Murai in Love (村井の恋)

Behind Kiriyama's family home and liquor store is a container house.

This is Kiri's room.

Wha...?

YAPPI

I'm Hitotose, your guardian ninja.

I'll greet you with a wrestling move.

The hell is up with this dude? He's nuts.

The fact that he has your face makes it even worse!

Oh, there are choices.

It's "Go away," obviously.

Really? I think "I'll attack first" is the right choice.

I wouldn't like such a hostile woman.

Okay, I'll go with "Go away" for now.

- -

Fine. Once I send you to the underworld, I will go away.

He got mad.

Wait, wait, wait, why the hell is he pissed off?

He's the one who picked a fight!

Now I'm sure "I'll attack first" was the right choice.

I'm outta the bath!

Huh?

You're playing that already? Let me see! Why's this dude so angry?

It's Hirai's fault.

I did nothing wrong.

GO AWAY - IF YOU DO IT GENTLY, SURE. LOL ATTACK FIRST

It's gotta be "If you do it gently, sure."

What's your reasoning?

Reasoning? I mean... It's the only one that makes sense.

The player is a girl, right?

"Go away" is mean, and "I'll attack first" is what a gorilla would do.

That makes sense.

-Okay, I'll try that one. -

Seriously, you've got no gusto at all.

Such a boring woman. How disappointing.

- What the hell? -

Wait, this makes no sense.

That leaves only the gorilla option. How can that be?

Don't ask me.

I was right after all.

-"I'll attack first." is the right choice. -

You're pretty good.

That was a beautiful Mongolian Chop.

So beautiful I want you to be my girl.

What the hell is a Mongolian Chop?!

What's the matter?

Okay, let me get this straight.

Why is this dude so happy about picking a fight

with a woman he's never met before, being attacked first and getting hurt?

I mean, who is this protagonist woman in the first place?

A TIME TRAVELER...

-She's an ordinary office worker. - Bullshit!

No way an ordinary office worker could bust out a Mongolian Chop on a dime!

And again, what the hell is a Mongolian Chop?

MONGOLIAN CHOP

- Check it out! -

No, wait. There's no way. It's a frontal attack! Dodge it, man!

Oh, he's calling her "Kitty" now.

He should call her "Gorilla"!

There are more choices.

Lemme see, lemme see.

He said he was wounded protecting her from an enemy.

No big deal. I'm fine. It's all part of the job.

This has to be the "treat injury" option. That's got a nice feminine touch, right?

If it were me, I'd say "I will avenge you."

Are you that attached to this dude?

I say you just spit on it.

I mean, he's still feeling that Mongolian Chop from earlier.

Look, he's covering his shoulder.

Okay, I'll go with "treat injury" for now.

- -

As a pro in this field,

I can treat it faster and better by myself.

What a jerk!

Okay, then I'll go with "It'll get better if you spit on it."

- -

That would never work.

Wow, he's capable of being logical too?

So it's "I will avenge you" like I thought.

Kitty, that head...

You got revenge just for me? That makes me so happy.

- See? - Why skip the good part?

It's just absurd that she had no qualms taking revenge.

This girl definitely has no need for a guard!

Well, she got her revenge. What can you do?

I'm sure there are girls like her out there.

There ain't!

Why are you guys getting so upset?

Let me throw the question back at you.

How are you able to stay so calm while you play this game?

Well... I never want to look like a fool next to the person Tanaka-sensei loves.

And he might be a fictional character,

but he's still my rival.

I want to confront him in all seriousness

and learn something from him.

From this?

I can't lose to him.

I've always had a weak spot for those eyes of yours.

Kiri.

Same here. It was my plan all along to play with you till the sun comes up.

Hirai.

Thus, their bond of friendship was renewed

thanks to the otome game,

and the three men started to work together to conquer Hitotose.

You prefer the takenoko? We have different values, Kitty.

Okay, can I punch this dude now?

Hirai prefers the takenoko.

Meanwhile, Tanaka was...

-Let's eat! -

What is this?

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HITOTOSE SO I DECIDED TO DRAW HIM

What?!

What in the world is going on?

The famous manga artist yu-katan suddenly decided to draw Hitotose?

I'm having trouble processing this.

I mean, her fave is Kenshin Uesugi. So why?

This is the first time I've seen her draw someone other than Kenshin Uesugi.

Kenshin Uesugi from the otome video game Sengoku Koi Emaki.

What in the world could have brought Hitotose into the spotlight

over all the other characters?

What was it that led to the creation of this divine picture?

How is this happening? Is this some kind of reward?

I'm so confused that I'm projecting myself into this mysterious beetle.

A haiku from Tanaka.

O great like button

Why is it that I cannot Hit it more than once?

If I was allowed only one action in response,

I would bow down at Mach speed!

Whoever you are, you have my eternal thanks

for bringing up the subject of Hitotose to yu-katan!

Off to work!

- -

Morning.

Good morning.

GRIN

What?

Well, you know that otome game we played?

I was thinking it's kind of cute that Tetsuko is getting so much joy playing it.

You're just realizing that now?

You like that gap between her looks and her personality, huh?

Let me tell you something.

I liked her long before I discovered the gap.

Oh, yeah?

Hard to tell. You never let your emotions show.

I show them when I need to.

You two are a perfect couple

in the lack-of-facial-muscles department!

Oh, look, Murai, it's Tetsuko.

Sensei!

Tanaka is in invincible mode after seeing yu-katan's Hitotose.

Oh, was the sky always this blue?

Was the greenery always this beautiful?

The earth is wonderful.

Clap, clap.

The birds are chirping

as if in response to my clapping.

I didn't know the world was filled with so much kindness.

I must adopt this kindness too.

Tanaka-sensei. Good morning.

Good morning!

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP

Shut up.

Good morning, Murai. See you in class.

Damn, I'm screwed.

In front of a student of all people.

No, in front of Murai, who's all geared up for battle!

I let him see me with my head in the clouds!

You've gotta stay cool, Tanaka!

RACEWALKING

- - Hey, what was that now?

Tetsuko was smiling!

What's going on, Murai?

She actually has facial muscles? What?!

Racewalking?

Hey, are you listening? Mura...

Aww!

You have facial muscles, too?!

Wait, are you blushing? You are blushing! You're beet red!

That was me showing my emotions because I needed to.

-This is the gap I was talking about! -Hmm?

Murai in Love!

Kitty, your hairpin flew away because of how hard we were training.

Here. I got it for you.

- -