Kimi Ni Todoke -- “Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You”
Episode 1:
Kuronuma Sawako is a high school girl who is often misidentified by character (that she’s a ghost or someone who can conjure up spirits), but also by name (Sadako). During her high school entrance ceremony, she meets her fellow classmate, Kazehaya Shouta who is the very first person to show her kindness instead of fear.
With that shown kindness, Sawako is determined to find a way to become more friendlier with everyone in her class, but with the reputation around her, it’s tough for her to do.
Her class decides to do a bravery challenge and upon signing up, Sawako decides to be the “ghost” to make sure everyone is having fun during the challenge. During the challenge, Kazehaya runs into her, and Sawako thanks him for giving her the strength to be friends and socialize with Yoshida Chizuru and Yano Ayane.
After the challenge, her class seems to misunderstand that because Sawako and Kazehaya were together during the challenge, that there must be something between them. To clear up any misunderstanding, Sawako tries to clear the air and say that it’s true that she does admire him, but since Kazehaya is so kind to everyone, that he was just looking out for me...nothing more.
When she cleared up the misunderstanding, she believed that Kazehaya wouldn’t talk to her anymore, and that made her feel incredibly sad and lonely. But low and behold, on her way to school, Kazehaya meets her and tells her that he wants to see her during the summer.
Episode 2:
Summer break is over, and while walking to school, Sawako finds a stray dog and gives her umbrella away so that the dog could stay dry during the rainstorm. When she enters school, Kazehaya sees that she is wet from the rain, and lets her borrow her towel and Yoshida lets her borrow a spare set of clothes while her uniform dries.
The school believes that Kazehaya rejected Sawako, but in all reality Sawako confessed that she likes Kazehaya because he is friendly and that she wishes that she could be as open and friendly as he is (nothing romantic about her admiration for him). Kazehaya finds this news a little disheartening, but never-the-less, still finds ways to talk to Sawako.
A few days later, their homeroom teacher decides to change the seating arrangements. Her class thoroughly does NOT want to sit by her, because of the bad omens that have been around her if you sit by her (getting sick, failing grades, broken bones, etc.). Sawako wants more than anything to be around people that she can become friends with, but with all the students in the class rejecting and straying away anywhere near her, Sawako becomes discouraged by the fact that everyone doesn’t like her.
But Kazehaya decides that unlike everyone else in the classroom, he will sit next to her. So Kazehaya, Yoshida, Yano and Sanada Ryuu choose to sit by her. With these four, Sawako feels extremely happy that they are wanting to sit by her.
The episode ends with Sawako admitting that not only does she admire and respect Kazehaya, but that she also likes him.
Episode 3:
Sawako is finally seated next to people who she believes that she can become friends with (and hopefully in turn, she can gain even more friends along the way). During class time, she finds out from Yoshida that Kazehaya was really popular in elementary and middle school. So popular in fact that a lot of girls even came to their high school because he decided to attend there. The girls labelled him as “Everyone’s boy.” Sawako admires that Kazehaya was so respected and loved in Elementary and Middle school by all.
Sawako continues to try to become friends with her fellow classmates. During a walk with Mar-chan (Kazehaya’s new dog), Sawako and Kazehaya talk about what they do after school. Kazehaya finds out that one of Sawako’s dreams is to actually help those around her who do not understand what they are learning.
The next day, Kazehaya asks for help during study hall. Sawako tutors him, and the whole class finds out that Sawako is a great teacher who eventually helps the whole class understand the exam material. During the tutor sessions, she becomes so happy that she genuinely smiles in front of the class, this being the first time that all (minus Kazehaya) have seen her smile--and the class finds her smile almost enchanting.
At the end of the school day, Sawako thanks Kazehaya for being the one to ask for help. Kazehaya is happy to help her, but is jealous that everyone else from her class was able to see her true smile; he’s jealous that everyone else was able to see it, and wishes to “monopolize” that smile of hers.
However, bad news starts circulating the school about Yoshida (that she had to go to remedial school) and Yano (that she has been with 100 guys). When Yoshida confronts the girls who said these rumors, she asks them who they heard these slandering things from. The group of girls say that Sawako was the one who started the rumors.
Favorite Moments: When Pin (the teacher) and Sawako have an eye staring battle. Pin laughed when he was able to stare at Sawako for several moments. Then Kazehaya tries to have a staring battle with Sawako and he ends up being flushed and embarrassed by it (hilarious and cute at the same time). Also, the passing of the notes. When Kazehaya first passes the note to Sawako, she thought it was supposed to go to Sanada, and Kazehaya freaks out when she does that (lol), and when the note says “For you, silly” (my heart melted *swoon*).
Episode 4:
Sawako is on air at school because she is finally feeling that she belongs somewhere (making good friends, and being around people that she likes). However, the rumors about Yoshida and Yano are spreading and getting worse! Both of them outright deny that the one spreading these rumors is their very own Sawako.
