Marmalade Boy Volume 1, Chapter 1 pages 3-43 Written and illustrated by Yoshizumi Wataru Translation & editing by : Craig Nishida Additional translation by : Paul Hirose Yutaka Sasagawa Thomas Mattman Matthew Akira Klippenstein Gary Kacmarcik Tatsuya Watanabe Mats Roger Nielsen Additional editing by: Harold Ancell Jeanne Hedge Steve Kinnes Will Ray Daniel Lee Scott Henry Last revision : 10-26-95 Comments? Corrections? Suggestions? Please send them to: mboy-trans@soyokaze.biosci.ohio-state.edu --------------------------------------------------- p 3 1 [View of a nice tea set on a table, and biscuits laid out on a tray.] Rumi: [off] Umm, Miki. 2 [View shifts. Miki, a brunette girl in the 10th grade, sits at her seat, sipping a hot cup of tea. She looks across the table, off-panel, at her parents.] Jin: [off] Please don't be surprised... But we'd like you to listen... 3 [Miki's pov (i.e., point-of-view) of her smiling, beaming parents, who sit side-by-side.] Rumi: We're... Rumi/Jin FX: Jin: ...going to get a *divorce* . 4 [Miki's in shock, her eyes growing huge.] narration: One day, my parents suddenly declared their divorce... --------------------------------------------------- p 4 1 [Miki abruptly rises to her feet, sending biscuits, saucer and cup flying.] Miki: Wha! What the...? Miki FX: narration: With that... Miki: ...heck are you saying?! narration: ...the curtain rose on my daily sufferings. --------------------------------------------------- p 5--TITLE PAGE [Miki and Yuu stand back-to-back. Yuu wears a smile. Miki folds her arms and frowns slightly, looking off to her right.] TITLE: MARMALADE BOY [1] --------------------------------------------------- p 6 [Filler art. Miki portrait. She sticks her tongue out at us.] --------------------------------------------------- p 7 1 [Isolated shot of a hallway sign over a door.] sign: Year 1, Class B 2 [Miki's pov of her best friend, Meiko. Meiko is a pretty blonde with straight, slightly wavy hair. Holding a fork, Meiko looks back at us with surprise.] Meiko: Smiling and saying they're "going to get a divorce?" Meiko: That's amazing. 3 [Looking irritated, Miki pauses in the middle of eating her sandwich.] Miki: Too amazing!! There was even a heart-mark stuck to the end of their sentence. Miki FX: Miki: Grrrr. I can't believe it! 4 [View pans back. Meiko and Miki sit side-by-side in the classroom, eating their lunches. They've pulled their desks together. Other classmates mingle about and chat in small groups. As usual, Miki is speaking with great emotion.] Miki: I thought it was sorta strange since they brought out the special tea set, saying let's have tea. But what an unbelievable conversation... Meiko: But, why? Your parents got along awfully well, Miki. As I recall, not long ago they neglected you, and went off together on a trip to Hawaii, and... --------------------------------------------------- p 8 1 [Dark clouds form in the background as Miki glares off-panel towards a distant horizon.] Miki: Right. That Hawaii trip! That's what started this... 2 [Back to the flashback. Miki, standing at the dining room table, leans forward and shouts across at her parents, who are off-panel.] Miki: The Matsuuras?! Who're they?! 3 [Her ever-chipper parents merely beam back at her.] Rumi: A married couple that was on the same Hawaii tour. Because we're the same age, we found we were completely alike. Jin: While touring around together, Mama fell in love with Matsuura-san, and your papa fell in love with his wife. 4 [Miki's eyes retract to small dots and her hair pops a few strands.] 5 [Pov from over her shoulder as she looks across at her happy parents. Miki appears to be vibrating.] Miki: LO... LOVE...?! Rumi: That's right. Jin: And after the four of us discussed it at length, we decided to exchange partners and remarry. --------------------------------------------------- p 9 1 [The background swirls into an angry vortex as Miki gapes back at us.] Miki: E-exchange partners...?! Miki FX: Miki: Y-you've gotta be kidding! 2 [View of the tea set.] narration: I've never heard such a ridiculous story!! Jin: [off] Well, maybe there isn't much precedent. Rumi: [off] But, it's the truth. 