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here. Mizuki sits on a bench outside in the darkness. “Why..” she wonders aloud.
Nakatsu is also sitting on a bench outside, but nowhere near her. He moans about his sitch as Kayashima approaches.
“Mizuki being a girl...she was discovered,” he says.
“Eh?”
“Ashiya fell from a ladder. Everyone went to help [him], and opened his uniform.”
“No way..” says Nakatsu, leaping to his feet. He stops suddenly.
“Were you rejected?” asks Kayashima.
“You... you’re kind of too blunt.”
“Sorry.” he moves over and takes a seat. “This time I’m not sure what to say.
So Nakatsu tells him what to say, pretending to be Kayashima and saying all these nice things to Nakatsu. “That’s what you would say.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” says Kayashima. “Shall we go back?”
“You fool.” he clutches his heart and then stands but stops when he realizes something. “Huh? ‘Mizuki being a girl... she was discovered’...” he spins back to Kayashima. “You... you knew that Mizuki was a girl?”
“Yep.” replies Kayashima very matter-of-factly. “I could tell by looking at her aura. However, when I saw that she had a good aura/good intents, I decided not to say anything.”
“You... you’re the best,” says Nakatsu seriously. Kayashima nods, and Nakatsu begins to head back.
Kayashima suddenly says something very encouraging.
“Duuuummy.” says Nakatsu. “You’re slow.” Kayashima catches up and Nakatsu slaps his bum.
Outside near Mizuki, Sano walks Yuujiro. “What is it, Yuujiro? You know, they just don’t know what to do. If you confront them, they’ll understand.”He pretends not to see Mizuki and keeps walking, stopping a few paces away. “Nothing will come of you just running here. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you. Okay, Yuujiro?” He pets him and looks over and sees Mizuki. “Wha! Were you always there?” he asks her. He gets up and starts to walk away with the puppy.
“That’s a dead end.”
“I know.” He returns to her. “Cmon. Let’s go home.”
“Right.” she says. She picks up her bags and falls into step with him.
It’s morning at Osaka. Mizuki and Sano walk down the empty hallway to the classroom. When they arrive at the door she hands him her bag and tightens her belt, a light homage to her first introduction. “YOSHI!” She enters the classroom. “Good morning!” she calls cheerfully to everyone. The guys stop their chatter for about 1.5seconds before going back to talking as though she hadn’t said anything. She’s mildly undeterred and heads to her desk, exchanging perky (yet fake-ish) hellos with Nakatsu.
“Hey. Why don’t we just forget the maid café.. We already have a girl.” says Kitahanda.
“Yeah, we oughta just scrap the idea.” says Saga.
“Hey, why are you saying such things now?” demands Nakatsu angrily.
“Ohhh...” sneers Daikokucho. “Are you possibly a girl as well?”
“Don’t screw with me,” snarls Nakatsu, getting up to fight him. Several guys, Sano and Mizuki included, gather round to prevent the fight.
“Stop it!” shouts Sekime. “I thought we all agreed. Let’s just go through with it.” He sits back down.
“Thanks, Sekime.” says Mizuki as everyone takes their seats. He doesn’t say anything, just looks away in disgust. She notices.
“Ahh, I feel so betraaayed,” remarks one of the tertiaries snidely.
“I heard that she came after Sano, what a stalker,” sneers another.
“Makes me sick,” comments another.
“You guys!!” shouts Nakatsu.
“SHUT UP!” shrieks Nakao. “You call yourselves men?? If you have something to say, just come out and say it!!” He sits back down.
“Everyone... I’m sorry for keeping it a secret.” Mizuki lets the silence hang for a moment. “I’m... a girl.”
Sano blinks and hangs his head in mild frustration, kind of like “Well, it’s out now”. He looks to Nakatsu, whose stern expression doesn’t change. “But..!” continues Mizuki. “That doesn’t change anything. You guys are still really, really important to me! So...!”