While walking down the hallway, Yoshida and Yano overhear another fellow classmate tell Sawako about the rumors being spread about Yoshida, Yano and herself. The classmate asks if they are friends and Sawako replies that they “are not friends.” Before they could overhear anything else, Yoshida and Yano are taken away by their teacher (Arai Kazuichi -- aka “Pin”). Sawako continues and says that both Yoshida and Yano are great people, but the way they act around each other is more “friends” than the way she currently is around them. She hopes that one day she can be as cheerful and happy around them, and able to call them her friends.
Yoshida and Yano come back to class and ask Sawako if she likes them, and Sawako says that “like” isn’t the right word to describe it. Before finishing what she wanted to say, Yoshida cuts her off, and both girls stop talking to Sawako.
Sawako is unsure that they really understand, but when she ponders about what she should do next, she overhears that she is the reason that there are so many horrible rumors about them going around. This horrifies Sawako, making her believe because they talked and were around Sawako, that rumors are spreading. She doesn’t want to trouble Yoshida and Yano anymore (as well as Kazehaya) so she decides to distance herself away from them, so bad rumors won’t be associated with them anymore.
Episode 5:
Sawako resolves herself from staying away from Kazehaya, Yoshida and Yano. However, during her midterms, she realizes that without them, she will feel incredibly lonely and that she is unsure how life will be without their presence in her life, which makes her cry. But she doesn’t want to be the one to make them sad or unpopular.
Kazehaya has other plans though. While walking home from school, Kazehaya waits for Sawako to explain why she has been distancing herself away from Yoshida, Yano and himself. Sawako almost tells him that she doesn’t like him and doesn’t want to be around him, but she breaks down and tells the truth-- that if she hangs out with him, that he will start to become unpopular because of the rumors. Kazehaya comforts her and says that that isn’t something for her to decide, that he wants to be around her and talk to her; she doesn’t have the choice to turn him down. His strength gives her comfort to talk to Yoshida and Yano about her distancing herself and hoping and wishing that they will be able to become friends.
Yoshida and Yano both contemplate on why Sawako has been very distant from them lately, unsure if she is truly the one spreading the rumors. But with all that Sawako has done for them (creating study guides and telling ghost stories), they agree that they need to talk to Sawako about what she meant when she said that “they weren’t friends,” “that it’s not like,” and “I’m sorry.”
But when Sawako resolves the nerve to finally talk to Yoshida and Yano, she hears the rumors spreading again about her two fellow classmates. She decides to confront those rumors head-on by telling the rumor spreaders that that is just a misunderstanding. However, some of the girls gang up on her because she spoke out against them.
Favorite moments: When Kazehaya confronts Sawako on the way home (he is so cute and considerate! He really really cares for her, it’s adorable!). Also, I just love the dynamic between Yoshida and Sanada. I love their childhood friendship, and when they are talking on the step together -- he is refreshingly honest and blunt (my type of people!).
Episode 6:
Still in the bathroom, the girls are trying to start a fight with Sawako over the rumors. Sawako keeps denying that there is a misunderstanding with the rumors. Sawako wants them to understand that Yoshida and Yano are nothing like the rumors that are spread, that they are genuinely nice girls! But the girls are not convinced. They are saying that Sawako is the one that is spreading the rumors about Yoshida and Yano. Appalled by this, she keeps saying that this is all a misunderstanding! Sawako tells them that they are all blinded by the truth, that she really cares for Yoshida and Yano. Telling them that she actually really does like them (not “suki” but “disuki”).
Yoshida and Yano come into the bathroom to defend Sawako against the girls antagonizing her. Both girls deny that there is no way that Sawako would be the ones to spread those rumors about them.
Once the bullies leave the bathroom Sawako, Yoshida and Yano start to clear the air about all the misunderstanding that they have had over the past few days. Sawako admits that the reason she didn’t speak to them was she didn’t want their names to be dragged in the mud because of her. She was afraid that they were mad at her because of the rumors. Yoshida and Yano both tell her that she should never distance herself because of that, that they are friends and they have been friends since the very beginning! The three of them reconcile and go back to their midterm exams.
Cute moment: When Kazehaya admits that he won’t have any more alone moments with Sawako and he gets mad (cute sullen face boy!).
Episode 7:
Sawako gets invited by Yoshida and Yoda to go have ramen on Saturday. The pair go out and eat ramen at Sanadas’ parents restaurant. Once finished, the three go up to his room to hangout, eventually Sanada joins them in his room.
While in the room, Sawako learns all about Yoshida, Sanada and Kazehaya when they were in middle school (such as Kazehayas’ hair being longer or that he used to play baseball). Yoshida thinks that they should ask Kazehaya to come over too since Sanada is currently the only boy hanging out with them. But instead of Sanada calling Kazehaya over, Yoshida wants Sawako to use Sanada’s phone to invite Kazehaya over.
