Episode 15

"
**It's just a feeling / It's just a fantasy, part 2 / It's just an invitation to lunch / It's just roasted sweet potatoes**" is the third episode of the second season of the Komi-san wa Komyushou Desu anime series.

## Synopsis

At Omoharu and Ren's request, Tadano helps the two better understand what Komi is thinking.

## Summary

**It's Just a Thought**

During one of her classes, Komi is passed over by the teacher to read something aloud and has another student read it for her. Tadano comforts her since she really does want to read, which Nakanaka notices. Later, during their break period, while Najimi talks to Komi about the upcoming winter break, Nakanaka approaches Tadano. After some prodding, Nakanaka says that she has noticed Tadano’s ability to “read minds”, and at gym class, she asks for him to teach her how to do so with Komi so that she can get closer to her. Tadano is hesitant, but when Yamai appears and also expresses this desire, Tadano decides to humor them to avoid her wrath. He suggests they observe Komi’s reactions and gauge what Komi is thinking:

* After gym finishes, Komi attempts to clean up some volleyballs, but other students take them from her to take a load off her (as well as Yadano who simply is happy to get a ball while Komi doesn’t). Yamai and Nakanaka believe that Komi is happy to not have to do any work, but Tadano tells them she actually wants to help and is sad she couldn’t.
* During class, Najimi asks to borrow a dictionary from Komi. She lends it to them, and ten minutes later, notices Najimi talking with the popular kids rather than using the dictionary, causing Komi to tremble. Yamai thinks this means she wants Najimi to give the dictionary back, while Nakanaka thinks this means she doesn’t want to disturb the conversation. However, Tadano points out that she’s actually worried that they are gossiping about her.
* Shortly after, Najimi points out a rainbow and the class gathers by the window to look at it, except Komi, who just stares at everyone gathering around. Yamai thinks she wants to post the rainbow on social media, leading Nakanaka in turn to claim Komi is actually being dismissive of social media (Inaka even chimes in and thinks she doesn’t care about rainbows because is better than one). However, Komi actually wants to simply look at it, but is anxious about joining the crowd.
* During home economics, Komi and Najimi are working as a team. While washing lettuce, Komi suddenly begins spacing out. Yamai thinks she is thinking about the next step, while Nakanaka thinks she forgot said step. However, Tadano points out that she is still thinking about the rainbow because she never got to see it.

The day continues with Yamai and Nakanaka continuing to make wrong guesses, each of which become increasingly about themselves as well as their rivalry. Eventually, Komi approaches the group herself and asks them about what they were doing watching her. Flabbergasted, both Yamai and Nakanaka, as well as Tadano for a moment, think Komi is angry for spying on her, but Tadano eventually realizes that she actually felt left out and wants to join in. To make it up to her and end the activity, Tadano suggests they go to the cafe after school, and everyone agrees. However, the evening is mildly ruined by Yamai and Nakanaka again quarreling over Komi’s attention, even after she (through Tadano) tells them to stop.

**It's just a fantasy, part 2.**

A few days after their previous meeting,Shinobino, Chiarai, and Sonoda all gather again in their classroom to finally discuss their scenario with Komi, along with two new fantasies for other girls that they have created. Tadano happens to be there again, but finds himself mildly excited.

* Sonoda comes up with a scenario with Onemine, in which the two of them have a picnic together. The date is uneventful but peaceful, safe for a moment when Onemine takes a rice kernel off of Sonoda’s face and eats it. The trio all like the mix of sensuality and wholesomeness, with even Tadano liking it.
* Shinobino comes up with a scenario for Otori, where the two of them are married and living in an apartment. Shinobino comes home from work and is saddened by a mistake he made while there, so Otori cuddles him to comfort him. All three boys proceed to break down and cry about the emotional scenario, making Tadano worried that they are putting too much effort into the stories.
* Finally, Chiarai states his scenario with Komi, only for it to be a period piece which features him as an important political figure during the Bakumatsu period, Shinobino as his spy, Komi as his wife, and Sonoda as part the Shinsengumi. Sonoda attacks the other three, but Komi suddenly stands up and draws a weapon, and proceeds to threaten to kill them. All three boys quickly find themselves disappointed that the Komi scenario has no bearing on reality, though Tadano is actually impressed for coming up with anything.

Having finished, the three decide to vote on the best scenario. Before they can though, Komi herself comes into the classroom and sits with Tadano. Though she didn’t hear anything, the boys promptly adjourn the meeting to avoid and girls from figuring out what they were talking about. Later, they do eventually vote Nakanaka’s as the best, only to write as such on the chalkboard and accidentally leave it for her to see, privately flustering her.

