Starting today, I'm a second year.
The walk to school is the same as it always is.
When I swing by the convenience store,
the clerk gets startled like she always does.
Achoo!
When I sneeze, the people around me show their surprise at my existence with their piercing stares.
Even though I moved up a grade,
I can't say my world has changed one bit.
I'm just as invisible as ever.
The new school year means a class change.
A new class makes your heart race,
and before entering the classroom, you might take a few deep breaths.
At least, that's what I gather.
Even though my class is changing, that basically changes nothing for me.
Like always, no one will notice me, talk to me, or look for me.
Look!
I can't see…
Class 2-1
Junta Shiraishi
Yuma Sudo
Class 2-1, huh?
Seating Chart
Where's my seat?
Tamao Taira
Hazuki Kudo
Shiraishi-kun, your seat
is in the very back by the window.
Lucky!
It's like you're a main character.
Good morning, Shiraishi-kun.
G-Good morning.
We're in the same class.
Despite the class change, Kubo-san found me.
Please, just for a moment
Let the time freeze
When did it start?
I cannot remember
Who actually cares?
"It doesn't matter"
Laughing or shedding tears
Whenever we realized
Or too persistent to take in sometime
Ready? And go as the traffic light changes (As we are)
No words needed (as far as we can be)
we can surely make it
Even if it wasn't dramatic
Even if it was boring and I was moaning
I'll remember this day
When? I don't know
I don't need no romantic words
I just want one thing
Let the time freeze
Just for a moment...
The words fell
This is surprising, isn't it?
Episode 9: New School Year and Class Change
I thought the teacher would assign seats based on our roll call numbers,
but they aren't organized that way on the seating chart.
Seating Chart
Junta Shiraishi Nagisa Kubo
Tamao Taira
Hazuki Kudo
You thought seats would be based on roll call numbers, didn't ya?
Surprise!
Our teacher and his shenanigans!
Y-Yeah.
Ah, Nagisa!
Kubocchi!
Hazuki! Tama!
I'm so glad we're in the same class!
Same!
This is awesome!
All right, I got a question for you, Shiraishi-kun.
Huh?
Where is my seat?
I only looked for my se-
I'll give you a hint.
It's the seat you just looked at.
I wasn't looking at anything.
Then I'll give you a bonus hint.
The bunny pouch.
The seat beside mine?
Correct!
We're seat neighbors for another year.
Wait, no. Third years don't have a class change.
We're neighbors until graduation.
Yep, we are.
Hmm? Why're you looking over there?
The sky is just so pretty.
It really is!
No one notices me, talks to me, or looks for me. Such is my life.
But Kubo-san finds me.
She tells me good morning.
So many things I could've never imagined happen when I'm with Kubo-san.
Anyway, what I'm saying is…
Let's have loads of fun as second years!
Yeah.
Why are you surprised?
Well…
I never thought of school as something that's fun.
It's nothing.
What, I wanna know!
I was surprised by the words that came out of my own mouth.
But Kubo-san would laugh if I told her, so I'm keeping it to myself.
Okay,
let's celebrate how lucky we were to end up in the same class!
Let's have a great year together!
Yeah!
Let's enjoy every day together again!
Yeah, for sure!
I was seriously wondering what I'd do if I was the only one in a different class.
Yeah. But it's such a relief we all ended up in the same class.
Speaking of which, what about Shiraishi?
I guess he's in a different class.
He's in our class.
He was?! I didn't notice him!
As usual, Nagisa has mad Shiraishi spotting skills.
It's because we're seat neighbors.
Well, I'm not sure I'd notice him even if he was sitting next to me.
Same.
Oh, really?
Anyway, we get to have a blast together all the way until graduation!
Do you only think about having fun?
C'mon, let's have a ball! M'kay?
All right, all right.
Yay! Awesome!
I'm home!
Oh, you're home.
Welcome back!
How was the first day of the new school year?
Hazuki and Tama are in the same class as me.
That's wonderful!
Uh-huh.
And? What about that boy? Is he in your class too?
Huh? Shiraishi-kun? Why do you ask?
Because he's one of the three kiddos I know. So is he?
We're in the same class.
That's great, isn't it?
Not really.
There you go again!
Okay! Today we're choosing everyone's student committees!
Student committees, huh?