Sawako talks to Kazehaya about joining the four of them, saying that “It would be even more fun if he was to join them.” Kazehaya agrees to come over to hang out with them all.
After some time together, they all decide to go home. Kazehaya walks Sawako home. While Sawako walks home, she notices the different expressions that Kazehaya has made during the time she has met him, and is grateful for everything she has witnessed between him and her new friends.
Favorite Moments: When Sawako asks if Yoshida and Sanada are dating, the smile on his face is so slick (I love it!). Also, when Sawako called Kazehaya using Sanada’s phone, that was so precious and innocent (“What’s going on!” “It would be even more fun if he was to join them” ~adorable!). Another moment was when Yoshida and Yano were talking about how long Kazehayas’ hair is while he was in Middle School. They called him a closted perv--Kazehaya walks in and says “I am a perv, I’m just not in the closet!” (bahahah!). Also when the three girls were sitting together and Yoshida and Yano were hugging on Sawako, Kazehaya became green with envy (and the fact that Yano enjoyed seeing him jealous).
Episode 8:
We start by being formally introduced to Kurumizawa Ume, a cute popular girl in a different class than the rest of the bunch. Before school starts, Kurumizawa and a few other girls are walking down the hallway talking about if Kazehaya and Sawako are dating. The group laughs at this notion because they believe someone like Kurumizawa is more fit to date someone like Kazehaya, since they are both nice and popular.
When Sawako enters school, she finds that she has earned the friendship with Endou Tomoko and Hirano Eriko. Yoshida, Yano, Endou and Krano try to have Sawako say their first names (instead of their last names). She’s able to say all their names, even though she isn’t used to using such informal language around people. (Chizu-chan, Ayane-chan, Tomo-chan, Ekko-chan). Ayane tries to have Sawako say Kazehaya’s first name, but she is only able to say his last name without the honorific.
The schools sports festival is going to start in the next few days, so the class decides to practice their sports during lunchtime. Sawako plays soccer for the festival, but she finds out during practice time that she needs some work on her soccer skills. While the girls team is practicing, so is the boys team, Sawako watches Kazehaya play, and she finds that she can’t stop watching him for some reason.
Kurumizawa and Kazehaya were both elected to work after school because of the sports festival. During this time, Kurumizawa tries to talk to Kazehaya, but Kazehaya is distracted by watching Sawako practice playing soccer with a rock outside.
Later on, Kazehaya brings a soccer ball so Sawako can practice kicking the ball with him. For some reason, Sawako isn’t able to smile, she feels that there is some sort of difference now between her and Kazehaya, but she isn’t sure what that feeling is.
Episode 9:
The sports festival is a few days away, and class 1-D is practicing as much as they can before the event. The boys and girls soccer team look like they will do well during the festival.
When everyone is changing their clothes from practicing, Sawako finds that she is the only one who is back in class from practice. She then runs into Kurumizawa, who is looking for Kazehaya. Sawako is struck by not only her beauty and femininity, but also her kindness. They both say that they look like dolls (Sawako thinks she looks like a cute doll while the doll that Kurumizawa looks like is a curse doll).
Sawako is stuck by the conversation that she had with Kurumizawa. She is still having trouble calling her friends by her first names. Yano tries to antagonize Kazehaya into saying just her first name, but he blushes and isn’t able to do it. Sawako finds that her heart is beating like crazy because of this attempt, but she still can’t figure out why him speaking to her makes her so nervous.
While Sawako is taking papers for a teacher, she sees Kazehaya and Kurumizawa talking together in the hallway. She overhears a group saying that these two would look good as a couple. She finds that since Kurumizawa is so cute and popular that she might change her hair. Both Yoshida and Yano think that is a bad idea, because she looks fine the way she is. Sawako realizes that despite anything, she can’t ever look as cute as Kurumizawa (which makes her a little sad).
After school, Sawako is waiting for Yoshida and Yano to practice soccer a little more. While waiting for them, Sawako spots Kazehaya and notices again how her heart races by just looking at him, still not understanding why she feels that way. Kazehaya is talking to another fellow classmate, and listens to him say (what she thinks) is Kurumizawa’s first name. She feels heartache because he is able to say Kurumizawa’s “first” name, but not hers, and contemplates on whether Kazehaya has someone special in his life. Kazehaya sees her and stops to talk to her, but the expression in her face makes him blush. He attempts to say her given name, but is interrupted by Kurumizawa.
Episode 10:
During the school day, Sawako is constantly “interrupted” by Kurumizawa (she often calls her out during festival practice, class, hallways, etc.). Sawako finds Kurumizawa's interest to be a genuine friendship (which makes her happy), but Yano and Yoshida aren’t quite as convinced that she has friendship intentions towards Sawako.
