TSUKIJI TOFU
Hey, Kei...
KING
What?
The middle school culture festival is tomorrow, right?
That's right.
KEI SHIROGANE WANTS TO SHOW OFF
I need some ideas for ours, so is it okay if I check it out?
Huh?
What? Oh...
I guess it would be okay.
Yeah?
Then, I think I'll drop by in the afternoon.
What are you guys doing again?
Nothing special. Just a takoyaki stall.
Really?
Hey...
You're not coming in that outfit, are you?
That was the plan.
You stick out in that, so wear something else.
Why should I?
Everyone knows who you are in my school, Brother!
The last thing I want is to get teased because you stood out like a sore thumb!
You're at that awkward age, huh?
Remember, I'm not taking you unless you dress cool!
Cool, huh?
Fine, I hear you loud and clear. I'll choose my outfit with care, okay?
I want you to show me what you have in mind.
Huh? Why?
Just show me.
Come on! I have to get dinner ready.
Kei Shirogane knew from years of experience what kind of person her brother was.
- What do you think of this? - Don't even think of wearing that!
What? You don't like it?
To think that someone could so shamelessly dress like an eighth-grader... Never!
Never once did I think that we were related!
There's nothing to worry about!
I'm going to spike up my hair with wax tomorrow, so—
That's the least of my worries!
We can still salvage your hair, at least, so don't tinker with it anymore!
But a guy wearing a hairpin is beyond lame!
That juvenile English phrase that looks like it got spit out by a translation website!
And that skull as an accent! What the heck?
At least lose the long-sleeved shirt underneath!
But they're sewn together, so it's like a unibody shirt.
Unibody?
Those pants are the wrong length, too.
Can't you at least roll them up?
JERK
A pattern?
BAM
English text again! What's the deal with your passion for English text?
Right. All this attention to detail is cool, huh?
I have different patterns on each leg.
BAMMM
It's actually the Dragon Style!
ASYMMETRIC (DRAGON STYLE)
Don't you have any simpler clothes?
Just some tight jeans and a dressy shirt would do.
Unnecessary!
You have more than enough elements already!
Seriously, you're looking worse by the second.
Your fashion sense was stunted when you were a delusional eighth-grader.
Well, I actually was an eighth-grader when I bought these clothes.
Since I started high school, I've only ever worn my uniform outside.
Then at the very least, just do as I say.
That backpack! You're not a grade-schooler on a field trip, so lose it!
SODA BOTTLES
What? But you can stash two bottles of soda in it.
TWO
Don't you have any other bags?
It doesn't look like it.
Then you can have this one. Use it.
Huh? Hey, thanks!
Take it off!
Whoa!
No one in their right mind wears a waist pack on their waist!
Why not?
In Japan, no one's allowed to wear their waist pack anywhere but on their shoulder!
Why?
If you wear it on your shoulder, then it's a shoulder pack!
No, it's not!
This is how to rock a waist pack if you want to be trendy!
Okay but why?
HUH HUH
That's what the public decided! So you'll have to ask the public!
ARGH ARGH
You need to observe the people you see on the street!
- Everyone wears it like this! - No way can that be true.
I'm home.
Hey.
Welcome ho—
Whoa! It is true!
Well, not that this isn't painful, either, with the "old guy trying to look young" vibe.
Why would you diss your dad the instant he arrives home?
All right, just lay out all your clothes, then! I'll pick something out for you!
OKI- FISHERMAN
Beyond hopeless.
No matter how I mix and match, it's hopeless.
That's so cruel.
So this is what I get for scrimping, saving for my family
and making do with secondhand clothes?
Don't say such sad things.
Sure...
I wish I could go out all decked out in a nice outfit, too.
But once I start desiring something, there'll be no end to it.
The best way to not want something is to drop all interest in it from the get-go.
But since Kei's a girl...
I want to make sure she can dress well...
so I cut back on my own clothing expenses.
What's this, Miyuki? You want to look fashionable, too?
Well, sure, if I could.
Only one thing to do, then.
Then I'll give you this.
This is the most expensive and stylish out of all my belongings.
It's called a "Moonwatch."
As the name implies, this watch made it to the Moon.
It's the model that was used on the Apollo Program.
I finally managed to buy it after saving up for three years.
And I worked my butt off so that I could one day become a man worthy of this watch.
