The girl who sits next to me, Aharen-san...
has trouble gauging distance when it comes to people.
Aharen-san and I are also...
going out.
Aharen-san.
We're second-years starting today, huh?
And we're neighbors again. Let's make it a good year.
Episode One A Transfer Student, Huh?
Now, that said...
There's no telling what kinds of people our new classmates are.
There could be someone frightening who tries to become boss of the class.
An attention-seeker who's always trying to be the center of conversation.
Someone willing to sabotage others to be top of the class...
A bookworm!
We have no idea who we might encounter.
But even so...
Aharen-san, I promise to protect you!
Hey, Raido.
You two are still seatmates?
Ishikawa.
Sato-san.
We're all in the same class again!
Looks that way. Let's make it a good year.
Plus, Oshiro-san is in our class this year, too!
Th-Thank you for having me.
But...
the fact that you won't be appearing from windows or the ceiling anymore
makes things a little boring.
You might have a point!
It's great that we're all in the same class, huh?
As of today, I shall be your homeroom teacher.
My name is Tobaru. It's nice to have you all with me.
My first-ever homeroom class...
I need to stay on my toes.
And my premier, most pressing problem...
is that those two are in my class.
They've bowled me over so many times before.
I must be especially wary with them.
I even hear that they've started dating...
If I glimpse them, their relationship in full bloom, too close together...
No, no.
I am more sensitive to the esteem of such things than most people.
Getting overwhelmed by my imagination paints a grim future.
Be strong! I must grow strong!
Since it's the first day of the school year, I'd like to explain our overall schedule.
Can I sit next to you for today's class?
The person in front of me is so big, I can't see the blackboard.
Let's do the thing again. It's been a while.
You should be able to see now.
The athletics festival will be in June.
My esteem sense is tingling!
I... must have imagined it.
The guy in front of you realized what was going on and switched seats.
Thank you.
Aharen-san, we need to move to a different classroom.
You'll be late if you don't wake up.
You leave me no choice.
I'll carry you, Aharen-san.
She's always been pretty sleepy...
But passing out the first day of school?
Usually, both animals and insects come out of their hibernation in spring.
Maybe with the new season...
Aharen-san will enter a growth period.
The lethargic way she moves and quiet way she talks...
She must've been storing up her energy!
Over the last year, maybe she's been in a state similar to hibernation.
And now, when she's roused from her deep slumber...
it'll be the birth of Ultimate Aharen-san!
FINAL
FORM
If I'm going to be going out with her, I need to be reborn, too!
Aharen-san, you're finally awake.
I'll have to evolve if—
Thanks for carrying me.
Nah, it was nothing. Don't mention it.
These two are still like peas in a pod, aren't they?
That was an esteem warning!
Do you mind if we join you?
Oh, please. Go ahead.
I made sure to get up early today to make the meatballs you like, Raido-kun.
That explains why you're so tired.
Thank you, Aharen-san. I appreciate it.
I made too many, though.
That's okay. Your meatballs are delicious.
If you can't eat them all...
Nah. Since you went to the trouble of making them, I will.
Red alert!
Not good! A thunderbolt of esteem!
Gosh! Let's eat inside so we don't have to worry about that.
These are great, but maybe we could slow down...
Shirorin!
It's time for our last homeroom of the day.
Are you cold?
I guess it is cooler than it was this morning.
Today was trying.
We had a few close calls, though nothing happened.
Which tells me the two of them know how to show some restraint.
This should warm you up.
What the—?!
Are they imagining they've been stranded in a cabin on a snowy mountain?!
This is just...
Th-That concludes class for today.
H-Have a good day, every—
Tobaru-sensei?!
Oh, esteemed destiny!
Morning!
Good morning, Raido-kun, Aharen-san.
Good morning.
Have you heard? We're getting a transfer student today.
Huh. I wonder what they're like.
Okay, everyone, be seated.
All right, come on in.
'Kay!
How's everybody doing?
I'm Tamanaha Riku! Glad to be joining you!
That desk is open, so take a seat there.
'Kay!
We don't really have a lot of kids like her at our school, huh?
Nope.
How's it going? Let's be good neighbors.
Oh no, Aharen-san!
This is a little too much of a baptism for a transfer student on her first day!
It's a staredown!
I guess Aharen-san's style is to act a punk when meeting a punk.
I'm Aharen Reina.
Nice to meet you.
Just a normal introduction, huh?
Likewise! Nice to meet you!
Say, Aharen-san,
you are just the cutest, y'know?!
Something about you makes me wanna baby you!
I dunno what you mean...
Oh, come on! I bet you get that all the time.
Tamanaha-san.
Please quiet down.
Okay, Sensei!
Shirorin!
Another day done.
Okay. Well then, Aharen-san—
Aha-chan, Aha-chan!
School's over, so let's go hang out!
Okay. Sure.
Awesome! I'm so glad!
Can Raido-kun come—
Let's get this show on the road!
I'll carry your bag, okay?
What should we do? Maybe get something to drink?
Aharen-san... has been kidnapped!
This is bad!
It'll be a showdown!
A punk transfer student, hoping to duel the local boss
and establish the power hierarchy...
I had better save her!
That looks so good!
There they are!
I've never had one of these before!
Not gonna snap any pics, Aha-chan?
My battery's dead.
Did you get the large?
That's pretty big!
As peaceful as this seems, there could be a hostile undercurrent.
It happens all the time in suspense dramas.
These are great, right?
You look so cute drinking yours, too!
Wait, is this...?
It's one of those scenes out of a Western.