Things have sort of started to become awkward between Sawako and Kazehaya, both of them having a hard time not only talking to each other, but looking at each other in the eye. She finds that when Kurumizawa and Kazehaya talk to each other, it’s incredibly natural, and she wishes that she could be as natural and as friendly as her.
Kurumizawa offers Sawako an ear if she needs someone to vent to. Sawako then expresses that for a little while she has been having a hard time talking to Kazehaya, but Kurumizawa says that the fact that Kazehaya talks to her is actually nothing special because that’s just his personality -- he likes to help everyone and is friendly around everyone. Sawako feels grateful for the advice Kurumizawa has given Sawako, but we find out that that was not really the case (Kurumizawa really wanted Sawako to forget about having a normal relationship with Kazehaya).
We learned that in the past, Kurumizawa was trying to manipulate others if they liked Kazehaya.
Kazehaya finds Sawako watering the flowers and admits that he has felt nervous talking to her also the last few days. They finally have a normal conversation again about wanting to hangout all together at Sanada’s house and seeing Mar-chan again.
While Kazehaya and Sawako are having this fun conversation, Kurumizawa spots them chatting. She gets agitated and stops them, taking Sawako away from Kazehaya for some “girl talk” (much to Kazehaya’s dismay). During their girl talk, Kurumizawa admits to Sawako that she has feelings for Kazehaya and asks for her help in that matter.
Episode 11:
After admitting that she has feelings for Kazehaya, Kurumizawa asks for Sawako’s help and support on this issue. However, Sawako is not able to give her full help or support on this issue since she also feels that Kazehaya is special to her (in some way--but doesn’t fully understand what that special way is). Kurumizawa is angered by this, and says that even though Kazehaya has been nice to her, that doesn’t mean anything special -- it wouldn’t matter who the person was, as long as they were nice to her, so in turn they shouldn’t be labelled as “special.” Kurumizawa storms off. Sawako ponders if this is true -- if it was someone else being kind to her, would she feel like there was this “special” feeling towards them.
The day of the sports festival has finally arrived. Class 1-D girls soccer team wins their game, with the help of Yoshida’s “red shirt” and Sawako’s big kick at the end of the game.
Kurumizawa and Sawako have another talk after the soccer game. Sawako finds that Kurumizawa’s personality isn’t all glitter and roses, but they decide to watch the boys softball game because Kazehaya and the other boys in Class 1-D are playing.
Before the boys softball game, the boys talk about how fast “Sadako” was on the playing field. But while they are talking about how fast she is, Sanada states that that is not her actual first name, but her first name is actually ‘Sawako.’ Kazehaya is taken aback by this and unsure why he can remember her actual first name.
While the boys are warming up, one of the boys throws a crazy pitch that almost hits Sawako in the face, however, Sanada is there to catch the ball before it hits her face. Because Sawako hasn’t had much interaction with other boys, Kurumizawa says that because Sanada has saved her, that she should go and talk to him more because of this -- hopefully to truly see if Kazehaya is “special” to her or not.
Laughable Moment: When Yoshida is wearing her red shirt and she is all excited about it, asking if she stands out with it on. One of her fellow classmates says that “You’re stupidity will stand out too” (lols).
Episode 12:
Kurumizawa issues a “challenge” to Sawako to try and talk to Sanada since he saved her from the crazy pitch -- to truly see if Kazehaya is “special.” While both girls are watching the game, Kurumizawa is still angry by the honest way that Sawako is labeling Kazehaya. That there is no way that her feelings aren’t stronger than hers since she has been with him since Middle School (through the rain, wind and snow, she has always been watching him and making sure that no one else becomes his girlfriend).
Sawako finds that she is constantly thinking about Kazehaya and about the many “firsts” that he has given her (friendship, laughter, etc.). She is determined not only to learn more about Kazehaya, but to also learn more about her fellow classmates and herself, so she will try her best with everyone. Sawako also wonders if her feelings, like Kurumizawa, are also romantic feelings.
Class 1-D boys baseball team wins, but before all heading in Kazehaya asks if Sanada likes Sawako. Sanada admits that he likes her, but not in the way that he is thinking. Kazehaya feels jealous of Sanada because he was the one to save her from the wild pitch.
In secret, Kurumizawa leaves a note in Sanada’s cubby that says that Sawako wishes to talk to him by the PE equipment room (unbeknownst to Sawako). Sawako meets Sanada by the PE equipment room and thanks him properly for saving her. She wants to talk to him more, then asks if he has ever had any romantic feelings towards anyone. Sanada smiles at this and tells her a secret -- that he has been in love with Yoshida for a long time.
