-See ya. -See you tomorrow.
Hmm? Oh.
There's Junta.
He's working hard, as usual.
Maybe I could watch him practice.
Hey. No, wait a minute.
-That's a bad idea. -Hey!
-I need to avoid anything… -Mm… Ah!
…that lets Riri plot something at all costs.
Are you okay?
I could end up dead!
Um… Hm!
#9 GINGER ALE IS A FORCE MAJEURE
Now that I think about it,
the baseball club manager's actually really cute.
I wonder if he'd ever date someone like her.
Maybe, if he weren't under Riri's spell.
I feel terrible getting him involved in this whole messed up situation.
-Here. -Ah…
Your attention, please. Doors' opening on the right.
Huh? Anzu?
Huh?
Yeah, it is.
Amin, Riporin!
Wow, how have you been, Anzu?
We were just talking about how we should have a reunion.
Really? That'd be fun!
We'll invite whoever we can contact.
Hey, are you busy now? Let's go have tea.
That sounds great. Let's go!
Any ideas where?
Let's do Zarigariya.
Amin, I haven't seen you since elementary school,
but Riporin, we saw each other at the station, remember?
Yeah, that was ages ago.
We couldn't even exchange contact info,
because you didn't have a phone back then.
Yeah, my parents waited to get me a phone,
because I would just play games all day.
No way. Well, it's true.
You did spend all of your time playing video games with the boys.
That's true. And you guys played some of the scary games.
Oh, like Cat Ranger.
Tonta and I were the only ones who played it in the beginning.
Tonta?
Oh yeah, he was that, um,
chubby kid with the, the wild hair.
What? I don't remember. What's his last name?
What? His last name?
Um, Tonta, um, Ton…
You hung out so much, how could you forget?
Now let's see. There was a "mi" in his last name.
Hm, it's… Oh, that's right.
It's Junta Hayami.
What?
What? What?
How awesome, I got it. Hayami, was it?
I wonder what he's up to these days.
Hayami?
Um, well, I still can't remember that name.
Hey, isn't that a Cat Ranger character?
Tonta, do you play too?
Huh, mm-hm.
For real? All right, let's play.
I have been wanting to play in team mode
and Ryuya and those guys don't play. They're so boring.
Come to my place!
What? Really, Miss Hoshino?
Call me Anzu.
Okay, Miss Anzu.
You can leave out the "Miss", okay?
Tonta's…
Junta?
Anzu, you look like you just ate a bee hive.
Do you have a stomachache?
I can't believe how stupid I am. I could just die.
Well, what happened?
Uh, Tonta wasn't his real name. It's a nickname.
Jeez, when I think about it now, it's totally obvious.
I mean, what kind of jerk doesn't know their friend's real name?
He's not like some rando from online.
Next up, Hayami.
Oh, yes.
But to be fair, Junta has changed dramatically.
He's totally unrecognizable from before.
Anzu?
Tonta, I mean Junta, goes to the same school as me now.
Oh, really, he does?
Did you forget him because he's kind of quiet?
Well, he's had a dramatic transformation.
Like an amoeba to an elephant.
That's like an entirely different species.
Seriously? We have to see him.
Yeah, I'm totally curious.
-Call him! -Call him!
Um… I guess I could give it a try,
but he'll probably be tired from baseball.
Hey, how's it going?
Who's this?
You are a different species!
Please be quiet. You're way too loud.
Tonta's an athlete now?
And he's hot!
What happened with all of your signature wild hair?
It's still curly when it grows out.
You're, um, Sayuki and, um, Igawa?
-Riporin. -Amin.
Be less formal!
-I mean, we can be casual. -Mm-hm.
We're talking about having a reunion next Saturday.
You'll come, right?
Huh? A reunion?
Anzu, are you gonna go?
Well yeah, I was planning on it.
I can't wait to see everyone's faces.
We need everyone from school to see this
and to understand that Tonta the bashful, I mean,
Junta, became an athlete.
Sure, if Anzu is.
Oh yeah, I have a game that day so I might be late.
No prob.
I'm excited.
Are you sure? You're so busy.
Nah, I'll be all right.
But, usually you practice more once you get home.
And then you walk me back from work too.
So, how long have you guys been dating?
-Huh? -Huh?
No! It's not like that!
It does make sense that you're with him.
Seriously, girl, you've got a great eye.
-Are we having fun? -Oh, chill.
This is unbelievable. Junta really was my childhood friend, Tonta.
So does that mean
it's not just a spell, and he actually does like me?
Junta's had a secret crush on you since elementary school!
Don't do this to him!
Now that I know…
-Hmm? -Hmm.
