01x03 - Losing the Battle Before It Is Ever Fought

[bunniefuu]

[footsteps approaching]

[knob squeaks]

[water trickling]

And then he took me out to eat.

Really?

[water trickling]

[water trickling]

[knob squeaks]

[sighs]

[gasps]

[whimpering]

[KOMARI]

What are you doing here?

I was thirsty, so I thought

I'd come get a drink of water.

But why here?

It's so far away.

I could ask you

the same question.

You fountain-hopping to avoid

going to class or something?

No, I'm not!

Shut up.

I've got an actual reason,

but don't laugh, okay?

[KOMARI] I'm doing research

on the school's water.

[NUKUMIZU]

Research, oh.

[whimpering]

I happen to know quite a bit

about the school's

water fountains.

Fine, then prove it!

Where do you get your

first drink in the morning?

[chuckles]

There's only one place

to start the day.

Second floor, west building,

next to the classroom.

Until around third period

the water in the pipes is still

from the day before.

[NUKUMIZU] There's

almost no chlorine taste.

[NUKUMIZU]

And it's cool in the morning,

even in the summer.

It's the best drinking water

on campus.

[chuckles]

[NUKUMIZU]

Hm?

That's so weak.

What?

How's it weak?

[KOMARI]

You,

you're using that fountain

completely wrong.

[KOMARI]

The one on the second floor

of the west building

is best during lunch.

[NUKUMIZU]

Are you hearing yourself?

The water from the upper floors

is terrible after noon.

The chlorine smell

gets so strong!

[NUKUMIZU]

And it comes out warm!

[KOMARI]

You amateur.

Everyone knows that warm water

is better for you.

It's easier on the stomach.

Sure,

but what about the chlorine.

[KOMARI]

Well,

once your nose adjusts

to the chlorine it

Why would that?

Wait,

don't tell me.

It covers up the smell

in the bathroom.

No way.

You eat lunch there?

Uh-huh

[NUKUMIZU]

I wish I'd never asked.

Just eat in the club room!

[MALE STUDENT 1]

The ending was a cliffhanger.

Yeah, to keep you hooked.

-Komari. Nukumizu.

-[gasps]

I almost

didn't see you over here.

[both whimpering]

[TAMAKI]

Glad I did, though.

Wanted to make sure to tell you

to come to the clubroom

after school.

Koto has

a big announcement to make.

Okay.

And that's that.

I'll see you later.

[footsteps receding]

[water trickles]

♪

[Koto clears throat]

[KOTO] I've gathered

you all here today

for an important mission.

[KOTO]

The time has come to set sail

and brave the open internet.

Our ship is the "Become

a Literary Icon" site.

[claps]

[Komari chuckles excitedly]

Can I ask

why we're doing this now?

The student council

got on my case

at the last club

presidents' meeting.

None of us are writing,

so they asked

how I could justify

listing composition

as an activity.

What?

It's Lit Club!

You haven't written anything?

[KOTO] It's much more fun

to imagine writing

than it is to do it.

If we published a zine

we'd have to pay

for paper and printing.

Not to mention distribution.

[NUKUMIZU]

Guess you're right.

Publishing online

really is the only route

that makes sense for us.

[KOTO]

And to get us started.

The Literature Club

will be holding

a training camp this weekend!

[BOTH]

Huh?

[KOTO] There was

a last-minute opening

at the youth house.

I was able to book two rooms.

[NUKUMIZU]

Hold on a second!

The weekend is only

two days from now!

Speed equals survival

in the dog-eat-dog world

of publishing.

[KOTO]

Hm?

[KOTO] [scoffs]

You don't get it, do you?

This is a rare opportunity.

And I know

just how to sell you on it.

You'll be canned.

[NUKUMIZU]

"Canned?"

Isn't that

when writers lock down

so they can focus?

Ah

[NUKUMIZU]

What is she so excited about?

I knew you'd understand!

Doesn't it sound fun?

Yeah! Mm-hmm.

Let's do it! Can me!

[KOTO] I'd like for each of you

to come up with a plot

you want to work

on this weekend.