Kazehaya has been assigned to put the PE equipment away, so Kurumizawa uses this time to tell him that Sawako was “watching Sanada” during the whole baseball game, and that she wouldn’t blame her if she fell in love with him because Sanada saved her life. Kazehaya becomes worried by this. While walking towards the equipment room, Kazehaya and Kurumizawa find Sawako and Sanada talking together. Kurumizawa says that “We should support them” and leave them be, but Kazehaya has other plans.
Episode 13:
When Kazehaya sees Sawako and Sanada together, he reacts, taking Sawako far away from him, leaving him and Kurumizawa behind (much to Kurumizawa’s dismay). When they finally get far enough away, Kazehaya asks Sawako if she likes Sanada. Sawako thinks about the word “like” (suki), and realizes that she likes Kazehaya in a romantic way; she really does like him very strongly. She admits that she does like Sanada, but not in a romantic way. Kazehaya becomes relieved by this, but then asks Sawako if she has ever thought about going out as a couple. Sawako becomes frantic from this question because she feels like she isn’t mature or knowledgeable about couples going out. Kazehaya leaves it at that, and they head back to school building together.
Meanwhile, Yano has figured out that Kurumizawa is the one who has been starting and spreading the rumors about Sawako, Yoshida and herself -- but she needs to find evidence to support her hypothesis. Together with Yoshida, they go around the school, asking the girls where they had heard the rumor from. The two girls eventually find out that Kurumizawa was indeed the one who started the rumors about the three of them. They also have evidence that she was the one that left the note in Sanada’s cubby to hopefully abandon Kazehaya’s feelings towards Sawako’s.
Because of her realized feelings towards Kazehaya, Sawako is really wanting to tell Yoshida, Yano and Kurumizawa that she is indeed in love with Kazehaya. She finds the three of them together, but it turns out that Yano is grilling her about the spreading of the rumors. Yano tells Sawako that Kurumizawa was indeed the one to spread the rumors about all three of them, which shocks Sawako.
Funny moments: Yano is so sadistically evil, trying to find out who spread the rumors about them. Her evil laugh is hilarious! I also love the part where Pin thinks Kurumizawa is in love with him, “If I were a woman, I would be in love with me too.” Haha!
Episode 14:
Sawako is shocked by the fact that Kuruizawa was the one to start the rumors about them three. Kurumizawa yells at Sawako, saying that she was only just using her for the purpose of Kazehaya. That her friendship was not real with her, that she would have used her for any purpose in order to get closer to Kazehaya; she would lie in order to find a way to be with Kazehaya since Sawako was in her way. Sawako becomes saddened by the realization that Kurumizawa and her weren’t really true friends.
Yano says that because of all this, she is going to tell Kazehaya about all the things that she did. Kurumizawa dares her to tell Kazehaya all about it. However, when Yano, Yoshida and Sawako walk away from her, Sawako asks the two other girls not to tell Kazehaya about this, because she sees that Kurumizawa doesn’t want her respect to be changed in his eyes.
During the girls soccer game, Sawako finds that she still wants to be friends with Kurumizawa, despite what she did. So after the game, Sawako goes and finds Kurumizawa and tells her that she is also in love with Kazehaya. She wanted to share that with her since Kurumizawa has only told her that she is in love with Kazehaya. Kurumizawa is mad because she still thinks that Sawako is in her way, and that she should be with him because she likes him way more than Sawako does. Sawako still wants to talk to her about Kazehaya together as friends.
Funny moment: When Pin talks about being a stud with the girls! “Being a stud is such a sinful existence… I’ve made another woman fall into the abyss of misfortune” (while holding a rose bahahah!). “I’m a living, breathing rock of sensitivity.” Plus there is a moment when Kazehaya is running with these buns as a comedic effect--hilarious.
Episode 15:
Sawako and Kurumizawa are crying together about their spoken out feelings towards Kazehaya. Kurumizawa is wondering what happened between Sawako and Kazehaya when he took her away, asking her if they are dating yet? But she replies that she doesn’t think that Kazehaya would like someone like her since she has only just recently started to talk to those around her. But Kurumizawa says that Kazehaya doesn’t care about things like that; He’s hind and social, honest, energetic and cute, so he wouldn’t care about those silly things.
While going home from school, Kurumizawa and Kazehaya see each other. Kazehaya thinks that she likes Pin, but that’s not the case. She tries to clear up the misunderstanding by finally telling Kazehaya that she likes him. He apologizes to her and admits that he can’t return those feelings because he likes someone else. Kurumizawa is saddened that he doesn’t like her back, but feels a relief that she finally told him.
We find out that ever since middle school, Kurumizawa has had to keep these feelings towards Kazehaya because girls from her school would have tried to hurt him if they found out that she liked a boy. She cries in the classroom, but we find that Kazehaya is kind and tries to comfort her.
Sawako admits to Yoshida and Yano that she likes Kazehaya, and they are elated that she has finally broken the news to them.
