01x12 - Episode 12

[bunniefuu]

[girl] Oh, by the way,
we don't know each other's names.

I'm Ayano Tanaka. A future star.

Someday I'll share the stage with TenTen.

And then we'll get married!

Get... married...
You're going to get married?

-[Mao] Acchan!
-[Tanaka] Oh, crap.

-[Mao] Acchan!
-Sorry, gotta go.

-[Mao] Acchan!
-See ya on Monday.

[Murai] Soon after that,
the Monday I eagerly awaited...

TENTEN SUDDENLY GETS MARRIED

...never came.

[leaves rustling]

[wind whistling]

[snow crunching underfoot]

[Tanaka] What are you crying about?

How pathetic.

Well, I guess it's my fault this time.

I'm sorry,
I've been going through some stuff,

I just haven't had time to... [screams]

[young Murai] I was scared.
I thought I might never see you again.

[Tanaka] Sorry.

But you know, kid,
I'm moving away for college soon.

So you can't spend all your time crying
just because you don't see me.

The only time
you should hard cry in public

is when you're happy.

That's what I'm gonna do,
so you do the same.

-Okay!
-[Tanaka] All right!

Then this is yours!

With this by my side, I can't move on.

But it's something I've treasured,
so I can't just throw it away.

You keep it.

It's been fun,
even if it was only a short time.

I hope we both can find friends.

Take care.

[footsteps receding]

[young Murai] Please wait. Wait.

Ayano, I... I...

love...

Huh? What's that?

Well... I mean!

I... love...

I can't hear what you're saying!

Speak up!

I love you, Ayano!

[young Murai] Please marry me!

How precocious can you be?!

I truly am in love with you!

Hey! Did you hear what I said?

I'm going to a place far away!

[Tanaka] I don't even know
if we'll ever meet again.

If we do meet again, will you marry me?

[Tanaka] What's gotten into you?

[young Murai] After seeing you onstage,
a big shift occurred in my heart.

I did my research
and learned that this is love.

-[grunts softly]
-My encounter with you was fate.

And fate is human beings
meeting each other in a miraculous way.

-The hell are you talking about?
-It's beyond our control.

So please, marry me.

Okay, okay, only if I remember.

But listen, if I don't remember,
you can't remind me to get married.

[Tanaka] That's cheating, not fate!

I understand.

When that time comes,
I will carve out my own fate.

Good luck.

Pinky promise.

[young Murai] Goodbye, for now.

[Tanaka] Thanks to the chairman's
random dart throw,

I'm now the homeroom teacher
for class 2-1.

-My name is Ayano Tanaka.
-[Murai gasps softly]

[Tanaka] I'm a new teacher,
but I look forward to teaching you all.

[chair scrapes]

Excuse me!

CLASS 2-1
MURAI

[Tanaka] Nice to meet you, Murai.

Looking forward
to having you as my student.

Now that we've been personally introduced,

I'd appreciate if you'd
return to your seat.

Is there anything else?

[♪ sentimental music playing]

No.

IF FATE IS NOT ON MY SIDE

[young Murai] I will carve out
my own fate.

I love you.

[Murai] I will not falter.

MARRY TANAKA-SENSEI

[Tanaka] Seriously...

You've gotta cut the crap.

[Murai] I honestly feel like crying
at the thought of you being

my homeroom teacher.

Why don't you remember me?

I finally got to meet you again.

And at the best possible time
when I look like TenTen.

[Tanaka] Here's the thing.
I would never go for someone

with long, black hair in the first place.

[Murai] What? That can't be.

[Tanaka] Someday I'll share
the stage with TenTen.

And then we'll get married!

[Murai] Back then, Ayano said...

It's not surprising that her taste
has changed over time.

Something must have happened
that I don't know about.

That's all there is to it.

Thank you for the advice.

[Hitotose] Are you stupid?

Is this the beginning of a nightmare,
or what?

I was hoping to see a funny comedy

that would make me feel
like nothing matters.