Though my factory did go belly-up and I ended up selling off all our belongings,
this is the one thing that I couldn't part with.
Are you sure about this?
Something so precious...
Yeah. Because I'm a man who's given up on a lot of things.
This watch is for someone who'll try to reach for the moon.
It should be yours.
Dad, I'm going to take real good care of it, so—
Jeez, that's such an old guy watch.
You're just going to have to buy some new clothes.
How much do you have on you?
Hand over your whole stash.
All I've got is this commemorative 5,000-yen coin from the Nagano Olympics.
All I've got is a 2,000-yen bill.
Why do you both just happen to have such random pieces of currency?
SHOO
And they seem like keepers, so how could we use them?
Really! What am I gonna do with you?
All right. Let's go!
Hurry up or the shops will close.
Hey... But Kei...
Don't give it another thought.
This is the birthday money that I got from you anyway.
Y-You knew it was from me?
What do you think?
Who do you think tracks all our household expenses?
FRESH BAKED! DONUTS
YUMMY
Hey there, Kei!
Brother...
So you really came, huh?
One dish of takoyaki.
Here. Now get out of my sight.
Standoffish much? When I came here dressed to the nines...
Was that your big brother, Shirogane?
The student council president?
That's right.
Wow, he's so cool!
I know!
I wish I had a big brother like that!
I know I'd be showing him off all over the place!
You couldn't be more wrong about him.
400 YEN
At home, he puts his laundry in the hamper inside out.
He lectures me not be a picky eater with a condescending look in his eye.
SUPER YUMMY!!
He orders me not to wear anything too revealing.
He says I can't go out until my homework's done.
I'm telling you, my brother's so annoying!
PRESIDENT SHIROGANE IS SO COOL...
SHUCHIIN SWEET BUNS
These are the samples of the goods they're going to sell at the school shop!
TA-DA
Shuchiin Sweet Buns and Shuchiin Rice Crackers.
SHUCHIIN SWEET BUNS
SHUCHIIN RICE CRACKERS
You'd think they were souvenirs from a tourist spot.
ABOUT KAGUYA SHINOMIYA, PART 2
Well, they're legit products for funding the Alumni Association.
They were made-to-order by a real vendor!
This heart-shaped necklace...
I saw it last year, as well.
Oh, you didn't know?
This is like the symbol of the Hoshin Culture Festival.
Once upon a time, in a certain land,
they say there was a princess so ill that she was on the brink of death.
Her father, a lord, started praying for her recovery and received a heavenly message.
He was told to burn a youth's heart in a fire,
stir the ashes into the juice of a daikon radish and have her drink it.
The rumors spread, and a man who was in love with the princess...
...offered his heart to the princess?
That's right!
And it's written in the local historical records from the 8th century that this saved the princess's life.
And apparently...
this happened right here at Shuchiin Academy High School!
WHAT A GREAT SLOGAN!!
"LET YOUR BURNING LOVE REACH EVERYONE!" HOSHIN FESTIVAL!!
APPROVED!
And that's where the Hoshin Culture Festival got its name.
Well, this story certainly has its share of holes.
Huh? Talk about a lukewarm reaction!
We're talking about pure love from a thousand years ago!
Don't you think it's romantic?
I have no interest in the fanciful.
I'm sure this story was concocted to give the ruler of those times a sense of authority.
You sure are a realist, Kaguya!
So anyway, it's thanks to that myth that we now have these souvenirs to sell.
How can we trace it to that?
Because this is a heart, too, right?
They say that if you give someone a heart-shaped gift at the Hoshin Culture Festival...
it'll bring you eternal love!
Romantic!
My big brother got one along with a confession of love, too.
And he just married that girl!
Even I can see that they're all lovey-dovey with each other!
So it seems like it totally works, don't you think?
It totally works, does it?
Here. You can have one of these samples.
Only a few days until the culture festival starts.
I don't even have time to devise a plan.
It'll likely be difficult to get President to give one of these to me.
In that case, I'll give this to him myself.
No, no way! If I do that, I'll have as good as confessed!
SHAKE SHAKE
And that's never going to happen!
But...
They say that if you give someone a heart-shaped gift at the Hoshin Culture Festival,
it'll bring you eternal love!
Eternal love.
Surely I wouldn't be giving myself away if I did something like this!
Right! I just have to nonchalantly give him something heart-shaped on the sly!
