Transcript
Tsugumi
Good morning, Ran-chan!
Ran
Ah, Tsugumi... Good morning.
Tsugumi
School starts again today. This will be our first lesson as second-year students, so let's give it our all!
Ran
I don't think we need to try that hard. It's not like the first lessons are a big deal or anything.
Tsugumi
Ah, heh. You may be right. I just thought we couldn't slack off, either.
Ran
Sounds about right coming from you. Anyway, we'd better head to class.
Tsugumi
Okay... Hm? Ran-chan, where are you going?
Ran
Uh, to the shoe lockers.
Tsugumi
But those are for the first-year students...
Ran
Ah! I forgot...
Ran
Ours are this way, right? Not sure how it slipped my mind. We used them for our opening ceremony.
Tsugumi
Fufu, I know how you feel. It doesn’t quite feel like we're second-years yet.
Ran
Yeah, we only just moved up a grade... Uh, Tsugumi?
Tsugumi
What's wrong? Let's get to class!
Ran
I plan to, but those are the first-year classrooms.
Tsugumi
Ah...! O-oops...!
Ran
Looks like neither of us are used to the new school year yet.
Tsugumi
Hahaha...
Himari
Ran, Tsugumi! Good morning~!
Tsugumi
Good morning, Himari-chan!
Ran
Morning... Hold on, why are you guys in our seats?
Moca
We wanted to welcome you~. And you two sit right next to each other. It was perfect~.
Tomoe
Man, seeing Ran walk into our room in the morning feels so different!
Himari
I know. The last time we were all together in the same class was our first year of middle school!
Moca
What a touching reunion~.
Tsugumi
Fufu, I agree. I'm so glad we were all put together.
Himari
Me too! This is the best! Right, Ran?
Ran
Ah, yeah.
Himari
... That's it? It's been three years, and that's all you have to say~?
Ran
I mean, you're right, but... that didn't keep us from being together all the time.
Himari
Argh~! Don't say that! We know you're happy!
Moca
Uh-huh, we all know what's really going on~. Under that cool exterior lies an ecstatic smile~.
Ran
Er...
Tomoe
Hahaha, just let your happiness show, Ran!
Ran
Knock it off, you guys.
Tsugumi
Hahaha...
Tsugumi
Still, here we all are. This second year of school is shaping up to be a lot more fun than last year.
Ran
Tsugumi... Yeah, I guess you're right.
Himari
Ah, she's honest with Tsugumi...!
Moca
No fair~. Open up your heart to me, too~.
Ran
Shut up.
Ran
Look, homeroom is about to start. Back to your seats.
Tomoe
Uh-oh. Yeah, good idea. Ran, Tsugumi, catch ya later.
Transcript
Teacher
For our first lesson, I'd like everyone to split into groups. After receiving your assignments, try to solve the problems as a team.
Moca
Ran~, Tsugu~. Let's group up~.
Tomoe
Looks like we're allowed to pick whoever we want!
Himari
Bring the desks closer to each other!
Tsugumi
We also used to do our assignments together like this back in middle school, as I recall.
Ran
Yeah, it's nice to be able to do this again.
Ran
It's been a while since we've been in the same class, but thinking back on those times... Hm?
Ran
Come on, Moca! What's with the bread all over your desk?!
Moca
Ah, these~? Fufufu, don't they look positively delicious~?
Ran
Th-that's your response...? After all these years, you've sunk to eating in class?
Tsugumi
U-uhhh, Ran-chan. Not even Moca-chan would go that far.
Moca
Yeah, Ran, you meanie~. I wouldn't stoop that low~.
Ran
Explain the bread, then...
Tsugumi
Have a closer look. Despite how real they seem, they're actually stationery.
Ran
Stationery?
Moca
Sure are~. This may look like a baguette at first glance, but this little fellow is actually a pencil case~.
Ran
You're right...! What about the others?
Moca
The rest are also part of my prized bun-goods collection, of course~.
Tomoe
Oh, that slice of bread is actually a pouch. Dude, the detail is off the charts.
Himari
Wow, even the pens and erasers are shaped like bread. Is that eraser a butter roll? How cute.
Moca
Impressive, Hii-chan. The queen of fashion has an eye for quality, I see~.
