01x01 - Sparkling-Fresh

[bunniefuu]

Wow!

You look great in that blazer!

Like you're in a TV show!

-Really?
-Yeah.

You look really great.

We're proud of you, Mitsumi.

Proud...

Oh, I'm gonna go now.
I can't be late for the entrance ceremony.

See you!

Yeah. Bye.

CALL ENDED

Mitsumi Iwakura, 15 years old.

Starting today,
I'm a high schooler in Tokyo!

ORIGINAL STORY: SKIP AND LOAFER
WRITTEN BY MISAKI TAKAMATSU

I'm from the edge of Ishikawa Prefecture.

Mitsumi!

I'll come back for summer vacation!

-Take care!
-Good luck!

I always wished we could do that.

I know the feeling.

The closest train station
closed down over ten years ago.

There were only eight kids
in my grade in middle school.

Mitsumi, here.

Fumi and I have been
together since kindergarten.

Cute.

You love pandas, right?

Send a pic when you see Liang Liang.

She's my best friend.

You got it!

My oldest friend is
my best friend. It's the best.

ALARM

Perfect.

Did you get that, Omitsu?

You change trains at the third station.

Dad's sibling, Nao.

If a stranger tries to talk to you,
ignore them, okay?

My guardian here in Tokyo.

Nao, you're being overprotective.

But you only learned that there was more
than one train company the other day!

I want to take you there,
but I have to go to work early today!

It's okay. I can feel it.

Today will be a perfect day.

CONFIDENCE

Plenty of time.

Not just today.

I will not mess up a single time
during my time in high school.

As for why,
it's because I have a clear life plan.

Naturally, I'll graduate valedictorian
with a degree in law from T University.

I'll establish a career
at the Ministry of Internal Affairs

and solve the depopulation crisis.

After retiring, I'll go back
to my hometown and become mayor,

using my know-how from the Ministry

to improve the local economy
by leaps and bounds.

When I die, I'll have my ashes
scattered in the Sea of Japan.

These three years will be dedicated to
studying enough to achieve this dream!

My family doesn't really
understand things like that, though.

Do you like it at school?

Have you made any friends?

They'll be concerned about that,

so I'll put at least some time into that.

Just you wait.

The prodigy, the pride and joy
of Ikajima, will return triumphant!

Third station, third station.

The West Tsubame High School
entrance ceremony will begin shortly.

New students, enter.

Oh, Sosuke? Where are you now?

About to change trains.

Laid back much?
The entrance ceremony's about to start.

Oh, really?

Then should I go home?

At least put in the effort to come.

But even if I start now...

Huh?

-She's stuck to it.
-Huh?

A girl with our uniform
is stuck to the wall.

Is she a crazy?

Don't ask me. Ask her.

Anyway, I'm going. See you.

-First-year?
-Yes.

All the others are already
in the gymnasium.

Well, it was a long and difficult battle.

-Move it!
-Yes, sir!

You still can't get a hold of her?

Yes... What do we do?

What is wrong with class three?

-Huh? Where am I?
-I got lost.

Was caught in the morning rush,

and sick from the crowd.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

I want to disappear.

Excuse me?

Are you all right?

Scary!

Oh, never mind.

Huh? Wait...

I'm talking to a stranger around my age...

First time in how many years?

H... How do I get to school?!

Oh, you're lost?

I'm late for school too.

We can go together.

High schools, universities, careers.

These are all built upon relationships.

You have all passed
a rigorous entrance exam.

Oh, I see.
You're from Ishikawa Prefecture?

-Yes.
-What city?

-Yes.
-I've never been to Ishikawa before.

What if I don't make it in time?

My family's going to call me for sure
to ask how the ceremony went.

If I tell the truth,
they'll be worried about me.

Do I lie?

How much?

Hey, it's not the end of the world.

It's just another entrance ceremony.

Maybe to you it is.

I... I didn't mean...

-Oh, we're here.
-The doors will open on the right.

‪TAP WITH YOUR PREPAID IC CARD

It's about ten minutes on foot,

but you're in a hurry, right?

Run for it?

Mom, Dad, Maharu, Kippei, Grandma,

Satonosuke, Omiso, Oshio...

Tokyo is a fast-paced city.

Your girl was caught by the waves,
panicked, made the situation worse,

and in the end...

We go straight the whole way!
Hang in there!

...I took out my anger on this kind boy.

I feel like I've discovered
my true self in these few hours.

I'm ashamed.

A... Are you okay?

I'm... fine...

But...

Right now...

I need to run!

Iwakura?!

Shima?

Yes. Sorry we're late.

I'm so glad you made it safely.

But are you okay, Iwakura?

-Late?
-Scary!

No, you're fine. Be sure to thank
the girl who walked for you.

I'm so sorry.

Representing the new students,
Mitsumi Iwakura.

Yes.

She's top of the class?

-Ah.
-"Ah"?

She didn't forget the speech-

STATEMENT

Together with the growing warmth
of spring,

we 216 students matriculate
into West Tsubame High School.

We thank you for holding
this wonderful ceremony for us.

She memorized it?

Wow...

Our hearts are filled
with anticipation and anxiety,

much like the cherry blossom trees,
many of which are still budding.

Our difficult entrance examination will
encourage us to grow and gain confidence.

We have not arrived here
by our own powers.

We will not forget the support that
our families and neighbors have provided

and think long and hard here

at West Tsubame High School
so as not to disappoint them.

We are truly grateful to
pass the gates of this school

which values freedom,
self-reliance, and independence.

To conclude, we pray that you,
our teachers and upperclassmen,

will warmly welcome
and guide us on our journey.

She didn't blink even once.

