Hana-Kimi (花ざかりの君たちへ)

This place hasn't changed a bit.

Ow, ow!

You punched a tree?!

Doctor, that hurts!

Just shut up and show me!

That voice...

What the hell are you doing?

The Doctor's Boyfriend?

Nothing's wrong with the bones,

so it's no big deal.

You're fine.

Sheesh.

What were you thinking, getting all mad and hurting yourself?

I mean...

Umeda-senpai!

Akiha!

I'd know that voice anywhere.

Who would've thought I'd run into you here?

You never told me you were Osaka's school doctor.

That's so cold...

You smell so good!

Okay, just get off of me!

As huggable as ever.

You're panting like an excited dog!

Stop groping me!

He was my underclassman back in high school.

What a scary relationship.

Wait, your underclassman?

So you're saying Akiha-san...

Yup.

I'm an alumnus from here.

I was a grade below.

I'll need to tell them to up the security around here.

Now, what are you doing here in the first place?

Oh, yeah, right.

I forgot to give this to you last time.

Here.

It's an invitation to my exhibition.

For me?

Why?

Because I'd like to shoot you too.

Me too?!

That's right.

I-I can't do that.

I've got no modeling experience, and I just can't.

Trust a pro's eyes and skills.

You can always decline after you've seen some of my work.

Looks like Ashiya's gotten the attention of yet another nuisance.

You're as cocky as ever.

Well... everything I said is true.

Get off me!

Hey, Ashiya.

Let me see that hand.

Say, Doctor...

What?

Is Akiha-san your boyfriend?

The only relationship I have with this man is no relationship.

Senpai!

It's true, but don't say it!

And so...

that's how I ended up agreeing to go see the exhibit.

Sano, come with me!

I don't want to go alone.

Why the hell didn't you just not say no up front?

I mean...

I figured not going would be mean?

There's no point in going if you don't want to.

It's not like it matters. Just skip it.

Listen, do you have something against Akiha-san or something?

Not especially.

I'm going to go shower.

Y-Yeah... Okay.

Enjoy.

That dumbass.

What if she gets tricked into modeling for this guy?

That could blow her cover at any point.

Why can't she see that being in this guy's orbit puts her at much greater risk?

This is exactly why I have keep an eye—

No. That's not it.

I just want her all to myself.

In reality, I'm just being childish...

How does she even feel about me?

Quite a turnout.

Guess that ostentatious guy's actually pretty popular.

Yeah, it seems he's even got a following overseas.

Oh? Nihonbashi.

It's been a while.

N-Nanba?!

What are you doing here?

What do you mean?

This guy's getting a real big head off the buzz going around.

So I came to check out his stuff.

Nothing you plebs would ever understand!

Just as unpleasant as always.

Well, let's ignore that and take a look around.

You said it.

Oh, this is the piece that got me hooked!

It's really good.

I've never really looked at black and white photography before now.

I didn't realize it was so beautiful.

"Goddess" in English?

Do you like it?

Akiha-san!

Great photo, isn't it?

Yeah, it really is.

I loved my wife.

Y-You were married?!

What's up over there?

Well, we're divorced now.

But I thought...

Weren't you and Umeda-sensei...

I like beautiful people, regardless of gender.

I see.

Hey, Hara-san.

That camera nerd over there says he's a fan.

Yeah? He thinks he can take a good picture

just because he owns an expensive camera.

Every bit as savage as Doctor Umeda.

Hey, so...

Since you came all this way,

want to come check out my studio?

So this's a studio, huh?

Say, since we're already here in the studio,

wanna do some test shots?

Y-You can't just spring that on us...

Right?

I don't really mind.

You don't have to get freaked over every little thing.

Or is it that you're too shy to get your picture taken?

Not at all!

Besides...

Let's see what this guy's got.

That modeling gig... We can discuss it afterward, right, Hara-san?

Nanba-senpai, why are you provoking him?

You totally are...

Okay.

Then I'll be going all out.

Hey, hurry up with the light.

Sure thing.

Why don't we style your hair kinda playful?

Make it more dynamic.

Um...

Senpai! This is turning into, like, a whole thing!

Y-Yeah...

Sano.

Just consider this a learning opportunity.

Hara-san!

Where's Ebi-chan?

Not here yet—

Sorry!

I'm Ebi Kotobuki.

Apologies for the delay.

Huh? Isn't that...

You're late, Kotobuki.

I'm sorry!

Also... don't just call me here out of the blue.

Hi there.

I'm Ebi, the makeup artist.

Nice to meet you.

H-Hello.

Ebi-san, we're almost done here,

so can you do makeup first?

Okay.

I feel like I've seen her somewhere...

I'm just going to take a look at you real quick.

Wow, your skin is so nice.

What do you use?

Uh, cleansing foam and stuff?

That's all?

Young people's skin is really something else.

But you should do some skincare after washing.

You may be young, but moisturizing—

The goddess!

Gosh, you saw that?

I knew I recognized her.

So this is Akiha-san's ex-wife.

Hey, are we going with color today or no?

No color.

Okay.

No color?

That means it's a black and white shoot.

Colorful makeup can muddle the highlights in monochrome photography.

So we need a base that matches your skin with similar tones.

I'm surprised you recognized me, though.

Ebi-chan's bearing and posing were pretty masculine back as a model.

Shaddap.

So she was a model, huh?

But Hara-san has a knack for seeing a person's true essence.

Doesn't matter if they're male or female.

I guess he can just capture what he senses in his photos.

Is that a compliment or a dig?

A compliment.

A roundabout way of saying he's in touch with the feminine.

I see now. I get it.

Huh?

That photo...

I loved my wife.