Slow Start (スロウスタート)

Hana!

Can I come in?

Sure.

Your high school uniform is ready.

Here, Hana.

I know this is sudden, but try it on.

Wh-What do you think?

It's adorable!

R-Really? I hope it's okay.

Of course it's okay.

You look cute!

M-More importantly, Shion...

Um, do I really look like a first year high school student?

Don't worry! Instead of a high school student, you could pass for middle school student.

N-Now I hope that's not true.

Oh, wait!

Do I look like a first year high school student?

I-I don't know about that...

Sh-Shion!

Hana, smile!

You don't have to take a photo!

It's embarrassing...

Then why don't we take a picture together?

Maybe we should take it outside.

I don't know if it's a good idea for you to wear that outside!

THE FIRST BUTTERFLIES

"At last, it's the opening ceremony. I'm off."

TO MOM

Send.

GOOD LUCK MOM

Mom...

From Dad too...

Another mail from Mom?

YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ANYTHING, HAVE YOU? MOM

YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MAIL FROM DAD

YOU MAY BE GETTING MAIL FROM YOUR MOTHER TOO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY KEEP YOUR CHIN UP, STUDY HARD, AND ENJOY THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH FRIENDS! I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT YOU! MOM IS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT YOU TOO! DAD

Again?!

YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MAIL FROM MOM

Dad's mail is being drowned out.

HOSHIO PRIVATE GIRLS ACADEMY ENTRANCE CEREMONY

And that ends the entrance ceremony.

I was so nervous!

Am I really a high school student now?

Ow!

Um...

Kamuri?

Sorry. You look so much like a girl I know...

Eiko...

It is you?

Eiko...

I mean, you... you haven't changed since then...

Eiko!

Kamuri!

You really haven't changed,

even though I haven't seen you since elementary school.

Rapid growth!

I'm a growing child, after all.

You sure are! You've grown a lot.

I see. Everyone has friends from elementary school or middle school.

They're all friends already.

Good morning!

G-Good morning!

Huh?

- Good morning! - Morning!

- Good morning! - Morning.

Good morning!

What the?!

Why, if it isn't Tokura!

The girls from the hallway...

So we're in the same class, huh?

I know it's gonna be a great year!

Yeah. And it's kind of a relief

knowing someone on the first day, right?

Totally! I was so nervous that it made me hyper!

I know where you're coming from.

What's this?

You've got something growing on your hip.

Come on, Kamu, don't hide.

Introduce yourself.

I'm Kamuri Sengoku.

Nice to meet you.

You're the cutest little thing!

HMPH

You know, she hadn't grown at all since elementary school.

I'm a late bloomer, so I grow slower than the average person.

Huh? I thought you said you were a growing child.

You'll be sorry 60 years from now.

A long-term plan!

If you're 75 years old and still worried about your height,

you'll be a really petty person.

But that would mean you'd still be friends 60 years from now.

Friendship that deep moves me.

I feel like you're forcing it into a warm, fuzzy feeling.

I'm moved by my own power to turn a comeback line into a heartwarming story.

Come to think of it, this is really our first time together.

Exactly! Back in middle school, we were only together

for the joint classes, P.E. and home ec.

Those girls are in my class too.

Wow. They're already so close to each other.

When I can't even return a simple greeting.

Hey, get in the room.

Homeroom's about to begin.

First of all, congratulations on getting into this school.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST DAY

I'm your homeroom teacher, Enami.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you!

So I'll guess we'll do self introductions in alphabetical order.

I had a feeling we would have to introduce ourselves.

Ichinose.

Y-Yes!

I'm always called first for attendance

and I always have to sit in the front.

That's the fate of someone with the family name "Ichinose."

I hate this...

I'm Hana Ichinose.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Low energy from the very first day of school, huh?

Ichinose, it looks like today's your birthday.

Happy birthday!

You're the first birthday of the school year!

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday.

Th-Thank you!

All right. Next, Imai.

Right. I'm Chihiro Imai. Um, I was in drama club in middle school.

That was embarrassing.

I never thought people would wish me

My hobbies are...

happy birthday on the first day of school.

I'm Kamuri Sengoku.

I like sleeping and eating and my special skill is eating a lot.

Nice to meet you.

Um, I'm Eiko Tokura.

My special skill...

If I have to say something, I guess I'm good with my hands.

I don't know about making tons of friends,

but I would like to get along with all of you.

Nice to meet you!

I'm Tamate Momochi!

Please just call me Tama!

Tama Momochi! I'm Tama Momochi!

Everyone in first-year, class 2, please think well of Tama Momochi!

Is she campaigning?

Well, that's all for today.

Birthday girl!

M-Ms. Momochi?

You can just call me Tama.

Um, here.

It's your birthday present.

ROAD SAFETY

A good luck charm?

A birthday present?

Then here's one from me.

From me too. Here.

They were giving them out this morning in front of the station.

You kind of just spoiled it.

Sorry that's all you get, but I didn't know it was your birthday!

None of us did, of course. We only just met.

Oh, that's right!

What? Did you just realize that?

I'll have something better lined up for your birthday next year.

Yes, next time I'll give you a real present.

All right! From today, I'll start researching what you really want!

That raises the bar.

I think a whole cake would be good.

That's only because you want to eat it, right, Kamu?

What else would be good?

I just met them and they're already talking about next year...

A whole cake.

What about something spicy. Spicy is good!

No, a whole cake...

You keep suggesting food.

I know, right?

E-Excuse me!

ROAD SAFETY

Thank you! I'll treasure these!

You look like someone who really doesn't want to get in an accident!

H-Huh?

Now you can feel safe going to and from school.

Thank goodness.

What's wrong?

We gave her the road safety good luck charms,

so now we'll all get into an accident.

Those charms were protecting us.

Then we should just go home with her.

That's a great idea!

Let's walk to the station together.

Maybe you already had plans?

Um, I walk to school...

I'm envious!

So you're within walking distance!

You get to sleep as late as you like.

If I tag along with them now, they might think I'm strange.

She probably takes a shower in the morning.

And she can have a leisurely breakfast.

But... but...

What's that?!

They're being friendly to me and I don't want to lose my chance.

If you walk to school, then you may not have seen the cherry blossoms by the station.