Original subtitles

Definitely.

You must go sometime!

You may begin by arranging the flowers as you like.

Excuse me, Ma'am?

I would like to feature both of these flowers,

but I'm having difficulties.

The important thing is to keep your priorities straight.

If you don't determine which is the prime focus and which is supplementary,

you risk ruining everything.

The prime focus and what's supplementary?

You should choose one over the other.

I-I think I'll choose this as the focus.

Good girl.

Whoaa...

I should introduce myself.

I'm the chief of the Raiten Group Global PR Strategy Office,

Koki Usurai.

I'm the vice president of Sumomogaoka High School's broadcasting club,

Ryoko Totonoi.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule for us today.

No, no. I'm not actually that busy at all.

Told you so.

Shh!

"Strategy Office" may sound important, but there's only five of us in it.

Anyway, go ahead and start the interview whenever you're ready.

About that...

Actually, we lied about wanting to do an interview.

You lied?

See, your sister...

Mizuki, is who we came to talk about today.

About Mizuki?

What do you mean?

You see, we've lost contact with her.

A-All of us, we're in the same broadcasting club as Mizuki-senpai!

Mizuki... was in a club?

You didn't know?

No.

I started living on my own when I went off to college.

Then she left home for her own reasons,

and we didn't really keep in touch after that.

You mean you don't get along?

Shh!

I wanted us to have a good relationship,

but I'm not sure if Mizuki felt the same way.

This is embarrassing for my family,

but my grandmother Mayumi Usurai is terribly outdated in her views.

She wanted more than anything for her only daughter, our mother, to bear a son.

But it didn't take long to discover that I was prone to sickness.

Concerned I would not be fit to take over the business,

my grandmother urged my mother to have another child.

That's how Mizuki was born.

You mean she was born to be a spare?

Will you stop?!

That's awful...

My grandmother was deeply disappointed that the baby was a girl.

But nobody had the power to defy her.

Because her word was final in our house.

Mizuki doesn't like to show her vulnerable side,

so she only ever told me that she was doing just fine.

Um, I understand you're having a wedding soon, Mr. Usurai.

How do you know that?

You see, the day of your wedding

is the same as our club's big Kyoto tournament!

All the upperclassmen have worked so hard for this tournament.

Mizuki-senpai said she would go to talk to her family directly so she can compete.

But then we were told she would be missing school,

and we lost contact with her.

I know your wedding is very important!

It's a once in a lifetime thing.

But still, even so...

please lend a ear to what Mizuki-senpai wants to do!

Please!

All of us feel the same way.

Please!

I understand very well now.

Please, you don't have to bow.

Thank you so much, for caring about my sister so much.

I suspect they must have her detained in the family home.

My grandmother cares about our family's reputation above all else.

As a brother, I want to prioritize what Mizuki wants to do.

That being said,

I'm not sure that anything I say could actually convince my grandmother.

If that's the case,

let us come with you!

So we can help Mizuki-senpai!

All right.

Let's do it.

We'll all go together.

Uh, yikes.

How big is this home? And this garden?

So, she's really from a wealthy household.

What an impressive house.

Don't worry, we'll see her soon enough.

Right...

Master Koki!

What is going on here?

Where is Mizuki?

What...?

I take full responsibility. Please help.

Mizuki!

Bro...

I mean, Koki?!

What are you doing here?

Mizuki-senpai!

Whoa.

Mizuki.

Mizuki! I'm so glad you're okay.

Uh okay, the whole gang's here.

What's going on?

We went to your brother for help, so we could get you out of here, Mizuki-senpai!

Well gosh, thanks.

I thought I was gonna have to live in this room forever.

I'll talk to Grandmother about the wedding.

So, you should get out of here right away, Mizuki.

I think not.

Grandmother.

What is the meaning of this commotion?

How embarrassing.

Mizuki, I don't recall ever permitting you to leave this room.

And Koki, for shame.

How could you bring these strange youngsters into our home?

Hey, he didn't do anything wrong.