Do you think you're the only victim here?

I'm sure you and I
feel the same way right now.

And this is all because of you,
the root of all evil.

You've caused so much trouble.

Did you come here
just to make these pointless complaints?

If it weren't for you,
this would not have happened.

Yes, yes, that's true.

And if it weren't for you,
I would not have even met her.

Unlike you, I've had to
build everything up from scratch.

I've strived to become
Sensei's ideal partner,

doing everything I can
to make her notice me.

Someone like you,
who's had her affection from the start,

could never understand how I feel.

That much I know.

[Hitotose] She has always remembered you
from that day.

And yet she doesn't think that boy is you.

She can't make the connection.
Why do you think that is?

Because that memory
isn't that important to her, right?

[Hitotose] Wrong.

It's because you haven't been you
since that day.

You've been living your life
trying to be someone you're not.

Claiming that it's for her.

Are you going to imitate
that Yamakado guy next?

Make your complexion pale
and curl your hair?

You're going to live your life striving
to appear like the God of the Underworld?

That's pathetic even by your
abnormally obsessive standards.

No matter how many times you repeat that,

you'll always be second best
and will never be the real thing.

It's easy to act tough
when you're wearing a mask.

A bit too close to home? My bad.

[Murai] I don't have confidence in myself.

-[Hirai grunts softly]
-I wonder if Murai is going to die.

Hey, don't say things like that.

Damn it! How long are you
gonna keep sleeping, Murai?

Come on, give us some fan service!
Bust out that onigiri like you always do!

Murai! I can throw a punch
to your ribs to wake you up!

Wake up!

I still have so much more cosplay
I want you to do!

[narrator] Greedy.

That's right, Murai!
It's freaking boring without you!

Who gives a damn about Tetsuko?
We can hang out as much as you want!

Let's go to karaoke!

You love their all-you-can-eat ice cream!

Say something more thoughtful!

And you! Quit being such a downer
and say something!

[Kiriyama, softly] ...up.

[Kiriyama chanting] Wake up. Wake up.

[chanting] Wake up. Wake up.

Wake up. Wake up!

Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

[Murai] The real me is whiny,
pathetic, and sensitive.

I act like I'm indifferent,
but I'm always scared of something.

I live every day
assuming the worst possible outcome.

I'm pessimistic, argumentative
and so uncool it's stupid.

And I'm scared to death...

to admit that.

The only way I can keep myself together

is by trying to become
someone Ayano would approve of,

just because she once called me cool.

Who could love a person like that?

If that's the real you,
then honestly, I like you better now.

[Hitotose] Free yourself
from that irrepressible pride.

This may be hard for you
to imagine right now,

but it will make the people around you
like you more.

It's true, believe me.

Hitotose...

[friends chanting]
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

-[Hitotose] Is that your friends?
-[Murai] Yes.

I better get going, then.
Though there's nowhere to return to.

-Please don't go.
-[Hitotose] I'm going to.

And so are you.

-Get up.
-[hands clasp]

Murai, you are both my rival
and my benefactor.

[Hitotose] I was happy she loved me.
I thank you.

And one more thing.

I'm only going to say this once.
You'll forget when you wake up anyway.

I will not accept a reality
in which you are not rewarded.

Got it? Now wake up!

-[friends chanting] Wake...
-[Murai gasps softly]

-He actually woke up!
-[Kiriyama] Murai!

-[Hirai] Murai!
-[girls] Murai!

-[Murai] I will not accept a reality...
-[crying]

[Hirai] What?

[Murai] I will not accept a reality...

[Hirai] What's wrong, Murai? You okay?

I will not accept a reality
in which you are not rewarded.

[Hirai] Outta the way, Kiriyama!

I, too, will not accept a reality...

[Yayoi] A spell?

...in which you are not rewarded!

Sorry for making you guys worried.

And I'm sorry to ask this,

but this helpless, pathetic person
needs your help once more!

What can we do?

[♪ opening theme song playing]

Murai's absent again today?

