01x11 - Ojousama no Taiketsu

[bunniefuu]

I was trying to help Narika make friends,

when I realized I had a problem
of my own to deal with.

You're Kita-kun, aren't you?

Y-Yes?

How can I help you?

My name is Tomonari.

I was hoping to ask your
advice about something.

Advice?

I heard you know a lot
about information science.

I was wondering if you could
explain something to me...

Last night, I talked to Shizune-san.

I see.

It's impressive that you've come this far.

Previous caretakers quit so early,

they never had time to worry
about their school relationships.

Let's consider the problem together.

How can you become a student of Kiou
Gakuin in the true sense of the word?

Right.

First, we'll need to
widen your social circle.

Shall we set an initial goal
of making a new friend?

Maybe.

I gave you a list of your
classmates before, yes?

Yes.

Why not attempt to talk to this person?

Kita Yusuke?

The son of an IT company president...

Just like your assigned backstory.

You've been studying
about IT, haven't you?

Not nearly enough, though.

Could a fake like me really
carry a conversation?

A fake, eh?

Why not study as if you really do expect
to work at an IT company in the future?

M-Me?

Yes, you.

I see. That's very helpful.

Just like I thought,
he's so far ahead of me.

Will I ever catch up?

But I was a little surprised.

I never expected you to
talk to me, Tomonari-kun.

Do I stand out in a bad way?

Um, well...

I guess I can't deny that.

I knew it.

When you first transferred here,

you came to school with Konohana-san,

so I figured you wouldn't care
about normal people like us.

No, that's not true at all!

From my perspective, you're the
ones who are way above normal...

Um, Kita-kun, if you wouldn't mind...

RICH GIRL CARETAKER

- And with that, I'd taken a small step.

- EPISODE 11: THE LADY'S SHOWDOWN

- I think this is the stuff we'll
need to study moving forward.

Thank you for teaching me so much.

Are you thinking about how you'd like
to run your company in the future?

I'm afraid I haven't gotten that far yet.

But I do want to be the kind of
person who understands technology.

I don't want people to
think I'm a pure nepo baby.

Today's been great inspiration.

Watching you in action makes
me want to try harder myself.

Well, I'm happy to hear that...

But the sports competition
is coming up, huh?

To be honest, it's got me kind of down.

You seem like a very athletic
person. I'm jealous.

No, everyone at this
school is so impressive.

I'm worried I might
not be able to keep up.

If even you feel that way,

it has me even
more worried about myself...

Itsuki!

Is that you, Itsuki?

Narika, you're still here?

I was inspecting the gym equipment
for the family business...

A-A pleasure to meet you.

I'm, um, Miyakojima Narika.

K-Kita Yusuke.

Hey, Narika. What should a person do
to do well at the sports competition?

A-All anyone can do is practice.

I don't personally think
it's important to do well.

The purpose of sports isn't
to perform well anyway.

Only a very few people will ever
need that for their career.

But it's good to get into shape
so that you can enjoy them.

Think of the sports
competition as a video game,

and your body as
the system you play it on.

The better the system's specs,

the more games you can enjoy.

S-Sorry.

I teach kids at the dojo.

When they ask me questions, that's
how I tend to answer them.

I-I still have work to do. Excuse me!

She's awesome.

Um, er, Tomonari-kun.

You used Miyakojima-san's
given name, didn't you?

Yeah, we're actually related.

Oh, really?

She seems a lot more approachable
than I thought she was.

That small step led to another step.

Tomonari-kun!

Kita-kun, thanks for the help yesterday.

Great timing. Let me introduce you.

This is Suma-kun from Class B.

His family is into IT, like ours.

He wants to start his own business,

so he might be able to teach
you different things than me.

It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Tomonari.

Nice to meet you.

Hang on, Tomonari...

Are you the one they say
is close to Miyakojima-san?

Most likely, yes.

Miyakojima-san's not nearly as
scary as all the rumors say.

Nah, there's no way.

It's true!

Tomonari-kun says she likes
snacks and everything.

Snacks? Miyakojima-san?

Yeah. And she's reliable, too.

I think she's great.