He just came for my sake.

Besides, my brother's the main event at the wedding.

And he says I don't have to come.

Why should you get to decide otherwise?

Shut that mouth of yours.

Why can't you fulfill the normal expectations of a sister?

Ever since you were little.

Always dragging Koki down, never caring to give back to this family.

That's only because you always chose to neglect me!

I'm an idiot, so I never knew how to put my feelings into words.

I was always irritated.

That's why I decided to leave this house.

Because if I was on my own anyway, I wouldn't have to feel so forlorn.

Senpai...

"Tainted is this sorrow"

"Dusted again with a flurry of snow"

"Tainted is this sorrow"

"Even the wind blows past, unheeding"

"Tainted is this sorrow"

"Like a poor fox's pelt"

"Tainted is this sorrow"

"Shrunk up under the snowfall"

"Tainted is this sorrow"

"With no hopes"

"Nor desires"

"Tainted is this sorrow"

"In lethargy, dreaming of death"

"The tainted sorrow"

"Daunts me, pathetic as that is"

"The tainted sorrow"

"renders me useless as another day ends"

I'm sorry, Koki.

For not being a respectable sister.

Grandmother, Mizuki is a dear sister to me.

What you're doing only causes her pain, and I ask that you refrain.

Koki...

I only do what is best for the Usurai family—

What good is that if it ends up hurting Mizuki?

Come, you should all head out now.

Leave the rest to us grownups to hash it out.

B-But...

Mizuki.

Trust your brother on this.

Okay.

Right, gang.

Let's get going!

A-All right!

C'mon, out we go.

Please excuse us.

Sorry for the intrusion.

Excuse us.

Man, that old lady was terrifying.

Will you shush?!

Hey, Bro. Will you shush?!

Congrats on your wedding!

Hold on, Miss Mizuki.

This is yours.

Thanks, Nanny!

Honestly.

You ought to be more aware of what it means to be the eldest son

of the Usurai household.

Come along.

We have important matters to discuss.

Of course, Grandmother.

Well, thank god, huh?

Hey guys, thanks so much for coming to get me!

Actually no, thank you for coming back to the broadcasting club.

I was worried about the possibility that you might never come back,

and I was so scared.

Hey!

Kichijoji?!

He's running?!

Good lord... the sudden running was a bad shock for my body.

Um, why are you here, sir?

"Why am I here"?!

You have to be kidding me!

Why would you do all this on your own?!

I found an email to the club saying you requested an interview with Raiten.

Do you have any idea how horrified I was?

Totonoi, Hakoyama, how could you have let this happen?

But uh, we first years wanted to help Mizuki-senpai just as much!

Besides, I don't think you have any right to be upset at us, sir.

Yeah, that's right.

You know how to be contentious, that's for sure.

But true, I'll admit I couldn't have done anything to get Usurai back.

I do applaud your courage.

You too, Usurai. You endured.

Kichijoji...

Welcome back.

Huh?

That's weird, all of a sudden.

Welcome back, Mizuki.

Mm-hm.

Welcome back.

Welcome back, Mizuki-senpai!

Yeah.

It's good to be back!

The NHK Cup National High School Broadcasting Contest Tokyo Tournament,

Recitation Category, first place.

#105, Teiryu Gakuen High School student Miss Shura Saionji.

You're amazing, Saionji-senpai!

You came first again this year in the Tokyo tournament!

It was to be expected, nothing more.

Tomorrow is the day of the Kyoto NHK Cup preliminaries.

The venue is the Shijo Campus of Lilac Girls' University.

We'll meet at 8:30 in the morning directly there.

Understood?

Yes!

Tell me, do you know what you should be doing the day before the tournament?

Uh...

Maybe practice lots to make sure we don't mess up?

That's pretty funny.

I... I didn't mean to be funny...

The correct answer is to take care of your vocal chords.

Avoid yelling as much as you can.

Going out for karaoke is a definite no.

Although I believe a certain someone went last year anyway.

