02x06 - Hidden Feelings

[bunniefuu]

I've always loved
cute and pretty things.

But as long as I can remember,
I've never told anyone about it.

So that my abnormal self
can live in a normal world.

Th-Th-This ain't no date, okay?

Oh? Would you have preferred
if we were alone?

Rather, you know what a date is, huh?

That ain't it!

By the way, Tsubaki-san,
where are we headed to?

Oh, I'm so sorry.
I didn't explain anything to you guys.

We're headed to the home of Ito-san,
an elderly gentleman.

His wife passed away about a year ago.

The shock has made him depressed.

So I periodically visit him
because I'm worried about him.

Do you usually go
with your two next-in-commands?

Yup. But I thought it'd be nice
to change it up with some new faces.

Ch-Change it up.
That's a big responsibility.

What exactly do we have to do?

You don't have to get so nervous.

All you have to do is chat, help with chores,
and just spend time with him.

Share some of your
youthful spirit with him.

Welcome, Tsubaki-chan!

I have dorayaki from Nazuna-ya today.
I thought about eating it together with you.

I'm so happy! I love their dorayaki!

Huh? He's so spirited.

He doesn't look depressed at all.

He's so energetic, I'd say he's glowing.

The garden looks trimmed.

This doesn't look like
the house of a depressed person.

Oh, I haven't met these kids, right?

That's right. They're all first-years!

N-Nice to meet you.

Hello.

I see, I see.
All the Furin kids are so fashionable.

Your hair color is beautiful,
like a mimosa.

Mimosa?

It's the name of a flower.

Your earrings are made from coral.

They seem pretty vintage,
but they suit you well.

You are...

Your eye.

A beautiful color of twilight.

Reminds me of the time
I went to the beach with my wife.

Oh, I adore that story!

You were standing together at the beach
until the sun set into the horizon.

How romantic!

It was so beautiful that we couldn't move
even after the sun set.

We tripped so much on the way home.
Both of us were covered in sand.

Oh, my apologies.
Standing here chatting like this.

Now, please come on in.

Thanks for having us!

Oh, Sakura-san?

Why is your face so red?

Hell if I know.

Oh?

Ito-san, this is no good.

You need to put half-eaten food
into the fridge.

Oh dear. I was a bit careless.

And your light bulb burned out.

Yes. I was thinking about changing it.

If you'd like, I'll change it for you!

Oh, is that all right?

Were you in the middle
of working on this?

Right, I was! I went to the bathroom
midway, and I forgot.

Can you take this over there for me?
I'll get the tea ready.

Can you wait in the back room?

S-Sure.

He said the back room, so that'd be
the one at the very back, right?

So many clothes.

He could last a whole year even if he wore
a different outfit every day.

Oh, sorry, sorry.

Over here.

It's covered in so much dust.

Must mean that
he doesn't wear them anymore.

Oh, that's right.

You should go
on a date with me sometime!

It's getting warm, so we should dress up.

We can go to a café or a movie theater.

What about that grey hat?

Like when we went
flower viewing two years ago.

The two of you back then
were simply stunning!

It looked like a scene
right out of a movie!

So they were very fashionable
as a couple.

That's wonderful.

So that's why there were so many.

She was fashionable to begin with.

I wanted to follow along with her conversation
and for her to look at me,

and I got hooked myself.

In the beginning, I gave her a dress.

And the floral pattern was so gaudy
it would hurt your eyes.

I'd never consider it now,

but my wife matched accessories
and shoes well and made it look stylish.

I love that story, too.

She wore it for quite a long time, right?

Yui-san really loved that dress!

I really hope she did.

What? Of course she did.

She always smiled and was a gentle person,
but she wasn't very talkative.

But even so...

the time I spent with her
was filled with joy.

At least for me.

It must have been a wonderful relationship.

Thanks for having us.

We'll come by again.

Yes.

Perhaps it's because I saw your eye.

It was fun being able to remember
so much about my wife.

Thank you.

I didn't do much.

I heard he was depressed,
so I was worried.

But he seemed to be
in better spirits than I thought.

Well, he's gotten a lot more lively
compared to a year ago.

But every so often, he just has
a look that feels very painful.

Of course, that's only natural because
he lost someone dear to him.

But still, I don't think
that's the whole story.

Well, even if I ask, he says
there's nothing to worry about.

But I want him to get his spirits up.

I'll do anything it takes
for Ito-san to start having fun again.

