Episode 5

DESTRUCTION BABY

### Flashback to a Winter Past

Hanabi narrates that her world changed after her father left when she was a child; her mother expressed the sadness that Hanabi felt was hers to express, and because of this, she acted tough in front of her mother, perhaps to be the rock she believed her mother should’ve been. This somber attitude brought on a loneliness she was unfamiliar with, as well as seeming to erase all the color from her world. Hanabi continues by saying that Kanai-sensei was not only the one thing that brought color back to her life, but was also a presence that made her feel safe, where she could let the tears she hid from her mother fall. She wonders why it is that now she feels he’s abandoned her.

### In the Present, Hanabi’s Apartment

Hanabi wakes with Sanae asleep next to her. She notices how silky Sanae’s hair is. Sanae wakes and rolls over to face Hanabi, who for a moment sees her as Minagawa-sensei. Seeing Hanabi’s wide eyes, Sanae asks her what’s wrong, but Hanabi relaxes and only wishes her a good morning.

### Mugi’s Apartment

As he lounges in bed, Mugi narrates that he’s been aware of who Minagawa-sensei really is. Thinking back to when Hanabi frustratingly left him by the window the other day, he judges that he can’t tell her that he knows since she might hate him for it. This thought makes him laugh

He thinks back to when he learned the truth…

###### Flashback

> One evening, after sex, he and Mei are discussing Minagawa-sensei. Mei explains what kind of woman Minagawa-sensei is, but Mugi defends his crush. Mei patronizes him, then takes him to a love hotel, where, hidden, they watch Minagawa-sensei go in with an older man. Mei watches on with an expression of smug satisfaction while Mugi narrates that he cried himself to sleep that night.
>
>
> The next day, when Minagawa-sensei arrives to tutor him, Mugi notices that she’s wearing the same clothes as the night before. He quickly surmises that Minagawa-sensei likely always needs a man, a thought that made him think of her as a “fragile, sympathetic girl”. From then on, he assumed she knew the impact she had on him and played into it by teasing him, actions that he could now see through. Despite understanding how she played with him, he couldn’t stop himself from falling for her traps.
>
>
>
> Later, when discussing Minagawa-sensei while in bed with Mei, she bites his ear, annoyed.
>
>

### Back in the Present

Mugi, amused, realizes Mei’s ear bite was likely due to jealousy. He wonders how Hanabi would react, which he imagines would be with anger and a blunt insult. He considers how he doesn’t altogether hate her honesty.

He decides to contact Mei, and later that day, while waiting for her outside, he’s surprised when she actually meets with him. She casually suggests they book a hotel room for the night, which causes Mugi to get embarrassed. Avoiding eye contact, he tries to tell her his motivations weren’t sexual, but she cuts him off, pointing out that they clearly were and she reassures him that it’s fine. Nonchalantly, she makes her way towards a hotel, leaving a quietly upset Mugi behind. At the hotel and in bed together, Mugi, on top, gently bites her earlobe. Unseen to him, Mei cries a bit. After sex, the two bathe together. And as Mugi washes his hair, Mei, blushing slightly, points out that that was the first time they’ve had sex where he had willingly initiated. She declares them “even” and excuses herself from the bathroom. Later, when Mugi comes back to the room, he sees that she’s gone home without spending the night.

### (Presumably) The Next Day, at School

At school, Hanabi tries to converse and hang out with Mugi like normal, but she notices how distant Mugi has suddenly become from her. She realizes that, as of late, they’ve spent less alone time together, they’ve stopped talking about deeper topics, and he’s even felt like a stranger to her at times. She wonders if he’s hiding something from her like how she’s been hiding Kanai-sensei’s confession to Minagawa-sensei from him. She realizes that if the goal this whole time was combating loneliness, and that if things are going okay with Sanae, then perhaps she doesn’t need Mugi anymore. Just as she comes to this realization, she suddenly passionately kisses Mugi, catching him by surprise. His surprise doesn’t last long before he takes control and rolls himself to be on top of Hanabi, kissing her back. After a moment, Mugi sits up and looks down at Hanabi, who’s breathing heavily with tears in her eyes. Already knowing the answer, she asks him if he slept with someone else. He confirms this and, similarly already knowing the answer, returns the question to Hanabi, who also confirms. He theorizes they did it for the same reason: “*because it’s started to feel really good*”. Hanabi agrees but seems conflicted and tells him she hates pain. She thinks to herself how similar Mugi and her are, especially in the negative ways.

### At School

While slumped over her piano, Minagawa-sensei apathetically narrates her animosity for the mundanity of her life as a schoolteacher, remarking that time is the dictator of the boring routine. As she contemplates, Kanai-sensei appears at the doorway. Upon seeing him, Minagawa continues her narration, noting that the one thing that breaks the routine is freedom.

### Meanwhile, at Mugi’s Apartment

Once inside Mugi’s room, Mugi somewhat forcibly pushes Hanabi against his door, kissing her. Hanabi slumps to her knees. Joining her on the floor, Mugi looks at her and points out that it's been quite a while since she’s wanted to come to his place. Hanabi averts her eyes and quietly agrees, prompting Mugi to remind her there’s no need to be embarrassed. She hesitates, but Hanabi claims she isn’t and she looks up at Mugi. Mugi is suddenly taken aback by Hanabi’s eyes and, almost like it's the first time he’s realizing it, thinks to himself how pretty she is. He notices a lustful urge within him to “*ruin her*”, a thought that significantly bothers him. Hanabi suddenly reaches out and touches his hand, which jolts him back into the moment. Avoiding his wide eyes, Hanabi takes the hand she touched, brings it to her cheek, and tells him they should have sex.

