Episode 9: Sure Chigau Ochibatachi

Personal comments: this is a really funny episode.

It is fall, and time for the bunkasai (culture festival). At class 3-C, Tsuyoshi's homeroom, they are making a Café, with the girls as waitresses. Mizuho, dressed in her uniform with an apron are taking the orders, and Tsuyoshi, preparing them. Tsuyoshi complains to a classmate that is he who is preparing everything. Mizuho tells Tsuyoshi sorry for all the trouble and keep doing his best. Minoru has arrived to their room by then and takes Tsuyoshi's place. However, the voice of Reiko is heard. She is wearing a different dress as the rest of the girls, which makes one of the customers ask her if she is in a costume play. (All the classroom is embarrased at her, shouting to a customer). This makes Reiko mad, and it takes Tsuyoshi to "calm" her a bit.

(Snapshots of the different stands, including a play of sentai characters.) Tsuyoshi stops at class 3-B (Miko's classroom). They are having a uranai (divination) room. When Tsuyoshi is about to enter, a bear face pops out. It is a bear kurugumi (live-size costume) with a board announcing Miss Uzuki Gakuen contest. Tsuyoshi remembers that Mizuho participated in it. Finally, Tsuyoshi enters... to find, in a dark room, a girl dressed as a gypsy with a magic ball. "Welcome to the divination room", says the girl. A half-scared, half-embarrased Tsuyoshi asks for Miko, which the girl tells her magic ball says her stand is at the end of the row. But, when Tsuyoshi arrives, Miko is not at her stand. The girl pops out with her magic ball and asks "do you want me to look for out in my magic ball?"

Tsuyoshi goes to other rooms. He ends up in the art club, where Tsuyoshi finds Reiko. They speak a bit, and Tsuyoshi looks at a painting besides Reiko. It is extremely familiar to him. Reiko tells him it is painting that he posed for. Back at class 3-C, Miko (wearing her shrine maiden uniform) visits them and asks for Tsuyoshi. Mizuho tells her that he left not long ago. Minoru asks Miko if she want to leave a message, Miko says no, and leaves the room. At class 2-A (Miyuki and Ai's classroom), they are having a crepes stand. Miyuki takes the order of a incoming customer while Ai stands there hoping Tsuyoshi shows up. Miyuki tells that Tsuyoshi will show up, and, after talking a bit, Miyuki decides to leave to look for Tsuyoshi. Ai does not like the idea as she will be left attending in the classroom (and what if Tsuyoshi shows up!)

At the rest of the school, they are having different stands, including the film club that is playing... Kakyuusei! Miko is walking at school grounds when she finds Haruhiko. Haruhiko says he wants to speak with her later. (At the background is the bear kurugumi). At class 3-C, Miyuki is eavesdropping to see if Tsuyoshi is there. When she finds he is not there, she leaves... and a second later, Tsuyoshi shows up! (the bear kurugumi is leaving class 3-C at the moment). Tsuyoshi wonders what Mizuho is still there as she should has her off time already. Mizuho tells Tsuyoshi about Miko, who was looking for him, and then tells that Mayumi hasn't showed up as she will replaced her in the stand. As Tsuyoshi leaves the room, he says he will look for Mayumi. (And, as Tsuyoshi leaves the room, the bear kurugumi is walking behind him)

At the gym, there is a band playing, and Mayumi is having a good time there, but spots Miyuki at the entrance. Miyuki runs out because of the noise, and is called by Mayumi. Mayumi asks Miyuki if she remembers her at the beach during summer break. Miyuki does remember her as Tsuyoshi's classmate. Mayumi asks Miyuki if she like the music in ther, but Miyuki tells that she was looking for somebody there. Mayumi asks if it is not Tsuyoshi, and if he is her boyfriend, as he stood up for her in the beach (beach fight incident on episode 5). Miyuki has a hard time answering Mayumi back, as she barely manages to mumble out that they are only friends. At the end, she manages to say there is nothing and leaves... Just as Tsuyoshi was showing up to find Mayumi. MAyumi tells Tsuyoshi that the girl of the beach was looking for him. Tsuyoshi mentions Miyuki and is ready to leave. However, he stops to remember Mayumi that she should go to the classroom as it is her turn to work at the Café. Mayumi apologizes and leaves.