Such child's play!
Eternal love!
But in the unlikely event that I get caught?
Hmm. So I see.
You want to cultivate eternal love between us?
What's the matter, Shinomiya? You're sweating so profusely!
Why don't I use this handkerchief with the heart to wipe it off?
Self-defeating! That nonchalance would actually make me seem serious!
After all, to give is to leave behind physical evidence.
If that's the case, then what about food?
If I can slice some apples or strawberries just right, I can make them heart-shaped.
Then I'll use them as filling for a pie!
On the surface, I wouldn't be giving myself away,
and once he consumes it, there'll be no evidence left behind!
But...
Okay, let's divvy it up!
Now slicing!
How could you do such a thing?
They look like broken hearts now! No! Our eternal love is collapsing!
I don't know what's going on anymore!
Wait a minute!
Why is my heart pounding like this?
I feel so stupid!
Why am I in such a frenzy over such a trivial thing?
What am I so afraid of?
When did I...
become...
such a coward?
President?
Hey, Shinomiya.
What's that stack of documents?
Oh, these?
It's the paperwork for the culture festival.
Oh no. You already have too much on your plate as it is.
And you look more tired than usual.
Hmm.
Hosting a two-day event without any know-how...
We all have too much on our plates now.
If I can go the extra mile now, there'll be less to do during the festival,
and that should give everyone some time to walk around, right?
It wouldn't be right if the people who worked the hardest didn't get to enjoy the festival, would it?
Those words were spoken so unassumingly, and they are so...
They are so...
enchanting to me.
Hey you!
I'd like to take a step toward...
the next level.
Listen, Hayasaka!
I want you to find a handkerchief that has this kind of pattern!
By tomorrow!
What a tyrannical request.
POLKA DOT HANDKERCHIEF *BUT WITH JUST ONE HEART (THIS IS IMPORTANT)
BUT MUST MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T NOTICE THE HEART!! (ALSO IMPORTANT)
A product like that, geared toward such a niche market doesn't exist.
Is this based on the Hoshin Legend?
If you give him this, it'll be the same as confessing to him.
Well, of course you'll come up with some excuse or other,
"Oh, it's not as if I like President or anything," but—
I do like him.
What?
I...
like...
Miyuki Shirogane.
Tell me, Hayasaka.
How am I supposed to process such feelings?
I'm feeling so strange.
I can't believe it.
"I like him."
I'm amazed that you uttered such nauseating words so calmly.
But you're the one who's been trying to make me say them all this time!
In love, whoever has feelings first loses.
Admitting those feelings out loud has wounded Kaguya's pride.
Even so, along with a faint sense of defeat,
she also feels the relief of having a heavy load lifted off her shoulders.
FOR HAYASAKA, THIS WAS THE BIGGEST NEWS OF THE YEAR
Are you kidding me?
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STUDYING IN THE U.S.
I...
like...
Miyuki Shirogane.
HEART TO HEART
HOSHIN CULTURE FESTIVAL
LET YOUR BURNING LOVE REACH EVERYONE!
I wonder what'll happen if I tell you how I feel about you.
According to Hayasaka...
If you like him, then you should be straight with him and confess.
Either hold on to your pride and continue to suffer
or else confess and have the load lifted right away.
The time has finally come for you to choose.
Confess...
It all depends on why I won't confess.
I know that President likes me, so what's the problem?
And it's not as if whoever has feelings first loses, or anything!
She just rejected the principle theme of this story!
KAGUYA WANTS TO CONFESS
How hard could it be to confess?
President, I like you! Please go out with me!
I like you, too, Shinomiya.
Then...
But when I say "like," I mean that I'm fond of you.
It's not romantic.
Sorry.
TREMBLE TREMBLE
AAAH
No, you're being too pessimistic! Although I can't rule out the possibility!
But the odds of my succeeding are so much higher!
In the first place, they say that whoever has feelings first loses!
GRUMPY
Me, confess first? I could never!
Kaguya turned tail and returned to where she started.
Where do people find the courage to confess their feelings?
Understood.
So, once the event on Outdoor Stage Number 2 is over, please collect the wireless mics.
CULTURE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Thanks for always looking out for me, Ishigami!
Equipment trouble comes with the territory.
This isn't on you, Squad Leader.