**It's just an invitation to lunch.**

One day, Komi oversleeps and misses breakfast, making her visibly hungry the whole morning. At lunch break, Katai claims via inner monologue that Komi is his friend, still believing her to be a Master of Communication (in reality, she is still terrified of him). Using her example, Katai plans on asking Tadano to join him for lunch, but due to his anxiety and appearance, the attempt sounds to everyone but Tadano as a threat. Katai flees the scene embarrassed and ashamed, but Tadano understands what Katai was saying and heads over to join him for lunch. As an elated Katai relishes this moment of them sitting together for lunch, he suddenly notices Komi watching them from behind a pillar. While she’s actually worried that Katai plans to hurt Tadano, Katai thinks she is there to give him more advice and realizes that his actual goal should be to become closer to Tadano, not just eat with him. He attempts to make small talk with Tadano (inadvertently interrupting Tadano’s own attempt at small talk), and thinks this works. He looks to Komi for approval, but she is getting increasingly stressed and he interprets her intensive stare as disapproval. In an attempt to be more familial, Katai tries feeding Tadano a meatball from his lunch airplane-style, much to Tadano’s dismay. This act makes Tadano cringe, but he still goes along, which changes Komi’s reaction to jealousy, though Katai again thinks this is disapproval. Pondering what more he can do, Katai takes Komi's holding onto the pillar as a coded message to make physical contact, so he sits next to Tadano and grasps his arm, making Komi think that Katai is shaking down Tadano for money for eating his lunch. She begins quivering by the pole debating whether or not to save Tadano, making Katai even more anxious since he thinks Komi wants to save him instead, but having realized what Katai is doing, Tadano consoles Katai and claims that he can be himself when around him rather than trying so hard to impress him. This makes Katai far more relaxed, but Komi misinterprets the exchange as homoerotic. Her stomach then gurgles, giving away her hiding to Tadano. Unfazed, he invites her to join him and Katai, and though embarrassed, she agrees. As they sit together, both of them too nervous to say anything to each other, Tadano tries to explain that they both have social anxiety, but Najimi - who was watching the entire time - suddenly arrives and stops Tadano from doing so, claiming it is funnier if they are in the dark about each other.

The four eat lunch together, and Najimi suggests that Katai officially become Komi’s fifteenth friend by writing his name in the book. Komi agrees and hands him the book, but he misinterprets it as a list of other apprentices she has, and is shocked by the sheer amount.

**It's just roasted sweet potatoes.**

The first night of winter break arrives. Hearing a sweet potato salesperson outside, Komi gets some money from her father to purchase some. Outside, Komi receives the attention of the salesperson (who briefly thinks she’s a ghost), but due to her anxiety, she accidentally turns him away. This causes him to drive away, leading her to chase down his truck (twice) before he eventually realizes she wants some. However, her anxiety causes her to accidentally buy five, one too many for her family.

In his home, Tadano contemplates something that has been bothering him since the school culture festival’s closing dance. However, he misinterprets this as the fact that everyone saw him cross-dress as a maid at the dance, and angrily tosses and turns in his bed thinking about it. Eventually though, his thoughts become clearer, and realizes that he actually began feeling that way while dancing with Komi. This causes him to finally start thinking that he may be falling for Komi, but quickly tries pushing that out of his head. In order to clear his mind, he decides to go for a late night bike ride (though Hitomi thinks he is buying porn). However, while on his bike, Tadano ironically ends up encountering Komi, who is running home before the sweet potatoes get cold. Nervous, he offers to walk her home, but Komi refuses. Tadano then thinks about inviting her to hang out with him during the winter break, but overthinks it and decides against it. Before Tadano can leave, however, Komi stops him and gives him the extra sweet potato. This gives Tadano the courage to ask Komi to do something together with him during winter break. Komi agrees to this, and the two head their separate ways, noticeably blushing as they do.

## Characters

*In order of appearance. Bold denotes debuting characters.*

* Tadano Hitohito
* Komi Shouko
* Shinobino Mono
* Omoharu Nakanaka
* Najimi Osana
* Ren Yamai
* Sonoda Taisei
* Chiarai Shigeo
* Onigashima Akako
* Kishi Himeko
* Inaka Nokoko
* Nene Onemine
* Otori Kaede
* Katai Makoto
* Satou Amami
* Komi Shuuko
* Komi Masayoshi
* Tadano Hitomi

## Adaptation Notes

**This episode adapts the following material:**

* Manga Volume 4
	+ Communication 56: Feelings
* Manga Volume 6
	+ Communication 77: Fantasies, Part 2
	+ Communication 80: Invitation to Lunch
	+ Communication 84: Roasted Potatoes
	+ Communication 85: Memories of the Culture Festival
	+ Communication 85.5: Bonus (first page, after credits)