Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

JANUARY 9TH

20-YEAR-OLDS GATHERING VENUE

Do you feel like you have become an adult?

Have you had any alcoholic drinks already?

There have been rumors on social media recently

that you are Touko Kirishima, the internet singer.

Unfortunately, I am not Touko Kirishima-san.

I'm sorry I couldn't live up to your expectations.

If you'd like, I can show you my schedule?

There's absolutely no room for me to be an active music artist.

I have to confirm with the higher-ups before disclosing that!

What do you think about Touko Kirishima-san?

Do you believe the rumor about dreams coming true?

RASCAL DOES NOT DREAM OF SANTA CLAUS

REINDEER'S WORK

I am not Touko Kirishima-san.

JANUARY 16TH

And so, her own statement and official comments from the agency

have denied the rumors, but on social media,

AGENCY ALSO DENIES IT

IS MAI SAKURAJIMA TOUKO KIRISHIMA?

SHE DENIES IT

there still seem to be posts by believers of #DREAMING.

EVEN IF THE AGENCY DESPERATELY TRIES TO PUT OUT THIS FIRE

IT'S TOO LATE TO DENY IT NOW

Now we just have to have the real one step forward.

Morning.

Good morning. What are you doing at university today?

Attending lectures, of course.

Even though you're an invisible human?

I'm still a college student, so of course.

I saw the interview at the gathering for 20-year-olds.

Leave the 30th open.

I'll go on a date with you like I promised.

Hey, Toyohama.

Hmm?

If the most popular idol right now started attending our university tomorrow,

what would you think?

For starters, I don't think I'd be happy, I guess?

Well, yeah.

Even if I wasn't conscious of them,

everyone around would compare us as idols.

They'd pity you on the outside while laughing in their hearts.

Ow!

You picking a fight with me?

What? You want to talk about how Big Sister is in the wrong?

You think I'd talk about something like that?

I get the basic idea of what you're trying to get at.

I saw a few girls of that sort when I first entered university.

What sort of girls?

The ones that were likely considered the prettiest girl around

up until high school.

But when they entered university, Big Sister was around,

so they get confused about everything, like their character and position,

and lose sight of themselves.

What about you?

Me?

You're the president of the Victims of Mai-san Club, right?

- Ow! - Don't be making weird clubs!

As for me, I think Big Sister is out of reach.

Even if I try my best, I can't catch up at all.

Even now, I don't know what the world looks like to her.

There's no way I'd know.

So, Sakuta...

Hmm?

I want you to always be Big Sister's ally.

Of course.

JANUARY 30TH

Santa Claus doesn't get around on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, huh?

Why have you been looking outside this whole time?

I was wondering how other people are seeing this situation we're in now.

Perhaps it looks like Mai Sakurajima's boyfriend

is secretly seeing some other woman?

Maybe so, if they can see you, Kirishima-san.

By the way, are you dating anyone right now?

I was until spring.

As you may know, even my boyfriend stopped perceiving me.

Since when have you been dating that person?

The second summer of high school.

YOKOHAMA STATION

That means back when you were in Hokkaido, right?

In other words, before Nene Iwamizawa-san started claiming to be Touko Kirishima?

And if it was with someone in Hokkaido,

did you have a long-distance relationship after graduating high school?

We applied for our university together, but he didn't get accepted.

Two years in a row, even.

What's he doing now?

Third time's the charm, and he got accepted.

He started attending this spring.

After making so much effort to get in,

he became unable to perceive you, Kirishima-san?

That would be the case.

What's his major?

Statistical science.

Can it possibly be someone I know?

It's Fukuyama, isn't it?

Does Fukuyama know that Touko Kirishima's true identity is Nene Iwamizawa?

He doesn't.

He is perceiving the existence of Touko Kirishima.

But why can't he see you, Kirishima-san?

Probably because he doesn't know that I'm Touko Kirishima.

Isn't it because you are "Nene Iwamizawa" in Fukuyama's mind?

So what if I am?

Go buy this.

Santa's presents are procured in Motomachi, huh?

We're going to the next place.

Where are we going?

A YEAR-ROUND CHRISTMAS SHOP

We've arrived.

This is it.

Looks like a house that Santa might live in.

328 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS

Look for a tin reindeer, a palm-sized one.

Are you looking for something?

Do you have any tin reindeers?

Oh, I think you mean that one.

There have been a few people lately that have come here to buy this.

Thank you.

That's it for today's date.

You giving this to me?

Please hand this to Takumi.

Then why don't we go hand it to him together right now?

Today is Fukuyama's birthday, isn't it?

That's why you went out of your way to choose today, right?

It's useless to go. Takumi can't see me.

He might be able to today.

It was no good, no matter how many times I tried talking to him.

It might go well today.

It's none of your business!

I want you to hurry up and stop being invisible...

so you can come out and say, "I am Touko Kirishima."

Is that for your girlfriend's sake?

You know that there are people that still think Mai-san is Touko Kirishima, right?

Why do I have to do something for you and your girlfriend's sakes?

Because your greatest wish is to stay as Touko Kirishima.

We have a common objective.

Please lend me your smartphone.

You have Fukuyama's contact info in there, right?

Didn't you buy him a present because you had some expectations?

And I assume the scarf Fukuyama's using right now

is a present from you as well, right?

It's from his first birthday after we started dating.

It's so tattered. He should just buy a different one.

It's precious to him because it was something his girlfriend gave him.

Even though he can't see me?

Please complain to him in person.

Hello?

Fukuyama? It's me, Azusagawa.

Huh? Wha? Why you?

You out somewhere right now?

Yeah, on my way to the airport.

Are you heading back to Hokkaido by chance?

Yeah. There was a bit of trouble up there.

So, what do you want?

You said it was your birthday today, right?

I did say that.

Then wait for me at the airport. There's something I'd like to give you.

So did you first meet Fukuyama in high school?

We went to the same middle school, too.

What is it about Fukuyama you like?

It's been nothing but questions from you for a while now.

I think what's great about Fukuyama

is that he's not considerate when he doesn't have to be.

Like?

He was the first one that asked me upon entering university

if it was true that I was dating Mai-san.

He couldn't bring himself to ask me out for the longest time,

but he was always able to do stuff like that.

For instance?

Back in middle school, there was a boy that moved up from Tokyo.

Rumors spread through the entire class that he had refused to attend school.

Everyone was hesitant about talking to him.

But Takumi didn't care about any of that,

and he was the first one to talk to the boy.

Wow, how cool of him.

I think it's thanks to that transfer student

that I started being aware of Takumi.

He's been going to matchmaking parties all the time now,

so you should give him a proper scolding.

If Takumi can see me, I'll do that.

RASCAL DOES NOT DREAM OF SANTA CLAUS

You're really here.

I told you I'd come.

This is so sudden, you'd think it was some kind of joke.

Takumi.

So, sorry to say this after you came all the way here, but I don't have much time.

Listen, Takumi.

Look at me.

I have to go screen my carry-on luggage soon, or I'd be in trouble.

Hey, Fukuyama, do you remember who gave you that scarf?

Who did?

Hmm? Huh?

Actually, how did I get it?

You got it from your girlfriend that you've been dating since high school.

Huh? Oh, no, no. What are you talking about?

Really. It's something you got from your girlfriend.

Sorry. I seriously don't understand what you're saying.

You have forgotten.

To be more precise, you just lost the ability to perceive her.

You can't remember who gave you that scarf, right?