EXTREME ANXIETY

SPRINTING TO SCHOOL
SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Iwakura, where are you...

FAVORITE BLOUSE - 10,000 YEN
NEW SUIT - 45,000 YEN

No!

Plan for today.

One.

Two.

Your speech was really good!

Three.

Let's be friends!

Oh, the barfing girl?

Is she okay?

The barfing girl?

On the first day of school,
I became "the barfing girl."

No, but with enough effort...

Oh, I listen to them too!

I love them!

Want to exchange contacts?

Totally, let's do it!

Got it?

-What's with this sticker?
-Wow...

I need to learn from them.

Excuse me!

Nice to meet you.

Yeah. Nice to meet you.

I feel like she doesn't like me.

That reminds me...

Iwakura.

We're in the same class.

-Shima?
-Right.

Are you feeling all right?

A lot better after barfing.

Oh, okay. That's great.

He really is...

Oh, right. Your speech was really good.

You really owned it.

He's such a good person!

Ah. Suddenly he looks really good too.

Is it because he took care of me all day?

Or is Tokyo full of such shiny people?

IT ISN'T

Dang, he has a pretty face.

He doesn't seem self-absorbed.

Does he have a girlfriend?

He wasn't here before the ceremony.

I'm so glad I'm in this class.

Let's be friends, Iwakura.

Can you give me your number?

I'll call you later.

FRIEND

Can you give it to me too?

I'm Mika Egashira.

I sit right behind you.
I hope we can be friends.

It was just bad timing earlier.

So you're Mitsumi? That's a cute name.

Everyone, find your seats.

Sorry I'm late.

A few things happened.

I'm sorry.

I'm Sakura Hanazono,
the homeroom teacher for class three.

This is my first time
as a homeroom teacher.

I may count on you all for help
sometimes, but I will do my best.

Let's make this a good year.

Today, I'll introduce the textbooks,

you'll fill out these profiles,
and that's it.

You'll be introducing yourselves tomorrow.

Now then.

What kind of people are in this class?

I want to have good relationships
with them.

And that's really it.

Nothing major really happened.
You could call it a success, I guess.

I'm so glad!

Someone talked to me,
but I was too nervous to respond.

It's only the first day.
You'll be fine, Fumi.

You think?

Did you talk to anyone, Mitsumi?

I even made two friends.

What? Wow!

What are they like?

A pretty and fashionable girl,

and a nice boy.

What?! A boy?!

What? How?

In the morning, I got lost...

I nearly got lost, and he helped me.

We're in the same class.

Wow! Is he cool?

He...

Yeah.

I've never met anyone like him before.

Very smart!

Ooh! Nice!

But I won't have anyone to talk to
if you get a boyfriend!

Come on, no way!
Don't get ahead of yourself!

Okay! I'm gonna do my best tomorrow!

Yeah! I'm rooting for you!

I'm home.

Oh, Nao's home.

Okay, I'll let you go.

And sorry, but could you
take care of my brother and sister?

They'll have plenty of trouble
without me at home.

Yeah!

Welcome home, Nao.

Sorry I'm so late today!
How was the entrance ceremony?

It went great.

Really?! I'm so glad.

Were you just on the phone?

Yeah, with Fumi.

It looks like she's a little nervous.

Fumi's kind of airheaded sometimes,
so I'm a little worried about her.

That's true.

Okay, we can talk over dinner!

I got these
at a nice little deli to celebrate!

Thank you!

"Deli"?

Wow, this food looks totally b*mb.

This place is a good one!

Do kids these days
still call things "b*mb"?

Yum!

Good evening!

Satonosuke!

Fumi, good evening.

Here's some radishes from my mom.

Oh, they're so fresh! Thank you.

Oh, Fumi, do you have any asparagus?

Wait a minute, I'll get some.

Fumi, Fumi!

Did you call Sis?!

Just finished calling her.

Did she say anything?!

Anything like what?

Sis told us that everything went perfect,

but we thought maybe she got
lost at the station or something.

I thought the same thing.

That girl can't do anything
but study. I'm so worried.

Here.

Oh, that's a lot!

Thank you so much.

She's doing fine. She was
really happy about making friends.

I'll call her as often as possible.

Thank you.

Well, good night.

I'd feel less worried
if Fumi went with her.

Right?

How was the entrance ceremony?

Our class seemed pretty nice.

Must be nice.

Ours was awkward from the first second.

Hey, I only got four shrimp!

Don't be a cheapskate.

Your uniforms are cute.

-What about you, Sosuke?
-Hm?

Yeah, how's that high school
for smart kids?

I overslept.

Already?!

You didn't make it in time?

No, I ran from the station.

You? Run?

Yeah.

I didn't think I'd make it either,

but it seems the principal
made a really long speech,

so we made it with time to spare.

This kind of stuff isn't half bad.

Who is she?

Oh, I think I'll head out now.

-Mind letting me out?
-Huh?

You're leaving already?

You can't be serious.

Is it really a girl? That's way too fast!

Come on. Trying to skip the bill?

No, I just wanted to go home early today.

I don't want to be late tomorrow.

See you.

-What's up with him?
-Beats me.

Something really good
must've happened today.

Yeah.

I need to enjoy my time in high school.

The night is bright.

My failures today don't count.

It was my first day.

As for the first exam, I did do
all the spring vacation homework.

Yeah, yeah.

Everything will be fine from tomorrow.

I'm me, after all.

Self-introductions, huh?

I'm sure I'll be fine.

Should I decide what to say now?

You don't get a second first impression.

I could also be impromptu
and match the mood.

Oh, good morning, Omi...

My first impression was...

Scary!