Stars Align (星合の空)

Welcome home!

Hey! I'm back.

Whoa, careful now!

Cut it out!

Don't touch her when you're still dirty!

Yeah, yeah.

Hold up, An. Let me take a bath first.

Hurry up, Big Bro!

Use your right hand.

Where are you going tomorrow morning?

To study at the library.

Why are you lying to me like that?

Didn't I tell you to quit already?

Why haven't you quit soft tennis?

I did.

Don't lie to me.

I quit. For real.

I'm trying to tell you it's for your own good.

I'm worried about you. You shouldn't be around boys like that.

I...

Why won't you just do as I say?

I know. I'll talk to the club advisor myself.

That'll take care of it.

So stop doing things I don't agree with.

"Stars Align"

What? Your brother's match?

"Episode 9" What? Your brother's match?

"Episode 9" Yeah! It'll be Sunday, so I wanna go and watch Big Bro's match!

Yeah! It'll be Sunday, so I wanna go and watch Big Bro's match!

An, don't you want to go shopping with me? And see a movie?

Aww! But I wanna go to Big Bro's school!

No way!

An, you want to go that badly?

Yeah! I wanna watch Big Bro play!

Shingo, will you be able to look after her?

She'll be fine.

I'll have the whole club helping me out.

What do you say, Mom?

Let's trust 'em a bit.

An, you better listen to everything your brother says!

Woohoo!

--Honey! --Yay, yay!

Sheesh...

You're practicing on a Sunday? You sure are working hard!

And you've gotta go to work. You are, too.

As they say, "There's no rest for the poor."

Ahh, can't a better-paying job just fall in my lap?

That's pretty much everyone's dream.

It's important to have dreams!

You might be right.

Maki.

Is soft tennis fun for you?

Hmm.

Yeah. It's pretty fun.

Good! That's wonderful!

What a cutie. Is that Shingo's sister?

An, you came!

How are ya, Taiyo?

Oh! Look, it's An!

It's been a while. Remember me?

Vice-president!

Wow, you're so smart. Way smarter than Shingo.

Sure is. Can even read katakana.

An, make sure you behave.

Tsubasa is Big Bro's partner!

Yeah, we're a pair!

Say, wanna brush off the tennis courts with me?

Yeah! Let's!

Thanks for this. And good luck today.

Same here. Everyone's pumped up to play, so it might be a fun match.

Namie? The infirmary's open, so if anyone's hurt, take them straight there.

It's a hot one today, so make sure everyone stays hydrated.

Understood. I'll let everyone know.

We'll do the practice matches as planned.

Hirahashi/Nagae, Tawaramoto/Ichikawa,

Kuroda/Kawanishi, and then us.

Okay.

Doesn't it seem like everyone's excited today?

They all would've hated doing this before, but the boys fired them up.

Because they've been pushing so hard lately.

An, this is how you hold a racket.

Okay! Like this?

Heavy! Here, Big Bro!

Thanks. Watch this.

That's amazing!

You treat Shingo like he's a hero.

Because Big Bro is stronger than anyone!

Oh, we've got a tiny cheerleader today?

Everyone, keep watch on the little one to make sure she doesn't get hurt.

"Boys' Soft Tennis" Everyone, keep watch on the little one to make sure she doesn't get hurt.

"Boys' Soft Tennis" Got it, Tacky. We're taking turns watching her, so she'll be fine.

Got it, Tacky. We're taking turns watching her, so she'll be fine.

--Maki? --Huh?

About the match today...

Yeah...

Can I go exploring?

Go ahead!

Five-set matches okay with you?

Yeah, that's perfect.

So heavy! Why did I get two?

Because I thought you're the strongest.

Huh? Where did An go?

She wanted to use the toilet, so I told her the way.

I guess she's not back.

Wha? You sent her off on her own? What were you thinking?

Huh? Well, it's the girls' restroom, so--

You idiot!

What?

Not good.

Rintaro!

Huh?

An is missing.

What?!

An!

Where are you, An?!

An! Where you at?!

"Library" Where'd she go?!

She's pretty small, so I hope she didn't get stuck somewhere.

I sincerely doubt it.

"Shijo Minami"

Thank goodness. The door's locked.

What a relief. She's not on the roof.

"Infirmary"

An?

Why are you going to practice on Sunday?

The match...

The match will get canceled...

I'm telling you to quit soft tennis already.

That's right... Because of An...

Because of An...

She wasn't there either.

Really?

Yeah...

No luck, huh?

Shit, where could she be?

Nao?

Yeah, she wasn't there.

Really? Did you actually look?

What the heck, Taiyo? It's your fault, yet you're doubting me?!

Th-That's not what I meant.

I'm so sorry, guys. Can you help me look again?

Guys, please!

Of course. We'll look till we find her.

We checked all the dangerous spots, so I'm sure she's okay.

Let's keep looking!

Right. Let's go!

Yeah!

I'm terribly sorry!

Could you please wait a bit longer?

I'm sorry! Just a little more!

What? We're not starting yet?

We've only got so long until the tournament, you know.

Nao, tell me the truth.

What are you talking about? I'm telling you, I don't know where she is.

Shingo's really worried about her. We all are.

Seriously, I don't know where she is.

"Class 1-D"

"Class 1-D" Where did you search?

"Class 1-D" The first-floor bathroom, the multipurpose room, and the infirmary.

"Class 1-D" Did you go inside and look?

Did you go inside and look?

I did. She wasn't there.

When I tried to look in the infirmary, it was locked and I couldn't get in.

How'd you get inside?

I went inside.

I went inside and nobody was there!

You locked the door, didn't you?

Huh?