When the cherry trees blossom, their petals fall like flakes of snow. A little while ago, I had an encounter on the night full of falling cherry blossom petals that changed my life forever.

She is smart, she is pretty, and she is really good at any kind of art, music, well, just about everything. Not to mention, she gets really awesome grades, everybody likes her. She is perfect when you think about it?

Naru!

My name is Naru Sekiya.

Yaya!

Hey! Good morning!

You're so cool! I heard about you winning the writing competition the other day.

Oh, yeah, and you're still writing awesome lyrics for the band while you're at it, too.

Come on, I just got lucky, okay?

Uh, sorry, Naru. See you guys after school!

Okay. Alright. Later!

Come on.

Of course, I'm nowhere near as perfect as my friend Yaya is... I'm average in every sense of the word. I'm an average 14-year-old. Average to everything. I was hoping that something was just gonna magically change for me once I started middle school. No luck there I guess.

<music>

What do you think?

Mm-Hmm! Wow! You guys are really incredible just now!

We've really been having a lot of energy. We've been talking about heading one of the major group auditions.

Oh, wow, an audition!? But what'd you start a band for, Yaya? Do you really like music that much?

Well, it's cool to be in a band, isn't it? And yeah, I've always wanted to play. And it's always more fun to do what you wanna do, right? You gotta agree, don't you?

Oh, shoot! I totally forgot my dad wants me to come home early today, Yaya. And I still need to go get this book back to the library.

You're still reading [this] fairy tales?

Huh? But they're really good, Yaya. This one's about a cute fairy who goes and saves her girlfriend...

Okay, okay. I get you still like fairy tales, and shouldn't you be going now?

Ah? Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow, okay? So, do what you wanna do, huh? Yaya is just so amazing, and I'm...

Oh.

Oh, hey, dad.

I see you've finally made it back home. Do you remember I told you to come back early? What were you doing?

Uh, I went to the library, and then I...

Yeah, OK. So you went to library probably checking in on getting another fairy tale book just like you did in grade school. Won't you want to do something else with yourself? Forget it. Anyway, I need you to take this bag and go on over the Nishimikado's. I remember to mind your manners around them, alright?

Thank you for coming all this way, but I'm sorry, my dear, the master hasn't quite made it home yet.

If it isn't Naru?

Huh?!

Big sister Tami.

You have something for my... father? Thank you for taking the trouble.

A-Ahhh...

I'd really like to invite you in but... I'm keeping my English teacher waiting in there. English is a really good thing to learn even if I DON'T study in a national business. And make sure you take care getting home. There's a Kagura performance at the shrine today, so it's really clouded out there.

Hey! Get off of that!

I'm okay, four eyes!

You wanna go to junior ones, small brat!?

One time when I was a little girl, I went to a big movie theater. There was a heroine who had nothing but rags to wear, but she ended up meeting a fairy godmother who made her over into a beautiful princess. And then she met a prince. I thought all that in just maybe want to be that dazzling myself! My heart started dancing at the thought of it. That someone's gonna take me away from this world someday. I feel waiting for it, believing of it's gonna happen to me. What was my fairy gonna come and make me into someone special. if it can happen to her, it can happen to me... Is she a fairy? Uh, wait, are you a... Ahh?! Come back! Wait! Don't run away! Please don't go without me, Miss Fairy!

Huh? Who's Miss Fairy? Uh, hey there, is there a reason you're chasing me?

Uh, uh, well I was just hoping you my... you... just look so pretty! And magical like a fairy! So I thought and I was kinda hoping that you might take me to another world or something like that.

Well, if you want. Yeah, I'll take you away. If that's what your heart is yearning for, then let's go to a new world. But first, wouldn't you join me in a little dance? How about that?

Huh? You want me to what? I've never done anything like that before.

It's okay, just twirl around, and twirl around, and don't forget to have some fun, okay? Here we... go!

Her smile is beautiful. Long lashes, huge eyes, and she's so tiny. And her voice, so clear and sweet. Everybody else will definitely call her a heroine in anyone's story...

Ah! Awww...

I just can't. I really can't do this. I'm sorry I troubled you, okay?

Huh!? But... but, why!?

Uh... well, it's... because I'm... not dazzling enough.

What?

I'm really sorry. I gotta get home now!

Hey, wait a sec, please don't run away! I'm not really sure what you meant by all that, but you can be really dazzling if you want! Anybody can if they try! Just wait for me to find you. I promise I'm gonna find you and help you, okay?