Hey.
Which committee are you choosing?
Me? I guess whatever's left over.
Whatever's left over?
Well, even if I raise my hand, the teacher won't call on me.
Ah…
There isn't a committee I'm interested in, anyway. I'm cool with whatever.
Hmm.
Last year you were in the Environmental Committee, right?
You took care of the flower beds.
You're perceptive.
I noticed!
The flower beds that don't have weeds despite no one taking care of them
became one of the school's seven wonders.
One of the school's seven wonders?!
Why don't the flowers wither even though no one's been tending to them?
It's truly a mystery!
I-Is that so?
Do you like the Environmental Committee?
Well, not in particular.
Doing stuff like watering flowers, pulling weeds, and picking up litter is a drag.
But…
I did feel fulfilled when the flowers I took care of bloomed.
Hey, look! The flowers are blooming!
They're so pretty!
I'm invisible and rarely noticed by others.
Maybe that's why I remember feeling so happy that everyone noticed and admired my blooming flowers.
Ah, they're so lovely!
They are!
Even if I wanted to be in that committee again, I won't have a say in the matter.
All right, next up, who wants to be in the Environmental Committee?
I'm the advisor for this committee, by the way!
Being on that committee's a pain in the neck.
Pulling weeds and watering flowers kinda cuts into your break time.
I do!
Oh!
So you want to join the Environmental Committee, huh?
It felt like my heart was breaking when no one raised their hand.
Does anyone else want to join?
There is some manual labor involved, so it would be nice if a boy would join.
Kubo-san wanted to join the Environmental Committee.
I didn't see that coming.
Oh, sir.
Shiraishi-kun also raised his hand.
You don't care which one you join, right?
Huh?
Is that right,
Shiraishi?
I apologize for not noticing you raised your hand!
Uh, ah…
Kubo-sa...
Come to think of it, you were on the committee last year too.
The flower beds were always lovely thanks to you.
I'm counting on you this year too.
Yes, sir.
All right. It seems like no one else wants to join,
so these two will make up our Environmental Committee.
You look happy.
You wanted to be on the Environmental Committee?
Hmm,
I was meh on it.
Oh?
But…
Wh-What?
Didn't you put your socks on inside out the other day too?
I overslept and had to hurry!
Have you tried the new chocolate melon bread that came out recently?
I haven't tried it yet!
They sold out stupid fast!
Snagging one is a real battle!
Hey, look! The flowers are blooming!
They're so pretty!
Shiraishi-kun takes care of that flower bed.
I kinda liked the idea of it.
That's unusual. Most people think it's a sucky committee.
Oh, but you're more experienced with the committee's duties,
so teach me all the ins and outs, senpai.
Sen-
Environmental
Committee:
2 members
Shiraishi Kubo
I'm happy
You're on a committee with a girl? Lucky!
There are only dudes on the Athletics Committee.
Speaking of committees, Kubo-san is on the Environmental Committee, right?
Taking care of flowers and whatnot really suits her.
Oh, who was the other person again?
Um, Shiraishi, right?
Ah, Shiraishi. He probably joined because Kubo-san did.
Yeah, that seems likely.
I'm not surprised those guys think that.
Sorry about that.
Kubo-san?
I'm the one who voluntold you.
True that.
Hey, what do you think, Sudo?
Shiraishi was on the Environmental Committee last year too.
He probably just wanted to do it again, right?
What? Someone actually wants to be on that craptastic committee?
The teacher complimented his flower beds, and he seems to have a green thumb, so what's the big deal?
That reminds me, you were on the Environmental Committee last year too, right?
Didn't your flower beds die?
I thought I took good care of them.
Sudo's a plant murderer.
Can it.
You just thought, "Someone remembered I was on the Environmental Committee," didn't ya?
Kubo-san, get out of my head!
Have you ever talked to Sudo-kun?
No, I haven't.
Hmm, gotcha, gotcha.
Wh-What?
Nothing.
Our next class is in another room, so I'm going on ahead.
Okay.
Sudo-kun, huh?
Is this the first science lab of the year?
I wonder who will be in my group.
Science Lab
Kubo-san and Sudo-kun are in my group.
We have a few things to go over for our lab today before we begin.
Open your notebooks and textbooks!
