3 (splash) What can I do... Haruto saw us? Where...? (dum dum dum dum) Could it have been... that time at work? What do I do... how do I explain this!? Can I just say... it's all a misunderstanding? That there's nothing between Asami-san and me? 4 (ka-chik) Hey, you're late. Ah... (duck) I can't... even meet her eyes... Minato-chan? 5 Oh, sorry. Iku just came over. Nice to meet you! Name's Iku!! (jab) V... very nice to meet you... Maya's told me all about you! The first girl she ever fell in love with... that's who she says you look like! Huh...? Let's not say anything we don't have to. Her first love? First I've heard of it... (piiiinch) Ouch! But seriously... 6 You really do have a thing for this type, huh Maya? Always been that way... the pure, unsullied type... the "Does this sort of girl even exist anymore?" type... (clench) I believe I told you to /shut it/. Ow! Ow! That hurts!! (Yes ma'am!) "Always"... You've got nobody to blame but yourself. These two... sure are close. (Te he!) Aaaagh! I'm very sorry! Well, no wonder. They've been together as music partners all these years. Come right in. Oh... no, I just stopped by to drop this off. 8 I'm headed home now. Minato? Huh? What? She's leaving already? What's that CD? Nothing to do with you, Iku. Gosh! Treating me like the odd one out! Well, that's what you are. 9 Could it be that girl's in love with you? You're not... /serious/ about her, are you, Maya? 10 No way. (splash) She said there was nothing between her and Iku-san... said they're just friends. So what? 11 They're music partners, so there's nothing strange about her coming to her house. And so? She said she didn't have a girlfriend. Am I... jealous? You can kiss Asami, but you can't kiss me? A misunderstanding? Nothing between us? 12 I've been rejecting Asami-san myself, whenever it's been convenient for me. Haruto, I'm sorry. I... 13 Marble Finance Japan If you fall in love with another woman Love Between Women Dispelling all of your doubts & worries! Pinned threads I fell in love with another girl... what do I do now? I only ever have romantic feelings toward other girls If I start dating another woman I need advice from someone who understands same-sex love (scroll scroll scroll) Eegh... Ooh, you're looking at some interesting stuff there. 14 Did you learn anything? I-... It's not what you think, okay!! Ah ha ha! No need to hide it. It is /our/ relationship we're talking about, after all. Asami-san! 15 16 Did you and Mase-san have a fight? You were acting a little strange when you stopped by my place the other day too. Oh... no, it's nothing. Since that day... Haruto has been totally ignoring me. I've wanted to speak to him so many times, but there's just no way to approach him. Should we throw a birthday party? What? 17 It's your birthday this week, right? How did you know that!? I know everything about you, Minato. Ehh... So why don't come over to my place? I'll treat you to some home cooking. Home cooking... You cook, Asami-san? Nope. Huh? I'm saying /despite/ that, I'm going to prepare a special homemade meal for you. So brace yourself. That... makes me a little uneasy... There's no need to worry! I /guarantee/ it'll be delicious! 18 Saying there's no need to worry just makes me /more/ suspicious... Peh! You just wait, I'll show you. I'm so happy! (I'll be looking forward to it!) I'm so happy... You're drinking too much, Mase-san! It's getting late, you should go home. What? I said I haven't had enough. 19 I came flying here right after work since you said you'd treat me... but you're already plastered! I'm little more than a babysitter! That fellow's been coming here every night lately. (Here, thanks for waiting) Huh? He's here drinking from 9 until the last train leaves. He'll wreck himself going on like this. Could you get him home early for me tonight? Every /night/!? What's going on, Mase-san!? (What on earth are you /doing/!?) Could this be... something to do with Minato? 20 I think... she's got somebody she likes. What? Come on, you're joking. This is /Minato/ we're talking about. I wish... I were joking. What am I supposed to do about this...? 21 There, all finished! Thanks so much, Kumi! I feel so refreshed! By the way, isn't it your birthday today? Oh!? You remembered? Of course I did! I'm your friend! That's why your haircut is on the house. Wow!! Thank you so much! So? Where are you headed, looking so snappy? Eh... Um, you know... just... nowhere... 22 Nowhere, huh? What, it's someplace you can't even tell /me/ about? No, it's not like that... I hid it by instinct... Here. Mase-san's been getting dead drunk at that bar every night. What? No doubt he's back again tonight, so before you go see that /other/ person, go to him. (press) Dead... drunk? /Haruto/? 23 Like I said, it's all night, every night. You didn't know? But he's been showing up to work like normal... there haven't been any problems there. And he hasn't /seemed/ so different... He's forcing himself. You're the reason he's doing this, right? I won't ask for all the details, but don't you think you'd better talk it out with him? Just playing dumb and running away isn't fair to anyone. I'm not running away... If you're not... 24 Then say it to his face, straight-out. I know this is hard for you too. Haruto's... forcing himself? Because of me? I need to... end all this. (thwump) Yowch! 25 Oogh... Sometimes you should just stick to what you know. Minato's... pretty late... One more, barkeep. Excuse me. We'll take the bill, please. 26 Minato? Let's go home, Haruto. Are you all right? Can you walk? Can't believe you drank yourself into this state... Foolish boy. (ka-chik) You have to get it together. (fwump) 27 You know how I feel, don't you? 28 Minato? I'm sorry. It's not the same. When I hold you like this, Haruto, my heart starts beating faster... but it's just not the same. 29 Not like when I'm with Asami-san. (whip) What do you think you're saying... Haruto, I'm telling you that... 30 I'm in love with Asami-san. 31 And I'm asking you, do you even understand what you're saying!? She's a /woman/! What do you expect to do!? I've thought it through many, many times. I put myself through so much anxiety because I wouldn't go the way my heart was trying to take me. But I'm not going to waver anymore. For my sake and yours, Haruto. 32 Let's take me out of this for a second. Tell me, is this... something you'll be able to say to your mother? 33 I planned to talk to her... sooner or later. But you can't, can you? You know you don't have it in you to tell her something like that. Incoming Call Asami-san (bzzzzz) (bzzz bzzz bzzz) (bzzzzz bzzzzz) 34 Hello? Minato? Hey, where are you?