Oh Boy, Was I Wrong About Her

Well, good evening, Kirishima-kun.

What a coincidence.

Yeah, it sure is.

Such a lovely young lady.

Eh?

Is this your girlfriend?

Eh...

Wait. You got the wrong idea!

Um, do you two know each other?

Why yes. We sit next to each other in class.

But you sure do move quickly, Kirishima-kun.

You've just transferred and you've already picked up such a cute girlfriend?

Himeko, this is Haruki!

Haruki, this is Himeko.

Huh?

Huh?

Haru-chan?

Hime-chan?

What?!

What?!

OH BOY, WAS I WRONG ABOUT HER

EPISODE 3 "PRODUCED BY HIMEKO"

Are you okay, Nikaido-san?

If something's wrong, you can tell us.

I'm all right.

I just couldn't fall asleep last night.

It's her fault.

Haru-chan, you've turned into a really beautiful girl!

I had no idea it was you.

What a surprise!

My camouflage was pretty convincing, right?

Yeah, you fooled me completely!

I always thought you were a boy, Haru-chan!

And Hayato said you hadn't changed at all,

that if anything you'd only leveled up and turned from a monkey into a gorilla!

Hayato?!

You owe me one for that, okay?

But it's just like Hayato said.

You're the same old Haru-chan!

Oh, Haru-chan! Let's exchange contact info.

I've got my own cell phone, unlike my brother.

Yeah, let's! Hayato's so weird for not having one.

Even the food Hayato cooks is all the type of stuff that Old Gen would like.

Yeah, yeah. Hayato's always been kind of old-fashioned in weird ways.

Maybe you shouldn't have stayed up all night chatting on your phone.

Oh.

She didn't sleep at all last night,

and now look at that smile.

Could it be...

Wait.

If you think about it,

isn't it stranger that she didn't have someone until now?

Oh.

Um...

Damn it. You owe me for this.

Good morning, Nikaido.

You sure look happy there with your phone.

Did you get a girlfriend or something?

A g-girlfriend? No, I... Well...

Kirishima-kun, I don't...

Yes, I did!

See? Isn't she cute?

I hadn't seen her since we were kids,

and, well, last night we got carried away talking about the past...

Oh, right. She... sure is cute.

How cute!

You two look really close!

Quiet down now. Take your seats.

Thanks.

Watch yourself, okay?

SUPPLY ROOM

Yeah, you saved my butt, Hayato!

Ouch! Go easy, will you?

And what are those things?

I found them at the 100 yen store.

They were 200 yen, though.

Here, this one's yours.

Huh? How could something at a 100 yen store cost 200 yen?

Oh, I'll pay.

That's okay. You can owe me one.

Actually, I do have one favor to ask.

Look, I really want your...

M-My what?

Are you really...

going to make me say it out loud?

I-I was super late this morning and didn't eat breakfast,

and I didn't even get a chance to buy lunch!

Oh boy.

You owe me one.

I don't mind sharing, but I don't have extra chopsticks.

All good.

I have a bunch of leftover ones from the convenience store in my bag.

You do?

All she eats is frozen food and convenience store meals.

Hamburg steak is so good with all the veggies!

Did you make this too?

I made a bunch a while back and froze them.

Enough for Himeko's lunch too?

Well, yeah. It's easier to cook hers at the same time.

I bet. The things you miss out on as an only child...

Hime-chan's got it good.

Himeko overslept this morning and barely made it.

Man, what were you talking about so late anyway?

All sorts of stuff.

Hime-chan knows all about clothing brands and makeup.

I don't know anything about that stuff.

Oh. Come over to my place after school today.

Hime-chan's coming too.

O-Okay. But that's a surprise.

Especially since you're so good at maintaining your camouflage.

Well, that nice girl stuff is only an act.

One more thing...

Haruki.

Actually, never mind.

I don't know what her situation is and don't think I can ask.

But still....

Hayato, what the hell are you doing?

Haruki.

You sure have changed, Hayato.

Have I?

Mm-hmm. You never used to be so cocky.

Huh? What are you talking about?

Yeah, I dunno.

Hey, who's that girl?

Isn't that uniform from the middle school nearby?

It's Himeko?!

Haru-chan!

Hime-chan?

Hurry up, let's go!

Unusual for someone to be waiting for Nikaido-san.

Yeah, she doesn't seem like the type to hang out with people.

It must be tough to be so popular.

It's too hot.

It's so damn hot!

Look, it's Hayato! Hayato's here now too!

Oh no!

Hayato, you'd better grab her!

Wh-What the hell?

Hayato, you traitor!

I don't know what's going on, but quit struggling!

Calm down, Haruki!

Hayato, would you please escort Haru-chan back into the house?

O-Okay.

Just kill me now!

Haru-chan, not only do your clothes complete the triad of dark, dull, and dorky,

but most of them are all worn out.

Are these shirts even the right size?

You know what?

These aren't just grubby old clothes.

They also look exactly like the clothes you wore when we were kids.

Your outfit at the store must have been a rare anomaly.

Yeah, no kidding.

Huh? Am I really that screwed?

But don't worry.

Even if you're still using the same disastrous wardrobe,

even if we can't bear to be seen with you in public,

we know that's who you are, Haru-chan.

We won't abandon you.

So, what do you say?

All right, Sensei!

Hayato, can I borrow Haru-chan this Saturday?

Yeah, I guess we can check out cell phones on Sunday.

Clothes it is!

We're going to buy Haru-chan new clothes!

Yes, Himeko-sama?

But if we're actually gonna do this, you'd better be prepared.

That's all for now.

I could use something to drink after all that talking.

Oh. I haven't offered you anything yet.

Is black tea okay?

Yeah.

Hayato! She may be the same old Haru-chan,

but despite her looks, she's still a girl.

Despite her looks? What a thing to say.

Come on, go give her a hand.

Fine.

Haruki, let me help.

Haruki?

Uh... Ah, Hayato!

This is, well, you know.

It's just because of, yeah, just, you know.

We're going, Haruki.

Huh?

Huh? Wait, Hayato. Where to?

Hayato? Haru-chan? What's wrong?

Himeko, let's hit the grocery store, then head home.

Um, okay. I'll get my stuff.

H-Hime-chan too?

I'll be chopping the vegetables,

so you start grating the garlic and ginger, Himeko.