Ran
Come on, don't these look a little too realistic? This pen, that pouch. From a distance, they look like the real deal.
Moca
The uncompromising nature of an artisan~. Bakers are particular about their creations~.
Ran
Uh, they aren't real baked goods, you know.
Tsugumi
Seeing so much bread piled up on a desk like that is a pretty unforgettable sight, all things considered...
Tsugumi
Her collection grew bit by bit, so I never noticed how big it was becoming.
Tomoe
Somewhere along the way, we'd gotten used to seeing it.
Himari
Teachers were also stunned at first, but we haven't heard anything about it for a while now.
Moca
So what you're saying is... I could slip in a few real ones if I really wanted to...?
Tsugumi
E-eating in class is against the rules!
Moca
I kid, I kid~. A classic Moca-chan gag~.
Ran
It had better be...
Tomoe
Alright, time to shelve the bread convo and hit the books, guys. We'll get in trouble if we don't finish this assignment.
Himari
Sh-she's right! Where's my notebook...? Ah!
Tsugumi
What's wrong, Himari-chan?
Himari
This is my notebook from last year~! I must have forgotten my new one...!
Tomoe
Come now, is that any way for a second-year student to act~?
Tsugumi
Uh, Tomoe-chan. Isn't yours also the same one from last year?
Tomoe
Gah! Come on, for real?! I left mine behind, too~!
Ran
I can't believe you two... Get it together.
Tomoe
Sigh... And there's not a single blank page, either...
Himari
Mine is, uhm... Ah, I've got a little bit of space left... but it's hardly enough to write anything useful...
Ran
...? Mind if I have a look?
Tomoe
Hm? You won't find anything interesting in there.
Ran
That's fine. These notes you've taken, aren't they way better than before?
Tomoe
Huh? For real?
Ran
Tomoe, you used to use one color. I remember that making it hard to tell what was important.
Tomoe
Ah, that's pretty spot-on, I guess...
Ran
And Himari-chan, yours was such a mess that you'd go on about how it was impossible to read what you'd written...
Himari
Ah, mhm. I did say that...
Ran
But from what I see now, everything seems really organized. You'd almost think this was Tsugumi's notebook.
Himari
Yeah, almost... Tsugu is the one who helped us improve our note-taking skills, actually.
Ran
Huh? Really?
Tsugumi
Mhm, in our second year of middle school, I think. They asked me to give them some pointers.
Moca
Tsugu's writing is so easy to understand~. A role model for any aspiring student~.
Himari
Our savior, Lady Tsugu, came to our rescue!
Tomoe
Himari said she thinks the little jump in her grades was likely thanks to that help!
Tsugumi
I-it was nothing, really~.
Ran
... This is all too weird.
Ran
We've been together constantly despite having different classes, so I thought we knew each other pretty well... but I can't believe how much has changed without me knowing.
Moca
Well, it has been three years since we've had a class together~.
Tsugumi
Now that we're talking about it, it sort of seems like I haven't changed much, huh...?
Tsugumi
My school supplies aren't all that different from before, and the way I study has been the same since middle school.
Ran
Fine by me. Not sure I could handle you changing on me, too.
Tsugumi
Hahaha, and I'm glad you're still the same, Ran-chan. I wouldn't know what to do if you weren't.
Himari
... Ah, the teacher is writing something on the board. A hint about our assignment!
Ran
The board... Yeah, I figured it'd be hard to see from here...
Ran
... There we go.
The Other Four
...!!
Tsugumi
R-Ran-chan...?
Ran
Yeah?
The Other Four
Wh-what~?!
Transcript
Himari
You never told us that you wear glasses~!
Ran
I didn't?
Tomoe
Why do you think we're all stunned over here...?!
Himari
Jeez~! Why didn't you mention anything before now~?!
Moca
To be left in the dark about such an important detail... The Ran I thought I knew grows more distant by the day~.
Moca
Boo-hoo, woe is me~... You're not hiding anything else, are you~?
Ran
Of course not. And it was never a secret in the first place.
Ran
I don't wear them outside of class, so I didn't see the need to bring it up.
Himari
You should've said something~! The whole class heard us yell back there~!
