Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! (宇崎ちゃんは遊びたい！)

It's freezing. What gives?

I mean, it is December.

You know, you've been awfully quiet all day long.

What's up? Did you catch a cold or something?

Uh! Uh, no! What're you going on about?

I feel fit as a fiddle!

I-It's just... Um...

I was thinking that the two of us

have been hanging out for a while now,

but this'll be the first time we've spent Christmas together.

Yeah, it is.

Uzaki.

Um, Sakurai?

Oh boy, it's still as hot as ever.

Huh?

Yo, what's good?

Haven't seen you since we got back from vay-cay...

Uh...

You okay?

Cause you're giving off some seriously haunted vibes.

Summer's over and I'm in denial.

You did have three months to enjoy it.

It's only been a few days since he packed up

and went about his way, and yet his absence feels like a

gaping hole deep within my chest.

We're personifying the seasons now, huh?

Wow, I had no idea that you had it this bad.

Wait, where's the meathead?

Oh, I see, bet that's why she's in such a mood.

Well, Saku should get here soon.

Why not make some plans to cheer yourself up?

You can still hang out through the school year, right?

What I meant was, it doesn't have

to be summer for us to hang. We'll always be together.

Right. Whatever you say!

Glad to hear it.

You guys are like besties, aren't you?

--Huh? --Ever since high school, yeah?

Nah, we weren't that close at first.

Uh, why not?

Have you seen the mug on that mean old jerk?

Heh, heh...

I had him pegged him for a hoodlum,

scared the crap outta me.

Jeez, what if Saku heard you say that?

You'd probably say it to his face anyway.

Actually, I talked to Ami about it.

My first impression of him was awful.

What? I didn't know that was the case.

Figures as much since that fool doesn't tell me anything!

Take that, sucker!

So, was there something that sparked your friendship?

Something specific, or...?

Y'know, a moment. Like one that made you

realize Sakurai wasn't so scary after all.

Well, come to think of it. Maybe.

First, stay calm and relax your body.

Keep your form when you're gliding through.

Right! I'll give it a try!

You're almost there. Keep it up.

Yeah, maybe a few things.

Mm-hm. Continue.

Anyway, he may have major bad guy face,

but he's actually super considerate.

And then, once I started getting to know him a little more,

talking to him wasn't such a big deal.

I asked him to give me swimming lessons,

and the rest is history.

Yo.

Huh? Hey, Saku!

Jeez, took ya long enough!

Why were you runnin' late, ya slacker?

Did you oversleep or what?

Looks like someone's stuck in vacation mode.

Time to wake up, lazybones!

Ugh, would you knock it off?

It's too early for all that racket.

We don't even have homeroom today!

Whoa, talking about Saku snapped her right out

of that funk. Heh. I guess that's where they're at now.

Yikes, just date already.

Right. Listen, guys.

If you're still feeling hungry for summer

and need an excuse to hang,

then how 'bout this?

Why're you dragging me into her issues?

Bowling?

Can't speak for Uzaki,

but all you did besides work was play games, no?

Oof, bad idea.

This guy couldn't bowl if his life depended on it!

Trust me, it's hysterical. He chucks the ball at the pins

like a caveman getting at a piñata.

It's obvious that a precision sport like bowling

is way beyond his capabilities!

But when you're a dense klutz like Sakurai,

there's only so much you can do!

I guess you're coming with then?

Oh, it's on.

Here you go.

Great. One sec, okay?

Is it that bad?

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Let's spice things up!

Whoever comes in last has to do whatever the winner says.

I was gonna sit this one out,

but don't hold off on my account.

You're all good to go. You can head over to Lane 12.

All right, here we go!

Whoever wins or loses, no hard feelings allowed.

I wonder what I'll make you do first?

Yeah, yeah, keep on jabbering.

I'm surprised you're not going off on her.

Getting riled up would only play out in her favor

and seeing me flustered is exactly what she wants.

I see. So, victory hinges on whether Uzaki

can throw you off your game,

or if you can maintain your focus.

Is this what you two do together?

The way y'all have fun sounds stressful.

For real. I think I'm giving myself a hernia.

In any case, losing my cool won't help me.

I just have to stay calm and go with the flow--

You dirty little menace!

The battle's already begun.

Yay! I'm going first 'cause I'm the best.

Ugh, still two more!

That's embarrassing after all that trash talk.

In terms of skill, we're about the same level, though.

You're up next, slowpoke. C'mon, chop-chop!

Whatever.

The way you're bluffing right now is commendable,

but it won't take anything for me

to break that poker face in half.

More psychological warfare.

Whoa, he bowled a strike!

You see, it's not about the poker face.

I mean, I worked on it, but I didn't see much improvement.

That strike? That was me

channeling every bit of my rage for you in one throw!

That is beyond lame.

So, it's your usual caveman thing,

but with a bit more "oomph" behind it.

That does require luck, but it's

probably better than whatever she's doing.

You've gotta be kidding.

Watch what you say.

The more you piss him off, the more powerful he'll get.

No way. Are you such a loner

that you even go bowling by yourself? Oh, how pitiful!

That's your response?

Shut your trap! And don't even go there!

Nice going. Now you've riled him up so much that he can

dish out an even more powerful throw.

Huh?

You got this, big guy!

Sweet. Nothing like a little pep talk.

But that was dirty!

It evens out. If he gets to take the brute force approach,

then I get to troll him until he starts choking.

The way you smile when you say that is pretty disturbing.

Sakurai wins.

That was one tough battle.

Maybe you should've focused on your game

instead of on sabotage.

Save your breath. This is her game.

You guys sure have some interesting priorities.

Anyway, isn't one of you supposed to start doing

whatever the winner says?

Hey, nobody asked you to butt in!

Dude. Now's your chance!

For what?

You're seriously hopeless, man!

Say, how about we go for another round?

Sure. I'm down!

You better bring it.

Otherwise I'll win, and you'll have to do whatever I say.

Get real.

You really think I'd let myself bow to a cheap idiot like you?

Jeez. Why are you only ever

this aggressive with each other?

Getting one up on this jerk is something

that makes life worth living.

And she's the last fool I'd wanna lose to!

Yeah? Well tough luck!

Sensing that he was in territory

no outsider could penetrate, Sakaki stepped back.

Yet he couldn't help but think.

Just go for it already!

Such was the state of affairs.

I'm off, gotta run to that meeting.

We've gone over this a million times!

We're closing for the day while you're out. I've got it.

Off you go now!

The truth is, I haven't told our two employees

anything about this.

I've been waiting for dad to leave the cafe

for quite some time.

Yes, ever since that night.

The night that a fire was lit deep within.