Blue Spring Ride (アオハライド)

"Our adolescence is the season of love."

...is what everyone says.

Our hearts flutter. We feel restless. And we're curious about boys.

Yes, we fall for someone.

That is the greatest mission for us girls.

But for girls, life is more complicated than just love.

And that's why...

I focus on friends instead.

Futaba!

- Good morning! - Good morning!

Long time no see!

Your seat is here.

- Here? - Right behind me! Lucky!

Isn't she cute?

- She's cute! - Right?

Who is it?

What was her name?

H-Hold on... Yoshioka. It's Yoshioka.

- Yoshioka? - Yoshioka.

Our eyes met!

- Go talk to her! - Me?

Hey!

- Oh, there it is. - What are you doing?

Thaaat's not going to work.

Isn't that Makita Yuuri? The girl you mentioned?

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Hey, Makita. You were in class 1-5, right?

You were Mikami's friend, too.

He said there was a really cute girl named Makita in class 1-5.

I'm not that cute!

That was so cute just now!

He even said she's--

Did you see those puppy dog eyes?

Why do guys like girls like Makita Yuuri?

It's like... she's stupid, or simple...

It's not like she's cute enough to say it, right?

Futaba, if you put a little work into being girly, you'd be popular.

Actually, you're just not feminine enough.

It's fine, it's fine!

I'm bad with boys, anyway.

- What's with that way of putting it? - Right?

Futaba, have you been in love with someone before?

No! Never!

Hey, don't laugh! Don't laugh!

I just lied to them.

I think friends come first.

But this is the second year of high school!

In truth...

You've got no manners.

Tanaka-kun?

Huh? He's the transfer student in our class, right?

What is it, Futaba?

Sorry, go on ahead!

Hey!

- Tanaka-kun! - Mabuchi!

- Hey. - "Mabuchi"?

- School supplies? - Yeah.

Then I guess I'll go with you.

That was close!

Somehow... I thought he looked like

the Tanaka-kun I knew when I was 13.

The rain started pretty suddenly, didn't it?

Tanaka-kun?

My name is Mabuchi.

I'm sorry! I made a mistake.

The rain started pretty suddenly, didn't it?

I knew it!

You're Tanaka-kun! Tanaka Kou-k--

I'm telling you, my name is Mabuchi.

I'm Mabuchi Kou now.

My parents got divorced.

I've been in Nagasaki ever since.

You're as dull as ever, aren't you?

I wondered when you'd figure it out.

Yeah, but... Tanaka-kun...

you're completely different from bef--

Again, I'm Mabuchi.

Well, how about a reunion hug?

I won't! I will not do that!

Tanaka-kun wouldn't sa--

He's gone.

Huh?

Tanaka Kou isn't here anymore.

Why has he changed that much?

Tanaka-kun wasn't the type to come on so strong...

He smiled a lot, and was very kind.

The rain started pretty suddenly, didn't it?

Ever since then,

whenever our eyes met, we'd look away.

What's going on?

Cops and robbers. Want to join?

Girls are playing, too?

...and look again.

And in the first summer vacation of middle school...

Summer Festival

7 o'clock.

At the clock in Sankaku Park.

7 o'clock.

At the clock...

in Sankaku Park.

I'm pretty sure that's what I heard.

But...

Tanaka-kun never came.

He never came to Sankaku Park, or to the festival.

Just like that, he never came.

Not even to school when the new semester started.

It'd be better if you had a bag, right?

It looks like I'm all out right now, hold on. Sorry!

It's okay!

Hey, you!

Hold on! Money!

Money!

I paid, though.

Don't try to fool me.

You were just trying to run off.

No!

Seriously, what a slimy person.

Hey, someone call the discipline officer!

No... I did, right?

Give it up, Futaba.

Just apologize and pay her.

Uh...

- Um... - She paid.

Huh?

I saw it, too.

Get out of my way.

Mabuchi is right. I saw it, too!

Yeah?

She paid me just a second ago.

- What? Did she? - Yeah.

How could I have known? Then you can go.

You're so mean, old lady.

Terrible.

Are you letting out your stress?

That's not what you should be saying.

You lot, and you too.

Apologize.

S-s-s-sorry.

Excuse me!

Thank you.

It's nothing.

That wasn't right no matter how you think about it.

Yeah.

But you got mad for my sake, so I feel better.

If something that small makes you feel better, then you come cheap.

Being like that would make your friendships come cheap, too.

Friendships are more important to me, anyway.

That would be making pretend friends.

They're trivial.

Mabuchi! Mabudachi!

Thanks to you,

I got to talk to Murao Shuuko!

Thanks!

But... even if they're pretend friends,

it's a lot better than being on my own.

Hey.

If you'd like...

Thank you!

I'm sorry about back then.

I was the closest to you, and even saw it...

It's okay! It's fine!

But thanks for this.

It looks good!

Hey, why are you getting involved with someone like her?

Eating her bentou on her own is so strange.

Wouldn't it be nice if the boys talked to her?

And you know, a heart being on that cake...

is so pathetic.

Seriously.

She's just putting on a cute act for the boys.

- She's pretty sly. - Isn't she?

Being like that would make your friendships come cheap, too.

But being sly...

wouldn't that just mean that you want people to care about you?

If so, maybe we should act that way, too.

That's not the point.

I just hate girls like her.

If you hate her, you can just ignore her.

You're just so envious of her you can't ignore her!

What is this? I'm in such a bad mood now.

Where are your friends?

Tanaka-kun, you... !

Is it my fault?

No.

It's my own.

I was venting just now.

Sorry.

Actually...

in middle school...

just like Yuuri right now...

I was left out.

After you were gone,

I was always alone.

That's why

I thought I'd make high school better.

I have been...

lying to myself.

So that I can get along with people.

And that's why...