3 [Miki's view across the table. Rumi purses her lips and touches a finger to them, looking to her side at Jin. Jin rests his cheek in one hand and looks back at his wife.] Rumi: It isn't like the love between us has disappeared. We still love each other. But it's not a romantic love anymore. It's more a sibling affection, right? Jin: From the start, even before we got married, we went along, knowing that we were more close friends than lovers... 4 Miki: Wh-what are you saying? Even though the passions are gone, being on friendly terms with each other, living together joined by a quiet and gentle love... Isn't that how married couples are?!! --------------------------------------------------- p 10 1 [We see the top of Miki's head as she drops her gaze. Her forehead colors and she vibrates with restrained emotion.] Jin: [off] That might usually be so... But in our case, we both found someone to fall in love with at the same time, so there isn't any problem. Rumi: [off] That's true, isn't it. If it had been one-sided, then having it turn into a case of adultery or immorality would have been ugly... Miki FX: 2 Miki: [off] Qu-quit joking! Snap out of it!! Rumi: Miki... 3 [Rumi clasps her hands before her in supplication, gazing over at Miki, off-panel.] Rumi: Having met the Matsuuras, we wanted to cherish the fluttering hearts that we hadn't felt in a long while. So please... Forgive us...'kay? 4 [Return to the present. Tight shot of the soft drink can that Miki has crushed with one hand.] Miki: WHO... can FX: Miki: ...CAN FORGIVE THAT?!! --------------------------------------------------- p 11 1 [View pans back. Miki stands, glaring hard at the crushed can in her hand.] Miki: Meiko: [clapping] Ama-a-azing, Miki. Awesome strength. Meiko FX: 2 Miki: [off] Sure, my parents have usually been a bit strange, but this time this outrageousness has gone beyond the limits of forgiveness!! 3 Meiko: [beaming] Oh, but your parents are so funky and cheerful. I like them. Miki: Meiko... Miki: You have no sympathy for me... 4 Meiko: I seriously mean that. They're a lot better than my parents. My parents'... ===Sidebar=== [Miki stands in school uniform, smiling and waving back at us.] narration: This is "Marmalade Boy," Vol. 1. Thank you very much for reading it . Miki: I'm Miki. Pleased to meet you! narration: I was happy to get lots of letters saying, "the uniforms are cute!" Don't the boys look pretty sharp, too, in double-vested suits without ties? --------------------------------------------------- p 12 1 [Somberly, Meiko drops her gaze. Miki looks on with surprise.] Meiko: ...marriage has grown completely cold, and even though they each have lovers, my father, for appearance's sake, and my mother, for financial reasons, won't ever get a divorce. Meiko: It would have been better if they had split up right away! It's so emotionally scarring to grow up watching your parents in such an ugly relationship... 2 Meiko: I'll *never* get married... 3 Miki: [with concern] Meiko... Miki: So that's why you turn down all requests for dates. Miki: Even though you're popular. 4 [Meiko's face brightens and she waves an open hand over at Miki. Miki turns to look back at us over her shoulder, in exasperation.] Meiko: Ah, that's not it. It's just that none were my type. I don't trust marriage, but it isn't that I don't trust men. Meiko FX: 5 [Miki suddenly glances at her wristwatch.] Miki: Oh no... I have to go home already. Meiko: You have to do something? 6 Miki: Yeah. We're having dinner with the Matsuuras. Miki: I have to talk those four out of it at any cost. --------------------------------------------------- p 13 1 [Miki smiles and waves back at her friend as she runs off.] Meiko: [off] Good lu-u-uck! Miki: Thank you, Meiko. Bye-bye. 2 [Miki stops short as she comes across Ginta, standing with tennis racket under one arm. He looks at her in puzzlement.] Ginta: Going home? Aren't you going to the club meeting? Miki: Ginta. 3 [View down the hallway.] Miki: [off] Um... Well, I can't go today. For family reasons. Please tell the captain for me, Ginta. Ginta: [off] Family reasons? 4 Ginta: Did something happen? Miki: [not meeting his eye] ...... Well, sorta... 