Day 2 of the culture festival,
the final day.
NOSTALGIC PENNY CANDIES
"LIKE A MAN" STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT MIYUKI SHIROGANE SPEAKS PROFOUNDLY
"Like a man"?
Oh!
Shinomiya...
Oh!
BEST COUPLE BORN OUT OF NOWHERE!?
Be my girl.
No matter how hard you resist, you'll never escape me.
MODERN-DAY ROMEO AND JULIET A LOVE THAT TRANSCENDS SOCIAL STANDING
Extra!
Extra, extra!
EXTRA! THE SHUCHIIN TIMES PHANTOM THIEF AT LARGE AT SHUCHIIN ACADEMY!! THE LOST HEART-SHAPED BALLOONS WHO WOULD DO THIS? AND WHY?
Oh my.
"Phantom thief"?
We have an extra for you!
PHANTOM THIEF AT LARGE AT SHUCHIIN ACADEMY!!
This can't be anything but a challenge thrown down to me!
All those heart-shaped balloons I passed around...
FIRST ATTEMPT AT THE CULTURE FESTIVAL
THE SHUCHIIN TIMES
have all been stolen overnight!
Not only that...
but at each crime scene, a card...
I've come to claim your heart.
I've come to claim your heart. Arsène.
...and replacement balloons were left behind!
50-PACK
Is he modeling himself after Arsène Lupin?
And these replacement balloons...
That is actually...
the true message!
This thief isn't after money or to hurt anyone.
He's telling us that this is a game!
BALLOON ART
I'm going to catch this phantom thief, no matter what!
Fujiwara!
President...
Are you sure it's okay to let her run wild?
It's fine.
Every festival could do with a little commotion, don't you think?
YAKISOBA VS. HOT DOGS 200 YEN
MIYUKI SHIROGANE WANTS TO MAKE HER CONFESS, PART 4
GOURMET FOODS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE WORLD TOUR
Stare...
Auntie?
Whatever are you doing here?
BALLOON ART
A sword would suit you so much better, Auntie.
I'd be happy to craft something more fitting for you!
No, thank you.
I know you think it wouldn't matter if you were slipshod about making me something.
What? I'll always pour my soul into making something, no matter who it's for!
I respectfully decline.
Maki! We'll have someone else look after Kaguya, okay?
All I wanted was to thank Auntie for yesterday!
Then you should've just said so instead of being so perverse.
Here! All done!
Looks like President's free now, so please head that way—
What? President?
HUMPH
Not that I had any preference as to whom I would be served by,
but since President coincidentally finds himself free now,
In terms of being perverse, she and Maki could be twins.
I suppose it can't be helped, can it?
Hey, Shinomiya. So you came?
I'm glad it's during my shift.
Y-Yes! What a coincidence, right?
All that commotion over the phantom thief reminded me that you were doing balloon art.
Then I have the phantom thief to thank, huh?
So what can I make for you?
BALLOON ART FOR BEGINNERS INTRODUCTION
I can handle anything in this book.
Anything would be fine with me, but—
A-A heart?
BALLOON ART FOR BEGINNERS INTRODUCTION
300 YEN
100 YEN
MORE THAN 2 BALLOONS
1 BALLOON
PRICE LIST
RECOMMENDED!!
Even though I'll have to buy it...
it's my chance to be handed a heart from President!
W-Well, then...
No!
Hold on a second!
Please give me a heart!
You want a heart?
In other words, you're so smitten with me that you want me to confess?
Meaning that...
Oh! That would be the same as me confessing to him!
What an ingenious trap!
I came this close to falling into it!
Have you decided?
Let's see.
I'd appreciate it if you could make some suggestions, President.
My suggestions, huh?
Do you have something in mind?
Rabbit ears would be embarrassing, so I'd like to avoid those.
And it'd be sad to see them after they've withered, so that rules out animals.
But something girlish and adorable.
Also, I would prefer something in either red or pink.
That's really narrowing it down.
Under these conditions, the only remaining option will be a heart!
Then how about a flower?
I consider flowers to be animals.
Come on, aren't flowers plants?
No, since flowers also move by opening up and closing, they are animals in my eyes.
So all living things are a no-no.
Okay, what about a ribbon?
I'm already wearing a ribbon as you can see!
Or a pink sword?
