01x21 - First Snow

[bunniefuu]

ORIGINAL WORK - SHIINA KARUHO

"FIRST SNOW"

The following day, it seemed like...

a giant thorn had been removed
from Chizu-chan's heart.

She came to school with a brighter smile.

Although she still didn't talk
to Sanada-kun,

it's not like she was ignoring him
like yesterday, either...

Jeez. You know...

I wanna do something fun!

Something fun?

I'm down,
as long as it's not a buffet again.

Why not?

I'll get fat!

I know!

It felt like Chizu-chan
was back to her usual self.

I sang like crazy.

That was the first time
we sang since the Sports Festival!

I feel like my anger
toward Ryu has been settling down.

I'm glad.

You wanna eat ramen on the way home?

At Sanada-kun's house?

Are you sure?

Well, I mean, if I see his face,
I might get mad again.

That's true.

Even though you talked
lots of trash about Ryu,

I'm actually thankful
that he was there for you.

Without him, I don't know if you
could've released your true feelings.

Yeah...

After our fight, I realized...

I actually did want to talk
with Toru one more time.

I just didn't realize that myself.

Then again, it would've been
impossible to talk to him calmly.

What will you tell him next time?

"I like you."

Come on, I'm kidding.

What? You thought I was serious?

Sorry, but that's not funny.

She was joking...

No...

I'm not gonna say that.
I know how Toru will respond.

What's up?

-What?
-Chii.

Sorry, but I'm borrowing her for a bit.

What?

Why are you here?

Why?

To see you, Chii.

Come on.

Chizu-chan!

You're in a miniskirt!

You're right!

Please...

Please let her tell him
what she needs to say...

When I see her again,

I hope she will be at peace.

Wanna stop by a café?

Sure.

When did you get back?

Just now.

Staying overnight?

Nope.

I'm heading back tonight.

What about work?

I worked really hard today...

because I wanted to finish early.

Do you have work in the morning?

You'll get back pretty late tonight.

Don't worry about lame stuff like that.

No...

I'm happy.

You made me happy.

By the way...

Hey, that was a cool spin.

How do I look? I'm in a miniskirt.

You'd always show your legs off
when you were a kid, Chii.

Yay!

You're as spunky as ever!

I'm an old man, so I think it's too cold!

Dang it. He's used to this!

You're not an old man.

For a young girl like you,
is an old man's age.

I dunno about that.

He treats me like an even younger kid.

Even though I have awesome legs...

Man...

My poor, cute little thighs...

Yeah, didn't you drive your car here?

I left it.

Why?

When we used to play together,
we didn't drive, did we?

I thought I'd walk with you today.

Hold on a sec.

Welcome.

BREAD FESTIVAL

Here. Pork bun.

And... this one.

Red bean bun.

We always used to eat these.

Yeah.

Pork bun... red bean bun...

Pork bun... red bean bun...

Which do you want?

If I eat the sweet one,
I'll want the salty one.

But if I get both, I'll go broke.

Plus, if I eat both and can't eat dinner,
Mom will get mad!

But I wanna eat both the sweet and salty...

You're in trouble, then.

Pork bun... red bean bun...

One of each, please.

Here.

Half and half.

Don't tell Ryu about this!

Do you want more?

Now you can eat two whole buns.

No, I like it this way.

Hey, remember that?

That electric pole over there.

When I was in high school, I'd take
this way to walk home late at night,

and I'd see a kid by that pole!

I wondered why a kid would hang out there
so late at night. So I looked closer.

What? Are you trying
to tell me a horror story?

It was you. You were scouring
for beetles at three in the morning!

It startled me.

Yeah, I remember that...

Well, I used to wake up early
when I was a kid...

And then we walked home together...

while looking at the stars in the sky.

Toru!

What's that star called?

I don't know, but...

Big Star!

Big Star!

The only constellation I know is Orion.

Orion?

Yep.

Where?

Where's Orion?

I don't see it.

It's like a trio of stars close together.

Where's the trio?

It was a winter constellation.

The sky's so dark in the countryside.

You remember pretty well.

I do.

I hope Chizu is able to say
what she really wanted to say to him.

There are a lot of things to learn...

About liking someone, I mean.

