02x08 - The Future

[bunniefuu]

Third year of high school.

Everyone spent

their final year without any regrets.

The next season
arrived in a flash.

JUNE - THE LAST SPORTS DAY IN JUNE

Kii!

Where's the bag
with the frisbee and the rackets?

Are you going to use it?

I'm going to the big park today.

I thought it'd be more fun to bring them.

FOREST PARK WITH SQUIRRELS

But it's supposed to rain today.

Really?

Really, really.

We were supposed to play ultimate frisbee
with the tennis club today,

but it's been changed to indoor futsal.

Just play tennis already!

The weather is so nice, though.

See?

What should I do?

Will today be canceled?

It's been a while
since it was just the two of us.

I don't mind where,
but I'd like to change the location.

Natsumi-chan, do you want
to come over to my place today?

Sorry, we ended up getting wet after all.

It's okay.

That doesn't matter.
I just wanted to see you.

But you know,

whenever we can see each other,
I really want to.

Me too!

EXCITED

I'M SO GLAD

Being on the cheerleading squad
must've been tough.

I was honestly exhausted.

Watch this.

Is anyone home today?

I feel like that was a weird question.

No, that was definitely a weird question.

Oh no, what do I do? This is embarrassing.

Um…

It's because I forgot to buy a gift.

I see.

SO THAT'S WHY

Welcome, Natsumi-chan!

It's the real her! It's the real her!

Has your hair gotten longer?

THE NISHI FROM THE PHOTOS

That's not a question for a first meeting.

Have you had lunch yet?

Yes, I ate before I came.

Then I'll bring out the milk manju
I've been hiding.

What's that?

Where did you hide it?

Come on, look over here.

Let's send it to Kasumi-chan.

Is that your older sister?

That's right.

ELDEST: KASUMI - WORKS AND LIVES ALONE

SECOND: KIIKO - COLLEGE STUDENT
YOUNGEST: KENTARO

If my husband were here,
he'd be so happy too.

Let's send him some good vibes.

Kentaro's dad…

He's away on a work assignment.

HOKKAIDO

Well, I'm off to play a m*rder mystery
game with my club friends.

That's not even a sport anymore.

Bye-bye, Natsumi-chan.

Okay, bye-bye.

Ken, are you two going to your room?

What about the manju? Aren't you eating?

I'll take it with me.

By the way, is your room okay
for people to come in?

I tidied it up.

Natsumi-chan,
what would you like to drink?

Um…

Anything is fine.

Come in.

YAMADA'S ROOM

It's so nice to have a sofa in your room.

This is a sofa bed.

It's been a while
since I set it up like this.

PERMANENT BED TARO

Sorry, are you tired?

I just feel…

A bit shocked.

You're exactly the same even at home.

Well, of course I am.

No… I mean, you're right.

I feel like his expression at home

isn't any different from when
he's with people at school.

Natsumi, are you going out?

Huh? What's with that outfit?

You're all dressed up.

Who are you meeting?

Just some high school classmates…

I'M NOT LYING

Unlike me, who always chooses
to keep things to myself

to avoid being dismissed or mocked.

You're always yourself,
no matter who you're with.

No, wait.

When I'm with you,

I'm actually trying really hard
to look cool.

Hey, what are you laughing at?

I printed out the photos
from the sports festival.

Really?

They're awesome!

The cheerleaders look so cool!

You should've joined us.

No, I enjoy watching them every year.

It would feel weird to be one of them.

I see.

This is Kawasaki-san
during the athletes' oath.

The captain.

This is Gapacho-san,
who just happened to be in the shot.

What is this?

And these are photos of the Red Team.

There are quite a few
of Sato-san and Azuma-san.

Give these to them
when you have the chance.

Azuma looks so funny here.

ALL SMILES

Wait, aren't there too few photos
of the Green Team?

Because I wanted to see it
with my own eyes.

I see.

Come here.

Do you hate it?

Wait?

What should I do? I feel…

Natsumi-chan, can I kiss you?

I'm so restless.

My heart's beating so fast.

The blood flow
in my skin feels really strange.

My waist? My spine? They're both tingling.

BLOOD VESSELS WORKING OVERTIME

OVERLOADED

STEAM COMING OUT

A kiss?

Don't take so long to ask!

Um… not yet.

I might actually die.

Is that so?

I'M SORRY…

WHOA…

LEANING…

Come over again soon.

The wind is so strong!

Stand over here a bit.

Thank you.

If only
I could fully convey these feelings.

I want him to understand how I feel,

but I'm too embarrassed
to tell him the truth.

I'm full of contradictions.

