I don't like it!

It's big and hard to use! Take it back!

Don't give it back!

Should I or should I not ask
what's going on?

Ask! At least ask!

What's going on?

Machi is so stubborn
because of yadda-yadda.

-I have no clue if you say "yadda-yadda."
-It's none of your business, Manabe!

Hang on. Isn't that the maple leaf
Yun-Yun gave you?

No! It could be!

Which is it?

Oh, so you like maples leaves, Machi?

I don't know!

Oh, then you like red?

I see. Red, right?

That ribbon's red too.

Right?

I finally got an answer to my question.

He remembered.

What? Oh, Machi, why did you come
in your school uniform?

Hey, over here!

He's so weird.

But yes, I see. Machi likes red, right?

Kuragi! Don't cause a ruckus
at the restaurant!

Red, right?

So weird.

Thank you for taking me,
as worthless as I am.

Not at all. I must say the same.

Thank you for coming,
despite shortcomings on my part.

Please don't! It's too much!
I don't deserve it!

It feels like you're here to be his wife.

What? No! It's a misunderstanding!

I'm merely giving a proper greeting,
since I'm staying here this New Year's!

I know. I was joking.

Besides, Master has his lovely Hana--

Don't just assume that crap!

Now, allow me to show you to your room.

It's almost the new year.
I'll be staying with Master this year.

It all started with something Yuki said.

Kyo!

-Look at this, Kyo!
-What?

I bought a new scarf!

It even has pompoms!

You're going to hit someone
when you turn around.

There!

Hey.

That reminds me,

Yuki and Kyo, what will you two do
for New Year's this year?

I'm thinking of going back
to the main estate.

Oh, dear.

Just for one night.

I plan to return by
the night of New Year's Day.

What wrong, Yuki?
You hit your head on something?

No.

I'll be going.

Okay!

But why not stay a little longer
if you're already going?

Yes, but I don't know how I feel
about leaving him alone with her.

You beast!

I'll k*ll you.

Don't distress, Tohru!

I'll make sure to take countermeasures
to keep you from his evil clutches!

-What?
-Beast.

I'm going to k*ll both of you.

Oh, right.

I should mention that she's here too.

She?

Coming in.

Isuzu.

Isuzu!

Don't just barge in here, you idiot!

Yes. I'm sorry…

Nobody told me you'd be here.
I don't feel good!

Isuzu!

Tohru, don't just barge in
without thinking of the consequences.

No staring each other down today?

Why would we?

You both used to stare each other down
for or minutes easily.

That was when we were kids!

Oh, are you two on bad terms?

No, they're not on bad terms.

They're just not on good terms.

Oh, I see… What?

But when I visited her
at the hospital the other day,

she didn't mention anything.

-Is Isuzu…
-Yes. She's been conditionally discharged.

However, she didn't seem inclined
to attend the banquet

and seemed unsure of where to go,
so I asked her to stay.

It'll all be for naught

if she overexerts herself
and falls ill again.

That's true.

The banquet's probably
underway already, right?

What's going through Yuki
and the others' minds

as they attend the banquet right now?

Tori!

Hatori, good job!

A spectacular dance! I must say,
the mingling of Momiji's innocence

coupled with your roughness
exuded something exquisite!

If I had to speak more concretely…

-embrace me!
-Yes!

Don't make me feel more dismal
than I already do.

Nice job, Hatori.

Glad to have the dreaded dance over with?

You're still up next year, though!

-Shut up.
-That's right!

You'll be with me next!

Together, we'll be the "embrace base!"

Stop spouting nonsense and go back.

I shall go back first, then!

-Really, you change too fast.
-What?

I wanted to get a picture of
your beautiful dancing to send to Mayu.

Absurd.

You won't sway her with something like--

Did you two get back together?

No! Don't worry about that!

FOOT-IN-MOUTH.

You're hopeless.

Akito will be missing you
if you don't get back.

Is that sarcasm?

Akito's oh-so-high-spirited
with Kureno and Yuki on either side.

It might be rough for Yuki.

I must say, you worry too much.

Oh, I almost forgot.

You feel indebted to Yuki,
so you're especially attentive.

Don't worry,
I don't feel indebted to you whatsoever.

Yay!

Wait, no way! You don't?

Well, what an irresistible
performance by Tori!

I can't wait to see you both

-perform side by side!
-Didn't run this time, did you?

I'm so happy that you came back to me,

so I'll be so kind to forgive you.

Come visit me more often from now on.

I forgive you too, Akito.

No, it's not a matter of
forgiving you or not.

I'm sick of blaming others.

I'm sick of blaming Akito, Mom, or Kyo

for things that don't go my way.

I have to become aware

of the many faults and areas
I can improve on.

I'm forever the idiot.

If I always blame someone or something,

I'll never change.

What?

What's that in your eyes?

No… Don't go!

Jeez, Hatori--

Apologize.

Akito!

Apologize!

I said apologize!

Apologize!

Sorry.

Akito.

Yuki! How could this happen?

Why, you're bleeding!

I'm fine. It's just a small cut.

I see, it must hurt!

But fear not!
I have the strength of a thousand men!

That's enough. Just bring him here.

Right away, Tori!

Don't die on me, Yuki!

Together in death!

The promise we made as we watched
the sunset by the banks of the Seine

shines brightly within my heart!

We made no promise and watched no sunset!

-You must stay awake, Yuki!
-Sorry.

-Yuki!
-I will never return to your side.

Goodness. The outrageous fuss
your brother makes.

Yes.

The cut isn't deep, but go get it
checked out at the hospital just in case.

Okay, thanks.

No need. I apologize
for not interceding sooner.

It's fine, really.

Akito might've gotten angrier, anyway.

What did you say to Akito?

What? Nothing, really.

Just that I don't want to blame others.

Oh, I need to apologize to you
for something too.

From when I was a child.

I think that somewhere inside me,
I blamed you… for a long time.

You feel indebted to Yuki.

Don't erase them!

Sorry. I was still a kid.

Even though you were hurt too.

Don't you worry about me.

-There's nothing to apologize for.
-Hey! That hurts.

You're so kind.

Thanks.

Don't become like your brother.

-I won't.
-You called?

And have you completed treatment?

Haru.

Going out?

Yes. Yuki seems to be fine.

-I'm slipping out while I can.
-You say that casually.

You going to see Rin over at Kazuma's?

Yes. You're not going to talk to Akito?

No. It doesn't always have to be me
to patch things up.

Plus, I'm not feeling it right now.

You're so moody, Mr. Soma.

Yes, I'm always in the mood!

Anyway, say hi to Rin for me.

Sure, if I can actually get her
to talk to me.

Akito too.

Akito needs to learn
some long-overdue lessons.

Isuzu used to come here sometimes
when we were kids.

She kept coming
because Master was so caring.

I felt like she stole Master from me,
so I didn't like her.

Kyo, that's so adorable of you.

Hang on!
This was from when I was a kid still!

Right!

Where's Isuzu anyway?

She fell asleep.

She doesn't care about
ringing out the old year, does she?

It's the new year soon, Kyo!

What will you wish for
at your first temple visit?

You've got to tell your own wish
when you ask someone else.

Oh, you're right! Sorry for my rudeness!

Last year,
I wished for Yuki and Kyo to get along.

But this year,

I wish for the curse to be broken

and for happiness to come.

Kureno.

A present from Tohru.

It doesn't matter if it's trivial.

I wish…

for change.

"I'm Different Now."