Episode 3

## I’ll Never Lose to You!!!!

**I’ll Never Lose to You!!!!** (絶対に負けないから!!!!, *Zettai ni Makenai kara!!!!*?) is the third episode of the A Couple of Cuckoos anime series.

## Plot

Nagi and Erika get used to living together in their new home for the next two weeks. Meanwhile, at school, rumors of Nagi's declaration of him defeating Hiro in the exams manages to do so in the post-break test. This fills Hiro up with a firey motivation for her to keep her place first place in the test exams.

## Summary

Forced to live in the house set up by his biological father, Nagi is forced to live with Erika for two weeks, which has him panic-stricken. He then receives texts from his mom about his new living situation and then from his sister Sachi. Wanting to get in contact with his real father, the man in question sends him a text asking to set up a meeting between them. Before she goes to bed, Erika suggests that they set up some rules for the duration of while they're there. However, it's only one rule that's set and it's that they don't get involved with each other while they're there and Nagi agrees. Despondent over his situation, Nagi then has an epiphany that he can study without interruption in his room and finds that his room has all of the things he'll need to accomplish this.

The following day, Nagi wakes up late and is then alerted by the scream of Erika in the bathroom. When he arrives a brief awkward scene occurs between the two and once that was settled, Erika points out to the lizard that made its way into the bathroom. However, Nagi's reaction to the lizard gives her the courage to take care of it herself. Later, Nagi enjoys a late breakfast and sees that Erika was using her phone to take selfies for her social media accounts. Noting that phones have better uses than that, Nagi then finds out that his phone was out of power. Distraught over the fact that he can't study without his phone, the doorbell rings and it was a delivery of Nagi's belongings. Erika wonders why Nagi would need so much "junk" and Nagi wants to talk with her, but remembers the rule that they set last night and decides to not ask her for the package. This notion, however, lasts only a few seconds as he pleads with her to not get rid of the package as it contains valuable stuff to him. So, Nagi helps Erika with the reflective lighting for her selfies and then helps her take pictures, this leads to an unintentionally awkward selfie between the two of them.

After this, they continue their photo op outside as dusk starts to settle and Erika wanted to take some pictures by the tree. On the other hand, Nagi uses a hose to create a splendid picture of her getting hit with water. Impressed by the photo, Erika wants to have more pictures taken, but Nagi refuses, leading to a hose off between them. Once this was settled, they dry themselves off and Erika mentions that she left his stuff in his room and asked him why he study so assiduously. In his confession, Nagi claims that he wants his parents to live a comfortable life and then asks why Erika is so addicted to Social Media. Erika then claims that perhaps, it'll help her connect with someone someday. To pay back Erika, Nagi prepares dinner for the two of them.

The following day, Nagi leaves for school; it's there that his student peers mention that he "declared war" against Hiro along with other things about him. Despite what everyone had said, Nagi's resolve to beat Hiro in the upcoming exams remains undeterred. From his shoe locker, Nagi finds a note left to him from Hiro which asks that he meet her on the rooftop after school. Initially, Nagi believed the note to be fake, but realizes it was real when he finds Hiro peaking over the corner to see if he read the note left to him. At lunchtime, Nagi is approached by a trio of handsome students who act cordially toward Nagi. However, their true motives were to be assured that the bet they placed on him that he'd win would be in their favor. He's then approached by a couple of nerdy students that claim that it's logically impossible for him to surpass Hiro. After this, Hiro ruminates on Hiro's skills and charms and eventually gets another letter from Hiro, but Nagi disposes of it due to figuring it's fake because of its bad handwriting.

Later that day, Nagi learns that he earned first place in the post-break test, the news shocks everyone and Nagi realizes that Hiro knew she'd fail. Which to him, was why she was trying to confess something to him and then digs up the waste barrel that he tossed away the letter in. After school, Nagi meets with Hiro who declares to him that she'll be #1 on the rankings of the exams. She then claims that the reason why Nagi scored first in the post-break test was that she took a day off from a memorial she had to attend. Furthermore, Hiro goes on a tirade about how she'll beat him in an assortment of other things and leaves him. This encounter with Hiro had Nagi perplexed, but in the end, gained even more respect for her.

At home, Nagi learns that he caught a cold and despite this, he yearns to continue studying. To help Nagi out, Erika dresses up in a doctor's outfit and visits him in his room. Despite this, Nagi refuses to play along and wants to study alone in peace and Erika then receives a text from her father saying he'll meet her at school. Finally left alone, Nagi tries to continue studying, but faints due to exhaustion. Awakening in Erika's bedroom, she tells Nagi that she couldn't place him in his own bed due to how messy it was. This leads to Nagi to reflect on how nearly all of his life he's spent studying, but no one ever told him how impressed they were by it until Erika told him.

The next day, at Hiro's residence, her mother tries to admonish her from studying so much, but her daughter's resolve is clear.

## Characters

* Erika Amano
* Nagi Umino
* Hiro Segawa
* Souichirou Amano (Text)
* Sachi Umino (Flashback)
* Namie Umino (Flashback)
* Asami Segawa