05
Participation is mandatory in the upcoming sports event at her new school – one problem! Mitsumi is abysmal at anything physical! Turning to Shima and Egashira, the country girl turned elite prep school student begins a volleyball training course under Egashira, with Yuzuki and Kurume getting into the action as well. In the process, the young woman, envious of Mitsumi and her apparent high-quality relationship / interactions with Shima, uncovers aspects of Mitsumi's personality that suggest to her why Shima might like this new student so much: she defends Egashira in an outspoken protest when some seniors bump into her during play, and whereas Egashira latches onto the names of those who've wronged her in a hilarious sh!tlist, Mitsumi antithetically learns the name of the one who comes to their aid. Additionally, she finds out the choice of making Egashira coach was because she trusts Egashira's honesty despite her worse qualities, and the two begin becoming more comfortable around each other slowly. On class matchday, Mitsumi prepares pickled foodstuffs for her team and friends, saving some for Shima, who is participating in men's basketball competition. However, when she realizes how popular Shima is on the surface due partly to his abilities on the court, she withdraws and becomes intimidated, which Egashira sees as opportunity. At a happy serendipitous moment, Senpai and Mitsumi cross paths, and he nonchalantly mentions how lonely Shima might be, as those in the spotlight are often, counterintuitively, the most isolated socially. This conception stymies Mitsumi. After winning their match, she flies to cheer him on during his later game, and she celebrates and shares food with him when it ends, while Egashira observes and reflects on what makes people fall in love – that sometimes they're drawn to something not yet possessed, and see that desirable intangible thing in another.
5/2/2023
