• 4 months ago
Transcript
00:00After a year of entrance exam purgatory, it was finally time to see if I got into my first
00:06choice school.
00:09I was happy to be done with all the tests but so worried about whether or not I'd see
00:13my number on the acceptance list.
00:16I joined all the other anxious high schoolers searching for the number that could decide
00:20their futures.
00:22Please be there.
00:23I've suffered for so long.
00:25Where is it?
00:26Oh!
00:27Yes!
00:28Yes!
00:29Yes!
00:30I pumped both my fists as soon as I saw.
00:33I was so happy and relieved, it felt like I had taken a breath for the first time in
00:37a year.
00:39It felt like my relief was so palpable, it could manifest into flowers above my head.
00:46The cherry blossoms of joy were blooming.
00:49I got in.
00:50Yo!
00:51Masato!
00:52Oh, hey Shinji.
00:57Looks like you have some good news, huh?
01:00Yep.
01:01Looks like we're going to be going to the same school again before too long.
01:05The person who came up to me was Shinji Yasaka.
01:10He used to go to the same high school I did.
01:13We used to be on the baseball team together, and we were known as one of the most formidable
01:17pitcher-catcher batteries in the league.
01:20We were together through thick and thin, morning, noon, and evening, and he was like a brother
01:25to me.
01:27Congrats man!
01:29Our golden days of being battery mates are just beginning.
01:32Yeah, let's get out there together and show everyone what it truly means to play ball.
01:38Okay.
01:40Oops, one second, let me take this call.
01:43Oh, go ahead.
01:46It's my sister.
01:47Hey, what's up?
01:48Really?
01:49That's great!
01:50Congratulations!
01:51Huh?
01:52Okay, okay.
01:53Yeah, yeah, I'll get you a present, okay?
01:59Uh-huh.
02:00Yeah.
02:01Me?
02:02I'm with Misato.
02:03Yeah, he got in.
02:06Jeez, ask him yourself!
02:08You've always been like this!
02:10Look, just talk to him for once.
02:12I'm sure he'll be happy to hear you say hi.
02:14Yeah, okay, fine.
02:17Alright, take care!
02:19Tell Mom and Dad I'll come home soon, okay?
02:22got into her school too?
02:23Guards are both the same.
02:25Why do you always need me to be the middleman between you?
02:28Yeah, now that you mention it, I don't really know.
02:32You're both such late bloomers.
02:34Anyway, you're going to be college students soon.
02:38It's your chance to get a fresh start.
02:40Everything's going to be different from now on.
02:43Huh?
02:45I know she's got good genes just like her brother.
02:48And I hear she's got her fair share of suitors too.
02:51And now that they're all shaking off the weight of entrance exams, they're going to
02:54be coming out of the woodwork like ants to peanut butter.
02:57If you don't like the sound of that, you'd better hurry up and do something about it
03:00yourself.
03:01Come on, man.
03:04Meg and I are just friends.
03:06Whatever you say, dude.
03:08Come on, I want to see that fighting spirit you always show during a match.
03:12Sorry, man.
03:14Well, you take it at your own pace, okay?
03:17Anyway, do you have a place to live lined up yet?
03:20You're not staying with your folks, are you?
03:22Nah, but I don't really have the money to get my own place.
03:27Maybe I'll just stay at the school dorms.
03:29Nah, that's not worth it at all.
03:33What do you mean?
03:35Yeah, maybe it'd be cheap.
03:38It's like only $280 including utilities, right?
03:41But that's only because it's basically prison in there.
03:44It's barely enough space for one guy, and they try to squeeze in two.
03:48Don't forget about ever bringing back a girl with you, even just to hang out.
03:53It sucks walking all the way out there after you've gone out drinking two days in a row
03:56when you have an early class the next morning.
03:59It's sweltering in the summer and freezing in the winter.
04:03Basically it's no place for anyone who really knows what's up.
04:07Is it really that bad?
04:09College is the time for you to bloom and come into your own.
04:12If you're drinking and going back there, you'll just end up wilting.
04:17I really don't have any money.
04:18I could barely afford $400 a month if I really stretched it.
04:22Don't worry, I'm not going to leave you hanging.
04:25What did you have in mind?
04:27How about sharing an apartment?
04:30That way, you get a little more wiggle room, right?
04:33You get to split the rent and chores.
04:35Maybe you're not living on your own, but if you were in the dorms, you'd have to share
04:39with a stranger anyway.
04:41You might as well live with someone you already know and trust, right?
04:45Shinji.
04:46Yeah?
04:47That sounds great.
04:50Perfect.
04:51I'm glad we're both on the same page.
04:54You okay if I find the place and everything?
04:57Of course.
04:58Great.
04:59Leave it to me.
05:01I guarantee I'll find something you love.