Even though I like you…

Sorry, what did you say?

I usually care so much
about what others think.

I'm always holding myself back.

But when I'm with Kentaro-kun,

I become so selfish and greedy

that it even surprises me.

BUMP

DAZED…

Three classes in a row is so exhausting.

Let's get something sweet
before going home.

No…

color!

Color?

Daily life has shifted
to serious exam prep.

The vibe is totally different
from high school entrance exams.

Of course it is.

When was the last time
I really hung out with Tani-kun?

Isn't it enough
that you see him at school?

I mean, you're right,

but I feel like I'm the one
who gets lonelier

when we don't see each other.

Well, rather than
a difference in loneliness,

it's more about the level of focus
on the exams.

Don't get all logical on me.

Tani-kun said he wants to study education.

I see. Same as me.

That means his goal for college is clear.

It seems he's wanted to be
a teacher for a long time.

When we did the career survey
in our first year of high school,

he'd already pretty much decided
what he wanted to do.

Either way,
everyone has their own goals.

I'm so jealous of that.

Rather than just getting a job aimlessly,

being able to do what you wanted
since you were a kid

is like a story coming full circle.
Isn't that cool?

You really are interesting.

No, I'm being serious.

How should I put it?

You're clearly feeling restless.

So don't hold back.
Go see him if you want.

Once you've recharged,
you can just switch back to exam mode.

I see.

I'm just not in the mood to study
once I get home.

There you go again.

I only meant to take a short break.

I just end up scrolling
through social media the whole time.

Or I'll look up rent near colleges
I don't even need to be looking at yet.

Or I'll look at
what the campuses look like

at schools I'll never get into.

I can totally relate to that.

Me too.

STEADY EAVESDROPPING

Do you do that too, Tani?

No, I don't really do that.

Seriously?

How can you be so self-disciplined?

I just do what I think I should be doing
at that moment.

That's the hard part.

Hey, you.

She's here.

Staring…

Do you have cram school today?

Then we'll have to go
our separate ways soon.

Yu-baby…

Baby?

People often say summer
is the decisive season

for entrance exams.

I know this is definitely a busy time.

When you hear "summer,"
does anything come to mind?

FIREWORKS FESTIVAL

There are so many people here already.

Compared to last year,
the vibe is totally different.

COTTON CANDY, FRIED NOODLES, SHAVED ICE

EXCITED - WAITING FOR THE FIREWORKS

Isn't it hard to walk in a yukata?

It's easy.

Since we have the chance,

I'll recharge today
and get through the summer.

By the way, how was your mock exam?

A bit better than I expected.

But I still can't let my guard down.

I see.

I have a mock exam
at the start of summer break too.

I'm scared to face reality.

But it's important
to know where you stand.

You're right.

I have to know my current situation.

And then move forward step by step.

HMPH

I'll do my best.

HEHE…

You said you didn't know
what to put down for your choices.

Have you decided yet?

I've decided what to put down for now.

I don't have a dream for the future

or a goal like everyone else.

But because I'm like that,

I want to go to college
to give myself more options in the future.

Is that okay?

I guess people like you, who have dreams,

really do seem to keep moving forward.

That's not true.

Whether you have a goal or not,
further education isn't the end.

I don't think you need
to decide everything right now.

Is that so? I hope so.

Thank you.

Dreams…

The fireworks are starting!

It's just that my dad is a teacher,

so I've been influenced by him
since I was little

without realizing it.

By the time I realized it,
that's what I wanted to be.

I also felt that was the right path.

It's not that I chose this path myself,

but rather, it was the only path I saw.

It's beautiful!

In this past year alone,

I've been constantly realizing

there are things I've never experienced
and scenery I've missed.

I don't think I know enough yet

to find the path I want to take.

Thank you.

For what?

I'm starting to hesitate.

WHAT DID I DO?

GOSTO CAFE & RESTAURANT

I think I'll apply through
the school recommendation system.

Which school?

Eisho University.

That's so far away.

By the way, Taira, are your grades
good enough for a recommendation?

I got decent scores
in memorization-heavy subjects,

so I barely make the cut.

That's impressive.

When it comes to math,
you just solve it once you understand it.

So it's actually quite easy.

There it is.

That's what people
who are good at science always say.

Didn't you say your first choice
was a public university?

That's true,

but if I'm lucky enough
to get a scholarship,

the tuition will be cheaper.

And…

To be honest, I want to get
this whole studying thing over with.

Fair enough.

Anyway, I want to avoid taking money
from my family as much as possible

and leave my hometown.

Is that so?

In that case…

I was going to tell you which days
the community center's study room is open.

