Hello?
Morning, Dattsun!
Were you still sleeping?
I was.
Geez, it's already five!
Wake up already!
Special training!
You promised to help me with it.
Ah, that's right.
Maeda Kazuya, 16 years old,
a second year student at Kouga Academy.
Because I got a camera from my dad last spring,
I joined a problematic photography club.
Now I lead an ordinary life, without any prospects of improvement,
but that was about to change.
For some reason,
I had promised to accompany my childhood friend Masaki Nonoka to her morning practice.
totte nante muboubi da ne?
「撮って!」なんて無防備だね
How reckless of me, asking you things like “Take one of me!”
haato no fookasu shittete
ハートのフォーカス知ってて
First learn how to focus on the heart.
shiboru, bokasu, nani shitemo
しぼる、ぼかす、何しても
Stopping down the lens, adding blur, and so on.
chikaku tooi nikurashiku itoshii
近く遠い憎らしく愛しい
Whether you're near or far, hating or loving,
shattaa de furete
シャッターで触れて
the shutter will capture everything.
kimi ni kisu wo suru koisuru renzu
君にキスをする 恋するレンズ
Kissing you, a love through the lens.
moshimo kyou wo zenbu wasuretemo daijoubu
もしも今日を全部忘れても大丈夫
Don't worry if you forget all of this today,
nanmankai mo mabatakinagara
何万回もまばたきながら
because we'll shoot pictures over and over again.
hohoemi ga kagayaki kiritotteoku yo
微笑みが輝き切り取っておくよ
I'll make sure to capture your dazzling smile.
Love's Letter of Challenge
There he is.
Morning, Dattsun!
The moment when only one of the endless possible realities becomes true.
It happened when Masaki Nonoka told me about her morning practice.
Morning, Dattsun!
Huh, Nonoka?
Morning.
Doing everything you can with your camera?
Yeah.
I've photographed a lot of different things around the school.
I see.
But there aren't that many people who want to model for me.
They instantly refuse when I ask them to do gravure style poses.
Hey, maybe I could do it.
Gravure style poses, right?
If you won't show them to anyone, I don't really mind.
Really?
In exchange, I have a request for you.
A request?
It was a request to be her special training partner.
Apparently Nonoka wants to learn to throw a riseball which won't lose to even the best schools.
Ninety-six! Ninety-seven! Ninety-eight!
Ninety-nine! A hundred!
I'm out.
I did one hundred!
You went all the way.
Well done!
Next, I want to practice pitching.
Pitching?
Lift your heels up and sit down like a sumo wrestler.
This is a pretty difficult position to keep.
Hey, isn't this squatting?
You were going to make me the catcher from the beginning!
Huh, you found out?
I feel like I was caught in a clever trap.
Don't worry about the small details.
Here it comes!
There!
Since Nonoka's going to model for me, I have to study up on my photography.
So white balance is important for making skin look good.
Who is it?
What are you doing here?
Camera, huh?
You said you're going to model for me,
so I have to study too.
Wow, you're serious, Dattsun!
Of course!
I'm as serious as you are about your riseball.
I see.
A few days after that,
something happened which tied our fates together indefinitely.
Crap, I'm late!
I'll just have to...
Jumping Nonoka Turn!
Eh...
Wha-
That hurt!
Are you okay, Dattsun?
Yeah, more or less.
How about you?
I'm fine.
I'm sorry, I didn't notice you!
Pay more attention!
Ow, my teeth hurt.
Did you hit your teeth?
Yeah, I did...
Which means...
We kissed, didn't we?
But I'm glad it was with you, Dattsun.
If I had really hated the person, I'd be crushed.
And then, the final blow.
Wow!
Niimi-san!
What are you sewing?
Ah, Maeda-kun!
Nono-chan's gym uniform bag.
It got torn earlier.
I was going to buy a new one, but...
There, it's done.
So cute!
It's perfect!
The leftover felt piece from home economics was just the right size.
Thank you, Haruru!
I'll treasure this!
"Niimi-san, you're good at sewing."
"It feels very girl-like," don't you think?
What's wrong?
I can't sew at all anyway!
I didn't say anything, did I?
Your eyes said more than enough.
Haruru, thanks a lot!
See you!
Yeah, see you!
See you, Nonoka.
Whatever!
And don't compare me to Haruru!
