Brother, Dear Brother (おにいさまへ…)

My right hand holds a bowl of gold,

And my left holds one of silver.

Never one without the other,

Two unseen bowls for each of us.

The golden one is filled with joy,

shining warmly.

Since we met, my golden bowl

cannot hold all my happiness and love.

Golden joy, silver sadness,

I would leave my past behind...

For you, for the sake of love,

I would empty the bowls of my past.

Based on the manga by the beloved Ikeda Riyoko

Who are you? Who are you?

A long time ago we had a brief encounter..

Nobody else remembers it now.

You were on the other side of the hedge with a red shovel in your dirt-covered hands.

You spoke with brightly beaming eyes...

Who are you? Who are you?

Bye-bye! See you again!

See you again!

It was a rainy day,

A long time ago. A brief encounter...

If someday, somehow, I discover that you remember that moment,

On that day, I intend to confess to you that I also remember.

Who are you? Who are you?

What are you doing, Nanako?

You are going to be late.

Yes...

Ouch!

Don't tell me you are going in that dress!

But why not?

Even thought the school does have a uniform,

the rules do say that it is ok to wear regular clothes.

...at least, as long as the clothes are SUITABLE.

Never mind that. Who in the world would wear ordinary clothes...

to attend their high school orientation!

But...

But... Check with your father before you act foollish.

That's what you always say!

Good morning, Daddy.

Nanako, that looks really good!

Now you look like a genuine high school student.

It's very cute. It's splendid!

Daddy, You're always exaggerating...

See you later!

Brother, my dear brother...

Today I started high school.

Of course I am not so naive

as to think it will change my life completely!

After all, this year's cherry blossoms will be just the same as last year's...

But... But still, my brother...

I feel so excited...

Can you hear my heart racing?

1. The Magnificent Ones

We barely made it!

Good morning, Tomoko!

You look so good in the uniform!

You look so good in the uniform! You too!

You were not going to wear a uniform...

You weren't either!

You were going to wear your favorite dress, you said.

There is someone in my family who is hard-headed...

Same here...

She is not a Kiyouiku Mama, but she's still VERY conservative.

Same here. She said, "It is common sense to wear a uniform for your orientation."

What's so funny?

That is exactly what MY mom said..

Too bad... We choose Seiran school because they allow regular clothes.

But he said...

"Cute!"...

...and "Splendid"...

What's so funny!?

Daddy's little darling!

So what?

Brother, to tell the truth,

My father is not my father by birth.

When I was five, my mother remarried.

[We are proceeding to City Hall by way of Seiran School.]

But now... I love my father.

He is kind, and intelligent...

I'm sorry....!

Ummm...

Uh...

What a beautiful bracelet...

Oh, I'm getting off here!

Please let me get off!

I'm sorry!

I'm not used to this bus yet.

Here... you dropped this...

Here... you dropped this...

When she spoke her voice was clear like a bell,

yet also deep and soothing, like a gentle breeze blowing through my soul.

NOBODY is wearing a uniform!

You're right!

Let's see, I'm in section A...

How about you?

I'm in... ummm... section B.

That's too bad.

We have been in the same section since grade school.

Will you miss me?

A little, I guess...

See you later!

I'll be seeing you!

You must be an outsider.

Most of the students in uniform are from outside.

None of the students from the Fuzoku schools would be wearing a uniform.

Being from the outside, though, you must really be smart.

Now I'll show my secret to you!

I have red nail polish on my thumb nails.

So red! So beautiful!

You are cute and likeable.

Let's become friends!

You are... I hope... in section B?

Yes...

I thought so! Me too!

Thank goodness!

My name is Shinobu Mariko. And you?

Misonoo Nanako.

An unusual name...

You must be using that herbal shampoo...

I love that too!

Let's go. Or we'll be late!

Kaoru no Kimi!

That's Kaoru no Kimi!

That's Kaoru no Kimi! Look! that's Kaoru no Kimi!

It's really true!

She didn't leave after all...

She didn't leave after all... What a relief!

Udaishow Kaoru no Kimi?

Kaoru no Kimi-sama! How have you been?

We were worried that you might leave our school.

From today on, I will just be a freshman like you.

So, hello!

So, you intend to continue the club activities?

Of course.

Her real name is Orihara Kaoru.

She is in our section, too.

Let' sit down! The orientation is starting!

She is a year older than us, but she was away for a long time due to illness.

You two, go on and sit down!

O - Ok!

My brother,

perhaps this year's cherry blossoms

will end up being very different from last year's after all...

[The class president will now speak to us.]

You may not believe me --

...but her lips are wet and shining like wild berries!

Look! Look at her!

She is Ichinomiya Fukiko. We call her "Miya-sama". She is our queen!