Hana-Kimi (花ざかりの君たちへ)

I said wait!

Ow...

What the hell are you doing?

I told you to stop and you wouldn't!

You ran away from home!

You must've come to see Sano.

Shin-kun...

Sounds like he contacted my mom.

She said he's coming straight home.

Oh, really?

That's good news.

He was in the city anyway,

so he took the chance to check out my school, allegedly.

He wanted to see you.

He may talk tough,

but he really looks up to you.

Can't say I don't understand.

I have an older brother too.

True, you do have a thing for being babied.

Th-That's not true!

Because I Want to Stay by Your Side Forever

Looking at the people around you like your brother and Julia,

maybe it's that they're too soft on you.

Coddling you and all.

What's that supposed to mean?

You just said that I like being babied in a different way!

I'm saying you've got good people around you.

Not that I know anything about good families...

But even to me, having a friend who seriously worries about you

seems like a good thing.

Sano... Did you meet up with Julia?

I... wouldn't say that.

Why?

Just a feeling.

Why do I feel like a guilty cheating husband?

I'm starving.

Nakatsu? What happened? You're hurt.

Oh, you know.

With the fight for the regular spots coming up,

it's like a badge of honor.

That's some hard practice...

Tell me about it.

It's true our athletics department takes no prisoners.

Sano.

But, well, I can't complain.

This was my special ticket into Osaka.

I chose this path for myself.

Nakatsu's really serious about this.

What?

I mean...

Well...

Never thought I'd hear you talking like that.

Hard to believe.

Gave me the chills, man.

You makin' fun of me?!

I'll make you eat your words!

Easy, easy.

There, there.

I know!

For practice tomorrow, I'll bring you some grub.

F-For real?!

Uh, yeah.

Sweet!

That is one sadly colored aura.

Sano, what would you like?

Meat and potato croquettes.

Okay!

Julia!

Out for a walk?

Yeah, something like that.

While I think about some stuff...

Hey, then why don't you come with me?

I'm making a delivery to Nakatsu.

What? I'm good. I don't need to see that ape.

Don't be like that!

The school's right there.

But...

Nakatsu's on fire right now!

Oh! There he is.

Go around!

Apparently, they're duking it out to make the cut.

He's been covered in dirt every day.

Nakatsu!

Mizuki!

Hey! Where are you going, Nakatsu?

Oh, thanks!

The American woman!

You're here too?

Maybe get your eyes checked.

I hear you're trying to make the team.

Y-Yeah.

Sounds rough.

I don't really think so.

I do love soccer, after all.

Chasing what you love is never rough going.

Nakatsu!

Yeah! Coming!

Good luck.

Here you go. A pick-me-up.

Wow!

Okay, gotta run.

Thanks for the drop-off!

Oh, he fell.

He looks like... he's having fun.

Huh?

You do too.

Julia?

I'm going back to the States.

What?! Why all of a sudden?

I only planned a short stay to begin with.

Plus, I guess I'm feeling a bit relieved.

About what?

That you're really being held dear here.

That you've got people supporting you and your sunny disposition.

I'm relieved that you're surrounded by decent people.

Oh, Sano said the same thing.

That I'm blessed with good people around me.

That I have a good friend in you, Julia.

He said that?

All right, time for a break!

Here. This is for you.

Thanks.

What's wrong? You seem down.

Yeah.

Julia said she's going back to the States.

I see...

Did she say anything else?

No, not really.

Wait, she said something kind of like what you did.

That she's relieved I'm surrounded by good people.

I guess you're gonna miss her.

Yeah...

Hi!

Julia!

Wait, you're already leaving?!

Yeah, I figured I'd come say my goodbyes.

Take care.

I will.

You too, Julia.

Oh, that's right.

Hmm?

I said before that you should just go steady with Sano already,

but you don't have to rush things.

He seems shy.

What's all this, American woman?

You goin' home?

That's correct.

Thank you, Sano.

You too, Nakatsu.

Do my ears deceive me?

That's the first time you've used my name!

Would you prefer I call you an ape?

Who would prefer that, you violent American woman?!

That's rich coming from a dumb ape with zero manners!

Who're you callin' dumb ape?!

Try sayin' that again!

I'll say it as many times as it takes!

Dumb ape! Dumb ape! Dumb ape!

What do you call this?

A fight without honor and humanity.

Or maybe cats and dogs?

I miss having you here already.

You'll see me soon enough.

Oh, you're still in uniform?

I've got school now.

Sano's left already because he has morning practice.

Oh, I'm sorry! It's morning for you.

I forgot.

It's fine. Thanks for calling.

It made me happy.

I'm kind of sad that my good friend Julia has gone back home,

but now it feels like things are returning to normal.

Osaka Private High School

Hmm?

Wait, wh-what's this?

Morning! Hey, so there's...

Did you see it?

I sure did!

They're so lucky.

Morning.

Hey. What's going on?

What? You really don't know?

We only found out this morning.

It's because of this. Here.

Th-Th-That's...

Wha... Wha...

They look so cool!

#schooltrip

#hotguys

#hokkaido

Oh, oops.

It's gotten so many likes.

Guess they could instantly track down our school because of the uniforms.

So you're saying those girls out there are...

Obviously!

They're after these three!

Right. That makes sense.

I mean, maybe my opinion doesn't count, but Sano really is cool.

Damn it.

Every one of them's probably all like,