01x24 - A Roller Coaster

[bunniefuu]

Have you heard about that bonfire legend?

The one where you confess your feelings
and fall in love?

Yeah, that fishy one.

Fishy.

But why not give it a try?

Ask him to give you an answer
to your confession.

No.

Until he falls in love with me,

I don't need an answer.

UEDA SHIKI HOTEL

I brought it over.

Thanks.

BLUE BOX

EPISODE 24
A ROLLER COASTER

Last night...

I'm glad the old lady's okay.

Yeah, me too.

It's pretty late, huh.

I knew from the start.

I was fully aware that
Taiki liked Chinatsu Senpai

when I told him how I felt.

Hina!

This is nothing.

I'll go take this over.

Thanks.

After all,

it's not all painful.

When I confessed my feelings,

it felt good seeing his face,
like he'd been hit by a pellet g*n.

And whenever I say something
as part of Operation Make Taiki Look at Me

and his face goes all red,

I feel this rush.

The tiny Hinas in my heart start dancing.

Even during Snow White
at the culture festival...

SNOW WHITE SCRIPT

KISS

...I fantasized about Taiki
playing the prince.

When it actually happened,

I was so nervous
I thought I was gonna lose it.

But the sight of him that day

is something I'll never forget.

I doubt Taiki ever realized it.

Back then...

You made me imagine...

what it'd be like to actually kiss you.

What?!

Do you want to do it for real?

He'll never know I was wishing

that he actually would.

Or how hot my body felt
in that quiet classroom...

and that my heart
was pounding so hard it hurt.

Hina, watch out!

When that happened,

I was relieved because I didn't want
our first kiss to be onstage.

And when everyone was talking
about us afterwards...

Taiki was being really considerate of me.

But it's not like I hated all of it.

I'd even say...

I was hoping he might ask me out for real.

If we did go out,

what would it be like?

We'd walk home together,

go to karaoke,

take tons of pictures,

even hold hands.

This must be what it feels like
to be on an emotional roller coaster.

I sometimes think
we could just date to test it out,

or just hang out and have some fun.

But then again...

I like his sincerity.

It's because he's that kind of person

that he's careful not to hurt me,
one of his closest friends.

The meat's not ready.

I'm not that much of a glutton.

You have a leaf in your hair.

Where?

Higher.

Further back.

Back?

Sorry, I'm gonna touch your hair.

It went in deeper.

I love you.

If I said that, it would just put Taiki
in an awkward position.

But...

Got it.

...I can't win unless I'm proactive.

So I'll use our friendship.

Look at me.

See me as more than a friend.

Whether it's tomorrow,
next week, or next month,

I'll always be waiting.

So right now...

You have one in your hair, too.

You're just trying to plant one on me!

No, you have a huge bug right here.

Where?

Just kidding.

Why, you little...

My, my, aren't they close.

I admire couples who are like friends.

Moriya, you seem like
you'd toy with your partners.

I don't toy with them!

Even if I did, I'd go out with guys
who were fine with that.

I mean, the one who's loved more
is the happier one in a relationship.

Then how does the one
giving all the love find happiness?

What?

You get asked out a lot,

but your relationships
don't last that long, do they?

Not to be rude,

but what do you know?

Excuse me?!

Stay out of it, you four-eyed loser!

You don't even have a girlfriend!

I'm so ticked off now!

Congrats on a successful training camp!

Light it up!

Bleh!

...but what do you know?

It's true that my relationships
don't last long.

Maybe I haven't even been in love before.

However...

I like having feelings for Taiki.

That's precisely why!

I want to root for someone

who is so dedicated...

to only one person!

I'm freezing.

Where's your jacket?

I left it in the gym. I'll go get it.

Hinacchi, Hinacchi!

The audio equipment is on the fritz,

but there's a spare one in the gym.

Could you go and get it?

Sure.

Really? Thanks!

By the way,

take as much time as you need.

What's up?

Ayame asked me to grab some equipment.

That manager is quick
to send someone else on her errands.

I'll help you!

Take as much time as you need!

It was totally on purpose.

What equipment?

I'll help.

I don't see it.

It's definitely possible
that Ayame just made it up.

Looks like

you can see the bonfire from here too.

You're right.

It actually looks pretty magical.

Nishida Senpai's dancing.

Why don't we watch it
from here for a while?

Good call. I'm feeling kinda beat.

Let's take it easy.

I didn't know a year-round runner like you
could actually get tired.

Are you making fun of me?

The amount of energy I use isn't the same
as that of a bus-taking princess.

We did sprints this morning too.

That reminds me!

Back on our ninth-grade school trip,

you snuck out of the hotel
to go for a run in the morning.

It's my daily routine.

But you still got in trouble.

The teacher only found out
because everyone kept teasing me.

Also, when we went camping
in eighth grade,

we all played cops and robbers.

PROUD

Right, and I was the only one
who got away.

It was hilarious watching you
do that magnificent side-stepping.

That's not much of a compliment.

Well, I saw you too.

Waiting around, looking bored
after being the first one caught.

My shoelace was untied!

Excuses, excuses.

They say that
"the wise hawk hides its talons."

Sure, but you got caught first
in the second round too.

Plus, you didn't even notice
when you were set free.

Hey, Taiki.

I want to ask you something.

What?

Back during the King's Game...

what were you really going to say?

For a second, I thought you were going
to say you liked Chinatsu Senpai.

But you're way more
of a chicken than I thought.

And you're not the kind of guy who'd
confess his feelings just for a game.

To be clear, you can totally confess
your feelings if you want.

That's what we promised.

I'm totally okay with that.

I just need to work harder than you.

To be honest,

sometimes it does sting.

But it's nothing, really,

compared to how much

I love you!

We should head back.

I have to tell Ayame it wasn't here.

Dang it.

I didn't mean to bring up
my feelings like that.

Hina.

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

For what?

I can't

be with you.

No.

I told you I didn't need
an answer right now.

You don't need to rush it.

It's not like you're gonna start
dating Chinatsu Senpai, right?

No, but...

Then you don't need
to give me your answer yet.

I won't complain,
no matter how long it takes.

If you reject me now,

you might regret it later
when you realize you're in love with me.

Maybe so,

but I don't think this dynamic
we have now is a good one.

You say it's okay for me to take my shot
with Chinatsu Senpai.

But with the way things are now,
I can't pursue my feelings honestly.

Even though I like Chinatsu Senpai,

I feel ashamed of myself
for still being drawn to you.

And I think my indecisiveness
is only hurting you.

So let me just make things clear.

We should both just--

I said it's fine!

I knew you liked someone else
when I told you how I felt.

Even if you like her,

I still love you!

That's not a natural way to be.

It is natural!

It'll all make sense
once I can get you to look at me!

I told you
I can't reciprocate your feelings.

Why not?

You have way more memories with me.

Is it because we don't live together?

Then we could start now.

I don't know how Chinatsu Senpai
feels about you,

but I--

Even so...

It won't change who I like.

Hina...

I wonder if my plan worked.

All alone in the gym,
with the flickering lights of the bonfire...

I heard there was some love legend too.

I bet the mood is just right
for some romance!

What?

Hinacchi?

Are you okay?

Did something...

She's crying.

He said he can't be with me.

Because he likes someone else.

She doesn't even like him back that way.

But he said that doesn't change
who he likes.

If this were rhythmic gymnastics,

some people would say hard work pays off,

while others would say it doesn't.

But I worked hard and got results.

I was able to love myself

for putting in the work.

But...

when it comes to love...

why am I so pathetic?