The next day, when Sawako and Kurumizawa see each other, Kurumizawa states that they are not friends, but rivals!
After the Sports festival, class 1-D celebrates at a karaoke bar. Yoshida and Yano try to figure out when Sawako started to like Kazehaya, but she is having a hard time figuring that out. She becomes hot from all their questioning and leaves the room to get some air. Kazehaya goes and finds her outside, but finds her asleep on the staircase. While she is fast asleep, he calls her by her first name (Sawako).
Episode 16??
Not on Hulu? Strange
Episode 17:
It’s the weekend, and Sawako has invited Chizuru (Yoshida) and Ayane (Yano) over to hangout. When they are over there, Ayane gives Sawako a bunch of pictures they took during the Sports Festival after party. There are many photos of the three of them together, but there are also a couple of photos of Sawako sleeping on Kazehaya’s shoulder.
While the three of them are spending time, we see that Kazehaya and Sanada are hanging out together (with Mar-chan of course). During their time together, both Kazehaya and Sanada are receiving a lot of calls from Pin. It turns out that Pin is sick, and he is requesting that Kazehaya brings Sawako to his house (because Pin believes that he is “cursed” from the meeting he had with Sawako while they were in the library).
The five of them eventually arrive at Pin’s apartment, with Sawako bringing a lot of medicine for Pin. Sawako is trying to give Pin all the material to help with his cold, but Kazehaya gets jealous very quickly when he sees her taking care of him so he decides to feed him, give him medicine and drink.
Pin finally starts feeling better after a short nap and medicine. While he was sleeping, the five of them cleaned Pin’s extremely dirty apartment. He was extremely thankful towards Sawako, that he told her something that would make Kazehaya “happy.”
They are all walking home, when Sawako has to start taking a different way, so Kazehaya walks home with her too. Sawako wants to thank him, so she decides to do the thing that Pin told her to do to make him “happy.” She grabs a hold of his coat sleeve, pauses, and closes her eyes for five seconds. Kazehaya believes this is his moment to take action. He closes in and almost kisses her, but she opens her eyes right before he does -- making both of them embarrassed. He warns her that if she ever did that again, he doesn’t know what he will do next.
Funny Moments: When Pin meets Sawako at the library. We see that he is going to check out Porn. Sawako doesn’t know this, but from looking at the back sections, she says, “You have a mature, adult video, don’t you?” -- she thinks he has a documentary on social issues, which she finds as “mature” (mature = adult).
Cute Moments: When Sawako finds the elementary school picture of Kazehaya crying (he gets so embarrassed by the picture -- so cute!). Their almost kiss! So close guys! Plus, Sanada with Mar-chan, and him agonizing over when he has to leave the dog (PEDRO!).
Episode 18:
We find Chizuru extremely happy for some reason. Chizuru decides to go hang out at Sanada’s house that day so she can play a game that he owns. When she is over there, Chizuru asks him what he would like for his birthday, but she can’t spend more than 500 yen on his present. Before she leaves, she’s trying to ask Sanada a question about someone but she can’t seem to bring it out.
After school the next day, Chizuru and Sawako go shopping together to try and find Sanada’s birthday present. She ends up spending all of her money (over 2000 yen). While walking back from shopping, Sawako asks Chizuru if she likes anyone (knowing the truth that Sanada actually likes Chizuru). But we find out that the one that she likes is actually Sanada’s older brother who still thinks of her as a younger sister. Chizuru wants to buy a new outfit so he won’t see her in that light anymore when he comes for New Years (which is a little over a month away).
However, Sanada knows that his older brother will actually be coming back home next week. He feels the need to tell Chizuru, but he is having a hard time telling her the news about his older brother. Sanada tries to attempt to tell her while he is visiting her house, but she accidentally left his birthday present out in the open. She freaks that he might see it and kicks him out of the house.
Chizuru invites Ayane and Sawako over to her house on the weekend to hopefully cheer Ayane up since she recently broke up with her boyfriend.
Episode 19:
Sawako is excited to have her very first sleepover at Chizuru’s house. But when they are at school, Sanada tells Chizuru that he cannot go over to his house tomorrow or the next day. Chizuru is stunned by this and wonders why.
With the sleepover commenced, and Chizuru was out of ideas because she wanted the girls to play games, but the games happened to be over at Sanada’s house. The girls decide to still go over to Sanada’s house because he technically didn’t say that they couldn’t come over today. Before they head out to his house, Ayane tells Chizuru that she should bring over the birthday present she bought for Sanada’s birthday.
When the girls go to Sanada’s house, we find that the boys (Sanada, Kazehaya, and other 1-D classmates) are also having a cheer up party for Jo (another fellow classmate of 1-D’s who was rejected).