“Oi.” interrupts Kitahanda. “Don’t try to redeem yourself, Mizuki-chan.”
“Now that we know you’re a girl,” adds Daikokucho, “We can’t call you our buddy anymore.” Ouch.
“We were tricked.” adds Kyobashi. Sano and Nakatsu look frustrated, Mizuki is hurt.
“I’m truly... sorry.” whispers Mizuki, before running out of the classroom.
After a long period of silence, Nakatsu speaks. “You guys. She really wanted to be at this school. Didn’t you know that? She...”
“Nakatsu.” interrupts Sano. “I’ll say it.” But we pull away before we hear what he has to say.
“So this time has come,” comments Umeda seriously in the infirmary. He bends down and spins his chair around to reveal Mizuki, curled up. “What are you going to do now?” he asks her.
“I don’t know,” she says miserably. “But I can’t leave things like this- it’s my fault everyone’s split up.”
“It’ll be more painful.”
“Even so,” she continues. “I’ve got to sort it out.”
“I see.” He stands. “But, don’t forget- you’re not alone.”
She takes this in. “Yeah.” he pats her head.
Boy’s washroom. Mizuki is surrounded by 3 guys. They harass her about being in the boys’ washroom, and make unclean comments about it. Luckily Sekime and two classmates save the day, scaring the guys off.
“Ashiya,” says Sekime. “I’m sorry.” he bows. The other two follow suit. “We heard the whole story from Sano. We had no idea what you went through.“
“Sekime,”
They decide to maintain their friendship and keep things the way they were. :)
Basketball game in a beautiful, beautiful gym. Mizuki gets the ball but is knocked down by the opposing team. They snark about her being a girl, but Kyobashi helps her up and Nakatsu snarls at the team. Mizuki scores a basket and hi-fives Sano.
Classtime, Yoshioka babbling on about history. Nakatsu is asleep, the other boys are rowdy around him. Sano grabs Mizuki’s attention and points to Nakatsu. He whips a paper ball at him, waking him up.
“I was sleeping, you bastard!” shouts the blonde.
“Nakatsu, got it?” asks Yoshioka.
“Yup, got I-“ he falls asleep again. Everyone laughs. Sano whips more balls at him.
Everyone working outside on the festival. Mizuki is busy helping with one thing, but Daikokucho calls her over for help. She helps lift up signs as Nakatsu and Sano watch endearingly. Other people call her over to help with a banner. She eventually joins in. And at the very end, Nakatsu and Sano trail behind repeating the mantra, Nakatsu holding Sano’s hand high up in the air to get him in the right frame of mind.
“Eh?” says Sano in the dorm room, looking up at Mizuki.
“I’m going to stop going to school here.” she says decisively. He looks up at her with wide eyes, frozen. She comes down to his level. “Don’t make that face,” she says. “I’m really glad I was able to come to this school.” Sano continues to stare up at her with silent sadness. She takes a seat on the chair nearby. “Nakatsu. Nanba senpai. Kayashima, Sekime, Nakao. I’m so happy I got to go to school with everyone. And....what else...” she holds up her hand and counts down what she accomplished. “I got to meet you. I got to see you jump. I don’t think I’m forgetting anything.” she looks up at him. “Really... thank you.”
When we cut back to him his eyes are glassy. Shun often has glassy eyes in his Sano scenes so it’s easy to misinterpret it. But after a few moments it becomes obvious that it’s hints of tears in his eyes. Bravo, Shun. You nailed this scene. He stares at Mizuki for a moment before blinking rapidly, thoughtfully, and looking away.
“Can I add one more thing?” he asks, turning back to her. She waits expectantly. “Are you going back to America... with a smile?”
“Yeah,” she replies confidently.
He smiles too, but it’s more sad. “I understand.” he says. “Then... I will also smile.” but the tears in his eyes betray him.
“Sano...”