[NUKUMIZU]

It might help if we knew

what you were going to write.

[Koto chuckles softly]

I've got plans for

an isekai reincarnation.

First, Mishima commits seppuku

and then wakes up

in another world.

[KOTO]

Dazai tries to follow him

by drowning himself

in the Tamagawa Aqueduct

and bam!

There's the intro.

But it's rated X,

so I wouldn't be able

to show it to you.

[bangs]

[gasps]

[NUKUMIZU]

Huh?

[SHIKIYA]

Rated X?

Not good.

No.

Shikiya?

[KOTO]

How long have you been there?

Did I hear you correctly?

You want to hold

a training camp?

With no proposal?

But how?

Calm down.

I'll fill out

the forms tomorrow.

[gasps]

Who's she?

She's from the student council.

[SHIKIYA]

The student council

is watching.

Always watching you.

Don't you think

the student council's

going a little hard on us,

Shikiya?

No.

All the other clubs

are facing the same scrutiny.

The costs and cuts.

Dissolution

and then annihilation.

[NUKUMIZU]

What's wrong with this girl?

Could she at least blink!

annihilation.

The costs

[ANNA]

A training camp, huh?

That sounds like so much fun.

I guess we'll see.

We're supposed to be "canned"

all weekend,

so I'm not getting my hopes up.

You're gonna be

close to the beach,

that's exciting!

Does my swimsuit

from last year still fit?

-[ANNA] I'll try it on.

Uh, wait a minute.

Are you planning

on coming with us?

[ANNA]

Yesterday,

I ran into Sosuke's mom

on my way home.

With us

being childhood friends,

of course,

our families get along, too.

[NUKUMIZU] And there she goes

trauma dumping again.

She started

before I could get away.

"I haven't seen you

in the morning lately.

Is everything okay?"

[ANNA]

And now

both our families

have the wrong idea

and they think

we're fighting or something.

They're planning to throw

a "Make-Up" barbecue

this weekend as a surprise.

But I found out.

So please, you gotta take me

to the ocean with you!

That feels a little extreme.

Why don't you just go out

for a bit or something?

You don't understand

how passionate

my dad is about grilling!

If I'm not gone all weekend,

he'll just keep cooking

until I get back!

[NUKUMIZU] But you aren't even

in the Literature Club.

[ANNA] I'll join! Gimme

the paper, I'll join right now!

[train chugging]

[train chugging]

[NUKUMIZU]

Was this a good idea?

I gotta say,

I can't really see her

as a novelist.

Then again

it's my first time writing,

too.

What are we going to do?

[gasps]

Ah, Nukumizu!

What are you doing here?

Why do you always

ask me that?

You, you're so rude!

Play back the tape,

you were rude to me first.

[NUKUMIZU] But whatever.

I'm not worried about it.

Are you here to check out

the light novels, too?

[KOMARI]

I don't know much about them,

so I thought I should study.

[NUKUMIZU] You haven't decided

what to write yet,

have you?

[KOMARI]

I have.

[KOMARI]

I'm already working on it,

for your information.

Oh, good for you.

[KOMARI]

But, more importantly,

about Yanami.

-[NUKUMIZU] Huh?

[KOMARI] Is Yanami

joining the Lit Club or what?

[NUKUMIZU]

Looks like it.

Is that a problem?

[KOMARI]

No, but she's really cute.

And Yakishio

is really cute, too.

♪

Well, you're not exactly

ugly either, Komari.

[gasps]

[both gasp]

[NUKUMIZU]

What's wrong?

[KOMARI]

I mean

[whimpering]

[NUKUMIZU]

Huh?

It's-it's just that.

The pretty girls,

they don't join Lit Club.

[NUKUMIZU]

Hold it right there!

You owe an apology

to every Lit Club girl.

Go on, do it!

[train chugging]

[car honking in distance]

[chuckles softly]

Hi, big brother.

Are you on your way home now?

[NUKUMIZU]

Yup.

You're out pretty late.

What'd you get?

Some ingredients

to make curry udon.

