Slow Start (スロウスタート)

Hana!

Can I come in?

Something came from Hazuki.

Maybe it's a new outfit!

Huh? Shion, where's the package?

This envelope is all there was, Hana.

To Hana

An envelope?

H-Hana?

Maybe...

Maybe they don't want me anymore?

No, we're not abandoning you, Hana.

But you're a high school student now,

so I thought you'd want to start picking out your own clothes.

It's all so sudden, though.

Picking out my own...

There are clothes that you like, right, Hana?

Yes, but...

it's not like I'm dissatisfied with the clothes you always buy for me.

Send me a photo later of the outfit you picked!

Wh-What?

I'm looking forward to it! Bye!

H-Hey...

Are you sure it's okay, leaving that to Hana?

What if she starts dressing like a punk girl?

Not gonna happen.

We're talking Hana.

Although I can see her getting clothes that are even plainer than now.

That could be.

But the outfits you always choose for Hana suit her well.

R-Really?

Did they really suit her that well?

Yeah. Who knows a girl better than her mother?

Y-You may have a point there!

You look really happy.

I got Kamuri!

Kamuri is finally in my arms, just like I dreamed about!

I'm never letting you go! I love you!

It's not going to be that easy!

Look what I've got, Kamuri!

Candy!

So that's where Kamu got the sweets.

I caught one!

You won't catch me next time.

STARTING SLOW

Next time, I'll research your favorite treats to use as the perfect bait!

That's what you say...

...but it won't be that cheap!

Like fishing with dynamite!

Good morning!

Hana, good morning!

Good morning, Hana!

Good morning, Hana.

Anyway, though we're here during summer break, it's great there aren't any classes!

Wouldn't it be cool if we gathered here, chatted and then went home?

Then it's just a meeting place.

Without lunch even.

We finish here in the morning.

Wanna get lunch somewhere?

Good idea!

Hana?

Oh, sorry.

What's wrong, Hana?

Are you hungry, too?

Is it strange to wear clothes my mom's picked out, even though I'm in high school?

So your mother's selected all your clothes?

Yeah.

But now she wants me to choose my own.

Once in a while, my mom makes me an outfit.

Really?

I wear kimonos that one of my grandmas patches up.

And your mom chooses your outfits, doesn't she, Kamu?

Yep. But they're always frilly, frilly, frilly, frilly, frilly.

I can see how you'd want to lose a frill here and there.

Well, I choose my own clothes,

but I don't think your mom choosing is weird.

O-Oh...

This is a good opportunity.

Why don't we all go clothes shopping?

I wanted to buy a new outfit anyway.

Great idea! Let's all choose an outfit that would suit Hana!

I think you should go with something more radical!

Like fully nude.

Then she wouldn't need any clothes.

Choosing by myself would be difficult.

I think I understand how Hiroe feels.

Hana, how's Big Sis Hannen doing anyway?

Good!

I guess she went to that festival with Shion.

Really? I wish we would've run into them.

If she can go to a festival, then convenience stores must be easy!

She's gone to convenience stores as far as ten kilometers away!

Is there a point to expanding her territory like that?

Then why don't we expand our territory, too?

For Hana, a map of clothing stores that would suit her!

Yeah.

Well, would tomorrow be good?

That's our Eiko, always quick to act!

I'm free tomorrow.

How about you, Hana?

Y-Yeah!

Tomorrow's good. Thank you!

All right! Let's find a Hana-like outfit that'd look good on Hana!

An outfit like me?

After that, let's have a parfait.

That's great! The "Hana outfit-picking" followed by parfait course!

Outfit-parfait!

Outfit-parfait.

That also means the perfect outfit!

Outfit-perfect.

Outfit-perfect.

You guys are always overflowing with energy.

Good morning, Teacher!

Good morning!

Let's all do our best with plenty of energy!

I'll leave that to you guys.

You can count on me!

Well, let's get started with homeroom.

Good job, Teacher.

Thanks.

You're done for the day, aren't you?

Yeah.

Jeez. Why do we have to come to school during summer vacation?

Want a piece of candy?

It's good.

I know. That is good.

Then here you go.

Thank you.

Ms. Enami...

Please come over here immediately.

- Are you in for a lecture? - Shut up.

Here, hold on to this.

Yes, what is it?

Hold on to it...

Then, in other words...

It's sweet.

I'm beat.

Good job.

Where's the candy?

It's long gone.

What?

You took a long time coming back.

That's not my fault. The head teacher's lectures run long.

So it was a lecture!

Oh, shut up.

You don't have any more candy?

No, that was my last one.

Seriously? Crap.

I can...

still taste it, though.

What are you saying, idiot?

That hurt!

I didn't whap you that hard.

Okay, it didn't really hurt at all.

Go on home now.

It's sweet.

But...

it's different from the sweetness I was hoping for.

Kidding.

She actually had one more!

She had a lot.

She gave me one before.

Eiko, Eiko, Eiko, Eiko, Eiko, Eiko...

Oh, Hana, welcome back!

Welcome home, Hana!

Wh-What's with your outfits?

You wanna know, Hana?

We wanted to tell you so badly that we've been waiting here for you.

Actually, the summer course I registered for the other day starts tomorrow!

I followed the landlady's advice to keep the students from noticing I'm a year behind

by attending in a high school uniform, so now I'm just trying it on!

W-Wow!

You look cute, Ms. Hannen.

Hiroe, I can understand, but why do you have a school uniform on, Shion?

On a whim!

Huh, a whim?

On a whim?

W-Well, anyway, what do you think about this plan, Hana?

Um... It's summer vacation,

so there probably won't be any students wearing their school uniforms there.

To Hana

What kind of clothes are "me-like"?

Where am I?

Huh? Why am I wearing pajamas?

Hana, are you joining the summer course, too?

I'm...

Hiroe, you're back in your sweats!

I was pursuing "me-ness," and this is what I found!

You and me both, Hana!

You're right! Now I'm wearing sweats!

Uh-oh! I'm gonna be late for the course!

Later, Hana!

H-Hiroe!

B-Be careful!

What's that?

A spring?

Shion?

Did you lose this gold Tama?

Or this silver Tama?