“Thank you.” he says,“For staying here until now.” He stares her in the eye with a bittersweet smile. “I’m really glad to have met you.”
She blinks as she absorbs this, looking away. He gets off the bed and stands in front of her, and awkwardly holds out his hand to her, the tears more and more threatening. She hesitates, but stands up and takes his hand. He holds onto it tightly and smiles, and for a moment I wonder eagerly if they’re going to do a Van Hitomi, but I’m let down. He smiles, really smiles, and she smiles back for a long while.
The letter of resignation is placed on the principal’s desk.
“So that’s how it is,” says the principal. “I had no idea.”
“I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused up till now,” says Mizuki, bowing.
They exchange a few lighthearted words about her coming to Osaka, and how she enjoyed her time.
“Thank you so much,” says Mizuki. She begins to run off but the principal stops her.
“What did you hope to take back from coming to this school?” she asks.
Mizuki tells her: “
“I see.”
Mizuki thanks her, excuses herself, and heads for the door. She bows one final time and leaves. The principal bows back and stands, a smile on her face.
Mizuki enters the classroom, where all the guys are huddled in a giant circle. They stop talking when she comes in and Nakatsu ushers her into the circle. He encourages everyone to do their best, that they’re going to have the best show out of the whole festival. They end the meeting with the classic “BABY!!” and run off. Mizuki and Sano are the last two in the room. He puts his hand on her shoulder and walks off. She stays behind, deliberating about whether or not to tell the rest of the guys she’s leaving. She doesn’t.
The festival opens, complete with balloons and TONS of people. And a word from the director. And a band. And hopping. All the stands try to gather people. Nanba advertises to a bunch of girls about his drinks bar-club-lounge thing, but Nakao in a nurse uniform comes up and steals all his potential customers.
“We’ll win,” he tells Nanba. “Why don’t you give up?” adds Sekime.
Tennouji and Oscar lure customers to their Romeo and Juliet show.
Mizuki in a cute maid outfit and Kayashima in a nurse outfit welcome their guests to the Maid café. For the 100th time in this show I note the uncanny resemblance between Kayashima and Amber Benson (Tara from Buffy). The pair ushers in the girls to the classroom, where Sano in maid drag, Nakatsu in nurse drag, and other guys in drag behind them welcome them.
“How many?” asks Sano, suuuper politely.
“Three people, desu~!”
“Three people. Desu~.” repeats Sano. AWESOME.
Mizuki bops him over the head with her tray, telling him to put more spirit into his smile.
“More customers!” exclaims Kayashima.
She nudges him some more. So finally, with crazy delightfulness, he spins around. “Welc-“ he stops. “Ge.”
“S-sano.” stutters Kagurazaka. “What are you doing... here?”
“Ah!” Nakatsu comes over. “It’s the awesome guy, Kagurazaka.” He asks him which maid he’d like to serve him. Without saying anything, Kagurazaka immediately points to Sano.
“Ehhh?” Sano asks in a girl voice.
“Romeo!” shrieks Oscarette from the balcony. “Whyfore art thou, Romeo?”
“Juliet!” screams Tennouji back. He talks about their love, adding a “BABY” to the end.
“You can’t come up here,” protests Juliet.
“I will come up!” replies Romeo.
“You can’t!” repeats Juliet. “They’ll kill you!”
“JULIETTTTT!” spazzes Romeo. He arrives at the balcony and takes her hand. They embrace tightly and spin around giddily. Tennouji steals a glance at the crowd. Maidzuki points to Kanna, who’s quite upset about the hug. Tennouji freaks, thinks fast, and throws Oscarette off the balcony. Oscarette lands and it’s the force of impact that forces her back into Oscar mode (although to be fair he temporarily became Oscar when they confronted Mizuki). “Where am I, what am I doing?” he wonders. He passes out with a laugh.
Tennouji meanwhile refers to Kanna as Juliet and hugs her. The crowd claps.