Uh, ugh!
I want to crawl under a rock of blissful ignorance.
So, um, sounds like you're a bit overwhelmed right now.
What's going on?
Ta-da!
Yay! I am so excited for the reunion!
And don't even think about wearing your normal frumpy clothes.
I'll pick out your outfit.
What's going on here, Riri?
Whatever do you mean?
Junta was really Tonta.
I thought he was an old friend you made up using magic.
-You bonehead. -Huh?
I never ever ever told you that I made him up now, did I?
You just didn't recognize him at all because he had transformed so much.
Yeah, but didn't you cast a spell on Junta so he would fall in love with me?
It's not a spell. I had nothing to do with it.
Junta genuinely has feelings for you,
-and magic isn't even a factor. -What?
Emotional manipulation of our subjects is absolutely forbidden
-among wizards. -Huh?
If that were allowed, I would have cast a spell on you by now.
That's true.
I just shorten the amount of time it would take for you to reunite.
What does that mean?
Well, for example, at your high school orientation,
Junta saw you and he even tried to talk to you.
What, he did?
-Anzu, I'm here. Let's go. -Huh?
However, Miss Gamer, what do you think you did?
Huh, uh, I don't remember what I…
Why don't we have lunch together before we head home?
Ah! I needed to use a recovery spell to win the game!
-Uh, hurry, let's go home. -What?
Hey Anzu, what about lunch? Aren't you hungry?
Finishing the game is priority one.
Oh good grief, Anzu!
Oh yeah.
I was just about to finish a game, so I ran home to play it.
That's right.
Splendidly, flawlessly, foolishly, you completely ignored him.
And once you started school…
you would always rush straight home as soon as classes ended,
so you could play your games!
It was like you were trying to set a record
for who could get home the fastest.
Uh…
And in Junta's case,
he keeps missing the chance to talk to you,
because baseball has him so busy.
Huh?
First-years, gather!
So I cut off the reunion, because you two were taking too damn long!
You can't just cut it!
All of it is to help you find love, Anzu.
Ugh, it's none of your business!
I don't care anymore!
Just give me back my three greatest desires!
That hurts!
If I do nothing,
then your dictionary will have no entry included for romance.
I surrender, I surrender.
VIDEO GAMES: VERY FUN. CHOCOLATE: DELICIOUS. CAT: FLUFFY AND CUTE.
Ugh, could any romance replace the three things I love most?
But you're the Anti-Heroine, how could you say that?
Ugh…
With girls like you, we have to be a bit more aggressive,
or you'll keep missing great opportunities.
-And die alone! -Jeez, harsh much?
Hold on, why am I the only one being treated like an outcast?
Saki has no interest in dating either.
That's because Saki is already insanely popular.
Saki, please, I love you so much!
So she won't need help finding someone.
SAKI LOVE
I'm so sorry, for even considering I'm in the same league as her.
Now, do you understand it, huh?
What we're doing, Anzu,
is a romantic relationship project to help you find a love
that surpasses your love for your greatest desires.
Well, I say screw that project.
But anyway, even if Tonta is Junta,
the fact remains that the two of us are just friends.
Heh?
Huh?
Um, hmm?
Get out!
You kick me out now?
Hey, what happened to Tonta?
-He left already. -Really?
Oh, I wanted to game with him today.
He told me that he's sick of playing Cat Ranger.
Seriously?
We were just talking about how we wanted to beat the top score.
You should beat it with us then!
Yeah!
You guys didn't even want to play Cat Ranger before.
Hey, that's not true.
Did you say Anzu was coming to the reunion too?
Anzu? Yeah, she's coming.
Was graduation the last time you saw her?
Yeah.
Heh, she'll probably come in her lame cat clothes.
-You've got a problem with cats? -Huh?
-Anzu? -Wow.
Look at you, Anzu, you look so cute, all dressed up.
That's right, girlie. Rock on.
Uh…
Wow, Anzu's got decent clothes on, guys.
And your hair's not everywhere.
I'm really sorry to disappoint you all, fellas.
But it's only thanks to their help.
I gotta pee! I really gotta pee!
Please just stay still now.
Hey, you forgot to take off the tag.
Just because you changed a little,
doesn't mean you can act like you're all that.
Clearly, you haven't changed much, Ryuya,
especially your height.
Hey, I'm still growing, all right?
I mean, maybe you just grew too much!
Hey, let's play girls against guys.
The team with the highest total score wins.
There's more girls than guys, so that sounds fair, right?
Yeah, I'm in. Sounds like fun.
So, what should the losers have to do?
What?
How about, losers confess who their first love was?
