Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You. (どうせ、恋してしまうんだ。)

I came to see you, Mizuho.

Showing up all of a sudden just "to see" me? What?

Our relationship ended a long time ago!

Don't come back to apologize now!

Mizuho!

I don't want to hear it!

These three years...

I kept thinking about it.

Why did Kizuki disappear from my life?

Why?

Fill your head with more thoughts of me.

I was always afraid.

I'm Kizuki... Hazawa...

I would have never imagined Kizuki leaving my side,

since he's always been with me.

Mi-chan, let's play.

Mi-chan. It hurts.

Hold on just a little longer, Kizuki.

Even if...

Mizuho! I'll go home with you.

I wish to become your boyfriend.

Mizuho.

Someday...

The day we get separated comes...

I want the current Kizuki.

Mizuho.

Am I still a little brother to you?

Mizuho.

No.

You're my boyfriend.

From this point on, you're my boyfriend!

Sorry to bother you!

I want all of you, Kizuki.

Just now, Mizuho...

Called me her boyfriend!

Say cheese!

Now!

Cheese!

Cheese! Okay!

Do I look good?

Looking good.

Nice.

Lemme take some from above.

From the top.

Okay!

Nishino

Mizuho.

Hey. You're late.

Why are you just standing there?

I was just about to go get you.

Thanks for getting the chicken for us.

Oh no, you're covered in snow.

Come on, let's head inside.

Sorry, Airu.

I can't.

I can't go to the Christmas party right now.

I'm going to go to Chika's. Sorry.

Airu?

What's wrong?

Let's head inside and eat chicken!

Mizuho said she's going to Chika-chan's place.

What?

Shin-chan...

No matter what happens from now on,

let's look after Mizuho and Kizuki, okay?

Well, we're heading home now.

You sure you don't need our help?

Nah. It's pretty much done.

I'm going to go home soon, too.

Okay, I'll leave the rest to you.

Yup.

How's it that the person who was looking

forward to the food the most isn't even here?

What's with that?

That Mizuho.

The world must be ending if she's not eating my cake.

Winter Break Starts Tomorrow!

So, what are you going to do?

I'm going to go talk to Shin.

I see.

Shin

m 0 0 l 230 0 l 230 215 l 0 215

Want to go ice skating after school?

Want to go ice skating after school?

What?

Does it hurt?

Nope. I'm okay.

All right.

Then let's go.

Ouch!

That was a dramatic fall.

You've gotten worse than before.

Shin... Why did you suggest we go skating all of a sudden?

When we used to come here, it was always the five of us together.

Syugo and Airu were the energetic ones, being louder than usual.

But I wanted to come here one day with you, Mizuho.

Just the two of us.

Like holding hands while walking...

Or drinking hot cocoa that we bought from a stall together.

Or exchanging Christmas presents here...

Right now, I understand it a little more.

The thing you told me back then.

"I want to stay friends."

"I don't want things to change."

But time didn't wait.

We kept changing with each passing moment.

Mizuho...

Did I lose to Kizuki?

Shin...

I...

I've decided to go out with Kizuki.

I see.

You've finally realized what your feelings are.

I wanted you to fall for me before that, though.

But you came to that realization a lot sooner than I thought.

What?

Shin... Where are you going?

It's so sweet!

So this is what hot cocoa tastes like.

I don't think we can go back to being childhood friends.

What?

I don't think I can go back to being friendly like we did before.

We can't... go back?

I lied.

I'll stay friends with you.

So stop making that face.

Smile.

If you're worried, I can at least lend an ear.

You're such a clown, after all.

What? A clown?!

Lame.

I-I'll have you know I'm doing my best, even as a clown!

Yeah, do your best.

Ow! That's cold!

You just adjusted the swing time, didn't you?

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you!

I love you!

I love you.

Oh, it's snowing again.

I've always loved you.

So pretty.

Sorry, Mizuho.

I can't imagine myself giving up on you, even as an adult.

I hope things work out between you and Kizuki.

But, in ten years, if you're ever alone...

I...

Never mind.