02x09 - Micha Dame!!

[bunniefuu]

Heya!

Oh, the photos are ready?

Yup!

Ta-da!

Akiha-san brought them over for us.

We look like real models.

You really are cute, Ashiya.

Th-That's adorable!

My pretty!

Hey, lookee here, Sano.

There's tons of you!

Huh...

Check it out.

N-Not good!

My heart's really starting to race.

Because Sano's just so...

These're kinda...

Yeah.

What?

You're sexy as hell.

Thank goodness I wasn't
the only one thinking it!

First Ashiya tells me she
thinks I'm hot in her sleep,

and now these guys are calling me sexy.

What even is my life?

I'm going to practice.

'Kay! Go get fired up!

Sano-kun.

What is it?

I thought it might be best
to give these to you.

What a good kid, huh?

I think those shots came out nicely.

Good luck with practice.

Hey! Did you take a look at the photos?

Akiha-san!

What the heck?

What are these?

Ashiya totally looks like a girl in these!

What did you think of the pics?

You're sure in a good mood.

You think?

That b*stard...

I was quite moved for some reason.

Hmm?

I don't really have the words,

but it made me feel like
photography's amazing.

I mean, it's just us,
but something's different, you know?

A photographer and subject
give each other a signal.

A signal?

You lost me.

Well, what do you say
to modeling now?

Without Sano here,
we can't answer right away.

We'll talk to him and get back to you.

Gotcha.

Don't keep me waiting.

A photographer and subject
give each other a signal.

I-It's so expensive!

But it's got that one photo...

I'll splurge!

I didn't recognize you
in your school uniform.

So you really are a high school boy, huh?

I'm sorry about putting you in ladies'
makeup the other day.

Don't worry about it.

This place is really good.

Especially this!

Five-layer crepes in the style
of the Kingdom of Bonheur!

Now I believe you two were married...

So, that book you bought earlier...

Yeah, I picked it up because it's got
that "Goddess" photo of yours in it!

You like that picture, huh?

I'm nude in it, though.

Huh?

Th-That's not why I like it!

I'm just teasing.

Say... Were you
and Akiha-san really married?

Oh, I'm sorry!

Akiha-san told me...

Oh, it's fine.

I mean, it's the truth.

You two still seem to be
on pretty good terms.

I couldn't help wondering...

I still love him.

My feelings never changed.

Not when we got married,

nor when we got divorced.

He's the first man who ever
treated me like a person.

I always felt a resistance
to being put in the "woman" box.

Because I'm "a girl,"
I got treated like "a girl."

But that made me feel incomplete,

not perceived like a real person.

You probably have no idea
what I'm going on about.

I'm sorry.

I think I can sort of understand.

You mean you don't want
to be seen for appearances,

but for what's inside, right?

Yeah.

I didn't want to be judged by my looks.

Not that that's an easy thing
to ask of people.

Yet Akiha-san can do it...

Still, I guess I wasn't good enough.

Akiha has a hole in his heart.

A gaping one.

A hole?

Despite how Akiha normally acts,

there's a place inside of him
that he never ever lets anybody into.

I don't think he's aware of it, though.

He treated me well, and I loved him.

But in the end, I just wasn't
able to fill that hole.

You can love each other, but if
the signals of your hearts don't align,

sometimes it's best to go
your separate ways.

The signals of your hearts...

Gosh, I'm sorry.
Things took a dark turn there.

Oh, it's fine.

Don't feel bad or anything.

Nowadays, he and I are
basically like siblings.

The love you hold for a dear
friend is still love, right?

Signals of the heart, huh?

This makes it clear he's figured it out.

On top of that...

The fact he gave these to me specifically
means he's read me like an open book.

I mean, I did take his bait
and get all competitive with him...

Is this how I look when I'm with her?

I'm home!

Y-You're back late.

I ran into Ebi-san,
and she invited me for some tea.

Ebi... that makeup artist
from the other day?

Right!

She's Akiha-san's ex-wife!

His ex-wife?

I can't believe that guy was married...

Right? You'd never guess, would you?

What's in the bag?

Oh, this?

Ta-da!

It's a collection of Akiha-san's photos!