Hey, don't call me "Squad Leader"! This isn't the Cheerleading Squad!
O-Oh, just out of habit.
Now, now!
CULTURE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Let's just say that the Cheerleading Squad's bonds can never be broken!
Well, I'm cool with that!
Miko...
Do you have any extra blackout curtains?
Hey, is that you, Kobachi? You're sure working hard!
Yes. Good luck to you, too.
Thanks! See you later!
Huh? You know the Squad Leader, Osaragi?
Hmm. Know him?
I'm dating him.
Oh, is that right? Who would've thought?
Koba-chan, I thought you couldn't stand sweaty types like him—
- Huh? - Huh?
Hold on a second!
You never showed any signs until now!
We started talking here and there while getting ready for the festival.
And I don't know. It just happened.
It's what they call "culture festival magic."
Culture festival magic?
CULTURE FESTIVAL MAGIC
Through culture festival preparations, students make rapid-fire moves on one another!
And quite often, buoyed by festival fever, they end up as bona fide couples!
This is a phenomenon known as "culture festival magic"!
We were texting each other on Line the other day, and it just happened.
He asked me if I wanted to give dating a try, and I was like, "Well, why not?"
You were like, "Well, why not?"
PANIC PANIC
Well, since it'd be lame, going to the culture festival with female friends.
And after this, we have Christmas coming up.
Logically speaking...
you'd need a guy for that, right?
You're more carnivorous with men than I thought!
At this time of year, if the other person is single...
that gives you a 60% rate of success when you confess.
The best time of the year to make it is right now.
Is it really?
You give it your best shot, too, Ishigami.
What for exactly?
Ridiculous.
I'm hitting the restroom.
Ishigami always had this thought in his mind.
Tsubame and the Squad Leader are good friends, and they look cute together,
TSUBAME SQUAD LEADER
so maybe they were going out.
However, if the Squad Leader and Osaragi are going out, it changes everything!
TSUBAME SQUAD LEADER OSARAGI
At this moment, the possibility that Tsubame Koyasu is single is sky-high!
All right!
This is it! This is it! This is it! This is it! This is it!
This is my chance!
Please...
Would you mind not shouting like that?
Shinomiya!
Well, not that I don't understand why you want to make a commotion.
If you were to take advantage of this culture festival atmosphere,
you'd be very likely to succeed. Isn't that what you were thinking just now?
I never had such a shallow thought in my mind!
Sh-Shallow?
I have no intention of making such a calculated confession.
I'm out of time.
I can't afford to let this chance slip through my fingers!
Tsubame will be graduating soon.
If I do nothing now, I'll only ever be her high school junior!
That's why...
I have to become Tsubame's special someone!
Even though it's scary to think that she just might reject me.
But the truth is, I was going to make a move...
only after doing well on my finals the other day.
Am I being reckless after all? A guy like me...
Ishigami!
You're wrong about that! I'm sure you'll make it!
You don't have to hide the fact that you like her!
Be brave, Ishigami!
You absolutely should confess to her!
Let's go confess to her right away!
Now? Shall we go now?
No, now is not...
But you gave me a little courage.
For now, I'm just going to ask her to go to the culture festival with me.
Shinomiya...
Thanks.
Ishigami...
So you're going to be brave.
In that case...
I...
Please use this!
CREPES
So cute! Thanks!
Secretary Fujiwara, what are you doing?
Oh, President!
TA-DA
Since we have so many extra heart-shaped balloons,
I've been handing them out to the classes that don't have enough decorations!
Hoshin Culture Festival's key item is a heart after all!
I see. Good thinking there.
Isn't it?
HEH HEH
Ah... Testing, testing...
Hey, it's just about to start!
Are you good to go now?
Yeah.
I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
During this festival...
Everybody, thank you for waiting!
I'm going to confess to President!
It's finally time to kick off the scorching hot two days you've been waiting so long for!
All right, what in the world could happen?
If Shinomiya doesn't confess to me first, then I'll do it.
I'm sure that you'll all end up cherishing the next two days!
Now then...
let Shuchiin Academy's Hoshin Culture Festival...
start!
HOSHIN CULTURE FESTIVAL
CUPID TAKOYAKI WITH HEART-SHAPED KAMABOKO INSIDE
FRUIT CANDY 200 YEN
CREPES
The Culture Festival and Dual Confessions Arc...
has begun!
And...