Ikeuchi-kun, good morning.
Good morning.
Do you have day duty again today?
Yeah
I have to prepare the plants for the new entering 1st years.
Hmm, isn't that a problem?
It isn't. I like it.
You seem to be in a good mood?
Yesterday, I went home together with Mada-san.
Oh~ Good job!
But! She only talked about you.
Let me flick your forehead.
Why! No way!
Good morning.
Ah, good morning.
It's a secret.
That she and I are best friends.
It's a secret.
<big>The Crocus' Bloom, In The Courtyard</big>
Last Part
Ikeuchi-kun, you never talk about Kuroda-kun.
Ah, I guess guys and girls are different in that regard.
The other guys don't talk about girls like that.
Hmph
It's windy.
We can't go on the roof on windy days.
But we can't sit in the courtyard either.
Ah, then I'll go somewhere else, and you can invite Mada here and eat.
Eh, no, that's embarassing.
If she declines, that will be too big of a shock. Mada-san has long hair, so I don't want to invite her somewhere with strong winds.
Oki is a girl that talks with a really loud voice.
In the classroom, I can't be heard a lot of the time, and during Japanese class, I'm forced to read the same sentence multiple times.
Hey, getting on the roof is prohibited! What year and class are you students!
Uh oh.
They can see us from the ground?
It's Kimura from the soccer club.
S, sorry, we'll...
What are you doing Ikeuchi-kun
But the teacher...
Run!
Oh
Kimura's slow so hurry up and come over here!
Quickly! Hurry up Ikeuchi!
Okiran.
Oki ran.
Well, that's only natural but...
Oki's quiet.
I know, I know.
It feels like she's always watering the plants.
I haven't finished eating my croquet! This sucks!
In P.E., she's the only girl that can't jump even 3 blocks!
Anyway, she doesn't have any motivation to move!
Nono, she's really moving.
She's really fast.
She's even
Cooler than a guy.
Hah
Hah
The people in my class would be surprised.
HAH
Oki's really good at running.
She's fast
Hah Hah
Ahhhh
I haven't
run like thiz
I, I
never
never run
like this.
Hah
Hah
We did it.
Ahhh
Hah
Haha
Haa
My stomach hurts
Mine too.
My sides really hurt.
Haa
Your hair is messed up.
What? Mine?
Yeah
You're really sweating. We can't go back to the classroom.
The sweat won't stop.
Ikeuchi-kun, the window.
It's refreshing.
Really?
The breeze was warm.
It felt like winter had ended.
I... I wonder if I should do what I've never been able to say.
To Mada?
Yeah
Why? You said you wanted to tell her.
That's right, but like I thought...
Then why don't you say anything to Kuroda-kun? You don't even talk to me about him.
...I think
It would be a bother to Kuroda.
Hey
No, this is my way of thinking...
You...
Me thinking that your way of thinking is right...
Ahh, if I were you
And you were me, then everyone would be perfectly happy.
That's wrong.
That's what I thought, but at that time, why couldn't I say it?
I couldn't say those good words.
Oki
Ah
Umm...
Do you have committee work now?
Sorry.
No, it's ok. What is it?
Ah, no it's not us...
Ummm...
It's... Mada.
Mada-san...
Oki, ummm, I said it before.
Oki, ummm, I told you before.
That if you and Ikeuchi-kun were going out
To tell me.
But you... said that... you weren't... But, but
Everyone sees you.
That you and Ikeuchi-kun are in the courtyard acting friendly.
They're talking about it.
Ah! Umm, I'm not angry or anything!
I just wished you'd tell me.
Because... I'd seem like a fool.
If I was one-sidedly saying "I love you, I love you", even though he's going out with someone...
"Like a fool"...
If I knew that Ikeuchi-kun and you were going out, then I...
Is having an unrequited love being "like a fool"?
I, Ikeuchi-kun and I are...
B-
friends...
b-
You're worried about me.
Oki
Thank you.
But, it's ok.
