03x03 - We Never Forget What We Endeavor to Forget

[bunniefuu]

♪

[water gurgling]

[ICHINOSE] All my life,

I never thought I was a good person,

but I didn't think I was bad, either.

Ever since I got to this school,

I've sworn I'd face whatever came at me head-on.

It hasn't been easy.

[laughs]

[keys clacking]

[NAGUMO] Hey, Sakayanagi.

What is it, President Nagumo?

[NAGUMO] This student council room,

does it serve any real purpose?

I think it'd be better as a karaoke box or something.

The student council room is wherever I happen to be.

That's quite a unique point of view.

So?

If you haven't come here

seeking entry into the student council,

then what is it you want?

It is in regard to the student council officer,

Honami Ichinose.

If you're interested.

[NAGUMO] Oh?

I've come to let you know that I'm about to mount

an att*ck on her.

[thuds]

[SAKAYANAGI] And what's more,

it could potentially result in her expulsion.

If it does, I'm sorry.

I thought that I told you not to escalate

beyond a bit of bullying.

Yes, well, circumstances might call

for something a little more extreme.

I must say,

I was hoping to keep her for my own amusement.

One should always account for the unexpected, sir.

[chuckles]

You're a bold girl.

-[HASEBE] Morning! -So, why'd you do it?

[SHINOHARA] Do you have a new boyfriend

-now, Karuizawa? -[indistinct chatter]

No, I just felt like it was past time

for me to come into my own.

Always depending on Yosuke made me feel

like I was getting lazy!

-[HASEBE] Morning. -Hey.

That's like so grown up!

Things sure are lively in here today.

It would appear Karuizawa and Hirata broke up.

How anticlimactic.

The class is worked up over something like that?

They are.

Since you seemed to be close to them both, were you aware?

Of course, I wasn't, C'mon.

We never discuss their private lives.

[YAMAUCHI] Hey, Hirata!

I heard the news, Karuizawa dumped you?

She did, yeah.

Whoa, dude. Condolences.

[grunts]

Knock it off, Yamauchi.

What, bro? It's not every day that a hot guy gets dumped.

You gotta give the man some comfort!

-[grunts] Ignore him. -[chuckles]

[SUDO] Have a little tact, buddy!

[YAMAUCHI] Lemme go, damn it!

How can you guys act like it's nothing?

[SUDO] It's not that we think it's nothing!

[IKE] Yeah, we just find it kinda depressing.

[YAMAUCHI] That's so lame.

-[SAKAYANAGI] Good morning. -[all gasp]

Would Haruki Yamauchi be here, by any chance?

[ALL] Huh?

Uh, that's me. Guilty as charged.

Do you think I could talk to you for just a moment?

[all gasp]

-[gasps] -Lemme go.

Sorry.

Yeah. Sure, I would be happy to!

Wha... What's going on here?

[SAKAYANAGI] [giggles] Thank you.

Um, the truth is,

I've been hoping to get a moment with you

-for quite a while now. -[YAMAUCHI] What?

For real? With me?

Not subtle.

Although, it's a little noisy here.

How about we go talk over there?

[chuckles] All alone?

-[all gasp] -[IKE] No way, you guys!

This is impossible!

-Is the world upside down? -What the heck?

No mystery there.

Excuse me, Ike.

[HORIKITA] Wait just a minute, Yamauchi.

Why, what is it?

-I think it's a trap. -Huh?

Why in the world would she be interested

in talking to you?

Well, what the hell does that mean?

[AYANOKOJI] Yeah, that definitely came across

as an insult.

[YAMAUCHI] Look, I'll only say this once.

But it's true.

I am this class' lethal w*apon,

-don't forget. -[HORIKITA] What?

[ALL] Huh?

So don't fret, my people, it's gonna be fine!

Don't worry, I won't let any sensitive info slip!

I'm coming!

[ALL] Huh?

[HASEBE] I am not buying it.

Could Sakayanagi really like Yamauchi?

Kiyo-pon, Yukimoo, what do you think?

[YUKIMURA] I don't know much about that sort of thing.

I know it's strange,

since they've never interacted before,

but it seems hasty to assume

that means it's somehow romantic.

