Sprout || Episode #2

 All right, so if you guys remember right we ended with Miku realizing Souhei has a girlfriend.  Thus, this episode picks up with Miku and her friends walking the halls at school. All the while Miku goes on to tell them about how Souhei has started boarding at her house, and how he’s her fated person from the entrance ceremony, who she’s been trying to find.

After hearing the tale her friends begin to tell her how the story should’ve played out the night that he took hold of her hand on the porch.  The two girls spit out some cheesy dialogue which basically ends with, “We should go out.”   Hearing that Miku flashes back to Souhei’s face greeting Miyuki.

From there the scene changes to the boy’s soccer club where we see Souhei and some of his friends on the field.  According to his friends, he’s been hiding something from them.  Instantly remembering Miku’s words he tells them that it was Miku’s idea to keep the fact that he’s boarding at her house a secret, however, that’s not the secret they’re talking about.  Instead it’s Miyuki.  They ask if he’s going out with her, and he gives them a grin as he nods.  Their conversation is cut short though, when they’re scolded about standing around.  Taking the punishment of running laps, the three of them take off while a group of girls from the school stand around ogling them.

Meanwhile, Miku’s friends tell her she needs to move on, since her fated person already has someone else.  Not knowing how to, Miku pouts a little saying ever since that day she’s been hoping to have a romance with her fated person and live out a happy high school career.  Once again her friends encourage her to forget him and tell her from now on they’ll all go on group dates to help her.

“I need to forget about my unfated person,” she decides as she gives her friends a reassuring “Yeah”.  Just then, the three of them stop as we hear some girls arguing in the background.  Looking over we see Hayato standing amongst them.  Remembering him from the day before Miku turns to her friends and says, “Let’s go.”

While they’re walking she begins to wonder out loud just how many girls Hayato is currently dating.  Her friends agree that he’s pretty popular among the girls, but he won’t belong to anyone, which causes Miku to think back to the day before when he was about to receive a kiss.  Shaking her head, she abandons the memory and asks when they should set up this group date, just as Hayato looks over at her.  With her friends smiling Miku declares that she will get a boyfriend.

“I wonder where he is, my fated person.”  With that the opening theme song by Hey! Say! JUMP plays.

Back to the show we see that it’s nighttime and Miku is sitting downstairs in the kitchen.  She isn’t alone for long though as Souhei enters the room asking if she’s free this Sunday.  Completely forgetting that he has a girlfriend Miku instantly thinks he’s asking her out on a date!  However, her hopes are shot done soon enough when she learns it’s a barbeque party to commemorate everyone moving into the boarding house.  Smiling she says she’ll go.

Walking with Kiyoka and Naoharu, we learn that Souhei is running late for the barbeque due to an increase in his club activities.  They chatter about until Souhei finally yells out to them from a good distance away.  But, he’s not alone. Along with his two friends from soccer club is Hayato and Miyuki.

The barbeque is set up while everyone begins their own conversations.  It’s here where Souhei asks Hayato quite bluntly if there’s anyone he likes.

“I’m bad at real love,” Hayato replies shortly.  Laughing a little Souhei tells him while looking over at Miyuki, “It’s pretty nice, falling in love with someone.”

Following his gaze, Hayato eyes Miyuki first and then slowly makes his way over to Miku who is standing right next to her.  The two girls are cutting vegetables, when Miyuki looks over at Miku and says how happy she is to have the chance to talk with her again.  Not knowing what to say Miku does a little small talk dealing with the barbeque just as Souhei squeezes in between them asking if he can be of any help.

Miyuki declines his offer with a smile as he begins to tease Miku on the food that they’ve been cutting. Naoharu soon shows up with the pepper they needed and instantly stops in his tracks when he looks at Miyuki – who he soon calls Rurika (his otaku crush).