What was that about?
I've been waiting for you, Dattsun.
What did you want to tell me?
Will you accept this?
That's...
Love's Letter
of
Challenge
Love's Letter
of
Challenge
Love's Letter
of
Challenge
Love's Letter
of
Challenge
Love's Letter
of
Challenge
Love's Letter
of
Challenge
Love's Letter
of
Challenge
Love's Letter
of
Challenge
A letter of challenge!
L-Letter of challenge?
It's a match, Dattsun!
Huh?!
It's love's letter of challenge!
Come now, it'll be a splendid match!
I-I don't get it!
Dattsun, is your ideal woman someone like Haruru?
What's with you all of a sudden?
It's not sudden.
I've been looking at you since middle school, Dattsun.
So I know.
That's... I mean, guys are, you know,
weak to a girl's maidenly side.
You mean that's generally true?
Y-Yes!
All guys are like that!
So I have no chance whatsoever?
I'll say it, since you're a bit slow, Dattsun.
Dattsun, I love you.
Didn't you notice?
I've liked you ever since middle school.
I mean, we have fun together, don't we?
It's the best when you can talk to someone about anything.
But then there's Haruru.
Nonoka...
Giving up even though you had your first kiss with the person you love is too sad.
So take the challenge!
I want to become a girl you love!
Please tell me what I'm lacking!
What you're lacking...
From now on, if I do something that's far from your ideal woman,
point it out to me!
This is a match between you and me, Dattsun!
Nonoka...
Am I being selfish?
No, not at all.
Really?!
Will you have a match with me?
W-Wait a bit.
It's the first time anyone confessed to me.
What should I say?
Are you fine with me?
It has to be you, Dattsun!
Please, join the duel of love!
Got it.
I'll join.
The Duel of Love.
Really? Thanks!
Right!
I'll definitely win!
Sure!
Right.
It became summer.
Bring it on!
I didn't go along with Nonoka's morning practice and duel of love to get to photograph her,
But because I wanted to participate myself.
Something up?
Your skin is unexpectedly light.
I get that a lot.
But look, it's even lighter under here.
What's wrong?!
Don't ask me "what's wrong"!
You surprised me!
Uh, why?
You'd see that if I wore bloomers.
You aren't wearing them now!
Isn't it embarrassing to show what's under your shorts?
Love's Letter of Challenge
It's humility!
Love's Letter of Challenge
Learn about humility!
Oh no!
There is a limit to how spontaneous one can be!
Sob, I took a blow...
Thank you for the food!
Hold on a moment.
Are you going to eat both?
Of course!
Think about what that looks like.
Delicious, doesn't it?
That's not it!
That sight will turn guys away from you!
Love's Letter of Challenge
Oh no!
Sob, another blow.
Hey, Dattsun, I want a rematch right away!
Huh?
Talking about modelling...
I'll return a blow with my sexy poses!
Then the beach!
Let's go to the beach!
Wait for me here, I'm going to go change.
Okay!
I only had a sporty swimsuit,
but I thought that wouldn't do, so I bought a new one.
How is it?
It suits you really well.
Nonoka, thanks.
Thanks to you, I could take good photos.
Really?
That's great!
But I'll have to try to be even more daring.
Totally nude or only my hands covering my breasts...
Huh?
Daring photos, huh?
Is this a nude shoot or what?
Let us join that photo shoot of yours.
Dattsun.
Hold this.
What's with you?
Nonoka's doing her best for me.
I'll defend Nonoka no matter what!
Trying to play tough-
Nonoka, run!
O-Okay!
You bastard!
Wait, you little-
Sorry!
It's because I said those things.
Geez, what kind of gravure did you look at?
I don't want to photograph you like that.
In all the photos I took, you have your own pleasant expression.
That's plenty for me.
Dattsun...
You're really kind, aren't you, Dattsun?
You think about my feelings.
But my feelings won't be settled like this.
How about this?
A hand bra...
That next semester...
Her riseball was just one step from perfection.
Why only me?
Don't touch!
Uchida
Don't touch!
Uchida
Don't touch!
Uchida
Don't touch!
Uchida
Crap!
I'll have to apologize to Uchida...
Why is this here?
She can't possibly...
As expected from the ace!
Are you sure you want to skip class here?
Kind of.
I felt like taking today off.
