Everyone, pair up.
I don't feel well.
Can I just play off the wall?
I'll get in the way otherwise.
Perfect execution.
A technique I've mastered over my long, lonely life.
My solution to "pairing up with a friend".
The double whammy of "I don't feel well" and "I'd just get in the way"…
There's a remarkable synergy between the two phrases,
casually showing everyone that you have only motivation.
Someday, I'll teach this to Zaimokuza.
That serve just now was mind-blowing!
You're exaggerating.
I just happened to slice it a bit.
That's all.
That was a demon lord's serve!
Hayato-kun, you're superhuman!
I've got to give this a shot!
Coming up, Demon's Slice Serve!
Sorry!
Um... Hi... Hikitani-kun?
Could you get that for me?
Who are you calling, "Hikitani-kun"?
Thanks, Hikitani-kun!
Why did I nod?
I unconsciously placed Hayama above myself.
It's demeaning for me to have done this.
With my mood getting worse, I returned to the wall.
Walls are an indispensable part of youth.
hi no michiru kono heya sotto toki o matsu yo
陽の満ちるこの部屋 そっとトキを待つよ
Within this gleaming, sunlit room, I lazily watch as time flows by
kizukeba ukande nagameteru hako
気づけば俯瞰で眺めてる箱
By the time I notice, I'm looking down from above
onaji mesen wa naku
同じ目線は無く
But no one else looks at where I am
itsushika kokoro wa hakushoku futoumei
いつしか心は白色不透明
Too fast to stop, my heart had turned a solid white and all opaque
yuki ni ochita hikari mo chiru
雪に落ち た光も散る
It drops into the snow, scattering its radiance
kumo kara koboreru tsumetai ame
雲からこぼれる冷たい雨
Frigid rain plummets down from stormy clouds above
me o harasu no wa tooi harukaze dake
目を晴らすのは遠い春風だけ
My eyes will only open for distant spring breezes
azarea o sakasete atatakai niwa made
アザレアを咲かせて 暖かい庭まで
Watch as we bloom azaleas all across the warm garden
tsuredashite tsuredashite nante ne
連れ出して 連れ出して なんてね
Take me away, take me away, I'm just kidding
shiawase dake kaita otogibanashi nante nai
幸せだけ描いた お伽話なんてない
There's no such thing as fairy tales where everyone's always happy
wakatteru wakatteru soredemo ne
わかってる わかってる それでもね
I understand, I understand, but even then...
soko e ikitai no
そこへ行きたいの
I wish I could get there someday
Eating lunch in the "best place" is true serenity.
At this school, just off the coast,
the wind's direction changes near the end of lunch.
The salty sea breeze that came in during the morning,
as if returning home, blows back off the land.
Things aren't half bad like this.
Is that you, Hikkii?
Hm?
What are you doing here?
This is where I usually eat lunch.
Really? Why?
What's wrong with eating in the classroom?
God, just take a hint.
Never mind that. Why are you here?
Well...
Just now, I was playing a game with Yukinon and lost with rock.
It was a "punishment game".
Was talking to me the punishment?
N-No, no!
The punishment was that the loser had to buy juice.
Oh, what a relief.
I was about to kill myself.
At first, Yukinon was all, "One should procure their own food for themselves."
"The meagre act of satisfying one's lust for conquest…"
"Where is the joy in that?"
She sounded so bitter!
Yup, that sounds like her.
For sure.
But when she got to, "Do you lack confidence?", I zoned out.
Definitely her.
Somehow, even though I'd been doing what everyone else did,
this punishment game is the first time I've really had fun.
"Everyone"? You must live to fit in with others.
What a killjoy.
Do you hate stuff like that?
You should know I hate being "in" and having little in side jokes.
Though, I do like internal strife.
Because I'm not in any groups.
You might say that, Hikkii, but you and Yukinon sound like a group when you're together.
I feel like I don't belong sometimes.
Yukinoshita is different.
She's an unstoppable force.
What do you mean?
Whatever you do, she'll render it meaningless.
I'm sorry for using big words.
That's not it!
I know what "unstoppable" means!
You always act like I'm stupid!
I did at least pass the entrance exam for Soubu High!
Ow!
Hey, speaking of the entrance exam,
do you remember the day of our entrance ceremony?
No.
I was tied up with a traffic accident that day.