I got a copy.

Now that the dust has settled,

it looks like he's got you
eating out of his hand already.

It was big buy for me, but it's got
Ebi-san in it and everything.

Y-You can't see!

I-I-I-I mean, she's nude!

They had all kinds of nude
shots at the exhibition.

It's totally different when you don't know
the person versus when you do!

I've already seen it once,

so seeing more won't change anything.

It will!

Just let me see it.

You really want to see it that bad?!

He is a healthy guy, through and through.

Of course he'd be
into something like this.

But... I get it.

Nothing to do about it.

It's a totally normal thing.

But... But... But...

I'm going on a walk!

What was that?

I said all that stuff,

but in reality, I just don't want Sano
looking at books with naked women in them!

Ich bin traurig!

Here we go again...

What happened, Himejima-senpai?

Why the hell are you following me?

If you're after Senpai, I'll k*ll you.

Verzeihung!

How's it hanging, Masao?

Do not call me by that name!

I heard all about it!

How all of you got photographed
by that Hara Akiha!

How'd you find out about that?

There's only one way.

Who the hell is Hara Akiha?

Agh!

I'll enlighten you riff-raff.

Hara Akiha is the resplendent artist
who has taken the top prize

in the photography category
of this year's Gloire Festival!

Whatever.

G-G-Gragh!

Gloire is an extremely prestigious
contest in the south of France,

accepting only about a dozen select design
and photography contestants each year!

Wow, sounds amazing...

This is why I hate you peasants!

So, what did he want with you?

What else? Said he wanted
us to model for him.

What?!

Senpai, that's amazing!

I see...

You people, modeling for him..

For him!

I'm sure the result
will be just wonderful!

We haven't decided yet.

Even I myself...

will cheer for you from
the very depths of my soul!

Like I said...

I pray for the success of our
friendship and the project!

Um, hey!

Prost!

He must really be jealous.

Anyway, after school, we should discuss
what to do about the modeling thing.

I'm down.

How are you guys not done yet?!

Hey, what do you do as models?!

You going to Paris Fashion Week?!

Wha?

The Paris Fashion Week crew!

They're celebrities, then!

- And that's how the rumors instantly
spread throughout school...

- I'll get autographs while I can!

Which is how we got here.

The version I heard was that you guys
are transferring to schools to Paris,

where you'll learn the ropes
from legendary supermodels,

then return to Japan and make insane
bank in the entertainment biz.

So, yeah.

The rumors got twisted and perverted
and totally out of hand!

That's people gossiping for ya.

Just gotta wait for it to die down.

Well?

What about the modeling gig?

It does sound fun, but I'm still not sure.

No good will come of you
getting mixed up with him.

Did something happen
between you and Akiha-san?

Why would you even think that?!

Women's intuition?

The whole reason...

Wait, I'm being childish.

I'm not trying to pull anything with him.

He's just piqued my interest.

That's what he said, but I wonder...

I just hope this doesn't
turn into anything weird.

So, what do you guys think?

I'm fine with doing it,

but I can't promise it won't
blow up into another huge thing.

I think it sounds fun,
so I'm fine with accepting.

What about you guys?

I'll pass.

I'm not interested in it,
and I'm focused on the high jump.

I see...

And you?

Well, I mean...

You're planning on taking it?

Hey now, why are you getting so defensive?

Yeah, for real!

Because I'm against it.

I've got practice.

What crawled up Izumi's a*s?

Who knows?

Sano?

Sano!

What was that about just now?

Nothing.

Why are you against me modeling?

The least you owe me is a reason.

It's because...

Sano-kun's worried about you. That's all.

Akiha-san!

It's because I'm a bad man
here to lead you astray.

That's exactly why.

And so I've come to take you away.

In the name of clearing up
some misunderstandings...

maybe we should get to
know each other better?

Let's go on a drive.

Huh?

And with that, Sano-kun...

I'll be borrowing him for a bit.

"Let's go on a drive"?!

Just like that?!

Don't worry.

I'll make sure you get
back to your dorm safely.

H-Hold on!

Hey.

Later!

Go on, go on. Get right in.

It's totally safe.
No need to be on high alert.