5 [Miki beams at him over her shoulder as she walks off down the hall.] Miki: One of these days I'll tell you. Bye. Thanks. narration: Really, those parents of mine are such trouble... But even then, they're still my parents. --------------------------------------------------- p 14 1 [Exterior evening shot of a restaurant.] Miki: [off] (I can't very well just quietly sit by and allow them to act apart from normal society. I'll put a stop to this!!) Jin: [off] ...this is my daughter, Miki. 2 [Miki's view of the Matsuuras. Youji smiles back warmly, as does Chiyako.] Jin: Miki, this is Matsuura Youji-san and his wife, Chiyako-san. Youji: Nice to meet you. Chiyako: Pleased to meet you, Miki-chan. 3 Miki: Nice to meet you. narration: This couple seems nice. narration: They look like extremely normal folks... 4 Miki: Umm... I still can't believe it, but are you really going to swap partners with my parents and remarry? 5 Chiyako: [beaming] That's right. Chiyako/Youji FX: [Miki gives us a weary glance over her shoulder.] narration: They're not reasonable, after all... --------------------------------------------------- p 15 1 [Overhead view looking down at the circular table with settings for 6. The five who are present are seated.] Rumi: Where's Yuu-kun? Chiyako: He said he's coming straight from school. He should get here soon. 2 Miki: Yuu-kun...? Rumi: The Matsuuras' son. First-year high, same as you, Miki. 3 Miki: [perking up] Son?! narration: I see...!! narration: The Matsuuras have a child, too. narration: A son who's being tormented by outrageous parents, same as me!! 4 [Miki clenches her fists before her, and looks fired up.] narration: Great! Even if it's just a single ally, it's encouraging. narration: All right. Together with that boy, we'll firmly oppose... Chiyako: [off] Oh, there he is, there he is. Over here, Yuu! ===Sidebar=== FREE TALK (1) We are collecting postcards with your thoughts on, and portraits of, both "Marmalade Boy" and "Handsome Girlfriend" (series) in this magazine. If you win, you could receive a color file. It's a handy file made of plastic which can be used to hold printed stuff. (It seems there are other names for this--like "clear folder.") It comes in a set of two--transparent and pink --each with an illustration of Miki and Yuu on it. (The ones that are transparencies are the blazer look, and the pink ones are rough-style.) The editor will select the portraits, but I'm choosing the postcards containing your thoughts. Enter quickly! --------------------------------------------------- p 16 1 [Blond and good-looking, Yuu stands in his school uniform, carrying his schoolbag.] Yuu: I'm sorry! Was I late...? 2 [Miki's eyes grow wide and she blushes.] Miki heartbeat FX: 3 [He leans over to greet his mother.] Miki: [off] (S-so cool...!) Chiyako: It's all right. We're just starting. Yuu: I see. That's good. Miki: [off] (He's Yuu-kun?) --------------------------------------------------- p 17 1 [The Koishikawas' pov of Chiyako and Yuu.] Chiyako: Koishikawa Jin-san and Koishikawa Rumi-san... 2 [The Koishikawas look off-panel at Yuu.] Miki FX: Chiyako: [off] And their daughter, Miki-chan. 3 Yuu FX: Yuu: Hello. Miki: [off] (Kyaaa! His smiling face is so-o-o cute!!) 4 [A super-deformed Miki (SD-Miki) claps hands to her blushing cheeks and turns aside.] Miki: (Oh no. What'll I do?! To think I'm getting to know a boy like this... Maybe I'm awfully lucky...) 5 [A star pops over her head.] --------------------------------------------------- p 18 1 [Miki shakes her head violently. Rumi looks at her daughter in puzzlement.] narration: What the heck am I thinking of? This isn't the time for that! Miki head FX: Rumi: ? 2 narration: What I have to do right now is... Miki: Excuse me. I'd like to make this clear... I'm OPPOSED to this. 3 [Miki's pov as Chiyako, Youji, Jin and Rumi look across the table at us. All look a bit surprised.] 4 [View of a place setting.] Miki: [off] Because something like this is beyond the absurd!! Even our relatives aren't likely to forgive th-- Rumi: [off] Ah, it's okay. Those things have been taken care of already. 