Stars Align (星合の空)

Looks like we won't get little chocolates at this place.

Guess I can't earn pocket change then. Oh well.

We've even got an elevator.

We're eighth floor this time?

It's sure taking it's time...

I'm using the stairs.

Maki, it's gonna be rough going by stairs.

What are you talking about? It's better than before.

Maki!

"Seagull Movers" Your son sure is energetic.

"Seagull Movers" Our last apartment didn't have an elevator.

"Stars Align"

G-O! Go, go, go, go, Shijo! Fight, fight, fight, fight--

Huh? What's going on?

The super awful boys' team is playing the super good girls' team.

No way. The soft tennis clubs?

They don't stand a chance against the national champs.

Not the worthless boys' team!

That's hilarious!

It's not hilarious.

They'll totally get crushed, bruised, and broken.

Well, it was a good effort at least.

Huh?

You scored on me good!

Sensei!

Uh, no! He's ashamed, you see. Ashamed...

Here... goes!

Whoa, whoa...

That was incredible. There's no way I can stop that.

It deserves a round of applause.

Nice return.

Uh, I don't think their intentions are bad.

Their intention is to not even try.

It got stuck.

They're so bad, this won't count as practice.

Come on, don't say that. Think of it as taking a breather.

G-O! Go, go, go, go, Takada!

Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, Takada! G-O! Go, go--

Mine!

Thanks for the match, Takeda.

Shinjo, you should try working on your aim for your first serve.

Right. Thanks for the advice.

Hey, Kei. You fine with me speeding up my second serve?

Okay. In that case, maybe I'll hug closer to center then.

You did great!

Nice game, guys!

--Nice work! --Here's a towel!

There's like no point in practicing against the boys.

Hence it's volunteer.

And yet captain and Namie were kind enough to play them.

Those jerks...

Just look at them!

Hello? You got crushed!

Captain, nice effort!

No way, I sucked.

And here I thought Toma was our only chance of scoring against the Black Butterfly.

Hey, Itsuki. Tell White Butterfly, I mean... Tell your sister to hold back a little.

You think I can say that to my sister?

Sorry. My bad.

You've got a big sister who's smart, pretty, and good at tennis...

I so envy you.

You're being serious?

Huh? Uh... I-I was joking.

You better be. If not, I'll kill you.

Itsuki! No fighting, all right?! No fighting!

Well, it's not like us chumps ever had a chance of winning.

Shingo, could you not put it like that?

He's right, though. We're no competition no matter what we do.

But I heard Ms. Muroi was begging Mr. Sakurai for a scrimmage.

She thought it'd be good for the girls' team!

Huh? Seriously?

Shingo, Nao's just talking fairy tales again.

Oh, that's all?

I've had enough.

I can't take it! I can't!

Huh? Takuto?

I'm through with losing like a bunch of losers!

Huh?

How am I ever gonna become popular in the soft tennis club?!

At this rate, I'll never confess to Nanase!

Nanase?

That Nanase?!

No way in hell.

This time, I'll play normal tennis! I'll definitely be popular then!

I'm done playing on this crummy soft tennis team!

Takuto, calm down.

I've made up my mind! I'm quitting this club and becoming a stud!

Go get dumped.

The club activities in our school operate with funds provided by the school.

"Shijo Minami Middle School Student Council" "Presented by: President Kinuyo Kasuga" The club activities in our school operate with funds provided by the school.

"Episode 01" Those funds are equally distributed to each club as best as possible.

Those funds are equally distributed to each club as best as possible.

Depending on the number of students enlisted,

we factor in a slight variance of funds given to each club.

However, distributing funds equally like this naively assumes clubs are equal

and fails to take consideration of the effort and passion involved.

Being student council president, I want to do away with that system

and revamp it so that each club

is compensated by the amount of effort and passion it displays.

Effort and passion always produces results.

And having results is what deserves compensation.

Unfortunately, there are some clubs

which drain club activity funds with nothing to show for it.

These clubs with no results

are essentially stealing funds from passionate clubs.

What's the point in letting them continue?

What the hell? So clubs that lose don't deserve to stick around?

But why? School clubs aren't supposed to be all about results.

It's all just one huge fraud.

The clubs good enough to go to the nationals are supported by the school and PTA.

What about us? What will happen to the boys' soft tennis club?

Unless we win a match in the summer tournament,

we disband.

President Kinuyo is so heartless.

There's no way we'll win at the tournament.

Not when we haven't won a match in four years.

Disband, huh?

Guys, hold up!

Come second semester, we're the "go-home" club.

And here my mom wanted me to join the wind instrument club.

Maybe I should've listened to her.

Disband, though? I feel bad for our seniors...

Don't you think those seniors are partially to blame, too?

It's not just our fault.

That's right. We've got no third years.

And not a single first year decided to join us this year.

It's just us second years in the club these days.

Shingo...

Guess we won't be needing this racket then.

I could give it to my sister. Dunno what she'd use it for though.

"Burnable"

This is bullshit.

Good morning!

Oh, morning!

"Okazaki" "Katsuragi" Oh, morning!

Ah, shoot, shoot, shoot!

Found it!

It's ready, Mom.

Morning, Maki!

Shoot, shoot!

Ack...

Good grief.

Mom!

Maki! Thanks a lot!

Here. Got everything now?

Toma.

Could you hand that book to Maki for me?

Huh?

Maki...?

Hey! Be a little more careful!

Hmm?

Sorry, did I hit you?

Er, um...

Well, you ran past me all of a sudden, so...

Oh, I'll be more careful.

Didn't you come to greet neighbors yesterday?

Oh, you're the one downstairs...

Kanako Mitsue from room 701.

Oh, right. Good morning.

Your name was Maki Katsuragi, wasn't it?

Yup. Nice to meet you.

Uh, why don't you use the elevator?

'Cuz it's a pain to wait.

Isn't it more of a pain to run down from the eighth floor?

"Congrats" "Girls' Soft Tennis Club at National & Kanto Tournament"

"Class 2-C" "Class 2-D"

A transfer student..

Which school is that uniform from?

"Frugal Meals" "Math"

"Frugal Meals" "Math" I so hate math, ugh...

"Frugal Meals" "Math" I love it.

"Frugal Meals" "Math" Huh?!

"Frugal Meals" "Math"

It's been a while.

Shinjo!

Toma Shinjo!

Huh? Katsuragi, you know Shinjo?

I'm back home again.

So, what's this?

It's from Ryoma.

Ryoma?!