Saki (the tallest of the Hibari Four) wanders the hallways, looking for the gals. She sees photos of some of the Ikemen posted, and her eyes fall upon a pic of Kayashima, his hands raised. She grins creepily and raises her hands the same way. A hand comes up one at a time from offscreen, and Kayashima stands up in front of her. They smile.
Club Pheromone (sic). Nanba’s club, of course. Inside the dark and classy atmosphere, Tennouji and Kanna share a pocky stick, Sekime hangs out with Erika, and Saki and Kayashima share a drink. Nanba and Nakao watch nearby, and Nanba laments how all the customers are already coupled, so much for hottie paradise etc. I think Nakao points out the fact that Nanba doesn’t have anyone special and when he suggests himself Nanba, says that may be a good idea”-no what am I thinking?? It was supposed to be Ikemen Paradise but I almost got into ‘Forbidden Paradise’”.
“It’s too bad I’m someone who devotes all my time to my lovers.”
He punches him.
Our favorite male maid and male nurse stand side-by-side at the urinals.
“Hey... You... about that,” stammers Nakatsu. “Is it really ok if you don’t tell Mizuki how you feel?.... You love her, don’t you?” Sano doesn’t say anything, just stares straight ahead. “Mizuki’s also waiting, you know. ” he says.
“She... even though everyone knows she’s a girl, she can’t bring herself to say ‘watashi’ instead of ‘ore’. And, as long as we’re in school, she wants us to treat her like a guy.”
Nakatsu finishes and heads for the sink. “I liked her anyway, even when I thought she was a guy,” he says. “I’m not such a good person that I can cheer for the person who broke my heart. But whatever, this isn’t a big deal.”
Hibari drops her roll, and we see that she’s bought tons of them on a total eating binge. Behind her, Oscarette (back again??) wails about Tennouji. She bites into a snack on a stick and talks to Hibari, asking her if it’s alright to eat all that. Hibari returns the comment. Somehow Oscar ends up saying that he believes in her, and when she looks at him, her Hibari vision shows him with tons of roses around him and a sign that says Merry Christmas. What? She’s smitten as the classical music plays.
“Merry Christmas,” she says.
“Merry Christmas,” he returns. In real time, he thrusts the wreath to the side. He leans down to kiss her but she knees him in the crotch.
“Who did you think I was?” she demands. His face contorts in pain. “However, I suppose it’s ok if you like me.” she says matter of factly. “Let’s go, Masao.” and for the first time, he doesn’t object to his Japanese name.
“Yes ma’am, Hibari-sama!” he shrieks, and trails after her, shouting Hibari FOUR.
Nakatsu and Sano walk down the hallway, still in their outfits. Mizuki rounds the corner and turns when she senses them behind her. She smiles at them and for a moment Nakatsu is completely struck by Mizuki pining. He winces it off, commenting on his own lingering emotions.
“Where have you been?” asks Mizuki. “Hurry up, let’s go.”
“Eh?” asks Nakatsu.
“The fashion show,” Mizuki states.
On a giant screen it reads “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e. (For you in full blossom)”. It’s the name of the fasion show, hoorah. Yoshioka announces it. The crowds cheer as PEACH plays and the boys of Osaka appear in drag in small groups. Some of them look startling hot considering they’re guys. A figure lurches onto stage and already from his walk I know who it is. Kagurazaka, in a lavender dress. “Why am *I* here?” he wonders. Also, totally kind of looks like Brenda from Six Feet Under. He runs offstage. Tennouji and Oscar appear next, though Oscar looked way better as Oscarette. Tennouji sees his lackeys making barf motions at his outfit so he appeals to the other crowds. Oscar blows kisses/hearts to Hibari, who bats them away angrily and calls him an animal. Tennouji carries the distraught Oscar offstage on his shoulder.