05:04Before I knew it, it was already move-in day.
05:08Since we were both splitting the rent, it ended up being only $380 each.
05:14It was a bit far away from the school, but it was close to a major shopping street and
05:18a station, and the place itself was pretty nice too.
05:21I wouldn't expect anything less from Shinji.
05:24I knew I could always rely on him.
05:26Let's see, number 308.
05:30I climbed up the stairs and found the entrance.
05:33I rang the doorbell and heard footsteps on the other side.
05:36Coming!
05:37I thought you'd be here earlier, Shinji!
05:40You're late!
05:41Wait, what?
05:42Masa?
05:43Meg?
05:44And standing on the other side was Shinji's little sister, Megumi.
05:51The two of us were classmates, and she was actually the manager of our baseball team.
05:55So the two of us got really close over the course of our high school years.
06:00Shinji wasn't lying when he said his family had good genes, either.
06:03She was beautiful, nice, smart, and probably the most popular girl in our class.
06:08I know I got a lot of jealous stares from the other guys every time we spent time together.
06:14Not that any of it was deserved, of course.
06:17After all, it's not like we were a thing.
06:20I had one-sided feelings for her, just like they all did.
06:23What are you doing here?
06:25Did Shinji ask you to help him move in?
06:30Didn't he tell you?
06:32I'm moving in with Shinji today.
06:34I thought he asked you to help him move in.
06:37Huh?
06:38But Shinji said...
06:41Oh, speak of the devil, he's calling now.
06:44Answer it right now!
06:47Yes, ma'am.
06:49Hey Masato, did you get there yet?
06:53Yeah, Meg's here too.
06:55What's going on?
06:57What do you think?
06:58You guys are going to be rooming together from now on.
07:01Excuse me?
07:03What did he say?
07:05Shinji, explain yourself!
07:09Oh, hey Megumi.
07:11Don't you oh-hey me!
07:14I want explanations now!
07:18So basically, it's like this.
07:20Our parents were worried about their cute little daughter living on her own and wanted a knight to protect her.
07:26Their words, not mine.
07:28And at the same time, Masato said he was looking for a place to live but didn't have money to live on his own.
07:32And sorry, but I'm a bit busy living my best life at the moment.
07:36So based on everyone's circumstances, I figured this was the best solution to satisfy all of us at once.
07:42Couldn't you have at least asked me about this first?
07:46What's the problem? You don't hate her, right?
07:50Of course not, but I'm a guy too, right?
07:53Yeah, yeah. I talked to my mom and dad about it and they already gave the okay though.
07:59What?
08:01They said they were grateful for how serious you were back in high school.
08:05They really like you, you know? You earned their trust.
08:09Yeah, but still. This is so sudden.
08:13Look, if you back out now, what are you going to do next?
08:18I hate to tell you this, but there's zero chance you're going to get a better deal on rent than $180 a month.
08:27Ugh!
08:29I guess you could try your luck with the dorm, but I hear they're already all full up for the year.
08:34Come on, man. This is low. Why didn't you say a word to me about this at all?
08:41Yeah, I'm sorry about that. But I never said anything about you rooming with me.
08:46You were the one who agreed to this. If you misunderstood, that's on you.
08:50Anyway, give my regards to Megumi too. Tell her I said this was my graduation present to both of you.
08:56And while I was standing there feeling like I'd been betrayed by someone I trusted like a brother, he hung up.
09:03Well, it looks like this is how it's going to be for the next while.
09:08My parents said that if I don't live with you, I have to commute from home.
09:13Yeah.
09:15And you've got your own situation, right?
09:19Yeah, it's embarrassing, but I have no money.
09:23Then I guess neither of us really have a choice, huh?
09:28Are you okay with this?
09:31It's like Shinji said, right? He and our parents trust you, and I feel the same way.
09:39You do?
09:41If it was any other guy, I'd immediately run back to my parents and take all that lost time commuting.
09:49But I feel safe knowing I'm here with you.
09:54And that was how I ended up sharing an apartment with the girl of my dreams.
09:59I'm not going to say I wasn't nervous.
10:02But to be completely honest, I was even happier than when I learned I got into my college.
10:08My fears at the time turned out to be completely unfounded. Living with Megumi was great.
10:14Can you take it out of the laundry? I'll help you fold it.
10:19Really? I can do that myself, though.
10:23Hey, are you blushing?
10:26What? Of course not.
10:29Don't worry so much. It's nothing I haven't seen when I was washing your clothes on the baseball team.
10:37I guess.
10:39Although, now that I think about it, I'm not washing anyone else's clothes but yours anymore.
10:47So tell me, now that you've got the beautiful manager everyone idolized all to yourself, how does it feel?
10:56Honestly, I'm pretty stoked about it.
