APRIL 7TH
7:00AM
What?
You're up early, Mato.
I woke up before the alarm went off.
Now if you can just keep it up...
Ow! Ow! It's hot!
- Mato?
- Yes?
When you finish, go and wake up Hiro.
What? No!...
He never listens to me
when I try to get him up.
Mato.
Thanks mom!
It's morning! School starts today!
Wake uuuup!
Well, it's not my fault
if you miss class.
You've been warned!
Right!
Are you off already?
Yes.
There's somewhere I want to go first.
Right. Well, sorry I can't make it
to the ceremony today.
Don't worry, it doesn't matter.
Well, see you later!
Ah, the train!
- ...right?
- That's right.
"JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL... "
"NEW SCHOOL YEAR CEREMONY"
The new school year ceremony
will take place in the gymnasium.
When you arrive...
... please quickly locate your assigned
seat by number and be seated...
Please keep the chatter to a minimum.
You are a student at this school...
... and you are expected
to behave accordingly.
Additionally. if you don't feel well...
... please let the nearest teacher know.
You can find the ceremony's
program in your pamphlet.
Kotori... asobi...
You can find the ceremony's
program in your pamphlet.
Dear pupils. Congratulations.
you are now a student of this school.
Please allow me to share the great
emotion of the student's parents.
I would also like to show
my special gratitude...
Hey! Uh...
- What?
- Ah!
Uh...
Uh... so...
Oh yeah! Your height!
- My height?
- Yeah, you're tall. Must be nice.
Right.
Uh...
I saw you came in a car this morning...
... I was like, whoa,
people really do that!
I didn't want to.
But my father insisted.
So it was only for today.
Do you live close by?
No, Machinami-cho.
That's my neighborhood!
Really?
Yeah, I take the train
from Kibata Station.
Well. we're neighbors.
From tomorrow I'll be taking
the train from that station too.
That's cool.
Hey. where did you go
to elementary school?
Not around here.
I just moved here.
- Oh, that's why!
- Why what?
Well, Kotori-Asobi
(little bird playing)...
... is a pretty uncommon name!
- Takanashi (no hawks)
- What ?
It's pronounced "Takanashi".
"Kotori-Asobi" is how you write it.
Huh?
Why is it pronounced "Takanashi"?
Well, there are "no hawks",
where "little birds play".
Oooooh, I see!
That's a cool name.
But a little difficult to read!
I think so too.
Hmm. Takanashi. No hawks.
Yomi Takanashi.
My full name.
Kuroi. Mato Kuroi.
But you can call me Mato.
Mato... That's a cool name too.
Thanks!
- Oh. Mato?
- What?
It's here.
Our classroom.
Oh yeah, right!
Where did you live before?
- Germany.
- Wow.
Oh. you're a returnee.
Yeah. that's what it's called.!
That's awasome.!
And do you speak German?
I was only there for a short while.
so only a little.
- Please. say something in German.!
- Uh...
- Good Morning!
- Good Morning!
Did I kept you waiting again?
Oh no... I've just arrived.
I didn't make any detours this time.
Have you chosen your club?
Not yet. Have you?
Basketball. I decided to play basketball
in junior high.!
Really?
Why don't you join
the basketball club too?
You're so tall...
- I have a bit of a complex.
- About what?
About my height.
I'm jealous of your height.!
I'm short.
One of the reasons I want to play
is that I hope it makes me taller.
- Then there are others?
- Other what?
Reasons.
It's not a big deal.
Come one. tell me.!
What's your best subject?
It's gotta be English, right?
Not really.
German is totally different.
I don't think I'm particularly good at it,
but I like math.
Doesn't it seem like most people
like math? I'm surprised.
What about you,
what subject are you best at?
Well, I guess... I'm gonna find out!
Right now it's gym, aside from that
all subjects are about the same!
Yeah!
Nice shot!
Good.!
Wow, you're good.
Have you played before?
Yeah,
I used to play with the boys in the park.
That would be it then.
Let's get back to the game.