### Back at School

Kanai-sensei has come to check to see if Minagawa-sensei has an answer for him vis-à-vis his confession. Minagawa restores her charming facade as she engages with him, but narrates her utter disinterest in the situation and her desire to not have to actually be the one to reciprocate affection, especially to Kanai-sensei, whom she considers very boring. Despite this, she invites Kanai-sensei out that night, her eyes briefly displaying her hollow disinterest.

### At a Restaurant, Later

Minagawa-sensei, drunk, asks aloud if “*you could try harder?*”, likely referring to Kanai-sensei, who assumes his date to be speaking of her students. Frustrated, Minagawa puts her head down at their table. She internally complains that she didn’t mean to drink as much as she did and the reason she did was because she was angry (an anger she blames on Kanai-sensei and his sober boringness). As the two leave the restaurant, Minagawa drunkenly saunters ahead and continues to narrate her frustration and disdain for boring people. Kanai-sensei chases after her, again prompting her for an answer. Unable to cognitively engage Kanai-sensei and his desire for her answer, Minagawa stumbles and falls over, crying out. She’s caught by Kanai-sensei, who, with the drunk music teacher in his arms, asks her if she’s hurt. Minagawa only looks up at him in shock. Kanai-sensei sighs with relief and remarks that he’s glad she’s okay, accidentally calling her “*Hana-chan*”. There’s a pause before Kanai-sensei, very embarrassed, apologizes for the slip and explains that it was said out of habit. He absentmindedly admonishes himself while a disturbing smile appears on Minagawa-sensei’s face. She narrates, “I take it all back.” before reaching up, taking Kanai-sensei’s face in her hand, and kissing him. After a moment, she draws back, looking up at Kanai-sensei sheepishly, the facade immediately back up. She wonders to herself that perhaps her boring day “*might’ve just gotten interesting*”.

### Back at Mugi’s Apartment

As they’re undressing, Mugi notices one of his previously left hickeys on Hanabi’s collarbone is fading, prompting him to move his mouth down to it in order to renew its presence. Hanabi again insists they go all the way, which again surprises Mugi, who disguises his astonishment with a small chuckle and a smile. He reminds her that doing so would break their rules.

### Meanwhile, at a Motel

Minagawa-sensei, lying back on a bed, her clothes a bit disheveled, comes to and realizes she’s in a motel room. She recalls that she had humored Kanai-sensei after their kiss and let him show her one of his favorite spots in the city. Kanai-sensei, who’s kneeling beside her on the bed, nervously asks her if she’s “*sure about this*”, a question that bewilders Minagawa, who can’t believe he would ask permission. Mistaking his consideration and respect for weakness and a lack of gumption, Minagawa wonders to herself what Hanabi sees in this literature teacher. She decides to push Kanai-sensei about Hanabi a bit, remarking that the two seem very close. Avoiding eye contact, with a tone somewhere between embarrassed and matter-of-fact, he simply explains that they live near to one another and that he considers themselves to be siblings. Minagawa-sensei, feigning shame, softly mentions she feels jealous of Hanabi. Kanai-sensei, eager to prove her wrong, swiftly leans in to kiss Minagawa. With completely empty eyes, she thinks to herself: “*too easy*”.

### Meanwhile, at Mugi’s Apartment

In bed, Hanabi attempts to have sex with Mugi, but the pain makes her cry out and call it off. She rolls over, her face red and eyes tearing up. Mugi notices how cold her body is and pulls the covers over themselves, telling her he doesn’t want her to catch a cold. He takes his place lying next to her. Hanabi rolls over to face him and, face still red, presses her forehead to his chest. With sad eyes, she asks him why they can’t have sex. Although confused at first, Mugi answers by reminding her that she doesn’t really love him. Upon hearing this, Hanabi’s eyes go wide and she quickly insists that she does love him. Mugi questions this and her sudden desire to have sex with him, claiming that there’s something wrong with her. Wordlessly, Hanabi rolls out from under the covers and gets dressed. Before she leaves, Mugi asks her if she’d like to start dating for real. After a pause, Hanabi, in a deadpan tone, tells him she’s leaving. Before she can walk away, Mugi takes her wrist, stopping her, and asks her if she’s a virgin. The two make eye contact and after another pause, Hanabi says yes then again informs him she’s leaving. After she does, Mugi lies back in his bed, staring at the roof.

### Later, at Hanabi’s House

Hanabi lies upon her bed and curls into a ball on her side. She narrates to herself that she’s alone, that she hates being alone, that being alone makes her feel empty, and that she wants to sleep with someone.

### The Next Day, at School

While walking down the hall, wondering just how weak she’s become, Hanabi and Minagawa-sensei approach each other from opposite ends of the corridor. Without breaking stride or even looking at her, Minagawa-sensei, smiling wickedly, softly tells Hanabi that she had sex with Kanai-sensei the night before. Hanabi stops dead as Minagawa walks on.

## Gallery

クズの本懐 第5話予告THE IRONYhana-chan