Every Day, the Same Girl Sits Next to Me on the Train. One Day, When I Pretended to Sleep…
Japanese Manga in English
Manga video to learn English
Japanese Manga in English
Manga video to learn English
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LearningTranscript
00:00Man, the boss sure laid into me today.
00:04My name's Rui Nakamura, 23 years old.
00:08Just your average office drone with a track record of zero girlfriends.
00:12Oh, there she is, sitting next to me again.
00:16This girl's always on the same train as me, judging by her uniform, she's probably from
00:22Koiwa Academy.
00:23If I'd gone to a co-ed school, could I have landed a cute girlfriend like her?
00:29But seriously, why does she always end up next to me?
00:32It's a rural route, and there are empty seats.
00:35It's gotta be a coincidence, right?
00:38Taking the train at this hour, maybe she's coming back from cram school or something?
00:43High schoolers these days got it rough, huh?
00:45I figured we wouldn't cross paths much, and the days kept rolling on.
00:50But then, one day...
00:52Arriving at Tokimeki Station for transfers.
00:58I must have dozed off.
01:00Wait, this isn't my stop yet, right?
01:04Phew, thought I overslept.
01:06Wait, huh?
01:08Is that a high school girl next to me?
01:11Could it be the usual one?
01:13Why is she sitting so close?
01:18Plenty of spaces, why does she have to sit so close?
01:22Is it just me, or am I feeling some intense vibes?
01:27He's sleeping.
01:28Ah, look at that cute sleepy face.
01:33Aw man, I don't have a clue what to do in situations like this, growing up in an all-boys school.
01:40I remember, she should be getting off next, so I'm just gonna keep pretending I'm asleep.
01:47Maybe he's just tired.
01:49Working must be tough.
01:51You did well today.
01:55This soft sensation, could it be, like, a kiss?
01:59What's going on?
02:01Why would she smooch a nobody like me?
02:04What should I do?
02:05After all that fake nap stuff, I can't just pop my eyes open now, can I?
02:10For now, I'll give off some vibes like I'm gonna wake up, maybe?
02:18Oh my, I can't believe I just did that!
02:22Tokimeki Station, doors are on the right side.
02:26S-sorry!
02:28Oh, she's gone.
02:31But I can't just ask her, like, why did you kiss me, right?
02:36I'm pretty sure she kissed me, but what if I'm totally off?
02:41Nope, I felt something soft on my cheek.
02:44It's not a figment of my imagination, that's for sure.
02:47Maybe it was just because the train was shaking or something?
02:52Nah, it wasn't shaking that much.
02:55I guess there's no point in me stressing out here on my own.
02:59Next time we run into each other, maybe I'll try to talk to her.
03:03But since that day, she never showed up on the same train.
03:06Two weeks later, I was near Koiwa Academy for a job.
03:11Phew, glad that contract went through all right.
03:15Come to think of it, that girl is also a student of Koiwa Academy, right?
03:20Today, they told me I can head straight home.
03:22So should I wait a bit?
03:24But yeah, adults lurking around students is a big no-no, huh?
03:28I should head home.
03:30Wait, that's her!
03:33Um, hold on!
03:34Even if I stop her, what should I say?
03:37Oh, maybe she was supposed to meet up.
03:40Is that her boyfriend or something?
03:42Hey, come on!
03:44It's not a big deal, you know.
03:46I'm sorry, it's just that...
03:49Huh? She seems troubled.
03:51Maybe it's not my business, but I can't just ignore it.
03:55Sorry for the wait!
03:58Um, so...
03:59Hey! You finished work?
04:02Huh? I should probably go along with the conversation here, right?
04:07She's my sister.
04:08What do you guys want?
04:10Well, if you were waiting for your brother, you could have just said so.
04:14My bad!
04:16It's okay, then.
04:18Thank you.
04:20Well, I thought I might be overstepping, but you seemed like you were in trouble.
04:25Yeah, I was.
04:26Because those strangers were insisting me to hang out, so...
04:30Thank you.
04:32I see. Then I'm glad I could help.
04:34Wait, I'm a stranger too, huh?
04:37I'm Rui Nakamura.
04:38I work at Scramble Trading.
04:41I'm Erika Ono.
04:44A second year at Koiwa Academy High School.
04:50I want to ask about that kiss, but maybe I should start with small talk?
04:55So we're always on the same train, right?
04:59Yeah, that's right.
05:02I thought so.
05:02I felt like I'd seen you somewhere before.
05:08Did that sound awkward?
05:09But I've never really talked to a high school girl before.
05:13Afterward, we continued on the same train all the way back home.
05:17While chatting, I found out that she also uses this train to get home from her cram school.
05:22It seemed like she'd been going home early for the past two weeks to study for her tests.
05:28I'm still a bit nervous, but am I talking normally?