And also, I wanted to tell you

that I'm not going

to be around this weekend.

Is that okay?

Yeah.

Doesn't bother me any.

You're not gonna get lonely

and cry the whole time, right?

I'll be fine, Kaju.

I've got plans of my own.

My club's holding

an overnight training camp

-this weekend.

-Huh? What?

Really, you've finally

made some friends?

[NUKUMIZU] I don't think

I'd call them friends.

Here you go.

Hope you enjoy.

[KAJU] Thank you, sir!

I'd also like to order

some red beans.

I'm going to make red rice!

[MALE OWNER]

Celebrating good news, are you?

That's right, my big brother

just made

his very first friends!

[MALE OWNER]

Oh, that is good news!

Everyone

in the shop owners' association

has been worried about you!

We were even thinking about

making you a checkpoint

in our shopping arcade

stamp rally!

But maybe

you don't need the help.

[NUKUMIZU]

Please don't do that.

I'm serious!

[seagulls squawking]

-Did you bring sunscreen?

-Of course, I did.

[TAMAKI]

I gotta say,

you really came through

for us, Nukumizu.

[NUKUMIZU]

Thanks. Wait, what'd I do?

[TAMAKI] You brought in

Yanami and Yakishio.

Changing our

boy to girl ratio overnight.

And now we get to see

our female members

in swimsuits.

But don't we get to see that

during swim lessons?

[TAMAKI]

Oh, come on, man,

you know

there's a big difference

between school swimsuits

and personal ones.

Listen up.

During swim lessons,

they've got no choice

but to wear the school suit.

[TAMAKI] But when

they're on their own time,

they can wear whatever

they think looks best on them.

[TAMAKI]

Do you see the difference, now?

[NUKUMIZU]

Do me a favor and elaborate.

Go on.

[TAMAKI]

Okay, okay.

Normally,

girls are in a position

where doing something like

exposing their shoulders

and thighs would be shameful.

[TAMAKI]

But when they're at the beach,

they're willing

to walk around freely

in what's essentially

public-facing underwear.

And that means

we're allowed

to stare all we want.

In fact,

it could be considered rude

if we didn't.

You get what I'm saying, right?

[Nukumizu gasps]

[NUKUMIZU]

I see.

And that's the magic of summer.

-It's so obvious now.

-[Tamaki groans]

[KOTO] What are you two idiots

talking about?

[ANNA]

Ooh, our own umbrellas!

And they have chairs.

[ANNA]

Nice!

[chuckles softly]

Thanks for the invite,

Nukumizu.

Yeah, sure thing.

[LEMON]

Hey, Yana!

Did you bring sunscreen?

[ANNA]

Yep, I did.

Just gotta dig it out.

I forgot mine last time,

and I'm still regretting it.

Heads up. You're gawking

like a massive perv.

[gasps]

[TAMAKI]

So, no bikini for you, Koto?

[KOTO]

Clearly.

Now, let's stop talking

and hit the water!

Great, I'm right behind you.

[LEMON]

Me, too. Wait up, guys!

[NUKUMIZU]

Aren't you going in?

[KOMARI]

No, I-I'm good right here.

[TAMAKI]

Shark atta

[water splashes]

This is your big chance.

Why not spend time with him?

That's none of your business.

Now stop harassing me

and get in there

with the rest of them.

♪

[footsteps receding]

[wind blowing]

[indistinct chatter]

[seagulls squawking]

[waves crashing]

So how was it?

[LEMON]

Best swim ever!

Seriously, it felt so good.

I love the ocean.

[TAMAKI]

Anyone thirsty?

-[KOTO] Yeah, I'll take a soda.

-Have you just been reading?

[ANNA]

A water for me, please!

[KOTO]

Whoa

[NUKUMIZU]

It's official.

I'm gonna cherish this day

for as long as I live.

The memory

of time spent on the beach

with swimsuit-clad girls

will sustain me through

what will no doubt be

many long

and lonely years to come.

[ANNA] So, what's the plan

for lunch, guys?

[KOTO]

We could pick up something

and eat it here.