No one's ever said anything like that to me before. Me, the girl who can't do anything, just stuck in my average world doing nothing. I'm really... oh my kidding... I can't go out and dazzle anyone. So, what's this catches, anyway?

Oh, wow, it is so late... Ehahhhh!?

Uh, sorry. Are you gonna be okay, there?

What did you do that for?!? You're psycho!?

Well, I'm kind of running away from somebody...

You there! Stop running around like that!

Sorry about that. Gotta go! (?)(?)!

(police man) What are you doing?! (?)(?) Walk on the sidewalk, you menace!

What a minute! Was that a kiddie ghost? Oh, check this out, Naru. You won't believe what happened to me yesterday.

Yeah? What was it?

Well, I was at the tracks , and...

All right! Let's take your seats, everyone! I got a new student to introduce you today.

Ah!

And that's not just any new student. She's come all the way from America, and transferred in to be with us this year. And so, why don't you go ahead introduce yourself?

Hey there, nice to meet you! Like the sensei said, I'm American from Princeton, New Jersey. My name is Hana N Fountainstand. And I absolutely love being in Japan! I'm so happy to be here. I really can't express it right. I wanna get you know every one of you as soon as I can, so don't be afraid to come and... Wha~!

What is she!?

Ah! I knew I was gonna find you but not as soon! Good to see you! I was hoping we meet up again! I'm here to take you away, just like you want it! By the way, you can call me Hana. But I gotta ask you one thing, remember what I said, we're gonna dance Yosakoi!

<eye catch> Crumple...

Yeah, I'll take you away. If that's what your heart is yearning for, then let's go to a new world. I'll take you to a world like nothing you've ever seen before! It's time! ...to tell you some for the pronto, because once you going my spaceship we're never coming back here!

Eh~~???

Let's ride the stars! Hehehehehehe~!

(Eek!) Get away from me! Such chasing me already I told you yesterday I didn't want to do it!

We got it dance Yosakoi!

Does she know her?

Yosakoi...

I-I can't, you okay?

Huh~!? Don't you remember I promised I was gonna take you away from all this? If you take just spare a moment of your time, and get the benefit!

No, thank you~~!!!! Huh!? Oh, hey, Tami!

So, what's wrong with them?

Are you okay?

You know her?

Oh no. It's gonna get rumors stalking along in the place!

Yo~sa~ko~i~! Hey! Come on, pig tales! Where do you run off to?

Well, somebody hasn't given up yet? Looks like you got a fan girl.

Awww...

So, have you told her your feel yet?

Don't funny, Yaya. I swear I'm gonna just die of my embarrassment before the day's over!

Hahaha! Ahh~! I guess I'd die too, after all that princely courting behavior! When you think about it, I don't think it'd be that bad for you. What was it, Yosakoi dancing?

Huh?

You know if you try it but you even like it, I think it's like dancing around and cosplay or something.

Huh!?

Can I have a little sip of that?

It's like everybody just has to keep on staring when she talks me...

Yeah, I guess being the some of attention isn't your thing. Even I think it's cute how easily you blush, though.

Ah! Well, I've got a ask you.

?

You think you could come with me when I tell her the interest now I know really don't want to? Is that okay?

... ! What?! I'm not gonna do that!

Come on! If you don't help me, she's gonna drag me out to the spaceship to who knows where!?

What spaceship? Being around itty-clingy people like that just stressed me out the world. And the girl already owes me to the pain she put me through at the tracks. Here's a but, go join the club or something, so you can just tell her you don't have the time, sounds like you've got anything else going on, right?

Ahhhh!!

(hana)Hey! C'mon! Pigtails! Let's Yosakoi already!

(yaya) (?)(?)

(naru) (?)(?) do it!

A club, huh? Of course, now what's coming back to me, I tried to join the club when I first got into the academy... But when I tried, I got intimidated by all the people there. I guess I wonder what, ...kind of, why if I would've had by took that step awhile back... On the other hand, I'm pretty happy that my life hasn't changed all that much. It's not like I've got a bad life, you know? But still... Is there something else I wanna do? Oh? Haaaahhh!? Whawhawhawha~!?

Hey there~!

How long have you been there looking at my skirt!?

I finally found you! And I'm not letting you out of my sight until you let me finish talking to you this time! It's time to come with me~!

Knock it off!

Huh?

Why... why can you just listen to me? And leave me alone. I'm sure there are lot of people who dance with you if you ask! Just stop interfering with the way I'm doing things.

Would you say so... didn't you have fun with me?