Uh-oh, I can only think of game characters.
We don't expect too much from you, Bushy.
Well, what should we do?
I'm on the girls' team,
so everything is gonna be a-okay.
MASTER OF GAMES
Yeah!
Huh, do you have any idea what it means to challenge me?
You're all merely average fools! You have hardly won any games!
I'll make sure that you all know your place!
-Anzu! -Yay, Anzu!
You sound just like a villain, girl.
Don't think that this game's going down like that!
This isn't grade school, you'll be silly!
You mean, "sorry."
Nobody realizes
that the secret to winning in bowling…
is that you first have to read the oil on the lane…
then visualize your target.
And finally, you inject that motivation!
Now, prepare for death!
Strike!
I just got to smash Riri so many times!
GIRLS' TEAM WIN!
Now, as promised, tell us who all your first loves were.
FIGHT ON
And get down on your knees!
Don't make it worse.
Well, what can we do?
-Let's sit down, at least. -Uh, you go first, man.
Um! Mine was… It was Okawa.
Ooh!
Mine was Yoshida.
Mine was Amin.
Huh, who? Me? No way.
It's over!
Hey, Ryuya, you're next.
Fine. Mine was…
Yamaguchi, you cool dude, get a hold of yourself!
Good thing Junta didn't get here yet.
I always liked Anzu!
Come on, man.
Hey.
My preschool teacher.
You've got to give us something better than that, dude!
Damn it!
We won't lose again! Rematch, now!
Again, dude? Really?
Yamaguchi's HP is at zero.
This is revenge!
Come on, guys! Let's show these girls what we've got!
Sure, guys. I mean, if you want to look even worse.
Okay then, losers buy ice cream.
Your crushes were less interesting than I could have imagined.
Now you just put his HP in the negative!
Saw this coming?
Yay! Now let's all do karaoke!
Anzu, I challenge you to karaoke!
Sure thing.
Ryuya, just let it go, man.
Hey, you know what,
you guys really haven't changed since grade school.
YOU HAVE A FIRM VOICE.
PRACTICE ADJUSTING THE PITCH AND AIM FOR A HIGHER SCORE.
All right. Not bad.
PITCH AT THE BEGINNING IS PERFECT
IT WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU TRY TO RELAX MORE
No! I don't believe this!
-You're such a sore loser. -Hmph!
Oh come on, you losing to me is such old news.
Anzu, you really know how to piss me off!
Oh, you're one to talk, Ryuya. You're just a two-timer.
What? You're a two-timer? Really?
Hey, shut up!
Yeah, but it's true.
Oh, come on.
Quit your moping. Just sing a song with Anzu and cheer up.
Oh, all right, fine.
So, what do you wanna sing?
YOU HAVE A NEW MESSAGE
Oh, um.
Oh, Junta just got here.
I'll go get him.
Remind me who is Junta again?
Junta is Tonta.
Oh yeah, I vaguely remember him.
Wait, didn't he, like, move away or something?
Yeah, but then he moved back.
And now he goes to school where Anzu goes.
He had a ball game today.
Ball game?
I don't really remember him being the athletic type.
-Oh? -We're back.
Oh, um. Hey there, everyone.
Wow.
Ta-da!
-Here's Tonta! -Or Junta Hayami!
Huh?
HE'S GROWN!
He's Tonta?
You got way too tall, man!
I don't recall you being such a cutie, though.
Wait, are you the Junta Hayami? Of Shunkan's baseball team?
Oh, yeah.
Really? That's so awesome!
Didn't you have an RBI last game?
I, I'm a total high school baseball nut, dude.
This is amazing. I can't believe Tonta's a star athlete now.
Jeez, can I get your autograph?
I totally didn't recognize you at all.
And you're so tall now.
How tall are you, anyway?
I don't know, maybe, six one?
You must be popular. Do you have a girlfriend?
His girlfriend's right over here.
I am not!
Oh! The ginger ale stings!
-That's so gross, bro. -It's not like that.
Well, you and Anzu do make sense.
Yeah, you guys have been friends forever.
You guys seriously crack me up.
-Huh? -Now you wanna be friends with him?
Tonta, you must think you're so much better than us now.
Oh come on, Ryuya, please don't do this.
I mean, you're tall, and yeah, you're athletic.
And on top of that, you're tall too.
You said "tall" twice, dude.
You just came to show off how hot you are now, right?
So tell me…
Is it so bad that a person should feel better after improving?
Uh…
Plus, Junta isn't doing any of it for attention.
He's dedicated and works hard. He practices 24/7.
So it's not fair to dismiss Junta
and treat him like he's just another pretty face.