Yakisoba sounds good.

I'm sure it does.

You're holding

a container of it right now.

I took a chance on a place

that didn't have a line,

and it was the wrong call.

There's another shop

down at the end, though.

I have a good feeling

about that one!

[NUKUMIZU] But you're

still gonna eat that?

I'll go grab some, then.

Cool, thanks.

Nukumizu, you go with her.

Oh, sure.

[waves crashing]

-Hey, Yakishio.

-[LEMON] Hmm?

Did you get home all right

from the restaurant

the other day?

What's that?

Aww, were you worried about me?

[NUKUMIZU]

I feel kinda bad.

I was trying to help

but I wound up

making things worse.

[LEMON]

It's not on you.

For a smart guy,

Mitsuki can be

pretty dense sometimes.

I mean, I've known him

for how many years?

And in all that time,

he never saw me

as an actual girl.

♪

[sighs]

[NUKUMIZU]

I was thinking.

What if, today, we, um

Let go and just have fun!

[Lemon laughs]

[LEMON]

That sounds good.

Thanks, Nuku.

Hmm.

Right, here we go!

[NUKUMIZU]

Hey, wait!

[thuds]

That's gonna bruise.

Hmm.

[gasps]

Oh, man.

Are you okay?

[Nukumizu groans]

[Lemon laughing]

[LEMON]

You totally face-planted!

[NUKUMIZU]

Yeah, yeah.

Could you please be

a bit more careful?

[LEMON]

I'm sorry.

And you don't have

to be so polite all the time.

[LEMON]

Here.

[NUKUMIZU]

Hmm.

Hmm?

[NUKUMIZU]

Uh.

What's wrong?

[Lemon sighs]

Nuku, sometimes girls just

want to be spoiled a little.

Okay, that's good to know.

[wind whooshing]

I guess

I shouldn't be surprised.

[LEMON]

Yana was right about you.

So good!

Hmm.

Hey, Komari,

don't you want some?

I can't eat now.

The president's

reading my novel.

Hmm.

The plot's compelling

and you write well

and I'm loving the title, too.

[KOMARI]

You really mean that?

[TAMAKI] Yeah,

but you might want to think

about adding a subtitle

to introduce the story

a little better.

[KOMARI] Um,

how would that work exactly?

[TAMAKI]

Well, let's see.

Say your main title is

"The Literature Club

Takes a Trip to the Beach."

[TAMAKI]

Then subtitle might be,

"But We Didn't Realize

It Was a Nudist Beach."

"So We Decided

to Start Things Off

With a Round of Strip Poker!"

Add that on.

And I swear your view count

-will go through the freaking--

-That's enough, Shintaro!

[TAMAKI]

Hey, what's the big deal?

It's not like I was saying

we should actually play.

[KOTO]

I said that's enough.

[indistinct chatter]

[LEMON]

Hey, it looks like

they're holding some kind

of event over there.

[LEMON]

Let's check it out!

You've been

sitting all day, Komari.

Don't you wanna

stretch your legs?

[KOMARI] Uh, no.

I'm fine, thanks.

[ANNA] I wonder

if they have food stands.

[seagulls squawking]

So this is Komari's novel, huh?

Yeah.

She's been working hard.

What do you think

of the writing?

It's impressive.

[NUKUMIZU] What about you?

Got any big projects?

[TAMAKI]

I guess.

There's this one

I've had running on Lit Icon

for about three years now.

[NUKUMIZU]

I know that title!

I'm actually reading it.

[TAMAKI]

No way!

I've never met

one of my readers in the flesh.

So, you're the Tarosuke.

But that story of yours

racked up a ton of points,

more than 20,000, right?

You think

you'll go the book route?

It's nowhere near

long enough for that.

[LEMON]

Hey!

Here brought some goodies.

Whoa, where did you

get all that?

Lemon crushed

the beach flag contest

with her mad sprinting skills

and snagged it as a prize.

You were amazing out there.

[LEMON] Oh, was I?

Please, tell me more.

[KOTO]

'Kay, you guys.