5 [Miki vibrates as she looks across the table at Jin and Youji beaming at each other.] Jin: I'd thought that we'd have met with a little more opposition... But we've been doing as we please for a long time, so by now no one is surprised, and they just say, "Why don't you do as you like?" Youji: It's the same here. They've already given up on us. Miki FX: 6 Miki: F-first of all... For appearance's sake... Rumi: You have a hard head for someone so young... What's important here are the feelings that we have. --------------------------------------------------- p 19 1 [Miki goes ballistic, rising to her feet and slapping her palms on the table.] Miki: Then what becomes of Yuu-kun's and my feelings?! Miki hands FX: Miki: Try looking at this from the point-of-view of the kids who are being abused by the "do as we please" attitude of their parents... Yuu: [off] I don't mind. 2 [Miki's eyes goggle at the calm boy who sits beside her, quietly spooning soup into his mouth.] 3 Miki: Wha... Even though your own parents are saying something outrageous like this... Miki: Don't you care at all?! 4 [Yuu looks up at her, nonplussed.] Yuu: Isn't it okay, especially if the people involved agree to it? Yuu: [pointing] Eat. Your soup's getting cold! --------------------------------------------------- p 20 1 Miki: (Th--- This guy's weird!) 2 [Rumi looks off-panel at the two children.] Miki: [off] Even though it's a family breakup crisis, you're calm... What kind of nerves do you have?! Rumi: In other words... Miki is the only one who opposes this, right? 3 [View of a table setting.] Jin: [off] Well, she just met the Matsuuras... If she gets to know the two of them better, I think she could get to know their good points. Rumi: [off] That's right, Miki. I'm sure you'll come to like these two in no ti... 4 [The four adults look back across the table at us.] Rumi/Jin/Youji/Chiyako: Ah! 5 [Miki drops her gaze. Tears pool in her eyes and tumble down her cheeks.] Miki teardrops FX: --------------------------------------------------- p 21 1 Miki: Mama and Papa divorcing... And each of them remarrying different people... Then what will become of me? Miki: Which one will look after me? 2 Miki: [off] Sure... My Mama and Papa are frivolous and completely unlike normal parents... They don't really care about my grades and don't try to see my report card either... 3 Miki: [off] The cooking's bad... They sleep in late... [Jin and Rumi drop their gazes. Daggers embed themselves in their heads.] daggers FX: Miki: [off] And despite their meager salaries, they don't hesitate to buy useless things... And it's just that they're hopeless...! 4 [Miki clenches her eyes shut in anguish. Tears still tumble down.] Miki: Bu... But... Even so, they're my mama and papa. Miki: To think that I have to be separated from either one... NO... --------------------------------------------------- p 22 1 [View pans back. The other five stare silently at the standing and crying Miki. Miki wipes her eyes.] FX: Miki FX: 2 [Yuu portrait. He looks up, off-panel, at her, with a gentle expression.] 3 Jin: [sweating] Thank you, Miki. For telling us, in that manner... Jin: There's something to that, but... Rumi: I'm truly happy, but you don't have to worry about anything. 4 Miki FX: 5 [The four adults strike poses together, smiling back at us.] Jin/Youji/Rumi/Chiyako: We're... Renting a large house and the six of us are going to live together. caption at bottom: Don't strike poses at your age. 6 [Miki face turns to shock.] --------------------------------------------------- p 23 1 [The four adults stand together, swapped couples side-by-side. All smile back at us.] Rumi: In other words, the marriages will change, but the parent and child relationships won't. You should think of your parents as being the ones you've had up to now. Chiyako: For census registry purposes, if we decide to have Yuu and Miki-chan adopted by their own fathers, then your family names won't change and there won't be any trouble... Well? Isn't it a good plan? caption at bottom: Don't strike poses, I tell you. 2 Miki: (N--) Miki FX: Miki: Y-you're joking... Miki: (NO WAY...!!) 3 Miki: Then, in other words, you're saying that you'll be living with separated couples and new couples all mixed together... Rumi: [smiling] It'll be something like that. 4 [Miki's eyes become swirls and she touches a hand to her forehead.] Miki: P-p--- Miki: Putting up with this-s-s! Miki FX: 5 Jin: How's that, Miki? Even so, after all that... It's a no? --------------------------------------------------- p 24 1 Miki: [angrily] Isn't that obvious! I'll ne-e-ever... Miki: ...ah! 2 [Jin and Rumi look back at us, somberly.] narration: Wha... 3 [Chiyako and Youji do the same.] narration: What? What? 4 [View pulls back. We look at the four adults from over the top of Miki's sweating head.] Miki: (Why are they looking at me like tha-a-at?!) Rumi/Jin/Youji/Chiyako FX: Miki: (I look ba-a-ad...!) --------------------------------------------------- p 25 1 [Yuu calmly pops a morsel into his mouth. He doesn't pay any attention to her.] Yuu: Why don't you give up? 2 [Vibrating and starting to look defeated, Miki glares down at the boy seated beside her.] 3 [Tight shot of Miki's hands as they come to rest on the table.] Miki: A... Miki hand FX: 4 [View pans back. Miki drops her gaze in defeat.] Miki: All right... [Rumi lets loose a party popper as Jin, Youji and Chiyako prance about in victory.] 5 narration: I can't believe it-t-t... How did it come to this...? --------------------------------------------------- p 26 1 [A view of the upper story of a house.] 2 [Miki stands, looking glum.] Miki: I REALLY can't believe it. 3 [A kick in her back sends her flying.] Yuu kick FX: Yuu: You're in the way! 4 [Miki's pov of Yuu, who carries a box.] Yuu: Don't stand around looking spaced out--hurry up and carry your share of the boxes. The sun's gonna set!! 5 Miki: ......... narration: So then... 6 [Rumi and Chiyako chat happily together.] narration: My parents, and Mr. and Mrs. Matsuura really did get a divorce. Chiyako: I'm glad we found such a nice place. Rumi: Me too-o-o. narration: And then they really did rent a house where the six of us are going to live. --------------------------------------------------- p 27 1 narration: They haven't remarried yet. It's set by law that they mustn't do so until 6 months after the finalization of the divorce. note with arrow pointing at "law": Only women. Men can do it right away. narration: In other words, starting today, as far as the census registry is concerned, four total strangers and a son and a daughter will be living in the same house as a single family. narration: Frankly speaking, it's ABNORMAL. 2 Rumi: Chiyako... 3 [The two women stand and ponder a cupboard.] Rumi: I wonder if the cupboard is fine here. Maybe it's better over there near the wall. Chiyako: Mmm, well... 4 Rumi: Jin! You too, Youji! Come here for a bit. 5 [Miki pauses in carrying her box to look over at the foursome.] 6 [Miki sits on the floor in her new bedroom, boxes piled around her.] Miki: --------------------------------------------------- p 28 1 [Yuu shouts in through her open door.] Yuu: Miki! This is no time to be tired. We're going to the market!! 2 Miki: This guy's being too familiar with me. Grr. Calling out to me without any respect...* 3 [Miki and Yuu walk back from the market, each carrying a sack. Yuu blows a bubblegum.] 4 Yuu: You're well-behaved today. When we had dinner together you were angry and had a terrible look... Have you given up already? 5 [The two go super-deformed, looking squint-eyed at each other.] Miki: Why don't you do something about that crude tone which doesn't go well with that face? Yuu: Why don't you do something about both your crude face and tone as well? 6 [View of Miki's forehead, which flushes in irritation.] --------------------------------------------------- p 29 1 [Her expression shifts to one of defeat.] Miki: I gave up already... 2 [Yuu, in the middle of blowing a bubble, looks surprised.] 3 [View of a house.] Miki: [off] I had the misfortune to have odd parents. Such is life. Miki: [off] Besides... 4 [She stares down at the ground as she walks.] Miki: When I see that those four seem to be happy and on good terms like old and dear friends... Miki: ...then I think that maybe it's okay like this... 5 [She grows animated, with a defiant look on her face.] Miki: But still, something like this isn't normal! It's weird! Miki: Now that it's turned out like this, I won't complain... 6 Miki: But I definitely won't be infected, and that's why I'm drawing the line!! 7 [Yuu looks back, studying her.] --------------------------------------------------- p 30 1 [View of houses.] Yuu: [off] Sure it isn't normal, but isn't it a lot of fun to have your family suddenly double in size? Yuu: [off] Don't hate it so much. 2 [Smiling, Yuu extends his hand out to us.] Yuu: Let's be friends! 