This might improve Narika's
image, little by little.

Itsuki! Konohana-san!

Narika. What is it?

Listen to this!

O-One of my classmates just talked to me!

I think he's a friend of that boy
you were studying with yesterday.

That's great!

Yeah, it made me really happy!

I felt the warmth of human interaction.

Little by little...

Miyakojima-san seems a little
different lately, huh?

Yeah!

Maybe she's nicer than we thought.

She's not scary at all!

Little by little...

Itsuki!

Narika, you're in a good mood.

Yeah, a classmate talked
to me again today!

Now that I've felt the warmth of
human contact, I'm invincible!

Maybe you could try initiating
the conversation yourself.

You seem like you could even talk
to other people in other classes.

Y-Yes, perhaps.

Right, I'll try!

Might be a lost cause.

H-Hey, you there!

E-Excuse me!

Why?

When the whole school
has one image of you,

you can't wipe the slate clean that easy.

It's just a week and change
until the sports competition.

We might need a way to change
a lot of minds at once.

Could we try something in a
venue where everyone's watching?

But I hate being the center of attention.

Right.

I wonder if there's something we can do...

No, you've thought about it enough.

In the end, I just need to
put the effort in myself.

Okay, keep it up to the end.

Don't give up.

You really are strong, though, Narika.

You keep trying even when you fail.

I'm not strong at all.
I'm actually quite weak.

But when I was a child, a
certain someone taught me...

Acknowledging your weakness is
the first step towards strength.

I'm just an awkward person.

And even though sports are pretty
much my one strength now,

I wasn't especially good
at those at the start.

Wow, really?

Yeah.

I practiced desperately
and never got any better.

I had a lot of pathetic showings.

But because of that, I at least
learned to acknowledge how weak I am.

I see.

That experience must be what
makes you such a good teacher.

I want everyone to see this side of her.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Tennoji-san.

Oh, Tomonari-sa—

Harrumph!

Did something happen?

You've been ostracizing
me lately, Tomonari-san.

Hence, harrumph!

Ostracizing you?

Have you not been meeting clandestinely
with Konohana Hinako and Miyakojima-san?

Hence, harrumph!

"Harrumph?" She sounds like a little kid.

Actually, I wanted to ask you about that.

Harrumph!

Well, darn.

A tea party.

If you host me for a tea party,
it may just restore my mood.

Understood.

I'm available whenever you are.

I see you leave me no choice.

What is it you need, then?

I see.

So that's what you've been up to?

Tennoji-san, is there anything
you can think of to do?

Let me see...

If she dislikes being in the spotlight,

perhaps we'll go the opposite route.

Rather than standing in
the spotlight herself,

she can shine the spotlight on others.

I call it Operation: Noblesse Oblige!

Don't aim to hit it when
it's right above your head.

Wait for it to be a little bit behind you.

Then the racket face will
be pointing upwards,

and the shuttle will follow a proper arc.

Yes, thank you!

Try not to put too much
strength in at first.

Looks like it's going great.

Noble-what?

I think she meant, those with power
should use it to help others.

Tennoji-san said that if you're capable
enough to perform well in gym class,

you can probably help others there too.

I think that's right.

M-Miyakojima-san...

D-Do you think you could teach me too?

Miyakojima-san, could you teach
me after her?

Me too, please!

O-Of course!

Keeping up with my regular
classes was hard enough...

This will take a lot more than
just a few cram sessions.

But to think I'd ever study this hard...

If my child self saw me,
he'd be so shocked.

I was on the verge of getting
kicked out of school entirely.

How can you become a student of Kiou
Gakuin in the true sense of the word?

Rather than seeking quick
and easy results,

let's try to really dig deep and focus.

Like Narika does.

Itsuki.

You're still studying?

If you're sleepy, go back
to your room and sleep.

I'll walk you there.

You're not sleepy, Itsuki?

No, I'm definitely sleepy now.

Wanna nap with me?

I-I don't think that's appropriate.

Hey.

Earlier, you said you didn't want
me to get you up in the morning.

So why are you always coming
to my room to crash?

Because... I felt weird back then.

