Hey!
Lady Paladin with the battered armor!
STREET STALL
EQUIPMENT REPAIR
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DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
Would you like to get that fixed?
I'll give you a discount
if you're a beginner!
I'm Rurihime.
Nice to meet you, Lady Paladin!
There's something
I want to talk to you about.
Do you mind?
Episode 12:
I Like You
Where am I?
What a surprise!
I thought you were going
to confess your love for me.
Oh, sorry.
Was I giving off that kind of vibe?
That's the only vibe you were giving off.
Sorry.
So, what did you want to tell me?
Uh, right.
See...
Akane says she's in love with someone!
SAVING TIME
Didn't see that coming!
Congrats!
Want me to guess who it is?
Don't say it.
This is so touching.
STREET STALL
When I first met you, Akanecchi,
you were tottering about alone in-game,
looking bored.
Now that I think about it, you were
probably a mess after just getting dumped.
But now you've gotten back on your feet.
Good for you.
But she's still trying
to figure out why she got dumped,
and she's agonizing over it!
Huh? What's up with that?
That's so negative!
Um, it may sound that way, but I just
want to know if I've done anything wrong.
In my own mind, I'm thinking positive.
That's why, see...
I mean, it's just that...
when I see your face, Eita, it really
makes me want to talk to Rurihime, too.
Because it was Momo and Rurihime
who comforted me when things were tough.
TONKOTSU
I wanted to tell both of you
that I've fallen in love with someone.
The guy you've
fallen in love with, Akanecchi,
I've known him for years,
and he's a good guy.
People tend to only talk about his looks,
but I've never met anyone as kind.
Well, I'm sure you know that.
But you know what, it's really true.
He may be insensitive, but he's got
a big heart, so you can just be yourself.
Being too straightforward
would be just right for him.
Now go for it! You've got
Momo and me if you get dumped!
He's right, Akane. A woman has to be bold!
Once you've made up your mind, just do it!
You know what? Just confess right now!
You said it! You said it!
F-Fine! I'll take my chances
and go for broke!
Ah. Try not to get
too broken up, all right?
I'll do my best not to get too broken!
Yeah!
Thanks! I love you both!
I just hope she doesn't get broken.
THE AFTERMATH WILL BE
SUCH A HASSLE...
Well, no one knows what will happen.
Oh, hello. Let me introduce myself again.
I'm Momoko Maeda.
I'm Eita Sasaki.
I'm a 20-year-old college student.
I'm seriously looking for a husband.
I SEE
Do you have a girlfriend?
When was it that I fell in love with him?
Try as I might, I can't really remember.
FORWARD
FORWARD
But since he doesn't smile a lot,
it made me happy whenever he did smile.
CROWDED...
Trying to pretend that I didn't notice...
telling myself
that we were just friends...
All my efforts to brush it off...
they really didn't mean much.
Oh, I'm so sorry!
I'm panicking too much.
Are you all right?
I'll be all right now.
Yes?
What?
H-Hey!
Hey.
Uh, what are you doing here?
Well, you see, there's something
I just have to talk to you about. Um...
Oh, my! Grandpa Kato,
is it already time for your walk?
- Huh?
- Is it already time for your walk?
- Oh. Oh, hello! The weather today is—
- Yes, it is very warm today, isn't it?
Um...
Um, today is...
If only it could be
warm like today every day!
Um...
Yeah. Right.
It really is... warm.
Akane...
Yes!
By the way, the other day,
Sorry, but I have to leave
for cram school soon.
I saw your granddaughter, Emi,
in front of the station!
You do? Sorry,
I thought you'd be off on Saturdays.
Know who I'm talking about?
I can listen to what you have to say,
but can it be on the way to the station?
Emi! Emi, she's your granddaughter, right?
Really?
IT'S COLD
COME ON INSIDE
Uh...
Emi!
I mean, couldn't we
have done this over the phone?
Emi's all grown up now, isn't she?
Yes. Know who I'm talking about?
Dummy!
Yamada has his own schedule.
That's right! She really is...
You didn't even think of that.
Sorry! I think I'll come back another—
Hey, I hear that Emi's in a band!
But it's going to rain tonight, so...
I'm going to get changed,
so if you could wait a little...
Uh, uh, sure!
Sorry to bother you when you're busy.
That startled me.
By the way,
seems like you're over your cold.
I am! Thanks to you!
Oh, wait, I need to thank—
Whoa...
Turn around, will you?
- Thanks for waiting.
- Oh!
So what's this about?
Sorry. I'm thinking
of how to bring it up right now.