A-Accident... About that...
Huh?
Ah, Sai-chan!
Hey there!
Hey.
Yuigahama-san, Hikigaya-kun, what are you doing here?
Nothing really.
Sai-chan, were you practising?
Yeah.
After school, during lunch,
I think you chose tennis for P.E. too.
Must be hard, huh?
Not at all.
I do it because I want to.
On that note, Hikigaya-kun, you're pretty good at tennis.
Really?
Yeah!
You have beautiful form!
Oh, you're just saying that!
So who are you?
What?
You're in the same class!
Unbelievable.
I'm Totsuka Saika, from your class.
I don't spend much time with girls.
For that matter, I don't spend much time with guys either.
I'm a boy, by the way.
Gotcha!
Whoa, what is this feeling?
If he were a girl, I'd confess on the spot and get rejected.
Wait, I'd get rejected?
Need something?
Yeah.
The person I usually pair with isn't in today.
If you don't mind, would you be my partner?
Stop looking at me with your upturned eyes.
It's too cute.
Don't blush, cheeks!
Sure... I guess.
I don't have anyone either.
You're as good as I thought you were.
Too close, too close, too close!
You know, there's something I wanted to discuss with you, Hikigaya-kun.
D-Discuss?
Yeah.
It's about the tennis club.
Have you heard?
We never win, and we don't have enough members.
When the third years retire, I think it'll get even weaker.
I see.
So, if you don't mind, Hikigaya-kun,
would you join the tennis club?
Huh?
It's impossible.
"Impossible"? You kno-
You can't do the undoable.
The point is that I can become the tennis club's driving force.
What I really want is to leave the Service Club,
join the tennis club, and pretend to be good.
Then I can gradually fade out of there too, but...
Do you honestly believe that you can join a club?
There is no way they'll accept an organism like you.
Moreover, with you as a common enemy,
the club members may come together as one.
However, even if they go all out to eliminate you,
they will not have improved themselves.
Nothing will have been resolved.
Source: Me.
That makes sense.
Wait, source?
I'm a girl who used to live abroad.
When I returned to middle school,
every girl in the school was eager to take me out.
However, not a single person...
...could improve enough to reach me.
Plebeians.
I only wanted to do Totsuka a favour.
Since when did you worry about other people?
It's just... This is the first time anyone's asked me for help.
By all means, I'd love to hear and solve their problems.
What would you do?
Let's see...
I would have them run until they die, practise strokes until they die...
...and continue practising until they die, perhaps.
Yoo-hoo!
Today I've brought a client!
Ah, Hikigaya-kun.
Totsuka?
What are you here for?
I'm a member of the club.
What about you?
Well, you see, I'm also part of the Service Club.
I figured I'd put some work in.
Then I saw Sai-chan looking troubled, so here we are!
Yuigahama-san.
Yukinon, no need to thank me.
I did what any club member would do.
Yuigahama-san, you're not really a club member.
I'm not?!
You're not.
We're not following the pattern of becoming a part of the club without realising it.
Correct.
You haven't submitted a "New Club Member" application,
and our sponsor hasn't approved you, so you're not a member yet.
I'll write one!
I'll write as many applications as you need!
And, Totsuka Saika-kun, was it?
New Club Member Application♥
I want to join
the service club!
Yay♪
Year 2, Class F
Yuigahama Yui
Very well.
We accept your request.
All you want is to improve your technique?
Y-Yes.
If I improve, I think the rest of the club will follow suit.
So, what's your plan?
I just told you.
Don't you remember?
Hey, you can't be serious about that.
Trusty Sand Rock!
As we spent our days like this,
our tennis play entered its second phase.
Sai-chan, are you all right?
I'm fine.
Let's keep going.
You intend to continue?
Yeah.
I want everyone to be together, so I'll keep at it for a little longer.
As you wish.
Yuigahama-san, I'll leave the rest to you.
No matter how much I try, I'm not improving.
I wonder if she gave up on me.
I don't think so.
Yukinon isn't the type of person to abandon someone in need.
Sure looks like it.
She did sit through your cooking, after all.
What do you mean by that?
Ah, tennis.
Hey, mind if we play too?
Miura-san, we aren't here just to play.
Come again?
I couldn't hear you.
You see, Totsuka claimed this time block, so no one else is allowed in.