That's so wise, Kiyo-pon.

Like, I could see it with Hirata,

-but not Yamauchi, y'know? -[giggles]

Speaking of Hirata,

I always thought he'd break up with Karuizawa eventually,

but she did it first.

What? You did, why?

They weren't really a great match.

When I think of Hirata's type,

I see him being more into quiet,

beautiful, elegant girls.

I always thought Karuizawa was very pretty, though.

Wouldn't you say so, Kiyotaka?

I wouldn't know.

Well, the important thing here is that Hirata is single

and on the market now.

And there are quite a few girls with their eyes on him.

Oh, wow. Are there?

[HASEBE] Oh, come on, you never noticed?

Let's cut the gossip.

We're supposed to be studying for finals.

And a failing score means

-expulsion, remember? -[phone vibrating]

[HASEBE] Ugh, do we really have to do that now?

Can't we do it later?

[YUKIMURA] You need to get serious.

I hate to ask you to meet me like this. Sorry.

It's fine.

So, um...

Just call me Mii-chan. Everyone else does.

[AYANOKOJI] Aw, man. Do I have to?

All right, sure.

So, what did you need?

Could you...

Could you tell me a little bit about Hirata?

Why ask me that?

It's not like I'm especially close to him.

Yeah, but I hear you're the one person

he relies on most of all! Right?

So, like, is there anyone that

Hirata has his eye on?

That's highly unlikely.

Oh, really?

I can't be sure, so don't quote me,

but Karuizawa just broke up with him, after all.

That's true, it's still fresh.

Do you think I might have a chance with him, though?

♪

Yeah, I do, in fact.

-[gasps] -But still.

But what?

Hirata is a decent guy.

Hm.

And that means, he might not date right away.

I bet he's feeling a little cautious.

Hmm.

[AYANOKOJI] He might even be working through some guilt,

because he wasn't able to make Karuizawa happy.

Yeah, Hirata is sensitive like that.

[AYANOKOJI] If you went after him too soon,

you might be blowing your chances.

That's true.

Easy does it. There's no need to rush.

Indeed.

Slow and steady wins the race and all that.

[chuckles]

-Hm. -It's funny,

I think I had the wrong idea about you, Ayanokoji.

In what way?

[WANG] You keep to yourself and don't talk very much,

so I thought you'd be kind of scary.

But now, I think I can see why Hirata relies on you.

You're surprisingly easy to talk to!

Like, I have this feeling

you were really listening to every word I said today.

[HIYORI] Oh! What have we here?

Huh. Hiyori, hi!

So, would this be some kind of a date?

Oh! This isn't a date! Not at all!

I see.

Then I suppose you wouldn't mind if I joined you?

Of course not!

Is that cool?

-You bet. -Well, then,

what are we discussing?

I'm thinking of planning a visit

to China at some point.

[gasps] Oh.

And because Mii-chan is a Chinese exchange student,

you came to her first?

So, uh, are you two good friends or something?

Kind of. We read books together.

Well, yeah, that is technically correct.

That's cool!

It's really great that you can make friends in other classes.

We all should.

Yeah, I'm with you there.

How can we have a normal teenage life

if we're always making enemies?

It's so wrong.

Apologies for being late.

So, what's this all about?

It was hard to say in an email.

Seems I'm doling out a lot of advice today,

I wonder why.

[HORIKITA] I asked you to meet because I've heard

strange rumors swirling around Ichinose.

♪

[AYANOKOJI] What rumors are those?

To put it simply, they're nothing but slander.

Well, what do they say, specifically?

[HORIKITA] I wrote up a summary.

[AYANOKOJI] Incredible.

This feels malicious.

Indeed. They're also entirely baseless.

They could easily be written off

as jealousy and spite.

One would think so,

but they're spreading among the first-years

too quickly for that.

Which would suggest someone's actively working

to spread them? Huh.

Kanzaki and the others from Class B,

they think the rumors originated in Class A.

Sakayanagi,

or Katsuragi, then?

I guess, but that seems way too on-the-nose

to be the case.

That's what concerns me.

Then let's shift the narrative.