"Back then"?
So now you feel okay about it?

Just come here.

Hey, I said no—

Hinako...

Hinako, how do you feel about me?

I feel...

I think I...

L...

L?

Loaf...

She's asleep?!

How can you fall asleep now?

But then, Hinako's a master of
sleeping under any circumstances.

Hinako, I'm going to work
hard to become worthy of you.

It's fine. I'll let her sleep
a bit more, then send her back.

Good thing I'm so used to acting...

He couldn't tell I was faking sleep.

I just couldn't handle it!

Hinako, I'm going to work
hard to become worthy of you.

Feel weird. I feel so weird right now...

What's going on? What...

I feel so weird, I can't stand it...

How do I feel about Itsuki?

Itsuki is my precious caretaker.

I really like being around him.

But... is that all?

Is that really the answer
I could give him?

Okay. Looking good, you two.

Itsuki, you've really gotten
used to thinking on your feet.

If you want to clean up your shots,

wall drills should be enough.

I'd recommend doing at least
a little bit every day.

Got it.

Konohana-san, you really are gifted.

You've completely internalized the
things we discussed at the start.

Thank you very much.

You're probably ready to
move on to the next step.

Let's take a break, then
have a practice match.

That would be lovely.

Narika?!

Itsuki...

Here.

Weird.

The faucet might be acting up.

Itsuki...

Wipe me off.

Yes, yes.

I remember you doing
this once before, too.

Did I?

Yeah, I was running around
in the yard after it rained...

I tripped and got covered in muck.

This really takes me back.

Having you do this for
me really relaxes me.

What are you up to?

It seems like a faucet was broken, so...

Excuse me. I've blundered terribly.

Why'd you do that? Didn't
you hear what I said?!

I guess Konohana-san has
her careless moments too.

Wipe me off too, if you please.

Yes, ma'am.

Your hands are very gentle.

Th-This isn't the same.

Caring for Hinako when
she's got the mask up...

A-Anyway, let's resume practice now!

Itsuki, you officiate.

R-Right.

To make it a proper match, why
don't you wager something?

Wager?

The winner does something
for the loser, or something.

Th-Then...

How about the winner has
an outing with Itsuki?

Me?

Very well.

Now, on one side, the perfect lady.

On the other, the all-around athlete lady.

Isn't this a match anyone
would want to see?

Fifteen-love.

Thirty-love.

Even Hinako can't keep up.

Narika won the first game.

Change courts.

Miyakojima-san, why do you want
an outing with Tomonari-kun?

Why? Because...

Yes, I am aware.

It's because he's a comforting
presence, isn't it?

You feel the same way?

Yes.

I enjoyed myself very much
during our last outing.

You two had an outing?!

And Itsuki-kun—

Beg pardon. Tomonari-kun...

What did you say?

What did you just say?!

I know...

I know Itsuki calls Konohana-san
by her given name!

Just what relationship do you have?!

Thirty-fifteen.

Forty-fifteen.

That's odd. Narika seems
off her game suddenly.

Hinako won the second and third games.

Change courts.

I saw Itsuki dry your hair before.

Yes, what of it?

I understand Itsuki is staying at your
household in some kind of apprenticeship,

but is it possible he cares
for your hair regularly?

What a question.

I suppose he does from time to time.

He's good with women's hair, isn't he?

It's because he has experience with it.

What do you mean by that?

When we were young, I was
awful at caring for my hair.

I even let it hang loose at the dojo.

Itsuki said, "It must be hard to move
like that," and tied it up for me.

After that, I had him look after my hair.

This hairstyle is one
he thought up as well.

Fault.

Now Hinako's struggling.

In the end, Narika won.

It was in doubt for a bit,
but she's really amazing.

Yes!

Itsuki! You promised, remember?

Let's go out together!

R-Right!

I'm afraid Tomonari-kun is a busy man,

so I can't tell you when it will be
possible for him to keep that promise.

Th-That's not fair, Konohana-san!

The date and time was not
agreed to in advance.

They've really gotten close.

Why are they both glaring at me?!

Itsuki.

Think up a new hair style for me.

How's that?

'Kay.