While Sanada tries to go get more glasses for his guests, Chizuru decides to help him, but also tries to give him his birthday present. The both of them are talking, when in comes in Sanada’s older brother -- Toru. Chizuru is excited to finally see her long-time crush that she nearly jumps him. However, Toru also brought home his girlfriend, and we also find out that the two of them are also getting married.
The joined boy-girl party decided to break-up and leave Sanada’s house due to Toru coming home. Both Sawako and Ayane are having a hard time reacting towards Chizuru’s aloof attitude towards the betrothal news, because she neither cried or complained.
The next day, still unsure of how to help Chizuru, the girls go home from their sleepover together. Chizuru decides to head over to Sanada’s house, but when she hears Sanada’s dad laugh, she decides against coming in -- thinking that since she isn’t a relative and only a “neighbor girl,” that her coming in would be appropriate. We find that Chizuru’s one dream was to become Toru’s bride, but that dream will no longer be able to come true for her.
Episode 20:
Chizuru finally goes over to give Sanada his birthday present, since she knows Toru would have left by then. But when she arrives at his house, Sanada tells her that, “She is too late to see Toru now,” and “That he is finally happy that this has happened because now she can give up on him.” Chizuru becomes angry at his words, because she only came over to give him his birthday present--out of anger, she throws his birthday present at him and runs off.
Sawako and Ayane both arrive at school gloomy because both of them are still not sure how to comfort Chizuru at this time. They start despairing when Kazehaya tells them that maybe they don’t have to have the right words for them, all they have to do is be there for Chizuru whenever she needs them. Sometimes all someone needs in a time of sadness is a shoulder to cry on -- since she has both Sawako and Ayane by her side.
Chizuru has been ignoring Sanada all day (which is unusual). Finally, Sanada corners her into speaking when she comes back from lunch. Sanada confesses that he believes that Chizuru never had a chance with Toru, and that she should have been rejected a long time ago. Chizuru is enraged because even though she wanted to see Toru, she told herself that she shouldn’t, and therefore kept away from him. The only reason that she came to his house yesterday was to give Sanada his birthday present -- not to see Toru.
The argument with Sanda makes Chizuru infuriated that she runs off to the other side of the school. When Sawako and Ayane finally track her down, Sawako isn’t able to hold back her tears and starts crying for Chizuru. Chizuru sees her tears and finally bursts out all her anger and frustrations to the girls. The girls are so relieved that she is finally venting off her heartache to them.
The Feels moment: Just when Chizuru finally breaks down. Her crying is just incredibly agonizing. I can feel the tears, frustration and anguish in her voice...and the fact that Ryu heard it all makes it that much better for me.
Episode 21:
The day after, all three girls arrive at school. Both Sawako and Ayane both notice that Chizuru is slowly starting to act like her old self (even though she still doesn’t talk to Sanada). After school, the three of them decide to go to a Karaoke Bar to have a little bit of fun. While the three of them are walking home from Karaoke, they run into Toru, who takes Chizuru with him.
While Chizuru and Toru are walking together, the both of them reminisce about past moments that they had together (going to get steamed buns together, walking home and looking at the stars, etc.). Towards the end of their walk, Chizuru asks why Toru is getting married, and he replies that he wants to be with his fiance forever. Chizuru tells him that she likes him, and he responds with that he also likes her back (her knowing he would say that, but that’s not the “like” that she is meaning for him). Before they depart, Chizuru is finally able to tell him congratulations on getting married.
Sanada decides to go see Chizuru since his brother is leaving to go back to his home in Sapporo; He finds her at the pier. Sanada said that he was grateful that she remembered his birthday and for the birthday present. Chizuru was grateful towards Sanada because he was the one that called Toru to come talk to Chizuru today. She finally admits to him that he must have known for a long time that she liked Toru; she is also aware that Toru and her relationship wouldn’t be anything besides brother and sister-like. He tells her that he knew that she really really liked him. Chizuru starts crying and asks Sanada to console her.
Cute moment: Chizuru and Sanadas hug at the pier...precious little beans!
Episode 22:
Final exams are over with, so class 1-D decides to have a Christmas party on the 25th for the whole class to celebrate. Sawako is excited by the idea of having a Christmas party with everyone; everyone just has to make sure they sign an RSVP sign in order to join.
After school, Sawako goes back to the room, but isn’t sure if she should sign the RSVP board. Deciding that she needs to ask her parents permission first before she signs, Kazehaya comes into the classroom. He asks her to please come to the Christmas party, and she admits that she really wants to go. However, when she goes home to ask her parents if she would be able to go to the Christmas party, her dad reminisces on the year that Sawako was born -- she was supposed to be born on the 24th, but was actually born on New Years. Sawako realizes that the 25th is also a special day for her parents, and makes the decision on not going to the Christmas party after all.