Uh, the chemical formula…
Oh. I wrote that down wrong.
It's gone.
Did he forget to bring an eraser?
What should I do?
I brought five erasers with me today.
But I've never talked to him before.
Well, he must be able to see me since we're right beside each other.
I made eye contact with Ku-
She's totally plotting something!
Woah! Shiraishi-kun, you have a ton of erasers!
How many do you got?
Uh, ah… Um, five. The teacher said we'd have a quiz,
so I brought extra.
What's with you?
You really came overprepared.
Sudo-kun is laughing.
Hey, Shiraishi. Lend me one of your erasers. I forgot mine.
Oh, s-sure!
Thanks.
You know, I've been meaning to talk to you.
To me?
Yeah.
I looked after the flower beds last year too,
but nothing I did turned out any good.
Your flower beds were absolutely beautiful,
so I wanted to ask you what your secret is.
Is Junta Shiraishi here?
Well, I haven't seen him today.
Is Shiraishi here today?
I haven't seen him.
Ah, Sudo. I spotted Shiraishi yesterday.
Have you seen him today?
Nope.
In the end, I didn't see him once the entire year.
I couldn't find you.
S-Sorry.
So why did you bring five erasers?
Well, I…
Why did I?
What? You're a funny guy.
Sudo-kun is a swell dude.
I'm glad you two got to chat.
Thanks, Kubo-san.
For what?
That was the first time I've been able to enjoy talking with another person at school besides you.
Kubo-san?
I forgot something. You go on ahead.
Okay, gotcha.
He enjoys talking to me…
Chemistry
He caught me off guard.
I'm a bit thirsty.
I'll get something to drink.
Youthful
Lemon
That reminds me, water often gets left off nutrition labels.
I lowkey relate to water being overlooked even though it's undeniably there.
Well, that has nothing to do with whether I'll buy some or not.
Oh.
Youthful
Lemon
A new flavor is out. Lemon, huh?
I can't resist trying out new flavors.
Cold
Oh!
Cold
Found ya, Shiraishi-kun!
Oh…
Water!
Sorry.
Nah, it's all right.
She doesn't seem sorry.
I wanted to buy that new flavor.
New flavor?
This "Youthful Lemon" flavor?
Youthful
Lemon
Yeah.
Oh…
Why is youth lemon flavored?
I feel like youth's flavor would depend on the person.
Definitely.
Hey.
What flavor do you think your youth would be?
Um…
I'd have to think about it.
Aww, c'mon!
My life is a far cry from a fulfilling youth,
so there's no way it'd be lemon.
Mine would be like water.
Like water?
She laughed!
So…
You can be anything you want.
You can be bubbly like a carbonated drink, refreshing like a sports drink, or fruit flavored.
And there are so many other possibilities.
It's tough to decide since you're so spoiled for choice.
I can be anything?
I hadn't thought of it that way.
But I wonder how you'd get that classic lemon flavor.
I dunno, but…
I have a feeling you'd need a life that's, like, completely different from mine. I guess…
Shiraishi-kun is staring off into the distance!
Hmm. So you think you'd need a fulfilling youth, right?
For starters, you'd have friends.
You'd have fun at social events and stuff.
Oh! They say your first kiss tastes like lemon, so maybe it has something to do with that?
What do you think?
Shiraishi-kun?!
The more I hear, the more I think that's out of my reach.
I don't even have friends.
Huh?
What about me?
Kubo-san, are we friends?
Kubo-sa...
Oh!
I-I'm sorry.
So I can consider you my friend?
I already thought of us as friends.
Friends…
That sounds fulfilling to me.
Friends, huh?
The school's shadow glows a dark red
I haven't reached the end of my youth
I've experienced a little bit of it, but it'll be over soon
Along with the smiles you give me
It's beautiful
Is it okay to call this a miracle?
I love, love, love these days
But they won't last forever, so I tightly hold on to them
Because we're kids and our spring has just begun
Let's move forward, forward forward, one step at a time
Now, a firm wind faintly blows
I hope our time together at least colors the world a little
What kind of canvas will we paint? What kind of future will we have?
I don't know, but I want to believe
We'll definitely smile and wave at each other
We look forward to tomorrow a little
When we say, "See you later" to each other
With the season's quick passing, our words repeat
Please, please may we be happy!