We should get changed

and head back to the lodge.

[ALL]

Okay.

Wait, we've been here for hours

and you haven't

gone in the water once.

[KOMARI]

Oh, well, uh

[chuckles]

[LEMON] We'll see

you guys in a minute!

-You kids have fun out there!

-[TAMAKI] Just be careful!

[screaming]

[water splashing]

[insects chirping]

[TAMAKI] Koto,

-does that one look ready?

-[LEMON] Food always tastes

-better outside!

-[KOTO] No, it's still

got a long way to go.

-[TAMAKI] You sure?

-[LEMON] Aren't you glad

you got in the water, Komari?

[KOTO]

This one looks done.

-Here.

-Great, thanks.

[LEMON] Right?

I love the ocean!

[NUKUMIZU] Look at them

stuffing their faces.

[indistinct chatter]

[NUKUMIZU] When that meat's

still practically raw!

[munching]

[NUKUMIZU]

The clock's ticking.

If I wait, there might

not be anything left.

I've got to suck it up

and get in there!

Dude, I get that you're hungry,

but we just put those on.

At least give them

a few minutes to cook.

You're a real glutton.

Gross.

[KOTO]

Here,

in the meantime,

you can eat this if you want.

Um, sounds good, thank you.

[KOTO] Someone at a nearby spot

shared them with us.

A middle schooler, maybe?

She was so cute.

[NUKUMIZU]

Red rice?

♪

[LEMON] Careful where you're

pointing that thing.

Check it out you guys.

I've got a wand!

No, wait I've got three!

Immobulus!

Expulso!

[NUKUMIZU]

I'll use the last of the coals

to raise this one right.

Her name will be Setsuko.

Are you not gonna

join the others?

[ANNA]

Dessert first, then fireworks.

You got marshmallows in there?

[ANNA]

Even better!

Mixed organ meats!

Silly me.

[TAMAKI]

Hmm.

[KOTO]

Look alive, Shintaro!

What's up?

Oh,

well, ya know,

it's just

[KOTO] These are too big

for one person to do,

I thought I'd help you out.

[TAMAKI]

Come on, give me some credit

[NUKUMIZU]

Seriously, you two.

Just get married

already, will you?

Nice.

I like that one.

-[KOTO] Comin' at ya!

-[TAMAKI] Hey, be careful!

One left.

Don't mind if I do!

Ah, Setsuko!

[ANNA]

Huh? "Setsuko?"

Oh, I, uh

Calm down,

if you want it so much,

you can just say so.

[blows air]

Say, aah.

Uh.

Ah

♪

It's good, right?

Hmm.

So, what's it worth?

[NUKUMIZU]

Huh? Um.

[Nukumizu gulps]

Seven hundred, I guess?

[Anna laughs]

[ANNA]

I'm just messing with you.

No charge this time.

-[Anna laughs]

-Hmm.

[NUKUMIZU]

Huh?

[sparks]

Oh, no!

Watch out!

[sparkles]

[TAMAKI] That was close!

Are you all right?

Huh?!

I-I'm okay.

[Koto sighs in relief]

[Anna sighs in relief]

[Komari gasps]

Your hand, um

[TAMAKI]

Don't worry about that.

.I'm just glad

you didn't burn your face

or anything.

Well, even if I had

it wouldn't matter.

Of course, it would,

don't be an idiot.

Why?

It's not like

anyone looks at it, anyway.

[TAMAKI]

I mean, you do, right?

So, you'd see that injury

every day in the mirror

and remember

something sad and painful.

I'd hate for that to happen.

You, you would?

[Tamaki chuckles softly]

The point is

you shouldn't act like

what happens to you

doesn't matter.

'Kay?

[whimpering]

♪

President, I

Hmm.

I like you!

Here.

-[ANNA] Huh?

-[NUKUMIZU] Hm?

[sparkling]

Komari?

[KOMARI]

The truth is

that I've

always liked you.

You listen to me.

[sniffles]

Pay attention when I talk.

Say I matter.

I like you a lot.

So, will you

[sparkles]

please go out with me!