Minami comes out in a dress I totally want, Kayashima and Sekime at his sides. Dudes, if you don’t see Amber Benson in our aura boy now, you never will. Akiha takes photos.
Last but not least, Mizuki comes out, holding hands with Nakatsu and Sano. She looks great, but Sano also looks eerily sexy. They blow kisses to the crowd.
Yoshioka announces the winner. Everyone expects Mizuki... but it’s SANO who wins. He’s stunned, as is everyone else.
“Mizuki the girl...” begins Nakatsu.
“...lost?” finishes Minami.
“No waaay!” wails Mizuki.
Dorm 1 goes up to Yoshioka to protest, and Tennouji uses this opportunity to beat them up for making fun of him in drag. Mizuki and her boys laugh at the chaos, but her smile soon fades.
Dining hall, presumably the next day. Minami gathers everyone. They cheer about the Kouyasai, a word I had to look up which means “The night of the last day of the festival”. Ironically Mizuki then asks about it and Sekime explains.
“Ok, let’s go!!” Shouts Nakao, and they clear out. Sano and Mizuki are the last ones.
“Let’s go too,” he says, patting her head, and I want to point out how interesting I find it that he used the word “oretachi” (‘us’, guy form). He begins to walk ahead.
“Sorry,” she says. “I forgot something in my room, so you go on ahead.”
“I understand.” he says.
She was half lying, though. “Forever in my heart”, Mizuki writes on the window of her room. “Fo-eba... in mai haht” she says. She picks up her suitcase and walks out of the room, and I start to feel a little sad. She slowly enters the empty dining hall and strides slowly along the rows. She stops at one of the tables, feels it, then sits and rests her head on it.
She walks by Yuujiro’s place and stops to say goodbye to him. She crouches over, petting his head.
“Yuujiro,” she says. “I came to this boy’s school, just as I intended. You understand, right?”
She leaves the dorm area, looking back upon the gate. As she walks along, she stops to tap a flower. Yuujiro barks at her, saying goodbye once more. “Thank you, Yuujiro,” Mizuki waves. She continues to walk but something catches her eye. She looks to the left, where the entire school (or at least all the students who have names) are standing in wait. Even Kagurazaka and the Hibari Five are there.
“You are one troublesome guy,” calls Nakatsu. They laugh.
“Everyone...” She runs up to them in joy.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone you were leaving?” Nakatsu asks her seriously.
“Sorry!” she says. “I thought if I said it... it would be painful.” Minami and Tennouji, standing on either side of Nakatsu and Sano, accept this answer with a smile. Nakatsu, however...
“Don’t screw around,” he mutters under his breath.
“Nakatsu,” she says cheerfully. “Stay healthy, okay?”
He doesn’t meet her gaze, instead walking off. Sano follows. Mizuki trods forward nevertheless, into the crowd. Everyone has something to say but I’m only going to translate the ones I remembered.
“Ashiya.” says Kyobashi. He stands in a line of other Dorm 2ers.
“Guys...” says Mizuki gratefully.
Kyobashi: “When you were here, I had the best fun.”
“Don’t forget us when you’re in America.”
Kamishingo: “I’ll be sad without you here”*
“I got it,” says Mizuki.
She moves forward to more Dorm 2ers. There’s a flashback to her bra-interrogation.
Noe, with a laugh: “Sorry about the lie detector thing,”
“Wherever you go, don’t lose!”
She thanks them all.
“AUUGHossuu.” roar the Dorm 1-ites. Mizuki says “Dorm 1 guys...”
Daikokucho: “Ashiya! I’m sorry about injuring your foot in the marathon! (We flashback to it)
“Practise judo.”
Kitahanda: “You! Thank you for the fun times!”
Akashi: “Sorry for the stinky shit.”
“You were always so kind.”
Mizuki thanks them with a big grin and keeps moving. “Dorm 3 guys...” she says. We cut to all 9 of them, simultaneously blowing her a kiss.