11:00Oh, I was just kidding, though.
11:06Oh, yeah, me too. Sorry.
11:11No, no, I shouldn't have teased you like that.
11:15Well, I don't mind doing the laundry, so if you're too embarrassed to lay your poor, innocent little eyes on my unmentionables,
11:23I can take care of it from now on if you like.
11:27In return, you can be in charge of taking out the garbage and carrying heavy groceries. How does that sound?
11:34Leave it to me.
11:36Great. And between you and me, I'm pretty stoked having the reliable baseball ace all to myself, too.
11:45We generally ate together most days.
11:49Thanks for cooking.
11:51Of course. Dig in.
11:54I feel so blessed to be able to eat such luxurious meals like this for breakfast every day.
12:00Oh, come on, it's not that exciting.
12:04Don't put yourself down. You're a great cook.
12:08Yeah, yeah, hurry up and eat, you suck up. I've got seconds if you want it.
12:14Thanks again.
12:16You said you'd be out late tonight, right?
12:19Yeah, I have evening practice and work after that, so definitely don't wait up for me for dinner.
12:28Roger.
12:30So, what are you doing tomorrow?
12:33Tomorrow? I don't really have any plans.
12:38Movie night, then? I think the couch has been lonely lately without any butts on it.
12:44It's not another horror flick, is it?
12:47Would you be upset if I told you it was?
12:52No, I guess it's fine.
12:55Thank you, Sir Knight.
12:58The two of us watched a lot of horror movies together, despite Meg always being terrified.
13:06She said she enjoyed the heart-pounding thrill of it all.
13:13Want me to turn it off?
13:16No, don't!
13:19I'm getting mixed messages here.
13:23Meow, meow!
13:27Now you're turning into a cat. And why are you so close?
13:33Meow, meow! I'm scared!
13:40To be honest, the heart-pounding thrill of Meg hugging me like this was way more than anything I've felt from watching this movie.
13:49Although, that was a different kind of heart-pounding.
13:54Oh man, that was so terrifying!
13:59Yeah.
14:01Why do you look so exhausted?
14:05I'm just trying really hard to hold myself back.
14:09If you need to go to the bathroom, just tell me.
14:13No, it's more of a different physiological response, if you know what I mean.
14:18Physi-lob-ical?
14:22Never mind.
14:24It was all I could do to stay strong and not pounce on the girl I liked when she held onto me so tightly.
14:30But I couldn't tell her that.
14:33What should we watch next?
14:36You're still not done?
14:39Oh, is little Masa scared? You want to stop?
14:45I never said that.
14:48In the end, men are but simple creatures.
14:52This was tough to deal with, but if I had to walk over a bed of hot coals just to get a hug from my crush, I'd still agree in an instant.
15:01That night, we ended up watching three horror movies in a row.
15:06So, have you two done it yet?
15:10Dude, of course not.
15:13Why not? Just man up already.
15:17Bro, this is your sister you're talking about.
15:21Exactly, and I'm telling you to go for it.
15:24You're a terrible brother.
15:27What part about this do you not get?
15:30I know you've had a crush on her for ages.
15:34So?
15:36I'm worried about you two. I know she likes you back, too.
15:41How do you know that?
15:44Don't give me that doubtful look.
15:47I can't believe you two even held out this long. I thought I set things up perfectly and everything.
15:53Yeah, but living together has only made it harder for me to say anything.
15:58Dude.
16:00I mean it. Like, what if she says no? I'd be kicked out for sure.
16:06I guess that makes sense. I didn't even think about that possibility.
16:11Are you kidding me?
16:14It wasn't even worth entertaining the thought. The second you so much as raise a finger, she's gonna fold like a house of cards.
16:22But hey, you're basically enjoying all the benefits of being a couple down to the cuddling.
16:26If you two are happy like this, then that's your prerogative.
16:30I mean, yeah. Of course I'm happy.
16:34Well, whatever. Just know that I've been sitting here watching both of you play musical chairs with your feelings for each other for years now.
16:41And I'm ready for both of you to sit down and talk to each other already.
16:45Well, sorry.
16:48I mean it. Just bite the bullet and do it.
16:51Oh yeah, by the way. I was supposed to go to the bar with some friends tonight, but I can't make it.
16:57Oh, really?
17:00Yeah, so...
17:03Yeah, yeah, I get it. I don't drink though.
17:07I know that. You're not even old enough anyway. Just go over there and get a smell of it.
17:13Didn't you once get completely wasted from just taking a whiff of a room with alcohol in it?
17:19Huh. Masa's really late. I thought he said he was just gonna pop in at a bar and head home right away.
17:27Just then, I heard the doorbell ring.
17:31Oh, that must be him.
17:34Okay, okay, I'm here. Come on in. Wait, who are you?