SINCE I NEVER ENVISIONED
DOING THIS IN THE STREET
There's no time.
I've got to say it now.
That's why I came here, after all.
But there's no reason
why I should tell him now
in the street, when things are so hectic.
Another day...
when we have more time...
Akane!
The light was red.
S-Sorry.
Are you all right?
You're really spaced out today.
It's no good. I have no focus.
Sorry.
Even if I just buy myself time
being with him,
I'm only causing trouble for Yamada.
I'll do it another time.
You know what? I think I'll pass today—
Green...
Maybe I'll just let myself
give in to his kindness forever
and not say anything I shouldn't.
But hiding my feelings like that...
would kind of be cheating.
All right,
I'm going to get on the train now.
Okay.
Sorry we ended up not getting to talk.
I was running late, so I was in a rush.
No, there was something wrong with me.
There sure was.
TOTALLY IGNORING
THE TRAFFIC IS CRAZY
Well, another time, then.
Okay.
Is it something important?
After class,
well, it's going to be really late...
but if it's okay with you,
I'll call you.
If it's something
you want to tell me today.
Are you sure? Aren't you tired?
Just listening won't be a problem.
Though I'm not sure
if I'll be a good person to talk to.
RESPONSE MACHINE
Yay!
Okay, I'll be going now.
Have a good one!
Good luck with your class!
BYE NOW!
The weather turned nasty all of a sudden,
didn't it?
I mean, it was sunny just a minute ago.
KAWAI CRAM SCHOOL
All right, that's it for tonight.
Make sure you do the writing exercises
on your own.
It's raining, huh?
Yamada, what are you going to do?
In this downpour...
I've got an umbrella, the fold-up kind.
You're a god!
SINCE I CHECKED THE WEATHER REPORT
LET ME IN 'TIL WE
REACH THE STATION
Share your umbrella with me!
- Sure.
- Yeah!
NOT LIKE I HAVE A CHOICE
Will you be okay, Prez?
I don't have an umbrella, either,
but I guess I'll run home.
USING THE ROOF-TO-ROOF METHOD
Isn't that a little too brave of you?
Oh, what the heck.
I'll give up my spot
under Yamada's umbrella for you, Prez.
- Huh?
- You're cool with that, right, Yamada?
Either one of you will be fine.
Huh? But I'd feel bad.
Why don't you two leave together?
No, no, how could I put my own needs
over that of a lady's?
And by the way, this is your chance
to go home together, so you should pounce.
You don't need
to look out for me like that.
Yamada will think I'm weird.
But you'll never get anywhere
unless you come off as a little weird.
Especially you.
They can't settle it, because they're
trying to give it up to each other?
Maybe I'll just give them my umbrella
and run.
I WANT TO GO HOME...
Yamada?
Um...
On second thought,
can you share your umbrella with me
until we get to the station?
So I gave that new game a try.
It's really buggy
since it's still in beta,
but it looks like
it's going to be really good.
Hurry up!
Wait up!
You're so slow, Saki!
My shoes are slippery!
Do you know her?
What?
Because you couldn't take your eyes
off that woman who ran by just now.
I don't know her.
Uh...
Ms. Tsubaki,
please take this for yourself, after all.
What? Why?
It would defeat the purpose
if you got wet. So please.
But no, what about you?
I'll make a run for it.
- But—
- The station's right there.
Um...
Wait.
Wait!
Wait!
Wait, Yamada!
Wait!
I'm sorry.
My glasses...
I can't see.
They're cracked.
Are you all right?
I like you.
What?
I like you.
Sorry to put you on the spot.
But please, just for today...
I want you to try thinking of me.
It can be just for today.
AKITO YAMADA
I can't talk today after all
Let's do it another day when you have time
Sorry
I can't talk today after all
Let's do it another day
when you have time
Sorry
Hey, wasn't it raining
really hard yesterday?
Runa was asleep, but it woke me up.
It was so loud!
And to make matters worse,
I couldn't sleep a wink after that.
I PLAYED A LITTLE BIT
You're not concentrating at all,
are you, Runa?
That's right! I'm not anymore.
Good work, studying so hard!
I bought you some doughnuts,
so please have some, both of you!
Yay!
Yamada,
I really appreciate your doing this
when you're studying for exams yourself.
Runa just wouldn't hear
of any other tutor but you!
She must really adore you!
But I have to say, seeing you two
together, you make such a nice couple!
Right, Brother?