05:32Oh, I see.
05:33When I was taking my university entrance exams...
05:37I'll keep that in mind.
05:39Thank you.
05:40Arriving at Tokimeki Station.
05:43Oh, um, this is my stop.
05:46I'm so happy I got to talk with you today.
05:49Huh?
05:50See you tomorrow.
05:52Goodbye.
05:53Uh, yeah.
05:54See you tomorrow.
05:56Yep.
05:57See you tomorrow, huh?
05:59I kind of like that.
06:01I want to talk to her more.
06:03From that day on, when we met on the train, we said hi and chatted.
06:08But still, I had never really talked to a girl before.
06:11I was desperately searching for topics of conversation.
06:15And one day, I found out we liked the same novel.
06:19That scene really has a lot of Otakura's feelings, doesn't it?
06:23I know, right?
06:28Oh, my bad.
06:30Sorry.
06:32We should talk more quietly.
06:36Oh, it's my stop.
06:38Well, see you tomorrow.
06:41Yeah, good luck with your studies.
06:43Good luck with your job, too, Rui.
06:47She's waving.
06:48She's so cute.
06:49And then, we started taking the morning train together more often.
06:55You okay?
06:57Sorry.
06:58Nah, no need to worry about it.
07:00Even though my heart is racing.
07:02While those days continued, there was something that I just couldn't shake from my mind.
07:07Why does Erika always talk to me?
07:10I still haven't even asked her about that kiss.
07:12So, my friend?
07:15Wait, what do we look like to the other passengers?
07:18It's not like we're dating or anything.
07:20And she's a high school student.
07:22Geez, what am I even thinking?
07:25Are you even listening?
07:27Huh?
07:29Oh, my.
07:30Siblings, aren't you?
07:32You're very close, huh?
07:34What?
07:35I envy you.
07:37My own kids don't even talk to each other anymore.
07:42No, we're not.
07:44Well, I'll be getting off.
07:46Take care.
07:47Stay close to each other.
07:50Do we really look like siblings?
07:52But we're not that close.
07:53What's going on here?
07:56Rui?
07:58Yeah?
07:59Um, do you have time next Sunday?
08:04Huh?
08:04Well, I don't really have any plans.
08:07In that case, there's a book signing event with Otakuda at Koiwa Bookstore.
08:13Would you like to go?
08:15A Sunday?
08:16Is that kind of like a date?
08:18Is it okay?
08:20Is that a no?
08:24It's not a big deal to just go out, right?
08:27Well, if you're okay with me.
08:30Thank you.
08:31No problem.
08:32And thanks for inviting me.
08:34We'll be meeting Otakuda soon!
08:48Otakuda's autograph!
08:52I'll treasure this book!
08:59If she's this happy, it was worth coming.
09:03As I was with you, the waiting time didn't feel that long.
09:07Thanks.
09:09No worries.
09:10I had a great time with you, too.
09:12Thanks for inviting me.
09:14Will you go out like this with me again?
09:17Huh?
09:18Well...
09:20Huh?
09:21Erika?
09:22Oh!
09:23Um, what a coincidence.
09:25What's up?
09:26I heard there's a great new takoyaki place nearby.
09:30So we're heading there now.
09:32I don't want to intrude if she's with her friends.
09:34I'll just stay quiet.
09:36Didn't you try another place the other day, too?
09:40Of course!
09:41You have to check them all out!
09:44You're so obsessed with new places.
09:47Erika with her friends looks like she's having a great time.
09:51But that's normal, right?
09:53If I were a high school student, I'd...
09:56Wait, what am I thinking?
09:58Hey!
09:59Heard you got confessed to by Iketeru.
10:03He's the coolest guy in our school, so you obviously said yes, right?
10:08What?
10:10Oops!
10:12Sorry!
10:13You were with your brother!
10:15Um...
10:16No worries.
10:17Missed the chance to say hi.
10:19My bad.
10:20No problem!
10:21Well, catch you at school, Erika!
10:24Um, Ui?
10:27Sorry.
10:28Totally interrupted your chat with friends.
10:31About that conversation just now...
10:34Yeah, after all, Erika should be with someone her own age.
10:38So, should we head home?
10:40Um, about that...
10:43I said no!
10:45Huh?
10:46I told him I have someone I like, so I can't date.
10:51I said that.
10:53I like you, Ui.
10:55I turned him down because I genuinely like you.
10:59What are you saying?
11:01I'm serious.
11:03She likes me?
11:04Erika likes me?
11:06Erika...
11:08I admit, I'm attracted to Erika, but...
11:11I think you're a great person.
11:13Very charming.
11:14Really?
11:15Yeah, it's fun when we're together.
11:18But I can't date a high school student, after all.
11:23Am I...?
11:25Too young because I'm a high school student?
11:28It's not that.
