Slow Start (スロウスタート)

Good.

G-Good morning, Shion!

Good morning, Hana.

You're early today, huh?

I totally forgot that I'm on duty today!

Then wanna at least have some milk before you go?

Y-Yeah!

See you later!

Yep! See you later!

Did I make it in time?

Ichinose...

Good morning.

U-Um, uh...

Oh, um...

U-Um...

T-Takahashi?

Yeah, Nanae Takahashi.

Um, uh...

I'm sorry for being late to cleaning duty!

Don't worry about it. I'm always early.

I finished our morning duties already.

O-Oh. Sorry.

But thank you.

Not at all.

For after school, we just have the log and taking out the trash.

Which one do you want?

Wh-Which one?

Wh-Whichever one is fine!

I-I'll let you decide!

You can choose the one you like.

Th-Then, I'll take the log out in the trash!

Banana chocolate mint Hawaiian!

HANA'S FRIENDS

If you get it in the morning, all the selections are available!

Yeah, if you go for it in the afternoon, sometimes only vanilla is left.

Even though vanilla is good...

I always choose a more exotic flavor!

I know what you mean!

Morning ice cream is unusual for you, Hana!

Yeah. I overslept today and didn't have time for breakfast.

I forgot my lunch at home, too.

It's a shame because Shion made it for me.

Oh dear.

And while on duty, I was so nervous that I said something weird,

which really confused Takahashi!

So it was the Hana-Nana combo today?

That's a charming duo!

I don't think Nanae is the type to make someone nervous though.

But it was the first time I talked to Takahashi.

Huh?

What?

I mean, the first semester is almost over.

I haven't talked to more than half the students in our class.

What?

This is how it was for me in middle school, too.

Unless there's an opportunity,

the first year will go by without talking to most of the students.

It's not necessary for an opportunity as a reason to talk to someone.

I know, right?

If you're sitting close to someone, you just start talking to them.

Th-That's difficult for me.

That being said, you talk normally to us, Hana.

That's right. You're not nervous when you talk to us, right?

No, but...

That's true, but...

Kamu should be here by now!

Yeah. I just hope she's not lonely in there without us.

Let's hurry!

Come to think of it, maybe Kamuri...

would understand how I feel!

Kamuri!

We have snacks! Come here!

Snacks...

And I brought cookies.

- Want some? - Yep, yep.

What kind do you want? Chocolate or strawberry?

B-Both.

Can we take a picture of you eating?

- No, huh? - Eiko...

- She's so cute! - Eiko...

Eiko...

Eiko!

Morning, Kamu.

Sorry I wasn't here for you.

She's loved without having to make a move! It's...

a fawning framework!

Gulp!

Ms. Hannen!

This is perfect timing!

Well, well, the landlady!

Listen, have you had lunch yet?

I had my lunch ready to go, but didn't have a drink,

so I'm just coming back from buying tea

at the convenience store!

Actually, Hana forgot to take her lunch to school,

so would you like to have it?

What?

Hana's lunch?

Are you sure?

I don't know if you'll like it or not.

I've got it! Why don't we trade, so you can then have my lunch?

I guess.

Once in a while.

UME

Sure, why don't we trade?

Wow, I haven't had a homemade lunch since high school!

I'll bring mine over, so wait there!

Good!

Um, this is... A-Are you sure?

Go ahead, go ahead!

This looks delicious!

Thank you, landlady!

Oh no, it's not...

I feel kind of bad.

So let's have our classmates introduce themselves to Hana!

Huh? Um, but...

And so...

I'm Maho Ogano!

I'm Amane Ohtani!

I-I'm Hana Ichinose!

You're like a comedy trio.

S-Sorry! I suddenly got nervous!

Weren't you in the rookie tournament for the track and field team?

How'd it go, Maho?

Oh, it was a disaster.

H-How did it go for you, Ohtani?

I'm the team manager.

I'm terrible at sports myself.

Really?

When we run in P.E., I'm always next to you, Ichinose.

You never noticed?

P.E. is...

I have to focus on myself to survive.

I'm Hina Sasaki!

I'm Ao Masuda. I'm on the volleyball team.

Oh, I'm Yuuri Endou.

I'm also on the volleyball team.

N-Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Why don't you come check us out next time?

We're always on the lookout for new members.

I-I think ball games are a little hard for me.

So if running and ball games are ruled out,

how about swimming?

I-I-I-I have trouble with that, too!

I'm Kei Iwasaki!

I'm Sachi Tsubakimori.

H-Hello.

So you're trying to conquer your shyness, huh? I'll help you!

Th-Thank you.

Tsubaki here is our class's student council rep.

You can count on Icchi, too.

I-Icchi?

S-Sure. Nice to meet you.

Yes, it's nice to meet you, too.

S-Sorry to bother you when you're eating.

That's okay.

Salmon again?

You really like that, huh?

Yeah, I do.

Well, it is one of the standards.

Yeah, that's why I like it.

Sachi, you're really close...

Tsubaki, you like salmon that much?

Salmon has an abundance of eicosapentaenoic acid.

Eiko?

Eicosapentaenoic acid.

Well, you talked normally enough.

D-Did I?

Oh, but that was with your help, Eiko and Tama.

Nah, we didn't really do anything big to help.

Come to think of it,

Kamu is also the type who takes time.

But I'm used to Hana and Tama now.

Then I can do this?

Kamuri is hanging in there!

You're cute when you're trying to hold back, Kamu!

Let's see! How much food are you storing in those cheeks?

TODAY'S SUMMARY

"Today I'm glad I was able to talk to several of my classmates."

- What is this? - U-Um...

They introduced me to some of our classmates.

Introduced?

I'd never talked to most of them before, so...

Ah, I see.

HOMEROOM TEACHER

For me, if there's someone I don't need to talk to,

I wouldn't go out of my way to talk to them.

There's no need to force yourself.

You're you, Ichinose.

Do it at your own pace.