Oh?
But you're here too.
Well, you could say I'm practising with him.
How should I put it?
Something like outsourcing.
What?
I don't get what you're saying, but it's gross.
Now now, let's play nice.
It'll be more fun with everyone.
Everyone?
Who's "everyone"?
Eh?
Is that the "everyone" you use in "Everyone already has one!" to get your mum to buy something?
Who are you talking about?
I don't have any friends, so I've never been able to use that.
I didn't think about what I was saying.
I'm sorry.
If you have a problem, we can talk about it.
Hayama, I appreciate your kindness.
I know you're a good person.
You're the soccer team's ace, and quite handsome on top of that.
It's no surprise that girls adore you.
W-Where are you going with this?
Yet with all that, you still want to steal the tennis courts from me, who has nothing?
Has your humanity been snuffed out?
Exactly that, Hayama What's-your-face!
What you are doing violates the most basic of human morals!
Ugh, when you two get together, my feeling of abject anguish doubles.
C'mon, Hayato.
I really want to play tennis.
Then how about this?
We'll have a contest between us outsiders, Hikitani-kun and myself.
The winner gets to play here during breaks from now on.
U-Um...
Of course, we'll also help you practise.
Playing against the best will benefit Totsuka.
Sounds good?
Wow, that sounds like fun.
Let's make it a mixed doubles game.
All right! That's pretty smart of me!
This is bad.
You're a loner. No girl will assist a little misfit like you.
What're you going to do?
I'll do it.
Well, what do I say?
I'm also in the Service Club, so I should help out, naturally.
Moron. Think before you act.
Miura's giving you the stink eye now.
What?
No way. Really?
Yui, you do realise that if you play, you're going against me.
Are you sure that's what you want?
I-It's not that, it's just...
...my club is also important to me.
Well then, let's start.
15 - Love.
She's unnaturally strong.
Of course!
Yumiko was picked for the women's prefectural tennis tournament in middle school.
So Slinky Hair over there isn't just for show.
That's called airy, wavy hair, you know.
Game!
That hurt...
Are you all right?
Sorry.
I think I might have sprained my ankle.
If we lose, Sai-chan's in trouble.
Come on.
That's that.
You just need to be on the court.
Leave the rest to me.
What are you going to do?
It'll suck, but I have to get serious.
If I'm serious, I can prostrate myself before them and even lick their feet.
I think you're getting serious the wrong way.
Wait a minute, 'kay?
Yui, what's up?
Did you get in a fight?
Or did she abandon you?
Don't be silly.
I've never been in a fight until today.
I never had any friends close enough to get in fights with in the first place.
I guess masochistic jokes really do work on others if you don't know them well enough.
Well, either way, I guess it's time to hit the floor.
To flatter them, I will discard my pride and plead.
That is my pride.
I'll show you how serious I am.
What's the dumb ruckus about?
What's with your outfit?
Who knows?
Yuigahama-san burst in and made me put it on.
I didn't want to lose like this, so I asked Yukinon to come out.
Why do I-
Because you're the only friend I can ask for help like this.
F-Friend?
Yup!
Friend.
Take care of her injury later.
We lost time looking for the nurse, so I couldn't finish.
Thank you.
You're really kind, Yukinon.
That doesn't stop a certain someone from calling me "Ice Queen" behind my back.
Anyway, what others think of me doesn't matter.
That said,
I don't mind if someone thinks of me as a friend... but still.
Yukinon!
Could you please not cling to me like that?
It's suffocating.
Yukinoshita-san, was it?
Sorry, but I won't be holding back.
I intend to hold back, so you don't have to worry.
I'll smash your cheap pride to bits.
My frie-
Our club members have suffered considerably at your hands.
Have you prepared yourself?
I may not look like it, but I'm the type that holds grudges.
You look completely like that type.
A feint?!
That didn't faze you at all.
She had the same expression...
...as my classmates did when they harassed me.
Reading the thoughts of human sewage like that is child's play.
Game!
Aren't our troops overwhelming?
Mow them down!
Yukinon, incredible!
J-Jump serve?!
You sure are spectacular.
If you keep this up, we'll take an easy win.
If I could, I certainly would.
But you're asking for the impossible.
Stamina is the one thing I lack confidence in.
Deuce!
I heard that.
If you let a shot like that through, you're toast.