Moca
Who would've thought our first lesson would end in a scolding~? The teacher must think we're a pack of delinquents~.
Ran
No way. All you did was raise your voices.
Tomoe
Dude, I still can't believe it. Ran, wearing glasses...
Tomoe
It's like you said. We should have each other figured out by now, but there's apparently still so much we don't know.
Tsugumi
I guess that means everyone really is changing, slowly but surely...
Himari
Tsugu? Everything all right?
Tsugumi
It feels like I'm the only one who is still stuck in the past...
Ran
Tsugumi...
Himari
Th-there's no reason to let it bother you! It's not like people have to change!
Tomoe
Got that right! What happens in class is small-time!
Ran
If anything, school lessons being the same old story is nothing out of the ordinary.
Tsugumi
Th-thank you...
Moca
Besides, you've done more changing than any of us after becoming a second-year student, so there's no need to worry~.
Tsugumi
Huh? Me?
Tsugumi
Is there something different about me now...?
Ran
Well, if I had to guess-
Hina
Tsugu-chan♪
Tsugumi
Kyah!
Ran, Tomoe, Moca & Himari
R-right on cue!
Tsugumi
H-Hina-senpai...?! Wh-what are you doing here?
Hina
I came to tell you that there's gonna be an emergency student-council meeting after school today~!
Tsugumi
Emergency...? Wait, did something happen?
Hina
Yep, something major is going down!
Hina
This morning, I thought of a seriously boppin' idea for a student-council activity♪ I want to hear the council's thoughts on it, so that's that~!
Tsugumi
Huh...? Uh, is that what this emergency meeting is for...?
Hina
Of course! This is super important stuff~! I would tell everyone about it now if I could!
Tsugumi
S-so that's what you meant by 'emergency'...
Hina
But don't worry! I know that break time is almost over, so I can wait until later!
Hina
Look forward to my boppin' after-school surprise♪ It's sure to knock your socks off~.
Tsugumi
Another one of her boppin' ideas...
Tomoe
That sounds like bad news...
Ran
I'm sure it is...
Himari
I'm guessing that this is what you meant about Tsugu having changed the most...
Moca
Just look at her, working together on the same student council as Hina-senpai~.
Ran
Doesn't seem like Tsugumi's noticed anything different herself, though.
Tomoe
Hmmm. Out of all of us, Tsugu is the one who's had the biggest changes to her life in my opinion.
Himari
Yeah, I get you! She herself is largely the same, but everything going on around her definitely isn't!
Moca
Like last year, she was the first to become friends with Sayo-san~.
Ran
I remember that. Completely threw me for a loop.
Moca
Fufufu, all who lay eyes upon Lady Tsugu soon open their hearts to her~.
Hina
Hey, hey~! Were you guys talkin' about my sister just now?!
Tomoe
Huh?! N-nope, not us! Sorry to say!
Hina
Really? Never mind, then. Hey, Tsugu-chan~! About the plan for after school~...
Ran
Another possibility is that she's easily liked by anyone named Hikawa.
Himari
I could see that...
Transcript
Tomoe
Ahhh, finally time for some grub~!
Moca
I've been waiting for this moment to come all morning~.
Ran
Where should we eat today? The roof? The courtyard?
Tsugumi
This will be our first lunch of the new school year, so why don't we go with our classroom?
Moca
No objections here~.
Tomoe
Works for me. Alright, let me grab a drink first... Wait, we'd better go tell Ran where we're gonna be.
Tsugumi
Ran-chan?
Ran
But I'm right here?
Tomoe
Huh...? Ah! Wh-whoops! My bad, force of habit!
Tsugumi
Fufu, calling Ran-chan over during lunchtime has been standard fare for us.
Moca
Not needing to fetch her from her classroom feels weird~.
Ran
It does feel kind of strange.
Tomoe
Yeah, we've been doing it for three years. But hey, we'll get used to it. Having her in the same class as us will be the new "same as always."
Ran
A new spin on it, huh...? Yeah. I think you're right.
Tomoe
... Huh? Say, anyone seen Himari?
Tsugumi
Do you think she's still in the classroom...? Let's see. Ah, there she is, still at her desk.
Tsugumi
Looks like she's talking to the girl who sits next to her.
