Slow Start (スロウスタート)

COOL & CASUAL SECTION

That's a nice color.

Happy Birthday, Pinko.

Pinko?

This is big!

CUFFED WRISTS

I'm happy, but you surprised me.

A-Actually, I got you a present, too.

Hiroe and I picked out this hairpin.

The same as Hana!

Happy B, Eiko!

Thank you, Hana and Tama.

Can I put it on?

Yeah, go ahead.

You do it, too, Hana!

O-Okay!

Thank you.

May I win the limited concert tickets, may I win the limited concert tickets!

Your head looks kind of auspicious, so it slipped out!

Now you, Hana!

May Eiko have a happy year.

E-Eiko?

Thank you, I'm touched.

You're a good girl, Hana.

Jeez, if Hana is a good girl, that makes me look like a bad girl.

Y-You're not a bad girl at all, Tama!

Tama?

You're totally a good girl, Hana!

She is, isn't she?

Hana, you're adorable! Extremely cute!

Yeah, she is cute.

Cute.

She's bashful.

She sure is.

What the hell is that?

Are you Pinko Tokura?

Let's stop with the "Pinko" before it sticks.

Tokura...

Y-Yes?

You think wearing a jumble of accessories while you're young is stylish,

but you'll definitely regret it ten years from now.

No, you've got the wrong idea. It's not like that.

It's Eiko's birthday!

Birthday?

I see. So that's why you're wearing the festive outfit, huh?

What is this?

All I sense is malice.

No malice at all.

I'm not thinking you're pretending like you're popular. Not at all.

You're awful, Kiyose.

Don't call me by my name.

Well, Happy Birthday, Tokura.

I've got a present for you, too.

Here, hold still.

Okay.

How's that? Are you touched?

Teacher, this is obviously a paper clip.

Relax. It belonged to me, so there's no need to return it.

This makes me so happy.

I appreciate your kindness!

Give it back.

Huh? Didn't you say I didn't have to return it?

Remove them all from your head before first period starts, Pinko.

I said to stop calling me that!

Ms. Enami really pulled your chain, Eiko!

Yeah. That's my type.

That's your type?

The other day, too,

I said to her, "Let's become friends after I graduate," but...

After you graduate, I'll become your former teacher,

not your friend.

That's what I love about her!

I don't know how she finds that appealing,

but that's what I like about Eiko.

LET'S KEEP IT CLEAN

Kamu?

Happy Birthday.

Oh, this timing?

Purposely.

Purposely?

Then here, put it on.

A ring.

Purposely, because I thought they might get you hairpins.

It's beautiful!

Thank you, Kamu.

Yep.

Say, this ring would fit your ring finger, wouldn't it?

I don't know.

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

I brought it, Teacher.

Thanks.

I saw your mother recently.

She asked me to take good care of you.

R-Really?

Um...

How's school going? Has anything bad happened?

No.

Um, it's fun!

At first, I was nervous that I wouldn't get used to it.

But now it seems fine. Um...

It's like a kind atmosphere.

Or I have gotten used to it.

More than getting used to it, I'd say it's because you made friends.

D-Do you think so?

That's what it looks like to me.

But it's amazing!

You got a hairpin from all of our classmates!

You didn't plan that with everyone in advance?

No, not at all.

All of our hearts became one! It's a miracle!

This kind of thing may never happen again until graduation!

It was fun!

Birthday!

It's a fond memory now!

Eiko's hairpins!

You're disregarding the class trip and focusing on my hairpins?

The hairpin you always wear is so pretty, Eiko!

Really?

It suits you.

The mature sparkling is like very Eiko!

Really? Thank you.

Where did you buy it? C'mon, c'mon!

It's a secret!

Is it a well-known store you want to keep hidden?

I sense absolute force that won't let me go even one step closer!

Being a mysterious woman with real secrets is the key to your popularity, huh?

Are you okay with that, Kamu?

There should be a limit to her popularity!

I'm happy that everyone likes Eiko.

I see!

You're like, as long as she comes home to my port in the end...

Is that like a ballad?

Or like a dog that leaves at night but returns to the doghouse in the morning.

A dog?

Woof!

Ah, I drank too much.

T-Tokura?

This is my place, right?

Good morning, Teacher.

I guess I just fell asleep like that.

Sorry.

Would you take these off?

S-Sure.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm going to use your bathroom.

What is this?

Thank you.

Do you have a hangover?

Hey, what happened? How is it that you're here?

You don't remember?

Come on, walk.

Ms. Enami!

Good evening.

Yo...

Are you a student of Enami's?

Yes. Hello.

It doesn't take much for her to get wasted.

Seeing her like this and so weak is hilarious, isn't it?

Shut up.

Yes, Nishimura here.

Thanks for earlier.

- Yes. Thank you. - She's cute drunk.

Enami, wake up!

I have to go back to that bar and pick up something we left behind. Hey!

How about I walk her home?

Are you sure?

Yes.

Well, it's the apartment building right there.

Teacher, you're home.

Please unlock the door.

Nishimura, for some reason, you look like Tokura tonight.

Why?

Probably because I am Tokura?

I see, you are Tokura.

Yes, I'm Tokura.

Are you okay, Teacher?

Yeah.

Tokura is my student, right?

Are we still talking about that?

Hey, is Tokura cute?

No, she's not cute.

You didn't even think about it. That's awful!

Tokura...

What is it with her?

Hey, what do you think?

Oh, I don't know.

One thing I can say for sure.

Uh-huh...

She's not cute.

Oh...

Here, Teacher. Water.