The next day, she brings news to Chizuru and Ayane about not being able to go to the party while giving them their Christmas presents early. Kazehaya walks in and the two girls tell him that she won’t be able to go to the party; he becomes saddened by this news.
While the class is having their Christmas party, Sawako and her family are celebrating together. All of the sudden, she gets a phone call at home and it’s Chizuru and Ayane on the phone. Both of the girls wish for her to be at the party. Ayane then puts Kazehaya on the phone, and when she hears his voice, she starts to cry, wanting to be with him and her friends during the Christmas party. Sawako’s dad talks to her and gives her her Christmas present -- a cellphone of her very own. Her father tells her to tell them when there are important things like that she wants to do. She thanks him for the gift, and runs to the party, so she can see everyone, even if it’s just for a little bit.
When she gets there, everyone is gone, except for Kazehaya.
Cute moments: Sawako’s dad is so stinking cute this episode -- I love him. The pleading of Kazehaya towards Sawako to go to the Christmas party.
Episode 23:
Second term has finally ended, and everyone is off during their winter break. Before everyone goes home for break, Sawako is hoping that she doesn’t have to wait until the third term to start to see everyone again.
The three girls decide to go get something to eat together. While the girls are in the restaurant, Chizuru helps Sawako set up her cell phone and email address -- both of the girls then find out that Sawako’s birthday is on the 31st. With that in mind, Ayane and Chizuru have a plan in mind. They invite Sawako to go to the Shrine on New Years Eve with them and Sanada. Sawako asks her parents if she could go, and they agree that they can visit the shrine with her friends. The two girls then tell Sawako to invite Kazehaya, since they know that she would like to see him too. Sawako eventually brings up her nerves to call him; he answers and says that he would like to go to the shrine with all of them.
On New Years Eve, Chizuru and Ayane arrive at her house to take her to the shrine. But before they leave, they decide to give her her birthday present--a new hair pin and a small makeover, and she looks absolutely adorable. When they are done, they head out to go to the shrine. However, just before they go to the meeting spot, Chizuru and Ayane tell Sawako to go and meet Kazehaya by herself, they and Sanada won’t be going with her.
Kazehaya and Sawako meet-up at the meeting spot, and he is stunned by her makeover. Together, they head to the shrine.
Cute moments: Sawako looks absolutely adorable with her makeup on. And the way that Kazehaya looks at her, ugggh!! Swooning!
Episode 24:
Sawako and Kazehaya head to the shrine together. The both of them aren’t able to look at each other on the way there until Sawako nearly slips and falls on the shrine steps. Thankfully, Kazehaya steps in and catches her before she falls.
While in the bushes at the shrine, Chizuru, Ayane and Sanada are watching and checking in on Sawako’s and Kazehaya’s “progress” -- making sure that they don’t have any disturbances from other fellow shrine visitors.
The two of them are finally able to look at and talk to each other. They both head together to get amazake. Together, they head over to the stall to get something to drink. Kazehaya admits that this is the first time that he has liked drinking amazake. Sawako admits that it makes her really happy when he shows her his “firsts.” With that being said, Kazehaya says that there are many more firsts that she has witnessed than she has realized.
Since Sawako has set up her email address, the two of them decide to exchange email addresses. She has a hard time deciding what to write, for she has many things she wants to say to him. But she ends up writing, “Thank you for everything you’ve done this year for me. I’m very happy.” With the email address sent, Kazehaya realizes that her birthday is actually today (and there is only 15 minutes left!).
Kazehaya wishes that he was able to get her a birthday present, but she tells him that she is happy that he is spending the moment she was born together with him.
Before the New Year rings in, Kazehaya asks Sawako to tell him about herself, what she was like as a child. Sawako doesn’t have much to say about her past, but not until she entered High School and met Kazehaya.
Episode 25:
While she is telling about herself, she apologizes that her life isn’t more interesting, but hopes that she can become a different person this time next year, but Kazehaya believes that she has already changed for the better. He believes that Sawako has become easier to talk to since the beginning. Kazehaya tells her that she has always had a good impression on him, since the very beginning. He always figured that she was a nice person, but now he says she’s much more… -- not finishing that statement (but he wants to say that she is much cuter than he first thought).
The bells ring for New Years, and the two of them head to the shrine. When she and Kazehaya pray at the shrine, she prays that next year will be a year that she will never forget.
Next the two of them grab fortunes. Kazehaya draws very good luck, but Sawako draws ominous luck. But Sawako’s love fortune says that, “You have met the best, and do not hesitate.” Kazehaya wants Sawako to have his fortune, so he gives it to her to tie up on the tree.
Together, Sawako and Kazehaya walk home together, thinking about what they want for next year. Kazehaya not sure that he will be able to be patient and calm when it comes to Sawako, and Sawako thinks that she doesn’t think she can see Kazehaya as a friend, and is wanting for him to be more than a friend.