I guess Mr. Recommendation
doesn't need it.

I feel like you're being sarcastic.

SCOFFS…

Zuma-chin, are you looking for someone?

Why do you ask?

Because you've been staring at the door.

I thought you were looking for your fave.

Fave?

Is that so?

No way.

Isn't it?

Back in our first and second years,
we had a senior we really liked.

We used to go to the cafeteria every day
just to catch a glimpse of him.

We don't have that kind of thing.

Exactly.

SCHOOL RECOMMENDATION APPLICATION FORM

Are you applying for that?

Aren't you aiming for a public university?

Are you really going to Eisho University?

They have an education department too.

The campus is really far away.

It's not like I can't get there.

The school recommendation
is quite a hassle.

Since you finish your exams early,
people around you will resent you.

If anything happens after you get in,

you have to report back
to your high school.

You also have to maintain good conduct.

It's very tough.

But…

You're going to apply too, right?

Yeah.

So you're not changing your mind?

CLASS ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

The teacher is a bit late, isn't he?

Yeah.

COLD EXCHANGE

Should I say something?

No, trying to start a conversation
on purpose now would just be creepy.

Are you applying
for a school recommendation?

Yes.

Because I saw you earlier…

TIME TO RECALL HIS REAL NAME

…talking to Tani.

You were grilling him, saying things like,

"School recommendation is a sin."

I didn't say it in a dramatic,
literary way like that.

We're aiming for the same school,
so I couldn't help but notice.

Wait, are you aiming
for Eisho University too?

Seriously?

Then we're rivals.

That's right.

If Tani-kun changes his mind
because of that,

you can't take responsibility for it,
can you?

What you did just now wasn't very nice.

I wasn't being serious.

Besides, he's not the type
to change his mind so easily.

That's true.

True?

CLICK - HONDA'S ONE-SIDED IMPRESSION

Sorry, sorry.

The printer broke down, so I'm late.

The wait felt even longer.

Tell me about it.

By the way, Honda-san,

you were so quick to sign up
to be the Class Welfare Officer.

Is it for the recommendation?

I just…

wanted to try wearing an armband

on my uniform for once.

Actually, I wanted to be
a class discipline officer,

but this school doesn't have one.

She seems like a total weirdo.

What about you?

It felt like homeroom wouldn't end
unless someone raised their hand.

Your personality really works against you.

I want to try everything on the menu!

Does anyone want to come with me?

Sure! Let's do it!

I'm glad you're so supportive.

Leave it to me.

So, what should we eat tomorrow…

What's wrong?

COLD…

SCHOOL RECOMMENDATION APPLICATION FORM

YUSUKE TANI - EISHO UNIVERSITY,
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Tani.

I'm submitting this today.

About that…

I've decided not to submit it.

Did what I said bother you…

No, it's fine.

Oh, so it's fine.

This is my own choice.

I see.

TEACHERS' ROOM

Did you submit it?

No matter the result, don't hold a grudge.

Okay.

I'm suddenly having second thoughts.

Give it to me.
If you're going to submit it, do it now.

Yes, sir.

SIGHS…

My phone's missing.

Sorry, I'm going back to the classroom.

Should I wait for you?

No, it's fine. We're going
in different directions anyway.

I see. See you tomorrow then.

Bye-bye.

It's that girl from lunch break…

Wow. She smells so good.

HEART RACING -
WHAT IS IT? FABRIC SOFTENER? HAIR OIL?

I've submitted the application,

but not knowing
how the school selection will go

makes it so hard to carry on like this.

But if I pass this stage,

my future path will be almost set.

But even passing
comes with its own worries.

IF I DON'T GET IN
APPLICATION FEE FOR GENERAL ADMISSIONS

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS I CAN APPLY TO
FOUR YEARS OF TUITION AT A PUBLIC UNI

THIS IS MY OWN CHOICE

There's no point in comparing.

That girl is so cute.

Suddenly, I'm envious of others.

My mood swings over the smallest things.

This is almost like…

COLD…

No…

No way!

It's not like that!

It's definitely not!

Honestly!

I'm sorry.

Oh, it's you.

Hey.

Don't look relieved
after bumping into someone.

Sorry.

I was lost in thought earlier.

Wait, what was I thinking about?

My mind's gone blank.

Later, Honda got the recommendation.

SPOILER
WHAT'S WRONG WITH USING THE SYSTEM?

It's a little weird to say this
right after submitting the application,

but I'll probably get rejected.

Tell me when the study room is open.

You're hopeless!

Their days of studying will go on.

SEE YOU NEXT EPISODE…