Even if you and Ikeuchi-kun are going out
Nothing will change between us.
Because we're friends.
We will always, unchangingly
Because we will always, unchangingly
Be friends.
Oki didn't come.
Like always, we planned to meet today in the courtyard. There was a lot of work, so she'd definitely come.
Oki?
But Oki hadn't come yet.
I thought that she might still be in the classroom.
...I
I
The one that I like is...
I thought I should try going back to the classroom.
Hmmm?
It was right before finals
So there weren't any people in the hallway or on the outside grounds.
The one I like is...
What were those various flowers that Oki was talking about...
Mada-san...
Corokus, Karokos, no, that's not it...
Ah
Crocus
Corokus, Carokos, no, that's not it...
Eh?
Eh?
Eh?
Seriously?
N, no, Oki...
Worrying about me this much...
It's true...
It's true...
...Huh?
Disgusting...
Oki?
I, Ikeuchi! Listen!
Ah
Oki started to say something weird.
Haha
She suddenly confessed to Mada.
Haha... You surprised me.
So you can tell those kinds of... "jokes" too.
My best friend, even now, was on the verge of tears.
Actually, isn't she one of those, a lesbian?
Right
Seriously? Seriously? Oki?
...I
My
Important best friend was
Right
Eh, seriously?
That's enough of the joke.
Oki and I are... going out.
Oki and I are... going out with each other.
Ah...
Ahh
I
Turned my best friend's courage into nothing.
What were you talking about in the classroom, Oki?
We promised to go home together today.
Oh, so it was just like we thought.
In an instant, it became nothing.
Oki...!
Umm...
I'm... sorry...
I'm sorry for telling such a weird joke!
See you tomorrow!
That day, my best friend was rejected.
Ikeuchi-kun, let's go.
Ummm, Mada-san said she liked quiet and cool people!
Really?
Yeah! So I was thinking that during the break, I'll read some short stories!
Well, actually I like manga more.
What the hell, you really are trying to act cute.
Well, I like manga more too.
Oki, ummm, I might have overstepped my bounds.
Sorry.
Th
That's not
true.
Ikeuchi-
ku...
That you came
That you
came and
protected me
Made me really happy.
And
And...
I
was able to say it!
I was able to tell
the person I love
I love you!
I love you!
that I loved them!
Ahh, Oki, you're amazing.
Ahh, Oki, you're great.
To be able to confess yourself and be rejected.
To confess yourself and be rejected.
Someone like me doesn't have the courage
to confess and be rejected.
Hey, that my best friend got rejected
What should I think?
Really.
Even though she's such an interesting and good person.
And strong and brittle
She loved a classmate.
She was an ordinary girl.
Ikeuchi-kun, look!
This flower is called the crocus.
Oh~
In just a little bit, the freshmen will be entering.
So we don't have to water the plants after school any more.
Eh! Really...?
Yep. That's work for freshmen.
So you don't have to accompany me doing these chores anymore.
Thanks for everything.
You were a real help.
Since then, a lot of people still think that Oki and I are going out.
Including Kuroda.
I see. Then
I'll have free time after school.
So, how should I put this. A biology club.
We can grow things in the courtyard. A biology club.
So, how should I put this. The biology club.
We can grow things in the courtyard. The biology club.
Since I don't have anything to do after school, and I'm terrible at sports, I thought I'd join it.
What about you?
What the hell?
The biology club?
Ikeuchi-kun, you'd do club activities?
You didn't consult with me.
Why would I? Isn't it fine!
It can't be helped. You're useless by yourself.
And you're my best friend.
<big>The Crocus' Bloom, in The Courtyard</big>
The End
The Crocus' Bloom, In The Courtyard / HERO
Thank you for reading up to the end. When you think of flowers growing at school, it's crocus, or morning glory! Chrysanthemum, hyacinth, and others are also there I think, but even though I really try to remember now, the word rafflesia blocks me. I don't remember anything else. Ah, tomato... baby tomato... Ah, tomato isn't a flower...