The Balloonatic

Our worst fears were finally realized.

Stop babbling!

Come on!

Your clothes are going to fall off!

So we'll need diapers and...

...milk?

Boobs?

A young girl

can't produce breast milk!

Diapers, bottle, powdered milk...

And we'll need hot water.

There, there.

I never thought I'd get to carry Iori like this.

Nothing's happened to Taichi,

and Heartseed hasn't shown up.

A lot of things are different this time around.

Y-Yeah...

Sis!

Anzu!

And Mihashi-san.

Why are you here?

Who are they?

Kiriyama's sister and a friend

from when she practiced karate.

You were acting strange,

so after I talked to Mihashi-san, we decided to follow you.

Why is there a baby?

Um...

You keep them busy.

Let's go!

Wait!

Hold on!

You're not getting away.

Start by explaining the baby.

What do you mean?

Don't tell me that you had a baby with him?

Of course not!

No, you're wrong.

Then the person holding the baby was the mother?

No!

What?!

But assuming that you're the father...

Don't assume that.

Then how do you explain the love triangle we have here?

There isn't a triangle!

Into a Snowy City

I sent my sister home.

It'll be a pain to explain later.

Hey, Kiriyama...

What club are you in right now?

Huh? The Student Cultural Society.

What do you do?

Um...

We gather in the clubroom to talk and have fun.

What does that accomplish?

Why do you ask that?

Are you doing anything at all?

Is there any purpose to your life?

Wh-Why do I need to have a purpose?

Look at how weak you've become.

Enough is enough!

Why?

Why are you attacking me?!

What happened to the cool you?!

Why does it matter how I used to be?!

I'm saying that right now

you pale in comparison to your former self!

Were you lying to me back then?

What about the promise you made?!

I already said

I don't remember any promise!

I'm going to make you wake up.

Fight me!

Mihashi-san, have you ever defeated me before?

W-Wait, are you serious?

Kiriyama!

And what happened?

Kiriyama was soundly beaten.

Anyway, she left after we promised to explain later.

Hey, Iori!

Don't get too far away!

Cheer up, Nana's sister!

I know!

We can play games with Nana!

She said that she bought a really fun game the other day!

Shut up! I'm Kiriyama Yui!

Oh, er...

I'm sorry.

Huh?

Oh, no...

I'm sorry.

Sorry...

Man, why do I keep mistaking Yui for Nana's sister?

Yui's the one I love now.

But is that because she reminds me of Nana?

Don't worry about it too much.

The year ended with no change,

and we ended up spending New Year's Eve

and New Year's Day together.

And now we're together on the second day of the new year too...

Two people today?

No!

What's wrong, Yui?!

What's wrong?

What's wrong, Yui?

Are you okay?

A-A man tried to...

Tried to...

Okay, I understand.

It's okay.

Calm down and take deep breaths.

So her time was reversed to the

moment right after she was assaulted.

It looks pretty bad.

I'm guessing she didn't go to school for a while?

I need to get some fresh air.

Stop cowering like a wimp.

Huh?

You're distracting me.

Sorry.

Find something to do.

You're wasting time just sitting there.

Then I guess I'll read that book.

Wow, Inaban was cold not so long ago.

She's not a bad person,

but she can be pretty hostile.

But that doesn't change your opinion of Inaban, does it?

No way.

Good.

Has your mom said anything about you going out every day?

Huh?

No, not yet.

That's right.

Oh, I had my time reversed today?

How old was I?

Fourteen.

Kiriyama was also fourteen.

Yui!

Are you okay, Yui?

I remember now.

I remember everything.

I was...

Yui, it's okay. Everything's okay now.

Are you sure you can make it home by yourself?

Uh-huh, I'm okay now.

Sorry about making such a fuss.

Mihashi-san...

Kiriyama, can you explain?

I feel uncomfortable not knowing what happened.

But it's none of your business.

Why are you saying that? I just want to...

Shut up!

I quit karate and that's that.

But you promised...

Stop talking about promises!

I don't want to think about the past!

Uh...

I don't know what happened before,

but Yui, you should talk things out with Mihashi-san.

What?

I don't need you telling me what to do.

But you should hear her out.

I don't need an irresponsible jerk ordering me around!

Irresponsible jerk?

You're nothing more than

an irresponsible jerk who likes me because

I remind you of your ex!

Get your act together!

There's nothing wrong with me!

You're the one who needs to get it together!

What's that mean?

You refuse to face your problems.

And that hasn't changed!

That's because I...

You're the one who makes excuses and gives up!

I guess you're stuck with me again.

I remembered.

Huh?

My promise.

Mihashi-san and I talked

at a tournament before she moved away.

We agreed to fight each other at the national tournament.

But I forgot all about it.

I gave up everything meaningful in my life.

I'm like a background character now.

A background character?

Say, Taichi.

I love you, Taichi.

Huh?

Wait! Hold on a moment!

This will create lots and lots of trouble!

Let's pretend that someone confessed to you like that.

If you never give them an answer,

will their feelings change?

I dunno. I don't have much experience.

Have you ever not given an answer

to someone who told you that they love you?

If the person who confessed their feelings first

stops expressing their love,

what is the other person supposed to do?