'Kay?! Yuu: Shake . 3 [Miki's eyes grow huge, and she blushes.] Miki heartbeat FX: 4 narration: Ohh. This guy's cool, after all... Miki: S-sure... 5 [Yuu clasps her extended hand, still smiling. Miki stares at the handclasp.] Yuu FX: 6 [She stares at the palm of her hand.] Miki: ? narration: He handed me something... --------------------------------------------------- p 31 1 [Her eyes grow huge and glassy.] 2 [Tight shot of her spread palm. Something sits in the middle of it.] caption with arrow: used gum ---> 3 Miki: [going ballistic] YUU!! Yuu: [turning and chortling] Ah ha ha ha ha! 4 Miki: [off] (Wh-what's with this guy!! Making fun of someo-o-one!) --------------------------------------------------- p 32 1 Miki: [off] THE NERVE...!! 2 Chiyako: Wait a minute, Yuu! 3 [Chiyako looks with concern at the laughing Yuu.] Chiyako: Have you done something to Miki-chan? She seemed angry again... Yuu: Ha ha! Playing jokes on her is so much fun! Chiyako: ...... Chiyako: Don't go too far! 4 Chiyako: Yuu... 5 [Yuu looks off-panel at his mother.] Chiyako: [off] For a really long time, you've been a good boy who's stayed out of trouble. Even now, you don't complain and let us do as we like... Chiyako: [off] But, is everything really all right? You aren't dissatisfied with anything...? 6 [Yuu drops his gaze, briefly looking troubled.] 7 Yuu: [smiling] I'm not dissatisfied at all. If all of you are happy, mother, then it's fine. Chiyako: Yuu... --------------------------------------------------- p 33 1 [And then it's mother-daughter time, too... Rumi sticks her head in Miki's room.] Rumi: How is it, Miki? All squared away? 2 Miki: [smiling] Sure. 3 [Rumi takes a seat, glancing up nervously at the ceiling.] Rumi: Say... Rumi: Be nice to the Matsuuras, okay? 4 [View looking at the other side of the room.] Miki: [off] Okay... Rumi: [off] Yuu-kun, too, okay? Miki: [off] Okay. 5 [A serious-looking portrait of Rumi.] Rumi: But... You mustn't fall in love. 6 [Miki stops and stares blankly at her mother.] 7 Miki: Huh? Rumi: I'm saying don't fall in love with Yuu-kun, okay? --------------------------------------------------- p 34 1 [Rumi claps a palm to her cheek and closes her eyes.] Rumi: Because it's already a complicated household as it is, but if on top of that, you and he also... If such a thing should happen, we'd probably have even more confusion in the household. Miki: (Well said...) Miki: And who's to blame for that confusion? 2 Rumi: So be nice "as though he were family." Okay? Miki: Yes, yes. I understand. 3 Rumi: Well, since we're eating soon, let's go to the dining room. Miki: 'Kay. 4 [Miki descends the stairs, staring at her mother, who walks ahead of her.] narration: That Mama. What the heck is she talking about? 5 [View of the table covered with food.] 6 [Jin, Yuu and Youji stand and stare at the food, off-panel.] Jin: Wowww. How magnificent... 7 [View pans in, focusing on Yuu.] narration: Sure, I admit he's good-looking (and how many times did I make the mistake of letting my heart flutter...) but... --------------------------------------------------- p 35 1 [Glasses are raised high.] everyone: Kampa-a-ai. narration: With a weird guy who's come to accept these weird circumstances... 2 [Miki's pov of Yuu, seated between his parents. He smiles and sips from his glass.] 3 [Miki portrait. She holds her glass in both hands, and stares off-panel.] narration: Who-o-o would fall in love?! 4 [View of the sky.] 5 [A smiling and happy Miki walks to school, schoolbag under one arm. She hums to herself.] --------------------------------------------------- p 36 1 Miki: [smiling, waving] Meiko! Good morning! Meiko: Miki. 2 [They walk to school together, surrounded by other students doing the same.] Meiko: Did you get through moving okay? Miki: Um, sure. It's started at last. My abnormal life... 3 Meiko: But still, you're cheerful. Miki: [humming] That's because I'm going to school now. 4 [Miki smiles brightly.] Miki: Because if I'm in school, I can avoid being face-to-face with that abnormal family. Miki: Truly, this is the only place I can... 5 Miki: ...relax. [A schoolbag connects with the back of her head, making Miki's eyes goggle and pitching her forward.] schoolbag FX: 6 [Angrily, she turns to look behind her...] Miki: Ow! What are you d--? --------------------------------------------------- p 37 1 [It's Yuu. Miki freezes in surprise. Meiko looks on.] 2 Miki: [aghast] Y-YUU!?! 3 Miki: [off] Wh-why are you here?! Why our uniform...?! Yuu: [closing his eyes] It would be too tiring to commute to Yokohama, so I transferred. 