11:29I just think it's more natural for you to be with someone your age.
11:32What do you mean, natural?
11:35Like, when you were talking to your friends earlier,
11:38I felt like I'm a part of the past.
11:42Don't just brush off my feelings like that!
11:45Erika...
11:47I should step back as the adult here.
11:50I want you to experience things that only high school students can.
11:54To understand and cherish those moments.
11:56Because it's something I couldn't do myself.
12:01I'm sorry.
12:02Wish I could say something better, but I genuinely want you to be happy.
12:07But my happiness is...
12:09So why don't we head home now?
12:12Wait!
12:13Erika?
12:14So...
12:16If I wasn't a high school student, would it be okay?
12:20I like you, Rui.
12:22Erika, hold on!
12:24I liked you for so long!
12:26Even if you say it's because I'm a high school student, I won't give up!
12:31So long?
12:32You might not remember, but we actually met a year ago.
12:37At last year's Koiwa University Open Campus.
12:41Um, are you okay?
12:43You got lost, didn't you?
12:45I, uh...
12:47I wanted to go to Building A.
12:50Our university is pretty big.
12:51I'll show you the way.
12:52Just follow me.
12:55Thank you.
12:56You really helped me back then.
12:59Oh, sorry.
13:00I didn't recognize you.
13:02It's fine.
13:03I mean, it was such a brief moment, so of course you'd forget.
13:07I wondered if we could meet again after that.
13:10I even went to the school festival, but couldn't find you.
13:14Yeah, well, Koiwa University's pretty big, so...
13:18But I fell for the kind Rui who helped a total stranger that day.
13:26Huh?
13:26Come on, I just guided you.
13:29You don't need a reason for love at first sight.
13:33I thought we'd never meet again, but then I noticed you, Rui, riding the same train.
13:39Huh?
13:40So, like...
13:42It wasn't just coincidence.
13:44I adjusted my schedule to ride the same train as you.
13:47I even watched a few pass by after my cram school.
13:51Really?
13:52Yeah.
13:53So I won't give up that easily.
13:56I see.
13:58If you're going to tell me it's because I'm a high schooler and it's hopeless,
14:01can you at least give me one more year?
14:04A year?
14:05I'll graduate high school in one more year, so...
14:09Will you be my boyfriend?
14:11Yeah.
14:13A year from now, if you still feel the same way...
14:17Yeah.
14:18I'll tell you my feelings again.
14:21Until then, can we just be friends?
14:24Yes, please!
14:26And so, a year later, Erika graduated from high school.
14:30Erika, congratulations!
14:32Rui!
14:33Thanks!
14:35Um...
14:37Do you remember our promise?
14:40Wait, can I say it first?
14:43Sure.
14:44I like you.
14:46Will you be my girlfriend?
14:49Yeah, of course.
14:52I still feel the same way about you.
14:55By the way, there's something else I have to tell you.
15:00Actually, when you kissed me on the train that time, I was awake.
15:05Huh?
15:05I thought you were sleeping.
15:08I was faking it.
15:09Why didn't you say something?
15:12I totally thought you wouldn't notice.
15:14Aw, it's so embarrassing!
15:20Sorry for not saying anything.
15:22By the way, can I ask why you kissed me?
15:26Well, of course, because I was into you, Rui.
15:33And, well, at that time you're sleeping, too.
15:36Well, at that time your sleeping face knew it was just so cute.
15:42I couldn't help myself.
15:44Sorry for doing something like that without asking.
15:48She's cute!
15:50Honestly, I was surprised at that moment, but without it,
15:53I might not have mustered the courage to talk to you.
15:56It was the starting point.
16:00But I won't do something like that again, really!
16:03Then I'll be the one to do it.
16:05Huh?
16:07I like you so much.
16:09Erika, thanks for liking me.
16:13I like you so much, too.
16:16And so we became a couple.
16:19Erika, now a college student, was working hard in her studies and our relationship.
16:24As for me, since I started talking to Erika,
16:27my discomfort around women has lessened.
16:30Thanks to that, work has become easier than before.
16:33Thinking like this, it's all thanks to the courage I gathered back then.
16:38I need to keep working hard so we can stay together.
16:42What's wrong?
16:43Why are you staring like that?
16:46Oh, it's nothing.
16:48Nothing, huh?
16:51Rui, don't try to dodge things like you always do.
16:55You promised you wouldn't hide anything.
16:58Sorry, but it's not what it looks like.
17:01So, what are you thinking about right now?
17:06Huh?
17:07Well, I was just thinking about how I'm glad I gathered the courage to talk to you that day.
17:13And I want to keep being together.
17:16Geez, that's more like it.
17:19Rui, I love you, darling.
17:24Both of us, beginners in love, were a bit awkward.
17:27But we were determined to cherish our relationship.