Hey, everyone gave it their all.
Let's call this a draw.
Hayata!
Are you serious?
This is a contest. It's rude not to finish them off.
The one to finish this will be that man.
Accept your defeat.
What?
I may make thoughtless remarks and use improper words,
but I never speak falsehoods.
Lunch break is ending soon.
Normally, I'd be finishing my meal in the "best place" around now.
Miura, you don't know.
In the early afternoon, a unique sea breeze blows here.
Hayama, you don't know.
This wind doesn't change just once.
The shot only I can deliver.
Created alone in that place, talking to no one, passing my time quietly.
My own demon's serve.
Match point!
I've heard of this before.
The legendary technique that bends the wind to one's will.
The One Who Masters the Wind!
Oiren Sylpheed!
Unbelievable.
We've lost.
That really is a demon's serve.
Out of curiosity,
how many people did you play baseball with as a kid?
About 18 people, usually.
I thought as much.
I played by myself every time.
That's right.
Through thick and thin, I pushed on alone.
You had each other to fight with,
and each other to comfort yourselves.
All by myself, I took everything head-on.
Taste this: the strongest style.
Youthful Idiot!
That's...
The God of Destruction Who Soars Across the Sky
Meteor Strike!
It's nothing special.
Just a pop fly.
This way, even if you're alone,
you can throw and hit the ball to yourself.
W-What is this?
Yumiko, get back!
Game.
Hayato! Hayato! Hayato!
What the hell is this?
So we won the match, but lost the contest.
Even though Hikkii won because he's a loner,
I still feel sorta bad about it.
Yukinon!
Sorry, but could you please let go of me?
I can't breathe.
Hikigaya-kun, um... thanks.
What sort of rom-com set-up is this?
A girl with a girl and a guy with a guy.
The God of Romantic Comedy must be an idiot.
I didn't really do anything.
You should be thanking those two.
Hey, Totsuka's-
God, go to hell!
That's right.
A high-school rom-com needs scenes like this.
Way to go, God of Romantic Comedy.
Hikigaya-kun, are you okay?
Sometimes the god of Romantic Comedy will do something good.
kirari aoi sora de hikatta
キラリ 青い空で光った
Glittering, soaring up in the azure sky
Airplane kanata no sora no kanata made
Airplane 彼方の空の彼方まで
An airplane flying all the way to the horizon
mune ni tsumatta
胸に詰まった
Tucked away in my heart
nanika ga sawaida
何かが騒いだ
Some feeling began to awake
iitai kimochi wa tojikome
言いたい 気持ちは閉じ込め
Locked away-the feelings I want to express
ienai kotoba ni henkan suru
言えない コトバに変換する
I can't speak-I have no words for what I feel
saigo made boku wa sunao ja nakute
最後まで僕は 素直じゃなくて
I can't be honest with myself, just like every time before
tsunagareteta ito wo waza to
繋がれてた糸をわざと
I let the thread that runs between the two of us
motsuresasete
もつれさせて
Tangle with itself
kirihanashita
切り離した
And then I cut it loose
hikoukigumo ga nijinde
ヒコーキ雲がにじんで
The airplane's contrails fade away
kieteshimau mae ni
消えてしまう前に
Until they've completely vanished
aitai to ieteta nara Wow
逢いたいと言えてたなら Wow
I should have told you, "I want to be with you". Wow
owari no nai setsunasa kara mo
終わりのない切なさからも
I long for the day when I can escape
nukedaseteita no kana
抜け出せていたのかな
From the endless pain I must endure
mata kimi to futari bocchi
また君とふたりぼっち
You and I, alone, just the two of us
Hello Hello, Alone
2nd Year Class F
I got a kinda weird text, and I was like, "ugh"!
Weird text
Chain mail, right?
Chain mail
The contents are assumed to be sexual harassment, and I'm being treated as a suspect.
Assumed to be sexual harassment
The evidence. Show me the evidence.
The evidence!
Show me the evidence
I might know the culprit.
I don't want to think the culprit is one of them.
The culprit is one of them
Seeing everyone step back for their friend's sake sent chills down my spine. I came!
For their friend's sake. I came!!
Onii-chan!
Onii-cha~n!
The mystery is completely solved!
The mystery is
completely solved!
In short, he has few friends.
Next time, "In short, he has few friends."