Original subtitles

Hmm?

You made some new friends, huh?

That's great, Harucchi!

Yeah, I've never had friends from other schools before, so I'm really glad.

Aww, look at you grinning.

Well, I gotta go this way.

See ya!

What are you grinning about?

Oh, uh...

The preliminaries are coming up.

You'd better pull yourself together.

Right.

You okay?

The tournament's so close...

You were really nervous last year, too.

Because it's a losing battle.

I mean, what kind of weirdo actually likes talking in front of people?!

I like it just fine.

It's fun!

You know you're talking to the broadcasting club, right?

I don't think it's so bad.

You've entered already so you might as well man up.

Traitor!

I totally wanted to duck out of it like you, Toga.

But... Mizuki kept insisting I had to compete.

What's this? Are you bad-mouthing me?

I was just saying you're pushy.

And that isn't bad-mouthing?!

Umm...

Hmm?

Oh.

Right, this.

Is that an invitation to a wedding?

Wedding?

Uh yeah, my big bro—

My older brother's.

I didn't know you had a brother, Mizuki.

You didn't know?

Me neither. This is the first I've heard about your family.

Well, I don't live with my family,

so I haven't seen him in a while.

How old is your brother?

Twenty-eight.

What are his hobbies?

Work.

Favorite food?

Hmm...

Soft tofu?

Any fun memories?

Uhh...

maybe playing with him in the yard when we were kids?

Look, you're all just asking for the heck of it, aren't you?

Maybe?

Anyway, I don't even know who he's marrying,

and I can't be bothered with such a sudden invite, honestly.

You're secretly thrilled?

I am not!

Jeez.

You are.

But a sibling getting married is such a happy thing.

You must be excited for the wedding.

Yeah, that's true.

Anyway! Let's get started with practice!

Okay.

Good luck, guys.

"My master, as some of you present may very well know,"

Anemic anemone, a-i-u-e-o. "My master, as some of you present may very well know,"

I really don't think I can do this! "lives twenty "ri" away from Tokyo towards Kyoto."

You can if you just try! "lives twenty "ri" away from Tokyo towards Kyoto."

"Pass through Isshiki town in Odawara, Sagami,"

Cool cooks can cackle, kicking clocks "Pass through Isshiki town in Odawara, Sagami,"

"then further west through Aomonocho and you will find him—" Cool cooks can cackle, kicking clocks

She sells soy sauce sa-shi-su-se-so. "then further west through Aomonocho and you will find him—"

She sells soy sauce sa-shi-su-se-so.

"Rankanbashi Toraya Toemon, head shaved, retired, and now known as Ensai." She sells soy sauce sa-shi-su-se-so.

Shellfish seared, sizzling so sweet. "Rankanbashi Toraya Toemon, head shaved, retired, and now known as Ensai."

Two twins chitter chatter, ta-chi-tsu-te— "Rankanbashi Toraya Toemon, head shaved, retired, and now known as Ensai."

U-Umm...

Is something wrong?

Hmm? What do you mean?

You're not your usual self.

Aw, jeez.

Guess I worried you, huh?

Don't worry about it.

But I do! Because it has to do with you.

Hana.

If you're free, wanna have dinner at my place tonight?

Huh?

I'm sorry you ended up having to let me sleep over.

Why would you apologize?

I'm the one who invited you.

Oh, can I help with anything?

You're the guest. Just relax while you wait.

Uh, okay!

Thank you very much.

Huh? But this date...

Dinner's ready!

Thanks for waiting.

Wow...

Don't get excited just yet.

Now for the finishing touch!

I-It's like a restaurant's!

It looks so good.

C'mon, eat up!

Thank you, I will.

Is it good?

It's delicious!

Umm, Mizuki-senpai?

Huh? There's enough for seconds.

Yay...!

Uh no, that's not it.

You won't want more?

No, I'd love seconds.

But no, I mean... well...

Hmm?

I'm sorry, I saw the date on that.

Ah.

That date.

It's the same day as the preliminaries, isn't it?

It is. Talk about bad timing, huh?

