3 4 Nope, not doing it. What? Not while you're making that face. Forcing myself on somebody who looks like she hates it isn't my idea of fun. So? What'd you come here for? What... 5 /did/ I come here for? Asami-san, you... have a girlfriend? Why do I feel the need to ask her this? Girlfriend? When I saw you out front of work. Hm? Ah, Iku? She's just a friend. It... really didn't look like that. You had your arms locked together... And... you called what we were doing "infidelity"... You came here just to ask me this? It really bothered you that much? (I-) I just... wondered if you didn't feel bad at all for your girlfriend! Doing what you did with me... 6 There's nothing between Iku and me. I don't have a girlfriend. I meant /your/ infidelity, Minato, running right to me when you've already got Mase-san. I turned down Haruto's proposal. Flatly. (Wow,) did you really? So you're serious about me? I feel so honored. That /wasn't/ what I meant!! My words, my actions, are all over the place. What am I even doing... I'm sick of it. Well, be that as it may... since you're here, why don't we try building a better relationship? What are you talking about? I won't try to eat you up or anything again, so rest easy. Ooh, right! Why don't you play a little piano for me? (Relax, relax!) I'm /really/ not in the mood for that right now!... 7 Well, you're certainly good, but... classical? Don't you know anything else? Like something more popular? Anything else? Sorry, I... really don't know much about any of that. How did I get roped into this? What a drag. (Ugh, I'm so bored...) (ka-jing) (I'm playing my heart out here! Don't call me a drag!) W... well if that's how it's going to be, I've got something up my sleeve too! I know I'm getting egged on, but I'm too stubborn...! Ooh? 8 (Huh!) That really is a pretty nice song. Yes! Positive reaction! Thank goodness... (phew) What's it called? This is a song my dad wrote. Your dad? Yes, apparently he was a composer... (WHAM) 9 The neighbors!? Was I playing too loud!? (Ah ha ha!) Don't worry, happens all the time. (They're going to punch through it someday) Eeegh! It's midnight already!? I have to leave, we've got work tomorrow. (What!?) Such a shame... I wanted to listen through to the end. Now that you mention it... isn't this a little unfair? Huh? Why am I the only one who has to play? What about you, Asami-san? You said you played a little yourself. (Didn't you?) Ahh, right... (clack) Here, then. Take this. 10 It's a CD from the indie group Iku and I put together in college. We disbanded, but Iku got a major label deal on her own. I still help out writing songs for her. (ba-dump ba-dump) That's why she always goes home right on time... (Midsummer Mercury Drop) So wait, they're pros!? Incredible... what is this?? Amazing! What a beautiful song! The lead singer is... Iku-san, with Asami-san on harmony? What gorgeous voices...! (Eeeegh!) Minato? 11 What are you doing out here? ! Oh, nothing! I was just about to head out for lunch... Ah, sorry about canceling so suddenly yesterday! We'll have to go some other time. Sorry, huh? I bet! I saw. You didn't go straight home at all. (flick) (Yow!) Where were you headed, that you even had to lie to me? I, uh... w- well... He saw me!? What do I do... Maybe I can just tell him straight-out where I went? I mean, it's Asami-san... She's our colleague... There's nothing... strange about it, right...? Did you stay out late? If you go out at night too much, you'll make your mother worry. And I'll worry, too. 12 She was with me. Come on, let's get lunch. We're short on time. Geez, what's with you two? You sure are close these days. 13 Yep. We are. A... Asami-san! You've been guarding over Minato like that pretty much her whole life, haven't you, Mase-san? Perhaps it's time to let her go so she can do what she likes? Wh... Hey! Asami-san! Did I... just get scolded? You didn't have to say it like that...! 14 How's a beef bowl sound? What? What's wrong? You're not eating? Um, no, I'm... (whirl whirl) just a little nervous... (whisper) Huh? I've never been in a restaurant like this before... What? It's just a beef bowl shop. Well, I know, but... 15 The truth is, I've never once in my life gone out at night or anything like that... You're kidding me. I'm not. All through school I would go home right after class was over to help out my mom. (Thanks for the meal) So, I think it's inevitable that Haruto would worry about me like that. Just how sheltered were you? That's really not how it was... Wait... whoa! Beef bowls are really good! (Amazing! You get this for 300 yen!? What a stunning development...) (You're the stunning development here...) 16 (Sighhh...) Since we're off tomorrow, I was going to invite you somewhere nice, but that's gotten hard... Well, guess you wouldn't be able to go anyway. You're a full-grown adult now, but we wouldn't want your mom getting mad at you... C- Could you please not make fun of me!? Am I wrong? Ah... She's... I... I'm going! You'd better believe I'm going! egging me on again!! 