A Star Brighter than the Sun (太陽よりも眩しい星)

Iwa!

All done with the checkup?

Yeah.

And you, Kagawa? How was it?

It concerns my privacy.

Did you maybe put on a little weight?

Let's just say I feel that I've grown.

- I try to watch my diet before checkups, - Height, 168cm.

- but I end up eating anyway. - I only grew one centimeter.

I used to grow about three centimeters every year.

Maybe my growth spurt is finally over.

As for my weight...

I ate a lot yesterday, too, so it can't be helped.

Nice work.

Hm?

"Nice work"?

Teacher, give us a heads-up before you open the door!

My bad.

Let me help you.

Thanks.

Oh, this one's a boy's.

Is this a girl's?

KOKI KAMISHIRO 183.2 CM, WEIGHT: 71.5KG

I happened to see it.

54KG

I didn't think Kamishiro would have that much grip strength.

Oh, right, Iwata.

Most of the boys I got to know in high school address me formally.

Thank you for pairing up with me for the orienteering on the school trip.

I didn't know who to run with and I was wandering around, so you really saved me.

You were wandering around?

Yeah, I was wandering around.

It's so hot.

- Here comes my friend. - I know, right?

Koki, let's go to the next one.

Okay.

There goes my friend.

During the school trip...

I had my heart broken twice.

Friends...

Kamishiro's a bad man.

I just can't accept that you're only friends.

You're not the one who needs to accept it, Sui. Iwa is.

You need to respect her decision.

What? But friends? It's not fair, is it?

If he refuses to let Iwa go, she can't fall for someone new!

Oh... I can do it.

I'll move on, don't worry.

Oh, yeah? I guess it's okay then.

What's okay, Sui?

I thought he was way out of reach, and I had no chance,

so it feels kind of amazing to know that he thinks of me as a friend.

This Friday is North High's famous class-versus-class jump rope tournament!

Doesn't our school have way too many events?

Are all high schools like this?

Famous? Never even heard of it.

It's on the school website.

Go check the event schedule.

Uh, the rope has to be swung by one boy and one girl.

Uh, maybe for the girl...

Iwata would be a good pick?

Will you do it?

Yes.

For the boy... maybe someone from a sports club would be a good choice?

Well, I'm not a sports club member.

I don't know the boys outside my group.

Oh, Kamishiro. Can you do it?

Maybe being friends is enough.

Izawa, you're the jump counter.

What?

All right.

If Kamishiro sees me as a friend...

I want to be a good friend.

Huh? We're the first ones here?

We're practicing here, right?

It's so hot in here.

It is.

The windows are shut.

It really is hot.

I'm switching to shorts.

I don't have to worry about not looking good in front of Kamishiro anymore.

After all, we're friends.

Whoa!

Huh?

Oh, I'm wearing shorts underneath.

Yeah, of course! Sorry, I shouted out of reflex.

I-I figured it'd be okay since we're friends.

Sorry.

Right. Friends...

Saying it out loud again feels kind of embarrassing.

The smile of my friend...

GROUP ACTIVITIES IN A CLASS THAT HASN'T BONDED YET = NO ONE MOVES

Come on, time zooms by, you know?

Move forward.

Just form a line like that.

Hey there, stay in line.

Line up by height. Big ones in the middle.

Izawa's taking the lead. He's being a great help.

I'll do my best with the rope.

Let's go.

Ready, go!

One, two, three, four...

Keep the front as low as possible.

People around Ayukawa are tall, so keep it high on the upswing.

Ten!

Eleven, twelve...

Hope it's easy for everyone in the class to jump.

All right. It was just the first try. Again. Ready, go!

Six...

Hey!

Sorry, it was me.

O-Okay.

All right, let's pull ourselves together. Ready, go!

One...

Sorry, that was me again.

One!

Sorry.

One!

- Here we go... - Here we go...

Sorry.

- Kagawa... - Thirty jumps!

For real? Thirty jumps?

Isn't our class kind of a mess?

Nice. Amazing!

Oh, time's up.

I wish we could've practiced more.

Hey, Kagawa tripped up every single--

Ow!

It's not like it was intentional!

Well...

it's a fact.

PAT PAT PAT

What are you doing, Kagawa?

Jump rope visualization.

If I trip up, it'll cause trouble for everyone.

Off to club practice, Iwa?

Yeah.

See you.

Y-Yeah.

Kagawa!

The teacher let me borrow a short rope.

I bumped into Iwa in the hallway. I'll join, too!

Uh... wouldn't that be kind of a bother for you?

Are you going to practice?

Wouldn't it be better if we joined, too?

Springtime... of life?

Kagawa, timing! Keep an eye on Iwata's or my move.

Thirteen, fourteen...

Fifteen.

Nice try!

Are you tired?

I'm okay. Thank you.

That was a good run!

Don't you two have club practice?

I'm good. It's just self-training today.

Oh, I'll go let my seniors know.

See you later.

I'm skipping club today, I have a class activity.

Sure thing.

I'm sorry.

This is fun. Feels like the springtime of life.

I never would've expected Kamishiro and Iwata to be such tough coaches.

Oh, yeah? Well, Iwata and I are both in sports clubs.

Has Iwa always been like that?

They're talking about me...

Like that? Like what?

It was Iwa who borrowed the rope for me.

She's always been like that.

Back in elementary school, Iwata was the friend who taught me how to jump rope.

I'm in his memories as a friend.

Bragging about how long you've been friends?

I'm not!

Iwa's taking a while.

Oh, she's back. Okay, let's do it!

Our goal is 100 jumps!

Eleven, twelve...

Thirteen...

Sorry...

That was me who tripped!

One more time! Ready, go!

- YOU ALL RIGHT? - GO AHEAD, YOU CAN DRINK IT ALL

- SO HOT, I JUST WANT TO SHAVE MY HEAD! - IT'D SUIT YOU

Wow, it got dark before I even realized.

Iwata, did you know? The ramen shop on the corner offers a student discount.

Just ¥300 a bowl.

What? Really?

I sometimes go there after practice. I've seen some tennis club members, too.

I want to try that.

Extra noodles are just ¥50.