We're just going on a drive.

This car...

Isn't this car a little too...

small for you?

A little.

But I like it!

After all, this was the first car
I bought with my own savings.

Hey, don't laugh at it!

Oh, wait, he's also into guys!

I screwed up!

Here you go.

Oh, thanks for this.

Do you come to places like this often?

Yup.

When I want to people watch
or when I want to be alone.

And?

Have you given the modeling
gig any more thought?

Nanba-senpai and Nakatsu
said they'd be up for it.

Yeah, okay.

Sano said... he's busy with practice.

Ah, so that's his line!

What about you?

Um, I think it sounds fun, but...

But what?

How should I put it?

I don't know if I'd work
out as one of your models.

Well, how do you feel about my photos?

Do you like them?

Yeah.

Then it's settled.

Remember how I said that a photographer
and subject give signals?

Yeah.

The most important part
of taking a good picture is love.

Love?

Like, check out that girl standing there.

Look at her face right now.

That's a great smile, right?

Were you waiting?

I just messaged to ask
where you were!

Photos are just like that.

They are?

When shot by someone
you have affection for,

you're naturally more expressive.

And when the photographer also
has affection for the subject,

you instinctively catch those expressions.

Those are the signals I'm talking about.

If you just want marketable
photos or pretty ones,

all you need are an attractive
model and half-decent skills.

But you won't find any signals there.

You said that you like my photos.

That's enough of a signal for me.

I ought to start heading back.

There's just one more special
place I need to take you.

What is wrong with you, Sano?

Your form's terrible!

You couldn't even clear that?

Your head is somewhere else today!

I know!

Why are you against me modeling?

The least you owe me is a reason.

I mean, of course it's going to bother me
that he knows Ashiya's a girl...

But the truth is...

I don't have a reason!

I just I don't like it!

Except I can't just say,

"I don't like it for some reason!"

I'm pathetic.

Well, you don't be that
hard on yourself...

Wow!

This is amazing!

It's nostalgic, isn't it?

Seeing the sunset.

It's nostalgic, huh?

What's that?

A friend told me that seeing
the city lights come on

gives him this incredible urge to go home.

I just remembered that.

I wanted to set everything on fire myself.

When I was a kid...

my mom left my dad and me,
vanishing without a trace.

She went out shopping
in the evening like always.

Just never came back.

So you haven't seen her since then?

No. When I was about ten,

I found out her address
and went to visit her.

But after she saw it was me,

she closed the door on me
without saying a word.

What?

Then I heard it through the door.

She said, "No clue who that was.
Some kid I've never seen before."

As I watched the sun set
and the lights come to life,

I felt sad, angry... and so miserable.

I even thought that if I died
and really shocked her,

maybe I'd feel a bit better.

M-Mizuki?

You idiot!

You're the one who got hurt,

so why would you go
and think about dying?!

Instead, you should be so, so much happier
than your mother and throw it in her face!

Why are you laughing so much?!

S-Sorry, it's just... girls usually cry
or just look like they really pity me.

You're the second person who's
hit me after hearing this story.

The second?

The first was Kotobuki.

She said, "If you're
ready to die for revenge,

show me you've got the guts
to live your life on the edge!"

Ebi-san...

- POW

- Take that!

- She punched me and everything.

Maybe the two of you
have something in common.

Guess it's time to take you home.

Oh, and don't take
what I told you seriously.

It's a bit I use to seduce people.

So he says, but...

Akiha has a hole in his heart.

Thanks for coming along.

Here we are.

Thank you for dinner.

Mizuki-kun, Mizuki-kun.

This is for you.

Good night.

I'm home!

Huh? Sano, you're still up?

Didn't you have practice?

What's up?

I'm going to sleep.

This...

I look so happy.

If Sano ever saw this,

he'd probably know I'm in love with him.

Signals of the heart, huh?

Maybe I should try modeling after all.

Senpai, you're debuting as a model?!

Just for an ad.

Don't downplay it with "just."

The eyes of all the girls
in the nation will be on you!

You'll be seen!
You'll be fantasized about!

I won't even be able to sleep
thinking about it!

Stop. Just sleep.