17 Live music... incredible... This is my favorite place. It's got a nice vibe, right? I'll go on myself and play guitar every now and then. Why don't you try, Minato? Play your dad's song from before. What! No, thank you, that's fine! (I couldn't!) No need to be shy. You played it at your own place, didn't you? Huh? The truth is, that was actually the second time I heard that song. Last year Mase-san was in charge of the year-end party, so we had it at your family's restaurant, right? I saw you playing it then. You don't remember? Oh. Now that you mention it... (It is kind of coming back to me... Asami-san was there, huh...?) Your father's something else, writing an amazing song like that. (I'm jealous) Ah... but, I don't really remember my father very well. My parents divorced when I was in third grade... 18 Oh, is that right? I'm sorry... Not at all. That song... was a present from my father to my mother and me. I don't know what caused the divorce, but I don't at all think he's a bad person. And whenever I play it, my mom's expression seems to get happier too. So I was very glad that you called it a nice song. Maya! 19 You're here!? Oh? Iku's not with you? She must be busy. I heard work's going well for her lately. ! Who's this? New girlfriend? N- no, that's not it! Girlfriend? So Asami-san's friends know about her... Ooh, you're not? You really don't /seem/ like friends, though. Suspicious! Eeegh! Eeegh! Eeegh! This is Shimada Minato, a younger colleague from work. She's sheltered, so don't give her too much excitement. W... wait a second! Please don't say it like that! Sheltered? It's rare that'd you bring along somebody from work, Maya. Sheltered girl! Since this is your first time here, come sing a song! What!? N- No, I can't do that! (I just /told/ you not to overexcite her...) It's just like karaoke! Will you play guitar, Maya? 20 What do you want to sing? I- I've never... done karaoke! Ehhhhhh!? Ah ha ha! You really are a rarity!! (A true, genuine sheltered princess!) Well, just try singing any song you know! What is this? What is this? Anything you learned in school? Hey, wait...! I mean it...! (Ah ha ha!) 1, 2, 3... (Little Miss Muffet! She sat on her tuffet!) Hey, you're good! What in the world am I doing!? (Eating her curds and whey!) (Go!) Sheltered girl, go! (Then along came a spider! Which sat down beside her!) Ah ha ha! (And frightened Miss Muffet...) (away!) 21 Minato's late again... She did send a message saying she was drinking with a friend, but... (Sighhhh) It's probably her senpai from work. So I'm sure you have nothing to worry about, auntie. I'm sorry, Haru-kun, dragging you into this too... I'll have to give her a talking-to when she gets back! No no... Minato's an adult now. You have to expect this much. You've been guarding over Minato her whole life. Perhaps it's time to let her go so she can do what she likes? You know, you're not wrong. 22 Are you worn-out? No, I'm fine... You're wobbling all over the place. Let's just sit here, we can call a cab. Eughh... I drank way too much... You have so many friends, Asami-san. That's great. What am I even doing with myself... Staying out this late. Getting so drunk. You think so? I'd say I'm pretty much average. Doing all these things I've never in my life done before. It's not average at all! Well, I guess the sheltered princess wouldn't know. Geeez, bringing /that/ up again...? (lurch) 23 Go ahead, you can lean on me. Enjoying myself so profoundly. You're... a bit of a playboy. Huh? 24 You probably go around surprise-assaulting lots of people like you did me. Are you stupid? If I did that, I wouldn't have any friends. Then why did you do it to me? Because I was fine with you hating me. 25 ...Huh? If I'd never done that... you never would've given a second thought to me, would you have? If I was just going to be some senpai that disappeared from your memories... If in the end I wasn't going to exist inside you at all, Minato... I'd much, much prefer that you hated me. 26 I just want my existence to stir you up somehow. Stir me up? Why? What does she care about me? 27 Just where is she taking me? And just where is it I want to go? 28 (SLIDE) I- I'm home! Guess it got pretty late, huh! You're /finally/ back? Where were you off wandering about? Haru-kun waited for you this whole time! Welcome back. Eh? Haruto, you were waiting? I was just here drinking, don't worry about it. You're in a good mood. Have fun? (ba-dump) Eh? Um... y... yeah... 29 It's fine if you're going to be late, but at least try to get home by midnight! Whether you're an adult or not, there are people who worry about you! I'm sorry, I'll be more careful! I'll take care of the cleaning, Mom, so you can go to bed. And buttering me up won't help! Come on, come on! (brrrr brrrr brrrr) 30 Asami Maya Good night, honey! Close / Show "Honey"...? And a heart? (What's with that?) 31 32 I wonder just what kind of life she's been living... /Shichi-go-san/ Day High School Entrance Ceremony Age 15