I WANT YOU AS MY
GORGEOUS SON-IN-LAW
I WANT YOU AS MY
BRILLIANT SON-IN-LAW
I WANT YOU
AS MY SON-IN-LAW
Listen to you, Mom,
not hiding your ambitions at all!
What are you talking about?
I have no clue.
All I'm saying is that those two
make a sweet couple!
Don't they, though? Don't they, though?
AMBITIONS?
Do you know what they're talking about?
I don't know.
TWO PEOPLE WHO DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
Must be some kind
of joke, I guess?
By the way, Akito...
didn't someone confess to you?
WHAAAT
HEY, HEY
THE ANSWERS DON'T MATCH
How did you know?
SCARY, HUH
I know everything, okay?
So Akanecchi really confessed, huh?
That girl's amazing.
So what did you do?
SHOW ME
What did you say?
It's not your concern.
Oh, yes, it is.
It is, huh?
I'm thinking.
Oh, so it's like that, huh?
I was sure that you'd
actually go for it, too.
Huh?
Since you're so close.
Well...
You really are vague.
IT WON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD
TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT IT
You should give her your answer
sooner than later, and be clear.
Being suggestive with someone,
then toying with them
is the worst thing you could do!
That's not what I'm doing.
Stupid Eita made Yamada mad again!
GIGGLE
Huh?
TEE-HEE
I'm so sorry, Akkun! Don't be mad!
I'll give you these doughnuts!
Excuse me, but those are Runa's doughnuts!
The number you've reached
is either out of signal range
or has been turned off.
Oh, my!
Akane! Akane!
See who's outside!
Hey! Yamada!
What are you doing?
It's unusual for you to stop by our store.
Aren't you supposed to be working?
I asked to do some outside work.
Now, then, have you come to see me?
Just kidding!
- Yes.
- Huh?
I just called you,
but I couldn't reach you.
You did, huh? Sorry about that!
My battery was already down to 3%
when I left the house...
I THINK THE BATTERY
RAN OUT...
That's okay.
I just thought
if I could see you in person,
I could apologize for yesterday.
No—
I don't mind at all!
It wasn't really important anyway.
And come to think of it,
I've already talked to Momo about it,
so I've pretty much
gotten it off my chest, I guess.
Never mind that.
You seem a little down today.
What's the matter?
Do I? I'm feeling pretty normal.
What? You're so not like yourself!
There's no energy in your voice!
Well, that's always the case.
You're also not very talkative.
Well, that's always the case, too, but...
This is how you always are!
But this is how you are today!
I DON'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE
ANYWAY,
YOU'RE SOMETHING ELSE
Lately, I've been a little busy,
so maybe I'm tired?
I'm not really sure.
Tired out from studying
for your entrance exams?
I'm sure it's tough.
IN TERMS OF SCORES
His problems are
on a whole different planet than mine.
I see.
Hey! I recently got some new FOS gear.
I've been dying to brag about it to you,
but you never seem to log in.
See, I got myself a better sword.
What kind of sword?
What kind?
What do you mean?
You know, like the w*apon rank or type.
LIKE REALITY...
Uh, let's see.
Hold out your hand.
Is that oil-based?
Hold out your hand.
Those bosses
sure drop some great items, huh?
THERE'S DECORATIONS ON IT,
BUT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
AND IT'S REALLY CUTE
I finally get
why you're always raiding bosses.
Well, but the odds are slim.
I know! So when a decent item does drop,
it makes you feel outrageously happy.
It gives you the shivers, right?
I don't know what's going on,
but cheer up, all right?
Go back to being the mysterious Yamada
you were before.
I'LL DRAW YOU MY CHARACTER, TOO
WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES
WAS SHE WEARING AGAIN?
So that's how I look to people.
I don't say much, because I'm afraid
that I'll say the wrong thing, that's all.
I can't read into other people's feelings.
And a lot of times,
I don't get their jokes.
I'm just a nobody.
I know I am.
Hmm.
For me, you know how you
sometimes set me straight
in that astute way of yours?
I really, um, like that.
And when you're with us,
you don't say a word,
but I know you're watching
everyone else and looking out for them.
And I know that you always try
to help people out if they're in trouble.
Because you've done that for me
so many times.
You're not a nobody.
I told you, you're a fun guy!
You can trust me! I mean it.
Okay?
I wake up in the morning and sigh.
Somewhere along the way,
that became a habit of mine.
I was sure that love...
Yukari, you're going out at this hour?
Just for a bit.
I'm supposed to meet a friend.
Just come home as soon as you can.
Okay.
...was supposed to be more fun than this.