And why should it be pink?
President...
What about something like this heart?
Hmm.
So you'd be okay with a heart?
W-Well, I suppose that would meet all of my criteria!
Fine.
Yes!
Miss Kashiwagi!
You are truly the soul of tact!
That's what you call a best friend!
Something like this?
Y-Yes!
U-Um...
How much do I owe you?
Here's the price list.
A single-balloon piece costs 100 yen.
300 yen if it was made with more than two.
HEART-SHAPED PIECES
A heart-shaped piece costs...
What?
A heart-shaped piece costs one heart.
HEART-SHAPED PIECES THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE TO CONFESS YOUR FEELINGS CHOOSE WHICHEVER BALLOONS YOU PREFER FROM THE BOOK AND LET US KNOW
We trade for something else heart-shaped.
It said so on the list from the start.
And by the way, you'll need to pay up first.
What's it going to be?
Um, well...
Miyuki!
Your shift is over.
Hold up!
It's really getting juicy!
A heart's value isn't cheap.
That's what this is about, right?
Is this...
not good enough?
I seriously don't think that's cool!
To be continued.
I do not have any hearts on hand!
DASH
Hey!
"LET YOUR BURNING LOVE REACH EVERYONE!" WHAT A GREAT SLOGAN!!
ZERO DAYS UNTIL THE CULTURE FESTIVAL
Hey, Tsubame...
Oh!
About the script for the closing ceremony...
Oh, r-r-right! Just leave it there!
Tsubame...
There's a piece of tape stuck to your back.
CULTURE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
D-Don't worry about it! It's stylish!
Tsubame...
I'm off to patrol the grounds!
What? Is she totally avoiding me or what?
Is something wrong?
DID I DO SOMETHING?
Haven't you heard?
Apparently, Ishigami confessed to Tsubame.
Whoa! What on earth was he thinking?
Hey, I heard about that, too!
Ishigami doesn't even realize he's confessed!
Tsubame Koyasu's answer will dictate all that happens next!
TSUBAME KOYASU WANTS TO SAY NO
Oh...
I ran off yet again.
What am I supposed to do?
Tsubame?
Kaguya!
Listen! You're pretty popular with boys, aren't you?
What? W-W-Well, I guess you could say that.
So you must get confessed to all the time, right?
So when that happens...
how do you say no exactly?
So...
I mean, he's a nice guy and all,
but since I've never looked at him in that way...
The guys who confess to me are mostly the playboy-type.
"Why don't we go out just for the heck of it?" That kind of casual vibe most of the time.
But this time, it was like a fastball right down the middle!
This is to show how I feel about you!
I'd like to take care of this without hurting him, if possible.
Just going out with him isn't an option, then?
If I do go out with him, then I'll probably fall for him, won't I?
When I fall for someone, it's like nothing else exists except for that person.
I'm sure I'd start phoning it in during rhythmic gymnastics practice.
And my college is somewhat far away.
But using that as an excuse would just seem mean.
I see.
So it's not as if you don't care for him at all.
Surely Ishigami isn't manly or bold enough to make a public confession.
So this absolutely has to be a confession from Ishigami's rival in love!
Kaguya has misinterpreted a significant detail!
Don't worry, Ishigami!
I shall obliterate your rival!
And so begins Kaguya's interference.
Tell me.
How do you usually turn down someone when they confess?
Me? Let's see.
LUST
"Take that lust-crazed gaze off me, you miserable swine!"
CRAZED
SWINE
Is what I always say!
That's what you always say?
Albeit in a gentle tone.
No matter how much you dilute that poison, it's a lethal dose!
I'd say it's kinder than leading him on.
Well...
Don't worry.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
So go ahead and be ruthless.
Ruthless...
Okay, gotcha!
I'll give it a ruthless strike!
In that case, would you mind looking after him for me?
What?
Who would be looking after whom?
Huh? I'm talking about you looking after Yu.
On the contrary, it would be ill-advised for you to be ruthless!
What? Contrary to what?
It'd be altogether too cruel to hurt someone who's mustered all his courage to confess!
The lowest of the low!
A brutal deed!
I thought you said what doesn't kill people makes them stronger!
Whaaaaat?
Ishigami's the one who confessed to her?
And all signs are pointing to his rejection!