Yes. Captain.!
Hey Yomi, let me copy yours.
Next time it'll be my turn.
If you don't do it yourself,
you'll never learn.
Thanks, Yomi. I love you!
Cut it out, Mato.
That tickles. Hee hee.
I've decided.
Not basketball,
but something similar.
- You're really good!
- Thanks very much.
Thanks for waiting.
Oh, there you are.
- Should we go somewhere today?
- Sure.
You're the eldest
so you have no choice.
Yomi, don't talk like my mother.
A call from home.
Excuse me for a minute.
Sure.
Hello, Mom?
Yes, I'm okay.
Now? I'm with Mato.
- Isn't it cute?
- Yeah.
Hey,
have you got a few minutes to spare?
I guess so.
There's somewhere I want to take you.
- Okay?
- Uh-huh.
Over this way. Come on!
Mato, wait for me!
This is it. Look!
This is my favorite place.
When you look at the town from here,
somehow it just makes you feel better.
And it's not just the view,
I don't know it's hard to explain, but...
You know?
I understand.
You like this town, don't you Mato?
Yeah, I love it.
I was born and raised here!
I've been moving around
since I was born.
Well, you should stay here from now on!
I hate the idea of you leaving!
Yes. I want to stay.
Here Yomi, this is for you.
Isn't it cute?
I bought it for you.
Can I have it?
Of course. I mean look.
Your phone doesn't have any straps.
I think it's lonely.
See, I've got this one.
I really like it.
Thanks! I'll take good care of it.
AAAH.!
Ow!
- Did you twist it when you came down?
- Looks like it.
- Can you stand up?
- Yeah.
You okay?
I'm okay, I'm okay.
Yomi don't leave the court.!
Sorry.
Push through it!
- It's okay now.
- You sure?
- Sorry for being late.
- Don't worry about it.
Is your foot okay?
Yeah, it's just a minor sprain.
And Super Manager taped it up!
No pain anymore.
Nice to meet you!
I'm the Super Manager.
It should heal up quickly, but no running
or jumping for a little while...
If you take a bath, make it a quick one.
Don't let your foot become warm.
Got it.
And rest tomorrow.
What? No!
Listen to what I tell you...
... you little first-year ace!
Quit it, you're embarrassing me.
All right, I've got some other things
to take care of. Bye bye!
Thanks!
- First year ace, huh?
- I'm no ace.
But they might let me participate
in the spring tournament.
- You can do it!
- Yeah, I'll do my best.
Our class has been split up.
Yes.
But our classrooms are close,
and we still do clubs together.
Yes.
We can always meet up on breaks too.
Yes.
Nothing we can do about it.
Yes, nothing we can do about it.
How's your new class?
Well. it's okay I guess.
I feel the same.
I don't really feel like a
second year student.
Once the new club members join,
we'll probably feel it more.
Maybe so.
Did you get taller?
What? Really?
I can't catch up.
- Hey, Yomi?
- What?
Don't get any taller!
I can't help myself.
Hey there, Got a sec?
Yuu!
Before we start clubs today we're gonna
have a meeting. Don't be late!
What kind of meeting?
About the new recruits.
We want to make sure they don't get
picked off by others like in the volleyball club.
The team captain's really serious about it.
Oh, Yomi, this is Yuu, but you knew that.
She's the basketball club manager.
This year we're in the same class.
Nice to meet you, Takanashi.
Can I call you Yomi too?
Okay.
Just call me Yuu.
See you.
All right, let's do this!
- Want to come over to my house?
- Yes.!
Hey. did you hear...
... what Yamamura-san was saying
after club yesterday?
Yeah, I heard. She wants to practice
dunk shots using the springboard, right?
Yeah, that's it.
- Yomi!
- Here you are!
So about Yamamura-san...
When I heard that, I laughed so hard
I thought I was gonna cry!
When she jumped,
it wasn't the ball but her head she dunked.
Like a super wham jump!
I got this picture of Yamamura-san's head
coming down through the net.
