Hinako Note (ひなこのーと)

So this is the city of Tokyo...

What a beautiful place.

My Talent Is Being a Scarecrow

I was sure the place I'm staying was right around here,

but I don't see a building that looks like it...

Hey, look.

That girl has chicks on her head.

How cute!

Tokyo has so many buildings and train tracks, it's like a maze...

What's the matter, miss?

Are you lost?

There are a lot of dead-end streets in this area.

Wh-Wh-Wh-What should I do?

That's a big bag. Did you just move to Tokyo?

I-I...

Are you a student? Is the place you're heading to near here?

Wh-Which question should I answer first?

Oh, by the way, that restaurant has great Russian cuisine.

Come to think of it, when my daughter came here yesterday,

No, maybe I should introduce myself first...

she got lost and had a pretty rough time.

I'd better not say anything that would offend someone from Tokyo...

A scarecrow?

Once again, I wasn't able to speak well.

I've always been bad at talking, so I've practiced a lot, but...

Hello, tanukis, bunnies, birds!

Which story should I read today?

Do you like Cinderella?

Animals sure do love you, Hina-chan.

That keeps the birds out of my fields, so I appreciate it.

I don't even need a scarecrow anymore.

U-Um...

Oh, my! You froze up!

You look just like a scarecrow.

For some reason, I was always being put to work as a scarecrow.

I finally got into the high school of my dreams.

I want to at least try to not freeze up in front of people,

-Japanese There's a quiz tomorrow We covered most of it yesterday -PE is basketball, so prepare gym shoes

-We're going to be doing oil painting in art, so wear clothes and an apron that can get dirty Preparations are necessary, so get to the art room early

and be able to talk easily with others.

And while I was worrying about that, I made it here...

Used Bookstore Hitotose

This is where I'm staying?

I'm pretty sure it's the right address, but...

That employee is so pretty.

Is she reading?

Or... eating?

Can I help you?

U-Um...

Um, I...

I was told that I could stay here...

Oh!

You're Hinako-chan, right?

The landlady's told me all about you!

The second floor is used for apartments.

That's where I live, too.

Um... I...

My name's Kuina.

I'll go get the landlady!

-Thank you for letting me borrow the textbook yesterday! -The book I borrowed is inside the desk. -Sorry I couldn't return it to you in person. -You're a lifesaver!

-If you ever need anything let me know. -Thank you so much! Lets hang out again!

Some of these books look so old.

This shop has such a nice atmosphere.

In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom Sakaguchi Ango

Sorry, it looks like the landlady's out right now...

Why won't you look me in the eye?

I've never seen someone eating a book before...

That was... um...

I love reading,

and books are basically my friends.

I adore them so much, I want to eat them up.

D-Don't eat your friends!

A-Anyway, I'll show you to your room.

This room is yours.

What a beautiful room!

It's like I'm in a hotel!

A chest with its own atmosphere,

a cute bed...

and even a maid!

Wait... a maid?

Oh?

Wh-Why is there a maid in my room?

Nice to meet you. I'm Mayuki.

Huh?

I live and work here.

You can call me Mayu.

You live here?

She's a resident here.

All residents work here. That's the rule.

Schoolwork comes first, though, so it's only on weekends.

I see!

So that's why Mayu-chan is a maid?

No.

I'm an employee in the coffee shop.

This is just what I always wear.

Huh? They're your own clothes?!

I-I heard that someone new was moving in today,

so I was just cleaning up this room!

Mayu-chan wants to be a princess. Right?

You like frills.

N-No, I don't!

Don't treat me like a child!

I'm just rehearsing for when I'm invited to dances in the future,

so I won't step on the hem of my dress!

She's like a child...

Hina-chan, you're starting at Fujimiya High in spring, right?

I'm so glad I'll have a kouhai there now!

Huh? A kouhai?

Did you think I was a first-year like you?

I may not look it, but I'm a second-year!

I'm sorry!

People always think I look younger than I am.

I can't tell her I thought she was in elementary school...

But don't worry, it doesn't bother me.

By the way, I'm a first-year, too.

So we'll be together.

Yeah! I'm looking forward to it!

The toilet is in the middle of the hallway.

We only have a given amount of time to use the bath, so be careful of that.

Kuu-chan, that's immodest!

Bad!

Well, I didn't finish my breakfast...

Oh, all right.

It's noon, anyway. Why don't we have lunch?

In a bookstore?

Nope.

See? This is the coffee shop where I work.

You're right!

Coffee shop

Used Bookstore

You Are Here

There's a coffee shop in the back of the bookstore!

Here, Hina-chan.

Take this.

Huh?

I have to eat a book, too?

This is a menu.

Oh, so it is.

Why did you enroll at our high school, Hina-chan?

Huh?

What do I do?

Where should I start explaining?

Well... when I was a scarecrow out in the country...

Huh? A scarecrow?

You mean those dolls that stand in fields?

What did you do?

She froze up...

She really does look like a scarecrow.

Today's practice menu -Stretches <-- Do them properly! -3 kilo marathon <-- Try your best not to walk -Vocal exercises -Review the script

-Review strong and weak points and check on props -Check on costume

I wondered what exactly she did.

So she literally freezes up and does nothing...

As you can see, I get nervous easily...

It's unusual to see someone become a scarecrow because of nerves.

But during my school's field trip last year,

I saw a theater club play here.

I was so moved by the actors' bold performances.

I wanted to be like that, too.

So I decided I wanted to be in theater, too.

And that's why you enrolled at our high school?

Um, are you two in theater or anything?

You're both really cute,

and I bet Kuu-chan could write good stories.

And Mayu-chan could play a princess, maybe...

I'd probably eat the script right after writing it...

Really?

I could never wear a dress! I'd be too embarrassed!

But that outfit doesn't embarrass her?

So you're going to join the theater club, then?

Yeah.

Our school is pretty prestigious.

I want to be able to talk a lot in front of people,

Huh?

and I want to make lots of friends, too.

Good luck!

I'm rooting for you!

Thanks!

I heard the theater club was shut down last year, though.

Oh, yeah, come to think of it...

You're kidding!

I didn't hear about that!

I know it's my fault for not checking before I enrolled there, but...

But, but... there was no Internet out in the country!

And I just bought that cell phone yesterday!

I'm going to join the theater club!

I'm not interested in any other clubs,

and I'm not good at any sports or arts...

Good at... The only thing I'm good at is...

...being a scarecrow, I guess.

Scarecrows wouldn't be of any use in Tokyo, would they?

I almost forgot.

If I'm going to live here, I have to work.

Which means...

W-Welcome.