Episode 2

そのぬくもりに用(よう)がある

#### **At School**

After school one day, Hanabi is approached by Sanae, who proposes they walk home together, commenting on how it’s been quite some time since they’ve done that. Mugi approaches the pair, prompting Sanae to withdraw her idea so Hanabi can walk home with her boyfriend instead. As they leave, Sanae watches on with a flat, spiritless expression.

#### **Walking Home**

On the walk home, Mugi leans in to kiss Hanabi, but they are abruptly interrupted by Noriko. Noriko narrates her relationship with Mugi, which originated when they were neighbors as children:

When playing together, adults would comment on how they resembled a *“prince and princess”*. This concept resonated with a young Noriko, who internalized the desire to embody a princess. As she grew, she strove to manifest this desire by growing her hair out, distancing herself from boys, and surrounding herself with cute things, all in the hopes of being worthy of and attracting her prince: Mugi.

As Noriko is childishly clinging to Mugi’s arm, Hanabi recognizes her as the same Noriko who gave her trouble over the three-legged race during the field day long ago. As it so happens, Noriko recognizes Hanabi from the same incident, but naturally remembers her as the aggressor rather than as the girl she, herself, accused of cheating. Noriko voices her assumption that Hanabi secured Mugi through trickery and has been hiding her nasty personality all this time. Mugi agrees that Hanabi is, indeed, horrible, stating that it’s *“a part of what makes her who she is”*. This comment resonates with Hanabi, who expresses her affection for Mugi before aggressively grabbing Noriko’s collar and pulling her off his arm and close to her own face. She warns Noriko about getting too close to Mugi.

#### **At School, Later**

Some time later, Hanabi and Mugi are relaxing on the roof of the school again. Hanabi suggests that though Mugi cares for Noriko, he should properly turn her down. Mugi asks her if she’s jealous, but she claims she’s only possessive. They kiss, but Hanabi wonders if that’s really the truth.

Noriko invites herself to a lunch date between Mugi and Hanabi during school one day and gets indignant when Hanabi tries to share her food with Mugi. Hanabi stands up for herself, but Noriko attacks back, claiming that Hanabi is only using Mugi as a means to boost her popularity. When the nonplussed couple don’t refute this claim, a flustered and irritated Noriko runs off past a passing-by Sanae, who heard Noriko’s claim.

Sometime later, Hanabi is helping Kanai-sensei take large stacks of booklets to another room. They end up alone in the room and a suddenly nervous Hanabi realizes now might be her chance to confess to him. Before she can initiate, they’re interrupted by the sound of music coming from nearby; Minagawa-sensei is playing the piano in a music room next door. Entranced, Kanai-sensei softly mentions how good she is. Dejected, Hanabi doesn’t confess.

#### **At Karaoke**

Later, Hanabi and Mugi are at karaoke, where she is venting her frustration through singing. Mugi asks her if she’s ever considered giving up and finding a different guy, but, irritated, Hanabi avoids answering. She instead offers the other mic to him to get him to sing with her. Before the song is over, Hanabi starts crying. She insists the one for her has to be Kanai-sensei and that this is a sentiment Mugi should understand, considering their parallel situations. Mugi confirms he does understand, and gently starts to be intimate with her. Amidst this, he remembers a memory of being intimate with Mei, which causes him to pause. Hanabi calls him by name in concern, but Mugi insists that she see him as Kanai-sensei and not as himself. They continue their intimacy with Mugi seeing Hanabi as Minagawa-sensei for the first time.

While on the train, Sanae ponders Noriko’s accusation from earlier that Hanabi is using Mugi, and she wonders if perhaps it’s the other way around.

#### **At School, Later**

At school one day, some girls approach Hanabi and nervously ask her for romance advice.

Later, on the roof, Mugi encourages her to go since she has so few female friends. He gets close to her face and Hanabi wonders if he’ll kiss her, but he only affectionately tussles her hair. Hanabi is surprised at how she reacted to the anticipation of the kiss, remarking how *“it’s almost like he’s my boyfriend.”*

#### **At a Restaurant**

Hanabi goes to a restaurant with these girls, who explain that one of them is simultaneously in two relationships with two different guys and is having a hard time deciding who to commit to. Hanabi asks her who she likes, but since the girl says she has no particularly strong feelings for either of them and that the discomfort is coming from the prospect of choosing and not her feelings for them conflicting, Hanabi feels she cannot empathize. The girl’s friend suggests she choose the one who can offer her more of an advantage (the one with *“good specs”*), an answer that confounds Hanabi.

#### **At School, Later**

Sometime later, Hanabi sits with Sanae at school and talks with her about why one chooses the one they love. Sanae responds that, in her case, the idea of gaining an advantage or *“getting something out of it”*, was not a concern of hers when she fell for the person she loves. Hanabi, relieved, hugs Sanae and declares that she agrees with her perspective. She then invites Sanae to a sleepover for just the two of them, who accepts.

A very nervous Sanae is at home, packing for her overnight trip to Hanabi’s. She worriedly wonders if they’ll have to share a bed.

#### **At Hanabi’s Apartment that Night**

Later that evening, Sanae arrives at Hanabi’s apartment. She narrates her excitement for the evening ahead, but then asks herself why she screwed things up. A flashforward shows a flushed Sanae straddling Hanabi in bed that night, who was just kissed by her. Hanabi looks stunned while Sanae continues narrating, admonishing herself and expressing regret.

## Gallery

TVアニメ「クズの本懐」第2話予告