Moca
Leave it to Hii-chan to make new friends straight away~.
Ran
A-already...?!
Tomoe
Man, that side of her is amazing. No fear at all when meeting people for the first time.
Tsugumi
If anyone is quick to make new friends whenever our classes change, it's Himari-chan.
Moca
Nothing signals the arrival of spring like a vigorous Hii-chan~.
Ran
...
Ran
... So, did anyone else talk to our new classmates?
Tomoe
I spoke to one girl who sits close to me. We both like music, so we really hit it off.
Moca
Tomo-chin, quick on the draw~. Ran, Tsugu? How about you?
Tsugumi
Yeah, she and I spoke to someone sitting nearby. Didn't we, Ran-chan?
Ran
I didn't do much outside of a standard greeting.
Ran
Tsugumi did all the talking for the most part...
Tsugumi
W-well, I guess that's technically true...
Tomoe
You should've taken the chance to speak up more.
Ran
Right, as if I know how to break the ice with a stranger.
Tomoe
If you're drawing blanks, why not bring up what you did last year? Or maybe the clubs you're in?
Moca
Discussing your favorite things can make for interesting conversation~.
Tsugumi
Favorite things?
Moca
Earlier, the kid next to me asked about what I like~...
Moca
Then sat in complete silence during my funny story about buns~.
Ran
That's less like a conversation and more like a monologue...
Himari
Thanks for waiting, guys~!
Tomoe
Oh, there you are, Himari!
Moca
Let's go eat already~. I'm starving over here~.
Himari
Sorry about that. Oh, that reminds me... I made a new group chat, so you guys should join, too~!
Ran
A group chat? For what?
Himari
For our class, of course! The 2A Group Chat~!
Tsugumi
For our class...? Whoa, half of the students have already joined!
Himari
Hehehe, it wasn't easy~! Since we're starting fresh, I thought this would be a good way to get to know each other!
Ran
Come to think of it, you were speaking to a lot of our classmates during the earlier break, too...
Tsugumi
W-wow. A new class, and she's already becoming a core part of it...
Ran & Tomoe
(She's unbelievable...!)
Transcript
Ran
Moca, get me the dustpan.
Moca
Alright~. Hii-chan, dustpan~.
Himari
Okay~... Wait, why're you asking me~?! Ran told you to do it!
Moca
Busted, huh~? My fool-proof plan has fallen apart~.
Himari
Anybody could see through a ruse happening right in front of them!
Ran
I could really use that dustpan...
Tsugumi
Tomoe-chan, could you sweep over here, too?
Tomoe
Sure, got ya covered. Let's get this over with and head back to class.
Tomoe
... Hold up, isn't that...?
Tsugumi
What's wrong?
Tomoe
Hey, have a look over there...
Tsugumi
...? Are those first-year students? I think they're checking out the poster on that wall.
Tomoe
You know, that's the welcome poster that my club put up.
Tsugumi
And that would be... the dance club, right?
Tomoe
Yep. If they're still scoping out welcome posters, that means they must not have gone to Haneoka's middle school...
Tsugumi
Fufu, and it looks to me like they're interested. This could be a good chance to recruit more members.
Tomoe
S-sure is! Alright, gonna go have a little chat with them!
Tsugumi
Huh? Wh-what about the cleaning?
Ran
Tsugumi? What's up with Tomoe?
Tsugumi
Well, she made a beeline for some students that were looking at a Dance Club poster...
Himari
And she's talking to them as we speak. She's practically bursting at the seams.
Ran
...? Is it just me, or don't they look afraid?
Himari
They do, now that you mention it...
Tsugumi
As I recall, Tomoe-chan... had an issue with scaring her classmates in the past, right?
Himari
Ah, I remember now! First year of middle school, wasn't it?
Moca
Tomo-chin's flashy exterior makes others think of her as a bad seed~.
Ran
I've even seen upperclassmen speak to her formally.
Himari
Yeah, same...
Moca
It's her destiny to always give a frightening first impression~.
Tsugumi
B-but those misconceptions got cleared up pretty quickly! Now, she's on good terms with our classmates and the upperclassmen!
Himari
Th-that's true! Everyone warmed right up to her once they actually got to know her!