17:39Hi there. Is this where Masa lives?
17:44Yes?
17:47We're in the same class. He got so drunk that he looked like he wasn't even gonna be able to walk, so I decided to help him get home.
17:56Ah, thanks.
17:59But why is he drunk in the first place?
18:03Oh, are you worried we forced him or something?
18:07Not exactly.
18:11Well, we didn't.
18:14Apparently he just bumped into someone and they spilled a tiny little sip of beer on his face.
18:21Oh, yeah, I know. He's got the weakest tolerance I've ever heard of.
18:27Anyways, thanks again for bringing him all the way back here. I'll handle the rest.
18:33Cool, thanks.
18:36But, huh, I think I get it now.
18:41Um, get what?
18:45Oh, nothing. It's just, he talked a lot about you, the whole time.
18:52He wouldn't stop bragging about the girl he lived with that was so cute and nice and perfect.
19:00Oh, really?
19:03Yeah, you really are a cutie, though. After seeing you, I understand why Masa was so proud to talk about you.
19:12Ah, thanks.
19:15Let me just say, from one girl to another, you are so close. You just give him one push and you'll both be over the finish line.
19:26Respectfully, that is none of your business.
19:30When I came to, I was somehow on the couch in my apartment.
19:35I opened my eyes and the ceiling faded to view.
19:39I didn't even know how I got back home.
19:42I couldn't remember a thing.
19:45Oh, look who's finally up.
19:49Meg?
19:51Yep, that's me, little old Meg.
19:55And, um, why are you on top of me?
19:59I thought I'd give a certain someone with zero sense of danger something to really be afraid of.
20:06What?
20:09You don't remember how you had to have a girl walk you home?
20:14I did?
20:17She was so pretty.
20:20Oh, was it Sahara?
20:23I see. So you knew her name just from that, do you?
20:28Masa, I heard that you somehow got wasted just from the scent of alcohol.
20:34Oh, did I worry you? I'm sorry. And I was really trying to be careful, too.
20:41I don't believe that for a second. If you were really trying to be careful, you wouldn't have gotten yourself into this situation in the first place.
20:50Uh, Meg?
20:53Maybe this time you got lucky, and someone decided to be nice and bring you back home safe.
21:00But do you know how scary that is? If you get drunk that easily, what's stopping someone from dragging you back to their place with absolutely no resistance?
21:11Hey, I could fight back.
21:14Did I say you could talk?
21:17I'll be quiet.
21:19I've grown pretty happy with the life we've been living so far, you know?
21:24Sorry, I think you lost me.
21:27I'm saying, I thought I was fine playing this game of wait and see and hoping something would happen eventually.
21:35But I'm sick of this. I think it's time I teach you a lesson about exactly whose side you belong to.
21:43Meg, you're kind of scaring me.
21:46Did I say you could talk?
21:50Sorry, ma'am.
21:53Because I am so nice, I am going to give you one last chance.
21:59Do you want to be the one on top, or are you going to do it yourself? I'm fine either way.
22:06Is there a third option here?
22:09I'm sorry, did I stutter?
22:13What's the problem? Am I not good enough for you, Masa? Do you just not think of me that way?
22:18If you really don't like me like that, just tell me and I'll give up and let you go.
22:24No.
22:27Phew, sorry. I'm sorry for everything.
22:31You better be.
22:35I feel the same way. I really enjoy getting to live and spend time with you, but I was having so much fun I was too afraid to work up the courage to change anything between us.
22:45Yeah.
22:47And if I was resting on my laurels so much that I made you feel anxious enough to take matters into your own hands like this, I can't respond to that by backing down now.
22:56Yeah. So what's stopping you?
23:00Nothing. I love you. Will you go out with me?
23:05Yes! I'd be happy to!
23:08Ah!
23:10Haha! You finally said it!
23:14By the way...
23:16Yeah?
23:18Now that we're actually a couple, there were so many things I was hoping the two of us could do, but, well...
23:25What's wrong?
23:27Can we save it for later? My head's pounding. I feel horrible. My vision's blurry.
23:34What? Are you okay?
23:37I don't think so.
23:40Geez, you really are a lightweight. That does it, you're banned from drinking forever!
23:47Yes, ma'am.
23:50And if you do end up having even a drop of something, you just call me right there and I'll drop everything to come and get you. Understand?
24:00I don't want to cause you any trouble, though.
24:03Anytime, anywhere. Okay?
24:08What kind of girlfriend would I be if I couldn't be there for my boyfriend in his time of need?
24:15I was so dizzy I could barely concentrate on what was ahead of me.
24:18But my vision swirled into focus on the smile of the most beautiful girlfriend in the world.
24:23And suddenly, it felt like all the pain just disappeared.