If Ishigami ends up getting his heart broken now, I'm sure President will comfort him...
and there's no way that anyone will be able to confess!
You did your best! Now cry your heart out!
Really now!
Ishigami, you blundering fool!
Why did you have to confess at a time like this?
You don't have to hide the fact that you like her!
Be brave, Ishigami!
Oh dear, I'm the one who egged him on!
I like you!
Will you go out with me?
Here. Will you accept this from me?
Oh...
Miss Fujiwara?
I wonder what she's going to say.
Ta-da!
I know it's out of the blue, but here's a quiz for you!
Either way, it's a feather, but what do you call a feather that's weightless?
Um, what could it be?
The feather of justice from Egyptian mythology?
Oh, being light-fingered?
Boo!
Wrong answer!
The correct answer is...
a heart that can enjoy itself to the fullest.
The feathers of a free heart that can't be tied down.
What is this girl talking about?
I have to go catch that phantom thief now!
Sorry!
STEP STEP
I get it! When you reject someone, you just have to quiz them!
No, you do not! Don't let yourself get led astray!
But look, the boy who got rejected looks so at peace.
The feathers of your heart are so light, huh?
This is a bizarre dream. Let us both forget that we ever saw it.
It's not just about turning him down or not.
You do have another option. To put it on hold for a bit.
- That's true. - Come on, why not?
I can't have this!
If you don't stop right now, I'm going to call a teacher over!
Hey, but do you know how cute you are?
Yeah, for real!
Without any makeup, no less! You're too cute to be true, huh?
We're not kidding! When's your break?
Hey, we'll wait for hours if we have to!
Well, I do go on break in another hour or so.
Then let's hang out and have fun for a little while!
Just a little while! Okay?
If it's...
just a little...
Ow!
Sorry, we need this one for an emergency.
Rei! Ishigami just smacked me over the head!
Be sure to remember that pain well.
Why did Iino have to be so...
That's the first time I ever saw Yu get mad.
Oh no!
You're mistaken!
Ishigami was just worried about Iino!
He may be foulmouthed, but he doesn't resort to violence for no reason—
I never knew.
I had no idea at all.
I guess you're right.
I don't know him at all.
I wonder if I can give him my answer after I know him better.
Tsubame Koyasu's decision...
Her answer is on hold.
I'm so sorry, Ishigami!
PANICKED...
I'll find someone for you, all right?
Huh?
To be continued.
MIYUKI SHIROGANE WANTS TO MAKE HER CONFESS, PART 5
These culture festivals are endlessly draining, aren't they?
And I seem to keep missing President.
Shinomiya, do you have a second?
Oh! Oh my, President!
What a coincidence!
Actually, it's not a coincidence. I've been looking for you.
F-For me?
Could it be...
I want to check out some events with you, Shinomiya!
Oh, surely not.
Do you want to check out some festival events together?
Whaaa...
We've reached our quota of donations.
I was thinking I'd ask you to join me.
Whaaa... Whaaa... Whaaa...
Ah, so I see.
Obviously, you've fallen under the spell of this festival.
This is my chance to drive you into a corner!
A male and a female going together would surely trigger some rumors.
That you and I are on a culture festival date.
Is that bad?
No. I wouldn't say that.
Then why don't we wander around together?
Look...
Look at that!
Kaguya and President Shirogane are together!
Maybe they're on a culture festival date?
Oh! How bold!
President, how can you be so unflinchingly calm?
No fair!
I'm going to make you feel the same way I feel if it's the last thing I do!
WITCHES' LAIR THE OCCULT RESEARCH CLUB
President...
Look, it says "fortune-telling"!
Wanna go in?
Can you take two?
You've fallen right into my trap.
I hear that the head of the Occult Research Club uses fortune-telling as a pretext
YUME ATENBO (THIRD-YEAR) THE HEAD OF THE OCCULT RESEARCH CLUB
to ask questions verging on sexual harassment!
All I want is for President to blush bright red with embarrassment!
Oh my.
You two from the student council, is this a secret tryst?
Such passion!
You are using birth control, right?
This is actual, horrible sexual harassment!
No. In the first place, we're not even dating.
Oh my. Please be careful, Shinomiya.
You'd never guess it, but guys like him are the most lustful.
Lu—
Well, not that I'm going to deny that.
You're not?