What's wrong?
You seem kind of down.
Yeah, a little.
When will we have our next special training?
I'm looking forward to it.
Perfecting your riseball.
Dattsun...
You're acting kind of strange.
I think so myself, too.
I mean, I don't want to perfect the riseball.
What do you mean?
I want it to be perfect for the team and for myself,
but when I perfect it, the special training will be over...
And when it ends, I won't be with you anymore, Dattsun.
Well, I had a lot of fun this summer.
With the special training and the duel of love, which I honestly didn't get at first.
Yeah, I had fun too.
I took good photographs too.
I think we made some good memories.
Yeah.
I don't really know how I should say it,
but even when the riseball is perfected, our memories won't disappear.
It doesn't mean we have to return to how we were before.
Let's do something else together.
Dattsun...
Would you let me photograph you pitch?
Now?
Yeah.
All I was doing was catching the ball,
so I don't even have any photos of you throwing it.
But I'm wearing my school uniform.
I don't have a ball either.
It's fine!
Okay, throw it seriously!
Throw a riseball with everything you have!
Okay, I got it.
That's when it happened.
It's floating?!
Awesome!
You did it, Nonoka!
Yeah, thanks, Dattsun!
And so our special training ended.
Kouga Academy Cultural Festival
Autumn came shortly after that.
Kouga Academy Cultural Festival
I asked Nonoka to come see me.
Do you want to know the results?
Uhh, yeah, well..
I'm nervous.
Nonoka.
Yes?
I was defeated.
Your charm defeated me.
You're always cheerful, bright,
and thinking about me all the time.
I wonder why I didn't realise that you're such a wonderful girl.
Dattsun!
I, well...
I also...
...love you!
I love you!
Really?
You're not lying?
This isn't a dream?
It's true.
It's not a lie nor a dream.
Because I love you!
Dattsun...
...said that he loves me!
Nonoka!
I met you and started talking with you in middle school.
I was interested in you, and I was always looking at you.
Nonoka, you're such a wonderful girl.
You're almost too good for me.
I was continuously beaten in the duel of love.
Eh?
Whenever I was able to touch your unpretentious heart,
it pulled me towards you.
And I started liking you more than anyone else.
I love you, Nonoka!
I'm happy, I'm too happy!
I love you!
Ever since then, every day's been like a dream.
I'm glad my feelings reached him.
I'm glad he fell in love with me.
Even though we devote ourselves to different things, softball and photography,
we'll do our best to tackle them together.
Thank you!
You gave me a ton of strength.
I'm thankful.
And I love you so, so, so much!
kokoro no oto karuku kizamu rizumu
ココロの音軽く刻むリズム
The sound of my heart beats a gentle rhythm,
azayaka na iro kimi wo terashiyureru
鮮やかな色君を照らしゆれる
shining upon you in bright colours.
kurayami no naka tesaguri de aruku
暗闇の中手探りで歩く
As we felt our way through the darkness,
fuan wa fushigi to kieteku
不安は不思議と消えてく
our anxiety disappeared mysteriously.
shunkan saku sutorobo
瞬間咲くストロボ
A strobe light will show your chance.
te wo totte hoho ni furete
手を取って頬に触れて
As I take hold of your hand and touch you cheeks,
setsunakute ureshiku natte
切なくて嬉しくなって
I become miserable yet joyful.
sekai wa konna ni mo
世界はこんなにも
I couldn't believe the world
suteki ni kagayaku yo
素敵に輝くよ
could shine this brightly.
suki datte ienakutatte
好きだって言えなくたって
Even if I can't say I love you,
kimi no soba de kanjiru kara
君のそばで感じるから
I can feel it by your side.
sukoshi no yuuki ga
少しの勇気が
And I continue forth as I hold on
mikansei no mama kakenuketeku
未完成のまま駆け抜けてく
to this unfinished little piece of courage.
Preview
Sakura Mai.
A rhythmic gymnastic angel pursuing beauty with her flexible arms and legs.
Born 30 November. Sagittarius, blood type A.
Her bust is developing, but shows no sign of actually growing in size.
Hips somewhat on the smaller side.
Long story short, a childlike figure.
Maeda, only you can turn that blossom into a blooming flower!
Photograph all of the angel!
Angelic erotica!
Next Time
The Dance of an Angel
All guys like leotards.