For years...

...things with my family haven't been great.

You know the Raiten Department Store?

Yes, I go with my mom quite often.

Raiten is a huge corporate group that has its hands in everything.

Uh, okay.

For example, these chopsticks.

Ah.

That cushion.

Oh.

This plate.

Huh...

Uh, what about that?

And the daughter of the family who founded Raiten...

That's me.

WHAT?!

Nice projection.

I'm actually from a ridiculously wealthy family.

Don't look it though, do I?

T-To be perfectly honest...

n-no.

Man, you're honest!

Oh, here.

Look.

Usurai... Mayumi?

Is this your grandmother, Senpai?

The "Empress of Raiten."

She's a terror of an old lady.

A "terror"...

The Usurai family business was initially a kimono store.

But my grandfather had zero knack for business.

He nearly drove the company bankrupt.

The one who brought it back was his wife Mayumi,

back when she was young.

Mayumi got sales back up after a long period of losing money

and expanded the business.

Ever since, that woman lays down the law in our family.

Not even my parents can disobey her.

Mayumi's favorite was the eldest grandson...

my older brother, and she doted on him.

So, that's the one getting married?

Right.

It never mattered whether I was there or not.

I was always peripheral.

My parents tried their best at first, to try to get me in Mayumi's favor.

I was desperate, too.

Because I thought if I wasn't all that my parents wanted me to be,

they would get criticized by my grandmother.

But then, I realized something one day.

Grandmother! I drew this at school and—

Stop that this instant.

How dare you speak without permission when your eldest brother is present.

I drew you, Grandmother.

Get out.

Huh? But...

I said, get out.

All right...

This is just stupid.

After that, I totally acted out.

I hated Mayumi, and I hated my parents who were under her thumb.

Anything a grownup said, I ignored it all.

When I got to middle school, I decided to really change

and colored my hair all flashy and stuff.

Huh. Flashy...

I took on any fight that came my way.

And then well...

this happened.

Oh uhh, you looked quite different back then.

I was young and wild, I guess.

My parents got called to school loads of times.

Until they finally got fed up with me.

Maybe to them, I'm like a pet that they never managed to tame properly.

But no matter how rebellious I pretend I am, when it comes down to it,

I'm living off of their money.

Honestly, it's all just a huge pain.

Huh?!

Don't look so sad!

I don't know what my brother thinks,

but Mayumi and my parents definitely don't care about seeing my face.

I know...

the only reason they sent this invitation is to save face.

"Save face"?

They can't have the sister not attend the eldest brother's wedding.

It's stupid, but to them it's a disgrace.

Honestly, it's laughable.

Are you going to go to the wedding?

'Course not!

I'm sure they'll try to talk me into it,

but I've been practicing for the tournament this whole time.

I don't want that to go to waste.

Thank goodness...

Because I want to go to the tournament with you, Senpai.

Aww man, you're adorable!

I feel better after telling you all that.

Ow, that hurts...

I guess I can't afford to avoid this forever.

I'll go over there tomorrow to tell them what's what.

I'll tell them I can't go.

Okay!

Great.

Hey, you wanted seconds, right?

Oh, yes please!

Happy to oblige!

Two weeks?

She'll be gone for that long?

I just got word from Usurai's parents.

B-But if she's out for that long...

Does that mean she'll miss the tournament?

It might turn out that way.

What...?

Do you think that's what Usurai-senpai wants, though?

I can't imagine she would ever miss the tournament.

Something's gotta be up.

Yeah.

Right?

Yeah.

Well, I know something doesn't sound right.

But Usurai is a minor,

and it's not easy for the school to question a guardian's decision.

Right now, your job is to focus on practicing.

There's not much time until the tournament.

All right...

Okay, something's definitely not right.

What's going on?

She hasn't read any of my messages.

Same here.

Mizuki-senpai...

Um, this situation feels familiar.

"Familiar"?

This is pure speculation, but I think she could be confined somewhere.

Uh?

"Confined"?

Excuse me?

I saw an incident on the news before,

about parents who locked their child up because they didn't approve of university choices.