Now then, since you're here together...
ABE'S FILES
shall I do a reading on your love compatibility?
Good idea.
How would we turn out if, say, we got married?
Married?
Very well.
Shinomiya, if I remember correctly,
your birthday is January 1st, and your blood type is AB.
Shirogane, your birthday is September 9th, and your blood type is O.
You weighed 2,118 grams at birth.
How can you know that? This person's creepy!
I see. I see.
You two are extremely compatible.
Shirogane, you have the mental strength to carry out your will to the very end.
That also makes you gentle as well as tenacious.
And above all,
you have no qualms about occasionally deceiving others to further your goals.
You also have that shrewdness in you.
As your wife, Shinomiya, is also extremely shrewd,
you're a perfect match for each other.
Not that I'm either his wife or shrewd!
Shinomiya, you're like a crystal-clear surface of water.
Pure water that can transform with the changing colors of the sky.
You can turn evil if you're with an evil person,
and become virtuous if you're with a virtuous person.
You're the devoted type, so if you get married, you'll become a good wife and wise mother.
Good wife?
And it also says here that as long as you're taught well, you'll be incredible in bed.
There's no way you got a reading like that!
Statistically, that's what it's telling me.
IF YOU TEACH HER WELL SHE'LL BE INCREDIBLE IN BED
There's one more interesting prediction here.
Your day of destiny...
is, oddly enough, today, when you'll be faced with a crucial decision regarding your future.
What could that decision be, I wonder.
That sure was an ordeal.
It was all I could do to keep a straight face.
Seriously...
I see. So it wasn't just me!
Whenever I refuse to give in, somehow, things always seem to go awry.
That's right! I'll just enjoy the moment without thinking at all—
RUMBLE RUMBLE
Miss Fujiwara!
I can see it coming! She's going to wreak havoc like always!
And ruin this precious date!
Wait. What?
A NEW WARNING!!
It looks like Fujiwara's consumed by this whole phantom thief uproar, huh?
CHOKIKO'S CLASSROOM
WARNING THIS IS WHAT I'M TAKING NEXT.
A new warning.
What do you think he's after?
I-I have no idea.
Th-Thank goodness!
Miss Fujiwara being so consumed that she failed to notice me
has created a golden opportunity for me!
I won't be thwarted during my date today!
Tsubame...
STICKY SLIMY
Ishigami?
Why are you ducking me?
I forgot about that!
Ishigami might get rejected by Tsubame because of me!
NOT REALLY ANYTHING
Wh-What am I going to do?
Yu!
MANSION
JAPANESE SWEETS HALL
Tsubame?
Are you free after this?
I'd like you to come watch the gymnastics team's performance.
Uh...
A-Are you sure it's okay?
Also...
can you meet me behind the school building first?
Not a problem!
Hey, Kaguya!
About Yu...
I've decided to give Yu my answer after giving it some thought.
I don't think I'll end up having to ask you to take care of him.
Yay!
Okay!
Just relax and enjoy the festival!
Yet another stroke of luck!
CHU CHU CHURROS ARE WHAT ROMANCE TASTES LIKE
Now he won't be hindering me as I take my relationship with President to the next level!
Shinomiya...
Want half of this?
Oh! I'd be happy to—
GROWL
Iino!
NOODLES
The all-you-can-eat soba noodles competition's about to start!
RUGBY MEAL
Last-minute entrants are welcome!
GROWL
Soba noodles!
RUGBY MEAL
All right, here come the players!
The gods seem to be favoring me today!
This isn't fiction, it isn't a dream...
This world belongs to me alone... The invincible heroine...
Sunday I'm ready to go...
I'm on a roll!
I want so much to show you these spring-colored lips...
DRAWING CRACKERS
I'm on a roll!
I'm on a roll like you wouldn't believe!
If only every day could be like today.
After walking about the festival grounds, this room seems a bit stark.
It'd be nice to do something here in this student council room next year, right?
Next year, we can...
Shinomiya...
I have something important to tell you.
It's extremely important.
What?
Do you mean...
Take a look.
I knew I had to tell you right away.
That's my acceptance letter from Stanford.
I'm going to skip a grade...
and study abroad.
Next year,
I'll be leaving Shuchiin a year earlier than you all.
This will be...
my last culture festival.
TO BE CONTINUED