Yes, I've been in touch
with his parents every day,

but they tell me it's fine
and he'll be better soon.

[Yamakado] Maybe you should
go check in on him?

You're right.

I'll stop by on my way home today.
If you'll excuse me.

Don't go. I'll go.

[Tanaka] No, I'm his homeroom teacher.
It's not something for the head teacher...

That's not what I mean.

[Yamakado] Sorry, you're right.

-[Tanaka] Excuse me.
-Okay.

Oh! Good, there's Tetsuko.

Nice, keep going to the bus stop.

Go on, don't stop walking.

Yikes, Hades is here too.

This ain't good, Kiriyama. What do we do?

-Hirai.
-Yes.

I would do anything for Murai.

[Hirai] I don't know what you're up to,
but count me in.

[Yamakado] What am I doing? I shouldn't be
mixing work and private matters.

[whistle blowing]

You there, pedestrian.
Please stop on the shoulder of the road.

[whistle blows]

[Yamakado] What are you guys doing?

[Hirai] Hey, what now?

[sighs]

Please!

Wait here for a little while!
I won't ask you for anything ever again.

Please, give Murai some time!

-Murai?
-[Kiriyama] I'm begging you!

This guy's only ever gotten down
on his hands and knees for his parents.

As for me...

This is the first time I've ever
gotten down on my hands and knees!

Please!

[Hirai and Kiriyama] Give Murai some time!

Okay, I get it, so cut it out.

Hang on, Hirai...

TAKEBE GAKUEN

[Yamakado] You know the word "please"?

[Tanaka] How I should have reacted?

When it comes to people in the flesh,

I have a habit of giving up
on liking or falling in love with anyone.

People's feelings change.

I'm scared of trusting someone
and getting hurt when they betray me.

Better not to expect anything of others
or even myself in the first place.

I'm happier to rely on
something that isn't real,

something I can never touch,

but has a fixed answer
and will never change.

I thought I'd accepted that that was me
and that was the kind of life I'd live.

But deep down, my heart wants
to be understood and loved by someone,

and to love and understand them in return.

And I hate myself for hurting people
with my conflicting desires.

When did I become
so timid about these things?

I used to proudly say what I liked.

Directly, without hesitation,
not caring what anyone might think.

What happened to that old me?

I have no idea,

but I don't think she'll ever come back.

[Murai] Ayano.

I'm here to return this.

[Tanaka] Huh?

I'm not worthy of this bass.

Because...

[Murai] Because I'm about to...

hard cry in public over a broken heart.

But this is the real me,
the one you know, isn't it?

Ever since elementary school,
ever since I saw you onstage,

I've loved you.

But it doesn't matter now.

The promise of marriage is null and void.

Please be happy with Yamakado-sensei.

And lastly, please accept this.

I couldn't do anything for you,

but please don't forget
those who were a part of your life.

Those who were your emotional support,

and those you truly loved.

[Tanaka] Cringey bass.

[Murai] I'm sorry for modifying it
without permission.

Kiri and Yuuka
took it apart and drew this.

By the way, my hair was done by Hirai.

I'm going to reconsider my career plan
starting tomorrow.

Now, please excuse...

[Tanaka] What are you doing?

Uh...

I'm sorry. I should've known...

We shouldn't have
drawn directly on your bass.

[Tanaka] That's not what I'm saying.

Then what is this all about?

[Tanaka] After you and I
got left behind on the school trip

and I told you
how I fell in love with Hitotose,

there was something that bothered me
every time I tried to remember that boy.

It was probably
a very trivial thing for me at the time,

but looking back on it,
there was something I really regretted.

[Murai] What is it?

I didn't ask

for his name.

[grunts softly] I'm sorry,
there's water coming out of my eyes.

Are you crying, Ayano?

-Let me go.
-[both] No.

If you let me go, I'm not going to do
what you guys are thinking.

[Kiriyama] What do you mean?

Trust me.

[Tanaka] But I already
knew his name, didn't I?

Because I'm your homeroom teacher.