I don't know.

I suppose... that could be it?

Uh, it seems a bit farfetched.

No way.

But... it is true that yesterday,

Mizuki-senpai said things weren't going well with her family!

You see...

Her family owns the Raiten Group?!

She so doesn't look it.

We never would have guessed.

But then... her being locked up might actually...

You're right.

I mean, Mizuki would never choose to miss the tournament.

Maybe we're worried about nothing.

But if she really is locked up somewhere...

I want to go and help Mizuki-senpai get out!

Of course. I do, too.

Besides, she's our precious president.

We need her, plain and simple.

And what they're doing just pisses me off.

I don't like that kind of coercion, either.

Let's all work together and go help Mizuki-senpai!

Madam Mayumi.

What is it now?

Miss Mizuki is kicking up a fuss, demanding to be let out.

What shall we—

Pay her no heed.

U-Understood...

Honestly, it's a disgrace how poorly disciplined she is.

Hey!

Open the door! Open it!

Dammit!

Well then...

I would like to call the meeting to order

and discuss our plans for freeing Mizuki Usurai.

And who made you the leader?

Does that matter?

At least it's better than you leading it.

Hunh?

What?

Now, now.

How do you think we could get Mizuki out of there?

The obvious option would be to go straight to their house.

Where does her family live?

I don't actually know.

She never told me, either.

Wouldn't Mr. Kichijoji know?

But no... that's a violation of privacy.

He probably wouldn't tell us.

Then what if we rock on up to the Raiten Group headquarters?

Won't security just kick us out?

No good, huh?

Can't you think before making suggestions for once?

Uhh, I'm pretty sure her brother's name was on that invitation.

Let me think... uh, the character for "light," and...

Oh! "Ki" for "hope," same as Mizuki-senpai!

So "Koki"?

Yes!

Haruyama, you nailed it!

Huh?

Did you find something?

An interview with Koki Usurai.

This Koki person is the chief of

Raiten's Kyoto Headquarters Global PR Strategy Office.

What if we convince the brother first in order to approach the family?

But a chief's a big-shot, right?

It's gonna be tough to even contact him.

Th-That's true...

Actually, not as tough as you'd think.

Huh?

He publicizes that he's keen to receive interviews that involve local schools,

and he actually did one with elementary school students at an extracurricular event.

If we apply for that, it could work!

It does seem viable.

Then I'll try sending a formal interview request.

I'll help.

I'm great at coming up with wording that grownups love to hear.

That's encouraging.

Haruyama, you must be glad.

Yeah! I want to be of some use, so I'll go help out!

Uh hey, do you like Haruyama or something?

I do like her.

As a fellow member of the club.

Yeah?

Well, I guess we should go too.

We should.

Ha ha, like that's likely.

What if Mizuki-senpai never comes back?

What if I never get to see her again?

Where's your usual posse?

Hmm?

The head hall monitor!

The heck do you want?

Nothing much.

Just came to see if any delinquents were breaking school rules.

I am not.

Keep messing with me and you're gonna regret it.

Why don't you scram?

Don't be so cold.

Though that part of you is pretty adorable.

You should stop pretending you want to act out.

When you're with those delinquents, you never look like you're enjoying yourself.

That's just stupid.

I think you know better than anyone whether it's stupid or not.

You sure sound all superior and stuff, but do you enjoy this?

I do.

Being a friggin' hall monitor?

That too, but I'm in the broadcasting club as well.

Broadcasting club?

That's gotta be bland and boring.

Excuse me?

Why not try joining the broadcasting club, Usurai?

Uh, what?

Your voice.

I like it.

Shut up! Who the heck asked you?!

Aw, well. That's a shame.

Did I really make the right choice?

What do you think, Azumi?

This is the Raiten Group headquarters?

What an impressive building.

But you know, I can't believe we get to interview him the day after we applied.

I guess the timing worked in our favor.

He might be a chief, but maybe he doesn't have much to do.

Shh!

Are you all ready for this?

This is for Mizuki.

Let's go!