Huh?

And I don't know about you miss pigtails, but I really had a lot of fun when we dance the other night. And that's why I've been thinking... about you. And maybe we can just have fun again!

I... wish, I... Well, I just wish I... I wanted to change into someone who isn't plain like I am, but I've never be able to do it! Because I...

Hey, wow, I think they're fighting.

Huh!? What!?

Oh, I've seen that girl before.

Just stop bothering me, alright?

(two girls) Really? What is she(?)(?)... Let's go. Yeah.

Sorry, I bothered you.

Huh?

Sorry about that. I think I misunderstood what you wanted and got little pushy about it. But feel free to let me know if you wanna try it sometime. See you in class tomorrow.

Huh? Huh!?!? Huh!? There's no way I could do something like that!

Didn't you have fun with me?

Sneak...

What are you doing?

Eek!

Oh, aw, hey there~! It's not like I was sneaking around~!

Huh? Well, you got a give her the aim for at first, but who's gonna join a club with someone that creepy in it?

I'm telling you it's lots of fun!

Yeah, that's okay, really.

Hey, Naru! Do you think you could take out the trash? A band's got a lot of practice to get in...

Yeah, sure. You guys got a big audition coming up.

Yeah! Naru, I owe you one big time for this!

It's okey, Yaya. Just let me breathe, haha. Huh?

Huh?

...yosakoi with me! Yosakoi~, yosakoi~! Well, we'll have fun! (?)(?)

Ah, a little pest. Seriously, Naru, is she just gonna keep on rousing people until some hard luck who's joined up with her?

Yeah, she's busy...

I mean, look at the flier she made. She isn't gonna attract anyone like that? That might as well being crayon. Naru?

Yeah, you got a point, I guess. Alright. It's not like I'm joining her club. I'm just giving this back to her. That's it. It's not like I'm interested or anything. Ah!

? Oh, hey there. This is great! You really changed your mind after all!

Uh, no! It doesn't it, at all! I just came to give this back to you.

Awww, well, that's awfully nice of you. But you know what, I really like you to keep it, okay?

Huh?

If it got you even a little bit of interested in Yosakoi, I'll be really happy knowing what it did. Make it keep sake, 'kay?

Ah!

What's wrong?

How long are you gonna keep on doing this thingy? I don't think anyone's gonna come join your club, you know? And everyone around campus is...

I know.

Ah?

They can look at me funny all they want, but it's my dream to dance Yosakoi. Everyone else can go act like they've got better things to do. But it's valorous! I'm gonna keep on doing this until I find someone to dance with me. It was a while ago, my parents brought me to Japan on vacation when I was a little girl, and I saw Yosakoi for the first time, and I would never forget how colorful and powerful it was. I knew I wanted to dance with them someday... to be dazzling, like those dancers. Now that I'm back in my beloved Japan, I wanna do Yosakoi with everyone. You may know if I work hard, and make the dream I had is a little girl into reality. I knew it! That's why I can work it out all the time! To fight for a dream, that's enough to make me happy on its own.

I... really don't get you at all.

Ah...

I guess it's awesome, perhaps something you love like you do. But, some people in this world are just really empty like I am.

Well then, it looks like you owe it to yourself a lot of fun. Think about it: if your energy that's all to mean you've got lots of room to put a lot of happy stuff in. Thing's little fun, precious, painful...but mostly new and exciting!

B-But...

Oh, yeah! It's gonna be awesome! Just you wait! I told you before, "anyone can be dazzling if they try hard enough!"

I've got to say it.

Huh?

I really... had fun, too! ...When I danced with you, I had fun. I'll admit it, I really had fun with you!

Eh!?

For the first time, I thought maybe I could be dazzling, too! I really felt that way... Do you think I can just help you with the club!? ...like... a friend, who helps you out!? Huh? I mean it's not like I can dance in front of the people or anything yet, but I can help you find new members or something like that. I... can't...? Huh!?

Huh? You really want to help me out!? I'm so happy that you want to!

Huh!?

I finally made my first friend in Japan! But you got to tell me your name.

Huh? Naru. It's Naru Sekiya.

Naru... Wouldn't you really pretty name you have!? Let me ask you again, would you like to join me and doing Yosakoi, Naru?

Ah! Huh!? Wait! I'll help! I'm only helping you! Not dancing!

I've started to learn how to do Yosakoi!

I won't let you get away now, Naru! Tee-hee!

Oh, now I kinda wanna quit!

Oh no!

Next episode: Jealousy Rose.