It's been a while, Chisato Murai.

Yes, it's been a while, Ayano Tanaka.

I apologize for butting in
during this emotional reunion.

Yamakado-sensei!

Head Teacher!
How long have you been listening?

From the start.

I can explain...

[Yamakado] As the second-year
head teacher,

I will be taking the appropriate measures.

First of all, Tanaka.

You must leave this school
at the end of the year.

Staying at the same school as Murai
under these circumstances is too risky.

-Uh...
-[Yamakado] I'll find you a good place

for your new assignment myself.

Murai.

Let's give it...
another five years, at least.

Hold off on getting married
for another five years.

Once you graduate and are on your own,
you can do whatever you want.

Hold on a second!

Time out!

Am I getting married?

My heart is too confused right now
for me to think clearly.

What are you talking about?
Did you hear what he just said?

No one in this world loves you more
or can make you happier than Murai.

Are you stupid?

I like you too.

But...

when I saw Murai and his friends,
I realized something.

More than pursuing my feelings for you...

and ignoring all ethical considerations
I should make as a teacher...

first and foremost,
I wanted to support my students.

That's why I became a teacher, after all.

[Yamakado] Murai, in five years,
you better have made me proud.

[Murai] Yes, sir!

[narrator exclaiming] One hundred
fifty kilometers per hour!

And Tanaka, when you hugged Murai earlier,

it was the first time
you looked like a teacher.

[Yamakado] You may not have wanted to
be a teacher,

but turns out you might be a good one.

Well, you'll continue to be
under my supervision for a while,

and I'm not about to let you
try anything strange.

Not while I'm watching.

SQUEEZE

Not what you expected, was it?

[Hirai and Kiriyama] Swoon.

I love you, Yamakado-sensei.

I'll follow you for the rest of my life.

[Yamakado] Thanks
for trusting me, Kiriyama.

What about me?

[Yamakado sighs] Come on, you guys
better keep me company now.

[Kiriyama] Wait, what?

[Yamakado] It might be a happy ending
for them,

but for me, it feels closer to heartbreak.

What, were you seriously
going to make Tetsuko your wife?

[Yamakado] Yeah. It wasn't a joke.

Kiriyama, I heard your family
owns a liquor store.

Go get some sake for me now.

[Tanaka] Well, after you graduate,

how about we try exchanging contact info?

What?

Are you serious?

Sen... Ayano, did you really just say that?
I can't believe it!

You can believe it. It just happened.

[Murai breathes sharply] Give me a second.

-This can't be real.
-[Tanaka] What are you, an otaku?

Could we... try for a kiss here?

[narrator] Greedy.

[Tanaka] Not a chance.

You were just told to endure five years
balancing ethics and emotions!

Truth is, I don't know
what will happen in five years,

but in any case,
it's my turn to wait for you.

What I can do for you now is...

accept the career plan you submitted.

CAREER PLAN
FIRST CHOICE: MARRY MISS TANAKA

[Murai] French novelist
Maurice Bedel once said,

"Love is the shortest path from
one heart to another."

"A straight line."

Today's proverb was a proverb about love.

[boy] Yay!

Actually, today is my wedding anniversary.

I want to go home soon,
so this concludes our homeroom.

Wow, congratulations!

What's your wife like?

If I start talking about that,
I won't be able to stop,

and I wouldn't be able to go home early.

[girl] What are you doing
when you get home?

Have you ever heard of a game
called Sengoku Koi Emaki?

[boy] Nope.

There's a certain character in that game
who my wife and I both...

who's both of our "fave,"
I guess you would say.

It just so happens that today
is the release date of the latest game.

I plan to buy it on my way home
so we can play it together.

Talk about lovey-dovey.

[Murai] You said it.
We sure are lovey-dovey.

-That's great!
-So cute.

Well, then. Goodbye, everyone.

Goodbye, Murai-sensei.

MURAI IN LOVE
THE END

[Hitotose] Murai in Love.

[♪ closing theme song playing]