From there Naoharu goes into a spout about his favorite visual novel game Love Locket, his love for the character Rurika, and how Miyuki resembles her both in looks and personality.  Talk about an awkward barbeque.  During the meal Miyuki and Souhei hold hands.  The sight alone causes Miku’s smile to fade as she stares at it depressingly – while the two of them continue their little love chat.

Afterwards the scene jumps to Hayato sitting by the water away from everyone else at the barbeque.  Noticing him, Miku makes her way over to him and sits down next to him.  It’s here where we learn that not only did Hayato and Souhei attend middle school together, but Miyuki did as well.  Showing her interest in Souhei pretty obviously, Miku continues to ask questions like when the two of the started to go out.  Hearing the answer she’s depressed again as she stands up and looks over at everyone having a good time.

With the barbeque over, we head home with Miku, Kiyoka, and Naoharu who talk about how Souhei and Miyuki really get along well together – while Naoharu continues in Otaku mode.  Just as they set some things down, a phone is heard ringing inside one of the bags.  Digging for it., Miku pulls it out and answers it.  Apparently it’s Takeru’s phone.  Skipping to the next scene we see Miku getting on her bike to return the phone.

Jumping back over to Souhei and Miyuki who are on their way back we learn more about Souhei’s parents and their divorce.  Mostly just little things like how his mother was tense even before the divorce happened, however, Souhei’s main reason for not wanting to live with her was because he looks so much like his dad and it’s painful for her.  Souhei soon apologizing for talking about such a depressing topic, however, Miyuki instantly shakes her head saying that she doesn’t mind because she wants to know more about him and she is his girlfriend after all.

Right on time, Miku arrives on the scene just as Souhei reaches out for Miyuki’s hand.   Longingly staring at them, she soon looks away and down at her own hand, which she believes he once held.  From there the two continue to walk up the street hand in hand while Miku sheds a tear for her ‘unfated’ person – while she asks herself, “Why are there tears falling?”

After a heart wrenching bike ride we skip to that night where Miku and Souhei are sitting in the same room.  She thinks back once again to the first time she met him as she stares at his back.  Trying to start up a conversation, Souhei soon finds himself asking Miku to look after Miyuki at school.  He tells her that Miyuki wants to get along with her.

The next day at school the two girls run into each other in the bathroom, where Miyuki goes on to thank her for spending time with her and talking at the barbeque.  Just then some girls begin talking in the background asking if it’s Uzamiyu and how she really ticks them off (chances are they’re some of the girls who like Souhei).  They begin to enter the bathroom but stop after seeing Miyuki inside.  Eyeing them Miku agrees in her mind with an, “I think so too.”

The girls continue to talk as they enter passing Miku and Miyuki.  Trying to think of something to do, Miku soon finds herself taking her hand and telling her, “Let’s go.”

The two exit the bathroom hand-in-hand. However, Miku soon lets go as Miyuki gives her a teary eyed thank you.  Taking her leave we skip to the rooftop where Miku meet’s Souhei once again.  Concerned about her, Souhei asks if she’s alright, but, before Miku can reply Uzamiyu shows up and tells him just what happened in the bathroom.  Apparently it was the first time a ‘friend’ had stood up for her like that all the while Miku’s saying in her head, “You talk too much.” and “No.  We’re not friends.”

Hearing thanks from Souhei, Miku gives him a smile while saying, and “I don’t want to hear that from you, Narahashi.”

With that she takes her leave of the roof in a rush, as she bolts down the steps and smacks right into Hayato – tears in her eyes.  Wiping them away quickly, he asks if she’s all right.  Staying silent, Miku looks down as voices begin to make their way down the steps.  Taking her hand, Hayato leads her to the side of the staircase where they’re out of sight.  The two who came down, were Souhei and Miyuki.  Miku stares at them in silence while she tells herself that she likes Souhei even though he’s not her fated person.

Observing her Hayato finally leans in and kisses her while she’s off guard.

And that’s the episode! ^^ Who are you all rooting for? Hayato or Souhei?