“Sorry for putting you in that situation.” (Flashback to fighting over Mizuki between Dorm 1 and 2).
“When you stopped that teacher- you were really cool.” (Flashback: Mizuki preventing Nakatsu from signing the Kitahama guilt form)
“You were so cute in the Ikemen contest!” (Flashback: Mizuki in the dress)
“You were great on the keyboard at the live concert.” (Flashback: Mizuki on the keyboard)
“Do you know my name?”
“Katahiranotsuji, right?” she answers, and I’m totally impressed. “Stay well. Everyone... stay healthy!”
“Oui!” they say in French. Mizuki moves onward.
“Kagurazaka!” she says with surprise.
“I had some free time,” he explains simply. “It’s thanks to you... that Sano returned to the high jump. “Thank you,”
“I didn’t do anything,” she protests lightly.
“When you were with him, Sano was happy. Bye.” he says.
She moves forward. “St Blossom’s... Hanayashiki Hibari with...”
“Hibari FOUUUUR!” they finish for her.
Kanna: “I’m happy with Tennouji sama”
Erika: “I’m happy with Sekime-kun.”
Saki: “I’m happy with Kayashima san.”
Komari: “I... Nakatsu- ”
Everyone: “Odamari Komari!”
Komari (ignoring them: “- I won’t give up!”
Hibari: “You were my greatest rival after all. Of course, we’ll have to do battle sometime.”
“Okay!” agrees Mizuki. She continues, and the music dies down as Sekime approaches her. He sniffles and pretty soon he is straight up crying. ”I... have so many good memories with you, Ashiya.” Flashbacks: Him explaining the Mr Osaka contest, he and Ashiya in the dining room, singing in the live concert. “I don’t know what else to say.” he sniffles.
Mizuki smiles, but her breath falters on the inhale. And almost immediately I begin to feel my own eyes water. “The very first friend I had... was you, Sekime.” Flashback: Sekime approaching her after all the dorms had chased her. “I was so happy!” she exclaims. Sekime sniffles some more. “Thank you, eh?” Sekime wipes his eyes and moves offscreen.
Nakao is behind him, his eyes are red too.
“Nakao...” she says
“You...” he says, “it was you...” He holds back tears.
“Nakao, you have such a kind heart. I knew it.” (Flashback: the two of them sitting on the beach, talking about supporting the one you love). “Thank you so much.” Nakao breaks down and I’m officially crying. She puts her hand on his shoulder and looks past him to Kayashima, who is also upset.
“Since the day you came here... I knew.” he admits.
“I always felt good when I saw you,” she s
“Such a good aura... from now on, wherever you go, you’ll be fine.” he assures her. He holds up his hands and glows, and Mizuki holds up her own. When she brings them down she’s facing Tennouji.
“Tennouji dorm head.” she says.
“You have great strength. However, you did well.” Flashbacks: Approaching her about living in dorm 1, her stopping him from leaving the photograph. “In this school... you made a great guy!(?)” He thrusts his arms down. “BABY!!”
She sniffles and puts her own arms down, and in a broken voice shouts “BABY!” back. I bawl like a 2 year old.
“Himejima dorm head.”
I think he tells her that he feels Dorm 2 was a great fit for her. He thanks her for everything and blows her a kiss.
Nanba comes into view and Mizuki starts to lose it (she’s held up better than I have!). “Nanba.. Senpai...” she manages.
“Pull yourself together,” he orders gently. Flashbacks: Nanba looking for shampoo, Nanba with all the girls, celebrating the fireworks, the three dorm heads agreeing to perform together. “Listen,” he says. “No matter what anyone says... this is your school!!” He thrusts his hands out to indicate the school grounds around them. “No matter what anyone says... we’re your friends... no matter where you are.” She cries and says “Yes.”
“Ashiya-kun,” calls Akiha, approaching. I manage to calm down enough to write this part.