What if we were to assume

there's some truth to the rumors after all?

Fake details but a core of truth.

The air of plausibility would make the rumors spread faster.

And has Ichinose denied the rumors?

Not yet. As far as I'm aware.

Then we should watch and wait.

Especially if this all started with Class A.

Hm.

As of right now, we have no legitimate reason

to intervene.

There's a chance it could make Ichinose perceive us

as enemies, too.

♪

[water splashing]

[HORIKITA] If I were my brother,

what would I do?

Hm?

[water splashing]

Sorry to call you over this late, Ichinose.

Thanks for coming.

Oh, no, thank you!

I'm just honored that you care enough about me to do this.

You, too, Ayanokoji, thanks.

I'm just tagging along with Horikita,

to be totally frank.

I'm guessing this is about those rumors?

Yes.

First, I wanted to see if you have any idea

who's spreading them.

Unfortunately, I still can't say for certain,

but I think it might be Sakayanagi.

And what makes you think that?

Hm?

She kind of...

declared w*r on me recently.

[clinks]

I guess that's not enough on its own, right?

Class A has determined that Class B is a thr*at

worthy of destroying,

and they're doing you a lot of harm

by spreading these baseless rumors.

Oh, I think that's up for debate.

The level of harm, I mean.

No one has to believe them,

and why should rumors about me hurt the others?

I feel like the best way to fight Sakayanagi

is to stay silent, to not overreact.

By keeping quiet,

I'll minimize collateral damage,

thereby helping both Class B and Class C.

I admire that.

You're not just thinking of yourself.

You're helping others, too.

-That's rare. -[chuckles]

Look, I don't think it's anything all that special.

-Then let's work toge-- -I would really prefer it

if you didn't get involved in this.

There's no reason to.

The last thing you guys want

is to get on Sakayanagi's bad side.

As long as you're sure about this.

Of course, I am!

It's nice that you're concerned about me.

But I mean it, I'll be fine.

Thanks for having me over.

Later!

♪

Like I said before, we shouldn't get involved.

If Sakayanagi is indeed the source of these rumors,

then all the more reason.

We would put our own class in the cross hairs

by getting involved, we don't need that.

But if she does take Ichinose down,

then she'll just come after us next, anyway.

[AYANOKOJI] At which point Class B

would already be decimated.

That would benefit us.

Are you saying you don't care what happens to Ichinose?

You are cold to the core.

Why act so shocked?

It's not like this is anything new.

We'll have to face her eventually, and we'll win.

[HORIKITA] We have a common enemy right now.

Let's take down Class A and then focus

on duking it out with Class B.

-So, you're an idealist now? -[gasps]

I'm going, too.

See you around.

Hm.

-[door opens] -Hm.

You're still here?

[door closes]

Could we...have a quick chat?

♪

I don't know what to say.

Except I truly am sorry.

What are you sorry for?

[ICHINOSE] About all the rumors.

They've got you and Horikita pretty wound up.

And that's the last thing I want.

I just hate causing people distress.

Is that what you're telling Class B?

Apologizing to them?

Mm-hmm. Until these horrible rumors go away.

It's the only stance I can reasonably take.

Well, that's what I wanted to say, so...

thanks for hearing me out.

See you!

[door opens]

-[door closes] -[cellphone vibrating]

Who is this?

Start talking, or I'm hanging up.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

-And you are? -[phone disconnect beep]

Huh.

[AYANOKOJI] Interesting.

So, they're making their move, then.

[indistinct chatter]

[AMIKURA] What is this? Who put this in there?

[KANZAKI] What's going on here? Let me look at that!

-[indistinct chatter] -[door opening]

Hm.

Something going on?

-Huh. -Oh, Ayanokoji.

Someone put a strange letter in all of our mailboxes.

Here it is.

"Honami Ichinose is a verifiable criminal."

Those ridiculous rumors have made it quite far.

[TOTSUKA] After a brazen accusation like this,

the school will have to get involved, right?

Yes, and that is a fact that the culprit

was certainly aware of.

-No doubt. -Wait.

Are you telling me you know who the culprit is?

I have my suspicions.

Please, you don't have to grin and bear it like this.