I'm out.
What? Huh? Ryuya!
Sorry guys, I'll be right back.
Hold up, Ryuya!
I'm sorry I made a scene, okay?
But I'm leaving, so it's fine now, right?
Ryuya, jeez! Will you knock it off with the moping!
Hey!
Just so you know.
Not once did I ever feel bored hanging out with you, Ryuya.
So there's no reason to be jealous.
Just shut up. And don't try to make me stay.
Anyway, you must be sick of me, right?
Your wicked, cantankerous attitude makes you kind of interesting.
You were super devious when we play games too.
Are those supposed to be compliments? Jeez, Anzu.
Listen, I know I made it awkward for you to stay
because of how I spoke up.
But those guys will understand.
And don't worry, this doesn't make me hate you.
We can still be friends.
Oh man, this is crazy. You really haven't changed at all.
What? I mean, I'm a little more womanly at this point, right?
That's not what I meant.
I didn't think I had feelings anymore because it's been years.
But I, um, I lied before.
My preschool teacher.
My real first love was, it was you.
I mean, um…
-I still really like-- -Sorry, no way.
Hey, at least let me finish!
Sorry, I couldn't hold it in.
Anyway, I'd never be with someone who'd date two girls at once!
You have a girlfriend, and now you're telling me that you like me too?
Uh… Uh, but well, we--
we went to different schools, Anzu!
What was I supposed to do?
She was really sweet and she lives close.
Seriously, dude?
But I… I thought about you the whole time I was with her.
And another girl asked me out and I thought she'd help me forget you.
Anyway, I messed up. And I looked like a cheater.
You're a trash bag.
Gah! Thank you for being real.
Gah, but how come I still like you after all this?
You're cold, you're not sexy.
You shoot ginger ale out of your nose.
The ginger ale was a total act of God.
Hey.
Do I really not stand a chance?
I appreciate how you feel.
I really do.
But I wanna be with someone who wouldn't cheat on me
just because we're apart.
Do you mean, someone like Tonta?
Huh? He totally nailed it!
No, not at all. I don't think Junta sees me like that anyway.
What? Are you really that dumb?
That's been totally obvious for eons, Anzu!
Anyway, you and I are friends and nothing more, Ryuya!
You're too straightforward! My heart's torn to shreds!
Huh?
Ryuya just got rejected!
Oh jeez, I couldn't hold it in anymore!
Hey, that's messed up! Don't laugh about my unrequited love!
Now, I'm ruined.
They already make fun of me because they know I like you.
It's not like your first love was a disgrace.
You guys came over because you were worried, right?
Yeah.
I was worried because I thought I made you feel bad.
How could you possibly care about me?
Now I feel really petty.
-Well, you should. You are. -Just shut up!
I'm sorry.
I just got jealous but don't worry about it.
Anzu got it right.
You did a lot to improve yourself.
That's hella impressive.
Thanks, Ryuya.
Hey, you don't have to thank me, dude.
All right, let's go back. Everyone's waiting.
Both Ryuya and Junta? You're so popular, Anzu.
Junta doesn't feel that way about me.
I just gotta lean into the heroine oblivious twist feelings act.
Tonta, wait up.
I actually lied about something a long time ago.
Hmm?
Hey, Tonta.
Anzu said she doesn't wanna play Cat Ranger with you anymore,
because she's playing it with all of us now.
Okay.
That was how I kept you from being able to play with her.
And because of that,
you didn't have time to talk to her and you moved away, shortly after.
I see.
Well, what a relief.
I thought it was because Anzu didn't wanna play with me anymore.
Come on, man! Why the hell aren't you mad at me?
Uh, well, it's, it's all in the past for me.
And anyway, I get to hang out with Anzu now.
This whole time, you felt guilty about it.
This guy's way too nice.
Well, I wanna apologize for that too.
Sorry, but it's not like I've given up on Anzu, all right?
-Well, I, um-- -You like her, right?
It's totally obvious, man. Let's go.
Ryuya! Congratulations on your heartbreak!
All right! Let's do a round
where we dedicate all the heartbreak songs to Ryuya!
BREAKUP SONG RANKING
You guys, what?
This is seriously so messed up!
BREAKUP SONG RANKING
A fanfare, please!
And a big congratulations!
Did you fall for my little trick?
I bet now you don't feel like skipping the ending, right?
In today's world, you can watch whatever you want at your own convenience.
But don't you think in that process we've also lost something?
Don't just let things be! Come on!
Let's go on a super-duper happy adventure!
So I can make sure I get paid.
I'll never give myself up to these ikemen!
That's what you say now, but I know you'll give in eventually!