Why do you go so far?

I owe a lot to him and his wife.

They loved me for who I am.

Look, look! Isn't this cute?

- Yeah!
- So cute!

Thanks!

Tsubakino, what're you doing? Let's go.

Okay.

Oh, there they go again.

Cute this, cute that.
What's so fun about that?

Right?

R-Right.

Oh, that's right.

You can have this.

Tsubakino, you said
you liked cars like this, right?

Th-Thanks. This makes me happy.

Yeah.

See you tomorrow!

If you find one about motorcycles,
give it to me okay?

S-So cute!

They're so pretty.

This one has great color,

but I prefer the designs on this one.

When I get home,
I'll add this to my collection.

- Come on!
- Wait!

Liar.

Did someone drop this?

So pretty.

My boy! That...

That earring.

It belongs to my wife.
I've been looking for it.

Thank you for finding it.

He's a man, but the shirt
he's wearing underneath is pink.

I don't know why,
but that's so wonderful.

My boy, do you like dorayaki?

Yui-san, I found the earring.

A boy who was passing by picked it up.

Oh, really?

He's waiting out front right now.

I thought I'd send him home
with some dorayaki.

So you found my earring?

Thank you.

Okay, please take some!

NAZUNA-YA

Oh, what's wrong?

You don't like dorayaki after all?

Oh, no, um...

W-Well, I thought her clothes
were really pretty.

Yes! They are very pretty, aren't they?

It was at my request. I thought
it would be perfect for this season.

You really do know your fashion.

Th-That's not really the case.

My wife is always stylish, so I'd be delighted
if you came by again to see her.

After that, I started visiting
their house almost every day.

Each time, I got to see the couple
wearing wonderful clothes. It was so fun.

What do you think?

I-I'm a boy...

so I don't really know.

Yui-san, where were
the stocks of tea leaves?

Yes, coming.

Tasuku-chan,
would you like to try it?

N-No, this isn't...

It's fine.

There, done.

Both of you, tea is ready.

Tasuku-chan, you put on lipstick?
You look good!

T-Tasuku-chan.

Why? Why am I so happy about this?

Normal boys wouldn't be happy
about putting on lipstick.

But why do I think it's so pretty?
Why am I so happy about it?

I don't want to lie to my friends
or my family anymore.

I want to like things
that everyone else likes.

I want to be normal!

You know, Tasuku-chan.

Do you know what high heels are?

The ones with pointy heels,
and they're shoes for women?

Yes, you're right.

Did you know that used to be men's shoes?

That's right!

It was originally for stabilizing the body while
drawing a bow on horseback in the b*ttlefield.

Is that true?

Makeup was also originally used
as a charm to protect your body.

The difference between men and women
is an important thing.

But it's only one small part of you.

Because the first person to wear high heels
and the first person to wear lipstick

didn't think about wearing it
because it's for men,

or putting it on because it's for women.

I think it was because that person thought
it was good, and that they wanted to do so.

Tasuku-chan, earlier

you said, "Why do I feel happy
even though I'm a boy?"

But that's not how you should look at it.

You like it because of who you are.

"Normal" is only defined
by what the majority think.

But "normal" is an ambiguous concept
that's constantly changing,

like the meaning of wearing high heels
and makeup.

So you should like what you choose to like.

I love you for loving whatever
truly strikes your fancy, Tasuku-chan.

Me, too! I love you
just the way you are, Tasuku-chan!

There. All done.

Oh wow, I can understand
why it makes you so happy.

Yes.

I mean, it suits you so well.

I was scared.

That I'd be alone because
I was different from others.

But that couple accepted me
for who I was.

They said they loved me.

I realized I wasn't alone anymore.

I could say I loved what I loved.

So now, it's my turn.

A-Are you okay?

I was so touched.

We'll do whatever we can
to find out what's bothering Ito-san

so he can be happy again!

Right, Suo-san?

Indeed.

Sakura-san!

When is it?

When's the next time you going?

My goodness!
You're all such great kids!

Love! Love you!
I totally love you guys!

All right, let's strike while the iron is hot!
We'll go tomorrow!

Tomorrow?

After talking to all of you
about my wife yesterday,

I had an urge to open our photo album
for the first time in a while.

I really loved the dress she wore that day.

When she walked, the cloth would float,
and it matched her aura perfectly.

He's so lovey-dovey.

But he does seem very spirited.

At first glance, we can't figure out
what's bothering him.