Make sure you go to sleep with your humidifiers on.

Of course.

You reading people have it tough, huh?

Other than that, don't catch a cold, whatever you do.

Gargle and wash your hands religiously.

We'll need cough drops.

I think I might throw up...

Well, I suppose that's about it.

Make sure you aren't late tomorrow.

All right!

Huh?

Mizuki-senpai! What are you doing here?

Hmm?

Oh, just didn't feel like going home.

Don't tell me your family is still on your case?

Nah, it's not like that.

It's just, when I'm home alone I start overthinking things.

Uh, then...

If you'd like, why not come sleep over at my house?

I can't impose out of the blue.

It's no problem!

Besides, I want to be by your side, Mizuki-senpai!

Then maybe I will.

Sure!

Oooh!

You'll need plenty of energy for the tournament.

Deep fried pork chops, too!

So you can show off your chops tomorrow!

Aww, that's brilliant!

Thanks for the food!

There.

I set the alarm.

We won't oversleep tomorrow.

Umm...

Hmm?

You're obviously hung up on something.

Is it about your family?

My brother fought so hard for me, but I guess I'm not over it.

I guess I feel hurt, just a bit.

The ideal family only exists on TV,

but I still feel like I'm the only one suffering.

I hate being a crybaby like that.

Actually, I used to wonder what it meant to be family too, when I was younger.

You did?

When I was little my father up and left,

and it was just my mom and me after that.

I was convinced I had to stay on the island and be the ideal good girl,

but you taught me that I didn't have to hold back from what I love.

It's thanks to you that my life is so happy every day.

That's why I want to make you happy, too.

We should get to sleep. Tomorrow's a big day.

Right.

Good night, Mizuki-senpai.

Yup. Good night, Hana.

"Oh, at the bottom of that radiant April"

"I grind my teeth, burning, and pace to and fro"

"For in my wrath, I am Asura"

"Clouds of chalcedony stream by"

"From where does that spring bird cry?"

"When the sun glows blue through the clouds"

"Asura resonates with the forest trees"

"The dizzying view of heaven's bowl above"

"From which clusters of black trees stretch"

"Their branches thick with sorrow"

"All the scenery appears two-fold"

"Atop the trees in a forest of dissociation"

"A sudden flash drives crows to flight"

"Layers of air now clear through and through"

"The cypress stretch silently to the heavens"

"Something approaches o'er the gold grass"

"A form that is undoubtedly human"

"Clad in straw, the farmer looks my way"

"But does he really see me?"

"In the depths of the atmosphere's dazzling sea"

"Sorrow lies deep and blue"

"O zypressen, sway quietly"

"As birds again tear across the blue sky"

"No words of truth exist here"

"And Asura's tears fall to the ground"

"A breath afresh toward the sky"

"Dim and white, the lungs contract, let this body scatter to pieces into the sky!"

"The tops of the gingkos flash once again"

"The zypressen now turn dark"

"As sparks rain down from the clouds"

Hana!

You were really feeling that recitation.

Good morning.

I was so excited I woke up too early.

I got so nervous I couldn't stay put, so...

I needed this.

You know, Hana. You have really pretty eyes.

Huh?!

I think that's just...

thanks to you, Mizuki-senpai.

Me?

But I haven't done anything!

You're wrong.

Back when I thought you might not come back to the broadcasting club,

I realized.

My days feel like they sparkle now thanks to you,

and when I don't get to see you it makes me really sad.

I realized, Mizuki-senpai, just how much I like you.

Hana...

That's why I'm going to do my best at today's tournament, so I don't lose to you.

So that you'll say you were glad you invited me to the broadcasting club.

What do you mean?

I've been glad from the very beginning.

Today, we're gonna win.

Right!

My stomach...

It's okay, take deep breaths.

Just try to relax.

Will you cut that out already?!

Oh!

Looks like we're all here now.

Hey gang!

Good morning!

Well then, are we ready to take it on?

The NHK Cup Kyoto Tournament!

Yes!

Okay!