There are sad things
that may make you cry.

But there are lots of happy things, too.

Yeah.

I remember...

you fell down over there.

You and Ryu were buying food there.

KAWAHARA

Toru... has always been smiling at me.

Chii!

I walked this road pretty often

with you and Ryu.

Now it has become Ryu's jogging route.

Look at that vacant lot.

Ryu made you cry there.

You remember so much.

Does he still make you cry?

No, he doesn't!

Stupid Ryu! He pissed me off!

No, he doesn't make me cry!

I never cry!

Yeah?

Just... sometimes I'll vent
my anger at him for no reason.

Ryu's a nice guy.

And he never lies.

Because you and Ryu
are so close to each other,

you may get upset at one another easily,

even by things that
normally wouldn't bug you.

Yeah.

I see.

You and Ryu started to have
those kinds of fights?

Your school uniform looks good on you.

I was thinking, "Wow, she's definitely
a high schooler now."

I thought you...

would always be single
and never settle down with anyone.

That doesn't sound like a compliment.

Why did you decide to get married?

You're only .

I just thought that I want to be
with this girl forever.

That's how I've felt
about you since I was little.

She looks pretty mellow and cute.

Actually, she's a very strong woman.

I knew it.
No matter how much you liked me,

no matter how many memories we
shared... even though I'm in high school,

a neighbor girl is just a neighbor girl.

I see.

Chii.

Say it. "Chii."

What?

Just say it.

Do you know why I call you "Chii"?

I dunno.

Say it.

Chii...

Say it clearly.

Chii.

That's it.

You smiled.

-Chii!
-Toru!

Chii!

Chii...

Toru...

I like you.

I like you, too.

I knew you'd say that.

That's not what I meant.

But still... it makes me happy.

You know, Toru...

I'm not your little sister or a relative.
I'm just a neighbor, but...

whenever you come to visit,
can I stop by and say hello?

Silly.

Don't make me sad!

I see you as my little sister.

You might be more adorable than Ryu.

But don't tell him, okay?

Little sister?

I'm sure his fiancée gets to see
his whole spectrum of expressions.

But I'm still happy

because I can tell that you care about me...

always...

as my big brother.

Chii!

Toru, congrats!

Yo, were you out jogging?

Where's Chizuru?

I walked her home safely, of course!

Going home?

Yep. I'll come back soon.

Wait a second.

SANADA

Here. The bread.

What a courteous guy.

When did you get them?

Yesterday? No...

They should be okay, probably.
It's winter.

Thank you.

Look at you. You're so tall!

Will you get taller than me soon?

I will. I'm in my growth spurt.

Yeah?

You know, both you and Chii
are pretty clumsy.

Good luck, man.

You're a better match for Chii.

Bro...

Bro?

I was thinking that too, actually.

All grown up?

Ryu-chan? Aren't you with Chizu?

No.

I thought she would be with you,
since she's pretty late.

What is that little stinker doing?

I think I know where she is.

I'll check.

Thank you, Ryu-chan!

She might not act like it,
but remember that she's still a girl.

Yeah.

Do you want me to console you?

Are you pitying me?
Or are you just picking a fight?

Neither.

What the heck?

Why'd you come here?

This is the place where my brother and I
played together for the last time.

It's also where you were on the day
he left for Sapporo.

Didn't I tell you not
to talk to me for a while?

Then I won't talk.

I'm kidding. Sorry.

That day was your birthday. I'm sorry.

I was the only one who
could've celebrated it with you this year.

Sorry...

No.

You were the only one
who remembered my birthday.

Thank you for the bag.

You called Toru, didn't you?

When I asked him if he was hungry,
he told me you were giving him my bread.

I mean, it's not like
I'm shocked or anything.

Even though it was at your request,
he drove three and a half hours to see me.

It made me really happy. Thank you.

It's like you said.

You thought I liked Toru,
even though I didn't have a chance?

I might've been aware that this
wasn't gonna go anywhere all along.

To be honest,

maybe he was just like an idol I admired...

I know.

I know that you really liked him.

Console me...

Ryu...

That was the day we had
the first snowfall of the year...

PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE

A holy night.

Our wishes resonate.

Next episode: "Christmas."