Moca
Hm~. But those girls she's with don't look willing to stick around to find out~.
Ran
No, they don't. They're backing up ever so slowly... Tomoe herself is starting to look a tad nervous, as well.
Himari
W-we should step in and try to help! They need to know that Tomoe isn't some 'bad seed'!
Ran
Huh...? Wouldn't it be better to stay out of it?
Himari
Jeez~! Don't act like we're random bystanders! Come on, Ran, we're going!
Ran
N-now hold on a minute...!
Moca
Go get 'em~.
Tsugumi
Th-think they'll be okay...?
Moca
Oh, Hii-chan and Ran are approaching their targets.
Tsugumi
You can do it, Ran-chan! Himari-chan!
Moca
... Oh dear, the targets have fled the scene~. Ah, our three companions make their return~.
Ran & Tomoe
...
Tsugumi
Did it all get cleared up?
Himari
They, uh, took one look at Ran's highlights and looked almost horrified...
Ran
This sucks. Now they think both of us are bad seeds...
Tomoe
It almost feels like we need to apologize to them...
Moca
Not to butt in, but why did you take Ran instead of Tsugu?
Tsugumi
Huh? Me?
Moca
She gives off an excellent first impression, after all~. And being in the student council means even the first-year students might recognize her, right~?
Himari
O-of course~! Tsugu should've been my backup~!
Moca
Wrong choice, Hii-chan~.
Ran
Well, excuse me for being unlikeable.
Transcript
Tomoe
Ahhh~! Finally free~! Being on break for so long made me forget how rough school can be~!
Ran
I'd hardly call those lessons. All we did was introduce ourselves and listen to our teachers explain things.
Himari
The real deal is going to start before we know it~... Sigh, we'd better prepare ourselves...!
Tomoe
Haha, it'll all work out!
Himari
Y-you're right! Let's leave that for now and focus on our club activities~!
Moca
Do you have a club meeting today, Hii-chan?
Himari
Sure do! I hope we get a lot of newcomers~!
Tomoe
Same for Dance Club... It'd be nice if those girls from earlier stopped by...
Tsugumi
I-I don't think you need to worry, Tomoe-chan...
Ran
So you both have a meeting, then. What about you Tsugumi...? Ah, Hina-san wanted you to stop by somewhere, right?
Tsugumi
Yeah, the student council room. I'm a little worried about this idea of hers, though.
Ran
G-good luck with that...
Moca
What's on your plate, Ran~?
Ran
Nothing, really. Since it's been a while, I thought I'd stop by the roof before heading home.
Moca
Oh, sounds good~. I'll join you~... But not before buying some buns from the school canteen.
Ran
I think you'll survive without your precious bread.
Moca
Tsk, tsk. You haven't noticed that it's snack time? Watching the setting sun without buns is unforgivable~.
Tomoe
Man, you're always eating bread... Don't pig out too much, alright?
Tomoe
Okay, I'm out. Catch you all tomorrow!
Himari
Ah, hold on. I'll go with you. Later, guys~!
Moca
That's my cue to hit the canteen. Meet you up on the roof, Ran~.
Tsugumi
... And there they all go.
Ran
Well, we can still walk partway together.
Tsugumi
Hey, Ran-chan. Remember what we talked about this morning?
Ran
This morning? Could you refresh my memory?
Tsugumi
You know, about how it still doesn't feel like we're second-year students.
Tsugumi
That's how it felt this morning, but now that the day has gone by, it's finally starting to sink in.
Tsugumi
A new class where we're back together again with you, Ran... Our second year is finally underway.
Ran
... Yeah. It really is.
Ran
I had this thought. The "same as always" that Tomoe was talking about is starting.
Ran
It has all come full circle... Remember how we had always been in the same class until middle school?
Ran
Himari being a central part of the class... Tomoe acting as the reliable anchor we can count on.
Tsugumi
Moca-chan always doing things her own way.
Ran
And you handling important matters like the class leadership duties...
Ran
Even if someone else volunteered, I recall those positions always falling right into your lap through recommendations.
Tsugumi
It often ended up that way for some reason.
Tsugumi
And you were the heart of the group, Ran-chan... I wonder if those days are coming around again.