4 [He smiles back at Miki over his shoulder.] Yuu: Rumi-san recommended it, saying that this school has an escalator system up to college, and it's good because of its tradition of freedom. Miki: Nobody told me anything!! Yuu: If we had, you'd have squawked your objections and become a pest, so we kept silent. --------------------------------------------------- p 38 1 [Miki's pov of Yuu.] Yuu: How unfortunate. Even in school... Yuu FX: Yuu: You'll be together with a member of the abnormal family. 2 Miki: ~~~~~ Miki: He heard me... 3 [Yuu takes her by the hand and drags her along.] Yuu: Now! Take me to the faculty room! Today is the first time I've come here, so I don't know the way. Miki: (I'm having a nightmare...) Miki FX: [Meiko continues to watch, surprised by it all.] 4 [Ginta catches up to Meiko, who looks back.] Ginta: Meiko. Who's that? A transfer student? Meiko: Ginta. 5 [Pov shifts. We watch from between Ginta and Meiko as Miki angrily confronts the calm Yuu.] Meiko: Looks like it. Miki: Yokohama! Isn't that a distance you can commute?! Yuu: Then, you commute! Ginta: Someone Miki knows? --------------------------------------------------- p 39 1 Meiko: [off] Kinda like a brother... I guess. Ginta: [off] Kinda like a...? Ginta: [off] What does that mean? 2 [Ginta portrait.] Ginta: .......... 3 [Meiko studies Ginta in profile.] 4 [View looking down a hallway.] girl 1: [off] Did you know? I hear a transfer student arrived in 1-B. A boy! girl 2: [off] A transfer student? That's unusual. girl 3: [off] I hear he's terribly handsome!! --------------------------------------------------- p 40 1 [Four smiling girls surround Yuu, who's seated at his desk. He smiles amiably at them.] 2 [Meiko stands at the side of Miki's desk, where Miki sits glumly.] Meiko: It's the day he transferred, and already he's quite the schoolgirls' idol, hm. Well, it's not unreasonable, given those looks. Miki: (Why the same class...?) 3 girl 4: Say, say. Can I call you "Yuu?" Since we have a private university attached to our school, everyone's been together since junior high. So we mostly call out to friends by their first name. Yuu: Sure. So it's also okay for me to call all of you by first name? 4 [Miki rests her chin in one hand, listening with disgust to the chatter off-panel.] girls: [off] Kyaaaa! Yes! Yes! I'm Atsuko-o-o! I'm Mie. Miki: (Feh!) 5 [Ginta appears at the window (facing the hallway) to the classroom.] Ginta: [smiling] Miki! There's a court free. Wanna go and train on our own? Miki: Ah! Yes, yes! --------------------------------------------------- p 41 1 [Yuu's pov as Ginta and Miki pass by the window, walking down the hall.] 2 [Yuu portrait. He watches.] 3 [Overhead view looking down at the school's tennis courts.] tennis balls FX: 4 [Yuu walks home, along the wire fence surrounding the courts.] 5 Meiko: [off] Matsuura-kun. 6 [Yuu's pov of Meiko.] --------------------------------------------------- p 42 1 Yuu: [off] Ahh. This morning. With Miki... Meiko: [off] Akizuki Meiko. Pleased to meet you. 2 Meiko: [pointing] If it's Miki you're looking for, she's over there. 3 [Miki stands with Ginta, talking.] 4 [A closer view of the smiling couple.] Yuu: [off] He's in the same class. Meiko: [off] That's right. Suou Ginta. 5 [View from behind Meiko and Yuu as they look through the fence.] Yuu: Miki's boyfriend? Meiko: Uh-uh. But those two are awfully close friends. They've been that way ever since junior high. Yuu: Then, they still haven't confessed their feelings? 6 [Yuu's pov of Meiko in profile, as she stares straight ahead without expression.] Meiko: .......... It isn't like that at all. --------------------------------------------------- p 43 1 [View of trees and sky.] Meiko: [off] Miki... Confessed her feelings to Ginta during 2nd year of junior high, and... Was firmly rejected. 2 [Miki taps on the racket held in Ginta's hands.] 3 Yuu: Huhhh...? ---------------------------------------------------