Back at class 3-C, Minoru is surprised when Minatsu shows up with Master. Tsuyoshi shows up in his class, to find Master. He is not happy about it... While Minoru asks Minatsu to dance with him in the dance party later, Master wants to speak with Tsuyoshi. Master wants Tsuyoshi to manage, by "any" means, he and Miyuki will dance later. (Master is giving a menacing look to Tsuyoshi, as in "if you don't do as I want, your job at Dogeza...") Tsuyoshi gives up as Master is laughing.

At class 2-A, Ai is standing at the door, wondering where can Miyuki be. Then, the bear kurugumi walks in front of her asking if she is Minamisato Ai. A half-scared Ai answers yes...

Eyecatch time!

The bear kurugumi wants Ai to participate in the Miss Uzuki Gakuen contest. Without saying yes or no, the bear kurugumi leaves, making Ai wonder what to do. Just back of her is Tsuyoshi who calls for her. Tsuyoshi asks Ai where is Miyuki. She mumbles an answer out, but when Tsuyoshi says he wants a strawberry crepe, Ai, totally embarrased, confuses his order.

Meanwhile, at the back of the school, Miyuki thinks on what Mayumi said, and blushes. She shouts she does not have anything with him as it is Ai who wants him. She is standing at a tree thinking about it again, when she hears somebody's voice. It is Haruhiko who is talking with Miko. He tries to do his "moves" on Miko, but a naive Miko says she does not understand what he is trying to say. Haruhiko keeps trying to put his "moves" on Miko, but it infuriates him when she mentions Tsuyoshi. Haruhiko keeps talking, and unnoticed to him, Miko already sneaked off. Miyuki hopes Haruhiko does not find her, just to be called by Master (with Minoru and Minatsu).

Back at class 2-A, Ai tells Tsuyoshi about the dance party later. Tsuyoshi remembers what Master said and asks Ai about Miyuki. Ai, disappointed that Tsuyoshi is asking about Miyuki, tells that she does not know where she is. Ai gets lost on her thoughts, and, when Tsuyoshi calls for her again, Ai apologizes and runs away.

Tsuyoshi goes back to his classroom, to find Mayumi complaining that she is not having fun at the stand as she is THE party girl! Tsuyoshi asks about Mizuho which Mayumi tells she is at the Miss Uzuki Gakuen contest. When Mizuho returns Tsuyoshi asks if she is not at the contests, which she says no. Tsuyoshi asks about the winner, and the bear kurugumi pops out. The bear tells the winner is Minamisato Ai. "And who are you", asks Tsuyoshi. It was Shinji! (I could assume the perfect judge must be Shinji as he has notes on almost any girl of the school.). However, Tsuyoshi is worried about Ai.

At the dressing room, Shinji tells Ai that she should change to a white bikini. She is embarrased at first, but then gives up. After changing, Shinji calls for her, as it is time. She walks out, still embarrased. The bear kurugumi says "Douzo". Ai is shocked at first, but then smiles. She recognizes the voice as Tsuyoshi's. At the scenario, the announcer calls for Ai, and everybody there applauds Ai. She blushes like a red tomato, but Tsuyoshi tells that everything will be fine. With new confidence, she walks forward as everybody keeps applauding.

Later that day, when everybody is cleaning up, the school speakers tells everybody it is time for the dance party. At that time, Miko is reading her palm (she is happy), while Master (with a BIG smile saying it's time), Miyuki, Minoru and Minatsu were at the planetarium. Haruhiko, however, has a menacing look. Ai, is changing, hoping to find Tsuyoshi at the dance.

At the dance, everybody is having fun, or so it seems... Mayumi is dancing widly, while one of the members of the band as if she is having fun. One of members of the art club asks if Ryoko is having fun, too. But, to a poor guy, Reiko has chosen him as a dance partner (and Sagaoka "nicely" is asking him to dance with her! ^_^). Miyuki is dancing with Master, but she has a worried look as wonders where is Tsuyoshi. Finally, Tsuyoshi arrives. Ai notices Tsuyoshi and tries to sneak where he is, when a group of admirers of the new Miss Uzuki Gakuen quickly surrounds her. Miko finally finds Tsuyoshi at the entrance. When they switches to a more quiet music, Miko and Tsuyoshi goes to dance. Miyuki spots them, "that couple...", and shakes her head off. Master asks her if there is any problem which she says no. At the entrance, Haruhiko is looking, still with a menacing look, blaming Tsuyoshi for all what has happened to him.

Ai is still being "chased" by one student, but apologizes. "Where are you, senpai?" asks Ai to herself. Then, Ai is happy when she spots Miyuki. But wait, Miyuki is looking to somebody... She is looking at Tsuyoshi...

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