Ran
Probably. Then again, I think our "same as always" will be a little different from back then.
Tsugumi
Yeah. Instead, everything will be even better than before.
Tsugumi
I'm so glad we're all in the same class again!
Ran
Mhm, me too... It's good to have the crew back together.
Ran
... Oh, not a word of this gets to Moca. She'd never let me live it down.
Tsugumi
I think she'd have been happy to hear that from you... But my lips are sealed.
Tsugumi
Ah, the student-council room is this way. See you tomorrow, Ran-chan.
Ran
Alright. Until then.
Transcript
Ran
It's been a while since I saw the sunset from up here...
Ran
(I thought our first day back at school would just come and go, but a lot ended up happening...)
Ran
(Even our day-to-day that we took to be the norm is slowly becoming something different... "Change" seems to be our new "same as always"...)
Ran
... I should finish what I was working on earlier.
Ran
...
Moca
...
Moca
Ran~.
Ran
Huh?! Moca?!
Ran
D-don't startle me like that...! How long have you been there?
Moca
Hmmm, not too long. I spotted a familiar sight and was at a loss for words~.
Ran
A familiar sight...?
Moca
Ran sitting up on the roof, scribbling in her notebook. Reminds me of those days after school in our second year of middle school~.
Ran
...! D-don't bring up stuff like that!
Moca
So, were you writing some lyrics?
Ran
Yeah, something like that... I found some inspiration, so I wanted to hurry and get it down on paper.
Ran
... Not done yet, but do you wanna see?
Moca
You don't mind?
Ran
Well, I had planned on showing all of you once I finished anyway. So go ahead, if you'd like.
Moca
Hmmm~... Pass. I'll wait until it's all wrapped up~.
Ran
...? Are you sure? You never had a problem with stealing my notebook before...
Moca
Back in the days of my foolish youth~.
Ran
Not like you're much different now.
Moca
I think I've changed, personally~. We both have.
Moca
The Ran from middle school would aggressively stash her feelings away in her notebook, but now you seem to find enjoyment in turning your feelings into words.
Ran
That... isn't wrong, I suppose.
Tsugumi
Ah, there you are. Ran-chan, Moca-chan.
Ran
Tsugumi? Himari and Tomoe, too...? What about your clubs?
Tomoe
Ah, I forgot that it doesn't start back until tomorrow.
Himari
Neither does mine. No one was there, let alone any newcomers~.
Moca
And you, Tsugu? Where's Hina-senpai~?
Tsugumi
Well, about that... She ran off and left in a big hurry.
Himari
Huh?
Tsugumi
Apparently, she had forgotten about some work involving Pastel＊Palettes...
Ran
Yeah, that sounds like her.
Tomoe
So now, we have nothing to do.
Himari
Since we're all here, we should make the most of it and do something together.
Ran
Like what?
Himari
Hmmm, how about some shopping? Or maybe karaoke?
Tomoe
A trip to a café sounds nice, too. Tsugu's place, of course.
Moca
Hmmm, I think I'd rather work on making songs.
Tsugumi
Making songs?
Himari
Do you mean a new one? Why the sudden urge?
Moca
Well, that'd be because Ran already seems itching to do so~.
Ran
Huh?
Moca
Ran was writing some new lyrics in her notebook just now~.
Tomoe
New lyrics? Is that what you were jotting down during break time?
Tsugumi
Now that you mention it, she was writing during class, too... And it didn't seem like material related to the lesson...
Himari
Ah, I also saw her scribbling something!
Ran
Wait, so everyone noticed...?!
Moca
Looks that way~.
Ran
Uhm, everything that happened today helped me realize that a new "same as always" really has started...
Ran
So I thought... it'd be interesting to incorporate those feelings into a new set of lyrics.
Himari
A new "same as always"... Say, that's not bad!
Tsugumi
I wouldn't mind working on a new song. Our first one as second-year students!
Moca
Everyone seems to be on board, Ran~.
Ran
Y-yeah...
Tomoe
Guess that settles our after-school plans!
Moca
A super deep track for the ages~. Hey, hey, hoh~!
Himari
Hey, Moca! That's my thing~!
Ran, Tsugumi & Tomoe
Hahahaha.
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