Why don't we just talk to the teachers?

This is getting way out of hand!

[KANZAKI] Yeah. You're an innocent victim here.

No, it's okay! For real.

This is nothing. Don't you worry about it!

[AMIKURA] Don't say that!

If you don't do something,

people might start to believe this stuff!

[KANZAKI] Right, we need to take definitive action.

[AMIKURA] You have to nip it in the bud

before it goes too far!

[KAMURO] Hey, do you have a minute?

You're from, Class A, right?

Masumi Kamuro.

[door opening]

Your room is so plain.

Wow, that's the first thing you have to say,

after inviting yourself into my room?

[KAMURO] You invited me.

I just asked to talk.

Touche, so what do you want to talk about?

It's gonna be a long one,

so how about you get me a drink?

Can I get you a coffee, or tea?

-Do you have cocoa? -I do.

I'll have that, then.

[AYANOKOJI] I offered two choices and yet she decided

to suggest a third, who does that?

You're not gonna drink it?

What, are you suspicious of me?

[AYANOKOJI] Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I be?

A girl I've never spoken to,

and one from Class A, at that,

approached me and asked to talk alone.

You are not at all like your classmate, Yamauchi.

Hm.

[KAMURO] What did you think of that letter, about Ichinose?

I had no opinion.

Even if you didn't care,

I bet you thought about it, right?

About whether it makes her a bad person or not.

Just being a criminal

doesn't make someone a bad person.

[KAMURO] Sakayanagi knows a secret about Ichinose.

[AYANOKOJI] Oh, you don't say.

[KAMURO] And just so we're clear,

Sakayanagi has no idea

I'm here talking to you about any of this.

She would be livid if she knew.

I hate to say it, but I don't buy that.

Hmm.

Okay, well, would you believe me

if I tell you what Ichinose's hiding?

Hm.

But first, some context.

A little backstory, if you will,

about Sakayanagi and me.

And why she works me so hard.

♪

[KAMURO] It was after the entrance ceremony.

[scoffs]

[cane thumping]

[SAKAYANAGI] Wait just a moment.

[gasps]

I saw that.

You shoplifted, didn't you?

[gasps]

[grunts] Yeah, and so what if I did?

I have to say, your technique was impressive.

I'll give it back. Here.

So, do you even drink alcohol?

No, I don't, actually, and I never have, okay?

Impressive.

You walked into that store and took that can,

though you don't even like it.

You did it for the thrill.

Just turn me in to the school already, will you?

[chuckles]

Why don't you let me dispose of this?

If you're not going to call them,

then I'll do it myself!

[grunts]

You know, I like you, Masumi Kamuro.

I think I'm going to give you the honor

of becoming my very first friend.

[shuddered breathing]

I used to be a habitual shoplifter.

"Used to be?"

I don't have any time for it now.

Sakayanagi works me too hard for all that.

Which is why you reached out to me.

That's right.

Ichinose's secret, is the same as mine.

She has a history of shoplifting? Huh.

Despite the pristine image she projects.

You need to stop Sakayanagi.

You can make this happen, can't you?

Yes, but why me?

[KAMURO] I don't have anyone I can trust enough

to confide in.

And besides, you're the person

who Sakayanagi considers the biggest thr*at.

I am honored, I won't lie.

Unfortunately, I can't trust you.

Why is that?

I know what she's like.

She would sacrifice you.

She'd do almost anything to draw me into a fight.

All right.

Let me prove I'm not lying.

You see?

[liquid sloshing]

This does seem genuine.

Duh, of course it is.

And it's not something someone as young as me

could just walk in and buy.

I suppose this makes it easier to believe your story.

Good, I'm glad to hear it.

Best of luck then.

-Hey, wait. Take this with you. -[grunts]

Fine, jeez!

-[cellphone vibrates] -Huh.

-What's up? -[indistinct chatter]

[MANABU] Ayanokoji. I wanted to inform you of something.

-You got him chocolate? No way! -[MANABU] Kikyo Kushida...

[FEMALE STUDENT B] Just obligatory!

[MANABU]...has made contact with Miyabi Nagumo.

♪

Interesting.