“Akiha-san.”
Akiha presents her with a book- a photo book to be more precise, of all the events that took place while she was at Osaka. “When you feel sad or you’re crying, just look at the idiots in these pictures and you’ll smile.”
A tear rolls down Mizuki’s cheek. “Thank you.”
Sawatori and the principal appear upon the scene. The principal asks Sawatori for a scroll and he pulls it out. She reads it- it’s a graduation rite. She finishes up with “2nd year-student: Ashiya Mizuki. Congratulations on your graduation.”
“Thank you... so very much,” Mizuki says between sniffles and tears. The guys behind her clap.
Mizuki begins to set out when a familiar voice calls her name. The crowds behind her part as Nakatsu runs through.
“Nakatsu...” she breathes.
“Not yet,” he says. “I haven’t said anything yet.”
She looks at him, holding back tears. His own eyes begin to water. And then he delivers the most touching speech on the whole show.
“Even if I get really old... to the point where I forget everything and can’t even remember my own name... I will never, ever forget the time we spent together.” Flashbacks: the photoshoot on the couch, him about to kiss her on the bench, him spitting out his water when she tells him that it was thanks to him that she was staying, the photoshoot with EVERYONE, him hugging her from behind, the cheerleading finale.
Mizuki tries so hard not to cry but ultimately can’t help it, and the tears roll down Nakatsu’s cheeks and I’m a complete mess again.
“To me, you are... you’re my best friend.” He gives her a thumbs up and she cries. “Dammit!” he yells. “I wasn’t supposed to cry.”
“Thank you,” says Mizuki, sobbing.
He stares at her for a moment before running up and hugging her close, cradling her head. “This isn’t goodbye forever,” he tells her. “America and Japan are on the same hemisphere.” he begins to cry again, “We can still see each other whenever we want.” He eventually pulls away, putting his hand down on her head. “See you later.” he says.
“Right.” she says, managing to smile. Sawatori gives her her graduation certificate. She moves on. She looks to the gate, where Sano is waiting. He slowly tilts his head up at her. Mizuki cries harder. He watches her intently but doesn’t move.
Umeda shakes his keys at her from a distance, ruining the moment. “The airport awaits.” He yawns. “Sano... you come too.”
The rest of the boys rush out to say bye. Umeda has rented a bus, even if it’s just for two people.
“I’m so glad... that I was able to be a student here,” says Mizuki. We pan slowly through the nodding crowd. Sawatori grabs a kleenex from the principal. Sano loads her suitcase as Mizuki says her final goodbyes. Nakatsu gives her one last thumbs up. “I’m off!” she announces.
On the bus, Sano has taken a seat in the middle but Mizuki goes straight to the back so that she can wave goodbye to everyone. The crowd of Osaka students doesn’t stop waving, even as the bus rounds the corner.
The bus rolls down the highway. Umeda looks up into the rearview mirror and sees the stiff atmosphere and distance between Sano and Mizuki. Sano gets up though, and moves back to plop himself down next to Mizuki. Umeda smiles.
Sano stares out the window. “The sky is as blue as it was on that day...” Flashbacks: ~~Mizuki meeting Sano for the first time, him calling her “kid”, Mizuki asking why Sano stopped jumping and him saying it’s none of her business. Mizuki asking Sano if she wins the marathon, will he jump again? Mizuki carried on Sano’s back. Sano saying he won’t jump again, Mizuki insisting he will. Mizuki telling her brother she wants Sano to jump again, she wants to see his smile again as Sano listens in. Sano finally practising, Nakatsu saying it was because of her. Sano jumping and failing, and bowing to the other members of the track team. Sano hugging Mizuki, v/oing that he wants her to see him jump, REALLY jump. Mizuki realizing she loves Sano. ~~ Mizuki stares straight ahead, and Sano continues to stare out the window. ~~Mizuki saying that she has no more reason to stay because technically Sano already jumped, she leaving and Sano stopping her by saying she hasn’t seen him jump for real so she should stay. Sano pulling Mizuki close during the Nakatsu/teacher issue, and Mizuki vo’ing that when Sano’s happy, she wants to be happy with him, when he’s sad she wants to cry with him, etc. ~~ Sano still hasn’t looked at Mizuki, but he’s obviously remembering the same things. ~~Sano grabbing Mizuki’s hand, asking her to stay. Sano saying he’ll jump for her, Sano jumping and throwing his arm up in the air in victory. “Thank you.. For staying here until now. I’m really glad to have met you.”~~ She looks over at him, sadness overtaking her.