Whoever throws in the towel first loses!
That sure was tasty!
Oh, hey, there's somewhere else I want to go!
Don't tell me she's dragging Aharen-san to where her fellow punks are waiting!
This the shrimp that you've got your eye on?
Yep! Take her down a peg.
Squee!
How cute!
A photo booth, huh?
Well, it's getting late...
I say we call it a day.
Okay, see ya tomorrow!
Aharen-san.
Was everything okay?
I had fun.
That's good, then.
But...
I'm worried...
Things might turn out like they did before.
I'm kind of scared.
I bet it'll be fine.
You're not the same person you were, Aharen-san.
Tamanaha
I can't believe it! I just can't!
I was so happy, I was acting weird!
I hope she was cool with it.
And I hope we can...
be friends like we used to, Aha-chan.
Good morning.
Morning. Th-Thanks for yesterday.
Aharen-san?
What's up? You're spacing out.
Is it about Tamanaha-san?
Come to think of it, she's been quiet compared to yesterday.
Did something happen yesterday?
I remembered...
when a friend ditched me before, and I started to get nervous.
I might've come off a little aloof.
Did you mind hanging out with her yesterday?
Nuh-uh.
I never mind when you get up close and personal with me, Aharen-san.
Anyone can get the wrong idea sometimes.
If you talk to her, I'm sure she'll understand.
Okay.
See you tomorrow, okay, Aharen-san?
Whoa, whoa! A-Aharen-san?
You took me all over yesterday.
So it's my turn today.
Is that okay?
S-Sure!
Th-Thanks.
I-I'm over the moon!
But keep it together, girl! I've gotta calm down!
Shirorin!
You okay?
Yeah, sure am!
I had a lot of fun going places with you yesterday.
But there was once, this friend of mine...
I got too close with her too suddenly...
And she left me.
I've been scared to make friends ever since.
If I did anything to upset you yesterday, I'm sorry.
I-I should be the one apologizing.
The truth is, I... When we were in elementary school,
we were in the same class, and I sat next to you...
Hakukaren Elementary
This is our new student, Tamanaha-san.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, too.
She doesn't seem too friendly.
But I'm bad at making friends anyway...
Huh? Huh?!
I forgot my notebook! What do I do?!
We can read it together if you forgot, Tama-chan.
Thank you so much!
Um, your name's Aharen-san, so...
Can I call you Aha-chan?
This is great! A friend! I've got a friend!
I was so happy that you were nice to me...
Aha-chan! Let's eat lunch together!
Let's walk home together!
Let's play together!
We can do this!
We can do that!
Let's go over there!
And eat these!
Aha-chan!
Aha...
I wore you out dragging you all over the place like that...
S-Sorry!
I thought you were upset with me.
I was so scared... so I started avoiding you.
And the thought of becoming friends again... made me wanna act like a stranger.
I had no idea it bothered you so much.
Aharen-san, I'm sorry!
It's okay.
I had fun yesterday, and back then, too.
You did? You mean... you remember me?
I'm glad it was just a misunderstanding.
Thank you, Tama-chan.
I had fun too, Aha-chan!
I'm sorry I pretended I didn't know you!
It's okay.
Yesterday was so much fun!
Maybe I'll ask her out again today.
U-Um, Tamanaha-san?
It's good to see you again. How have you been?
Y-Yeah! I'm... super great.
Who is she again?
Since it's been so long, why don't we get something to drink and catch up?
Oh, uh, sure, awesome.
I change schools so often, maybe I forgot...
But she seems to recognize me.
Who're you?
That'd be way too rude!
Maybe it's that girl? Or that one...
I've gotta talk to her without letting on and try to remember!
Sweet! Now I'll get to see her name.
Welcome
Guests will be served in order of arrival, so please write down your name
Name
Party Size
Tanaka
Yamamoto
Takeshi
"Takeshi"?
Oh, sorry, that's habit.
Using my real name... just makes me so anxious.
Oh, everybody does that!
What are you, a ninja? One of those modern-day ninjas?!
Shirorin!
I-I'd like something from the drink bar.
I'll have some ramen.
Sure thing.
If only I knew her name...
So, I was wondering...
Is something bothering you, Tamanaha-san?
Is she onto me?!
She's pissed!
Don't move, okay, Tamanaha-san?
Shirorin!
That was a close one!
Sorry, you were about to say something...
I-I'm sorry! Did I scare you?
It's not that!
I... can't remember your name!
I'm sorry!
Oh, that's what it was.
I'm Oshiro. Oshiro Mitsuki.
We were in the same class in sixth grade. Along with Reina-chan.
Oshiro-san, I'm so sorry!
It's okay! We haven't met since elementary school.
Don't cry.
I still don't remember her, even with the name!
I'm sorry, Oshiro-san!
Wait, now I remember!
I really am the worst...
This is just too, too much!
I'm glad you cleared things up with Tamanaha-san.
Yeah.
Aharen-san! Raido-kun!
It's nice to all eat together for a change!
A-Are you sure about letting me join you?
Sure. Food tastes better with company.
Right, Reina-chan?
Who the heck are you?!
Some classmate?!
Aha-chan's been my friend since grade school, I'll have you know!
Well, she and I are going out.
You're going out?
H-He's her boyfriend?
My name is Raido—
I'm so sorry!
Whoa, hold—
T-Tamanaha-san?
What got into her?
Not only did I assume her boyfriend was just another classmate,
but I bragged about how close we are! How rude can I get?!
I'm embarrassed to death!
Next Time
Kinda Grainy, Huh?