But these are mostly pictures of Yui-san.

And so many aren't properly looking
at the camera.

When I pointed the camera at her,
she'd always look away.

They're kind of like candid photos,
I guess.

Secret photography?

Then, you don't have any pictures
of the two of you together?

At the least, something from your wedding.

Oh, yes. It's not a wedding photo, but...

Here it is.

Wait, is this the garden outside?

It is.

Oh, are you okay?

Was that picture really that surprising?

Nire-kun, I don't think
Sakura-kun was surprised.

Oh, can it be, Sakura...

Did this photo trigger
your romance sensor?

Shut up. I just had a bit of the castella cake
go down the wrong pipe!

Listen to this.

When he feels something like
an aura of romance, he turns all red!

I see, I see.

Hey, Sakura.
What did this photo look like to you?

Wh-What did it look like?
Nothing much.

H-Happy?

Joyful?

Oh, it's that.

The old lady looks like
Ts-Tsubakino talking to Umemiya.

Huh? What? O-Oh no!
I look this cute to you? Sheesh!

- Wow, you're beet red.
- Not bad.

Oh, this is embarrassing.

So um, this Umemiya, you know, is the one
I always talk about, the one I lov...

I-Ito-san? What's wrong?

Does it really look that way?

Why would you say that?

I was unsure ever since
I became all alone.

Was Yui-san ever really happy?

I loved her, so I was very happy.

But it was an arranged marriage,

and Yui-san wasn't one
to put her thoughts to words much.

So I wonder how it was for her.

I see. I think
this is what's been troubling Ito-san.

That's...

It didn't bother me much
when I was together with her.

But now that I'm alone,
that uneasiness just kept growing.

But...

I see. That's how it looks.

That's a bit of a relief.

Um, can I ask you something?

What was the situation
for taking that photo?

Huh?

It's been bothering me
since we visited yesterday.

The entire garden is made from trees
that don't bloom.

So that dogwood tree feels out of place.

Out of place?

And you took that picture
in front of that tree.

Oh, I'm surprised you noticed.

The garden was mostly my hobby.

But one day, Yui-san suddenly said
she was going to plant a dogwood tree.

Though she's normally against photos, she insisted
on taking one together after planting the tree.

Ito-san, did something happen between
you two before planting the tree?

It doesn't matter how trivial it was.

If I had to say something...

Yui-san, during the next time off...

Oh, is something the matter?

Oh, no, nothing.

I thought I should clip my nails
in a bright spot. Please, continue.

You're beautiful
when you're absorbed in fashion.

I want to be fashionable enough
that you'd look my way.

I always said she looked wonderful,
but would she look my way?

It sounded like I was pouting because
she wouldn't pay attention to me.

I felt so embarrassed later.

But now that I think about it,
maybe I felt unsure from back then.

Well, she didn't say anything back then.

And it could've been a whim that
she planted that tree.

I'll never know now.

I should've asked her more questions
about all...

No,

I think she was pretty upset.

Wh-What do you mean by that?

The meanings behind a dogwood flower
are "eternity," "flourishing romance,"

and, "am I indifferent to you?"

As in, "Do you think I have
no interest in you?"

Perhaps the dogwood tree was her way
of saying you're wrong.

You really don't get it.

You really didn't understand
Yui-san at all.

Someone who taught me that
I can keep loving things that I love...

would never spend her time
with someone she doesn't love.

Tsubaki-chan.

I agree.

If someone who talked about me
so happily was next to me...

If it was me...

I'd be happy!

Right, Sakura-san?

Huh? Me?

I don't really get it.

But I don't think you'd make a face like that
to someone you don't care about?

You're right.

Yui-san wasn't that type of person.

I thought I had watched her
at her side more than anyone.

I'm so unfashionable.

Thank you, everyone.

I'm sorry, Yui-san.

But to think this is her way
of telling me I was wrong...

You didn't even intend on me noticing it.

You really were so elegant in every way.

You really are...

so amazing.

HIDDEN FEELINGS

Sakura-san's blushing radar
is highly efficient.

Blushing radar?

How you turn all red when you sense
someone's romantic feelings!

I-It's nothing like that.

Oh, then can you look over there
for a little bit?

Huh? There's nobody over that way.

It's fine, it's okay.

Oh, look at that lovey-dovey couple!

And then over here!

Two kindergarten students
are holding hands as they walk!

See, now we have...

Quit usin' me to play games!