And then PEACH plays, totally crushing the atmosphere. The scenes continue anyway.
Narita airport (or so someone told me). Mizuki talks to Umeda as Sano waits up ahead, his back to them. Mizuki thanks Umeda for helping her out so many times.
“Yeah, you owe me bigtime.” he says with a smile. “Pay me back sometime.” He nods to Sano, and she catches up with him. Umeda watches her go with a smile on her face. “Or maybe with that smile- I’ll call it even.”
“It’s so heartbreaking” wails a female voice, and we know who it is by Umeda’s disgusted reaction.
“Where did you come from?” he hisses.
“The trunk.”
“Somehow I just can’t be surprised.”
“Brings back memories of the old days.” She hooks her arm under his and she struggles under it, telling her not to make stuff up. “Huh?” she looks down at his hands. “You’re not shaking... or reacting! Could it be... you don’t hate girls anymore?” He casts a glance at Mizuki’s retreating form. “Maybe,” he says.
“I could be your girlfriend again,” suggest Akiha playfully.
“I’ll think about it.” he walks away, leaving Akiha in her surprise. She catches up to him , but this time when she grabs his arm he swats her away dramatically. Peach ends and no music plays.
Mizuki and Sano stand side-by-side, looking up at the arrival/departure boards.
“It’s about time to go,” Mizuki says.
“Yeah.” Then, after a pause, he says, “You’re no longer an Osaka Gakuen Student, huh.”
“Eh?” She looks down at her graduation scroll. “Yeah.”
“So... you don’t need to be a guy anymore.” He continues to stare straight ahead.
“Eh?” repeats Mizuki.
Sano looks to the left a little before suddenly looking right. “Ah!” he exclaims, and when Mizuki turns to follow his gaze, he quickly pulls her into a tight hug. After a moment he pulls away slightly, hands still on her shoulders. And then, without skipping a beat he tilts his head to the side and moves back in, gently pressing his lips to hers. She’s rendered completely still, save for a few startled blinks. He pulls away and she looks up at him, eyes wide with questions. He looks down at her lovingly and says “This time, I’ll be the one to go to you.” He breaks into a grin. “See you... Mizuki.”
A smile breaks across her own face and she looks down. “Yeah.” she says.
He drops his hands from her shoulders as she turns and begins to walk away. She halts in her steps, and after a little deliberation, turns back to him. “Sano!” He returns her gaze expectantly. “I love you.” she says, and Sano breaks into a grin. She breaks into one as well. Their grins fade into something deeper and more meaningful, and she continues on her way.
We cut to a shot of an ENORMOUS mansion, the mailbox reading “Ashiya”. Sorry to interject, but what happened to the modest home they lived in when Mizuki left for Japan? A little American Flag-title reads, “1 month later- California”.
“Papa, Mama, I’m off!” shouts Mizuki, coming out the front door. As she dashes down the front path, an arrow just like the one that flew around in episode 6 lands right next to her feet. It too has a note attached. More than a note- it’s an Osaka newspaper article. The major picture on it is the one Akiha took of everyone when Mizuki was still a student. The article reads that the school’s next trip will be to California. “No way!!!”
And thus ends Hanazakari no Kimitachi e.
Thanks for watching, and thanks for reading. :)