So funny. I thought my stomach muscles
were gonna pop!
She always gives good advice. but...
... but she does some weird stuff
sometimes.
You're right.
And the captain gives good speeches.
It's really too funny.!
Well, I'm going this way.
See you tomorrow!
Ah, Yamamura-san's heroic feats.
I can't talk about as well as the captain.
I wish I could!
Yes.
Oh, I'm sorry. I just can't stop talking
about basketball.
Sorry, Yomi.
No, that's not it.
I'm just spacing out a bit.
- Really?
- Yes.
- What's the matter?
- What? Uh, nothing.
Mato.!
Here you are.
Sorry for being late.
The captain wouldn't stop talking.
Did you see Yomi?
No.
Oh. you didn't hear?
She said she had something to do,
so she went home early.
What?
If she didn't tell you,
it must have been quite urgent.
- Don't get twisted up about it.
- Yeah, she's right.
- Bye bye!
- See ya!
(MAIL TO .: YOMI)
"What happened to you today?
I didn't hear from you and I got worried...
...but don't worry about it.
See you tomorrow.!"
(SENDING...)
Mato, dinner's ready.
Coming.
Mail to Yomi.: Good morning.
(SENDING)...
- Hey.
- What ?
Do you know what happened to Yomi?
Takanashi?
Uh, she's not here today.
You and Takanashi are friends.
Why don't you send her an email?
Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks.
Stand.!Bow.!
(MOM)
"Call me as soon as you finish school. "
... TAKANASHI...
... POLICE...
... MISSING...
There you are.
Hi.
The detectives are waiting for you
upstairs.
I think your mother told you...
... but Yomi's parents have asked us
to search for their daughter.
We got the report last night.
Yomi left for school in the morning,
and didn't come back.
Upon further investigation it seems
she left school in the early evening.
But from there we have nothing to go on.
... At the present point,
we don't know...
... if she may have gotten involved
in some incident...
... or if leaving home was in fact
her intention.
Yomi wouldn't run away from home.
Yes.
her parents said the same thing.
They said they just don't understand.
But just in case...
We know that
you are Yomi's closest friend.
Can you think of anything
that could give us some clue?
Mato.
Yesterday...
... Yomi...
We always take the train together,
but she wasn't there.
One of the girls at volleyball club said
she had to go home early.
I sent her an email...
... but got no reply.
Was she acting strangely at school?
...for example, during break?
Did you hear about Takanashi?
Yeah. I heard she disappeared.
She must have been kidnapped. right?
Uh huh.
It doesn't look like she ran away.
Her parents seem to be
rich and everything...
So scary.!
It hasn't been on the news or anything.
They don't want to incite the
kidnapper. don't you think?
I think I'd better be careful
from now as well.!
Are you that rich?
No. but...
Ah. I guess I don't have anything
to worry about.
Cheer up, Mato. I'm telling you,
Yomi will be back soon.
I'm sure there's an explanation
for all of this.
You don't think it's your fault,
do you?
What?
You know it's not.!
So you gotta stop this moping around!
Seeing you like this
is really bringing me down.
And it's bringing down the whole
basketball club.
Everyone's as worried about you as
they are about Yomi, you know.
- I'm sorry.
- Don't be sorry.
When Yomi does come back, all this
worrying will have been for nothing.
We just gotta stay positive,
and believe that she's coming back.
Yeah. Thanks, Yuu.
No problem.
Now let's kick some butt in clubs!
Yeah, let's do it.
Yomi!
"YOMI
SUBJECT.: (NONE)"
What does this mean?
Yomi.
- Mato ! Where are you going ?
- Yomi !
Yomi's place!
Yomi...
Where are you?
What...
... what is this place?
You want to save that girl?
She's someone you care about.
You're someone she cares about.
You mean Yomi?
Yomi, where is she?
Save her? No!
I just want to walk with her again!
I want to laugh with her again!
I WANTTO SEE YOMI AGAIN.
RIGHT NOW!
I see.
Who are you?
Who?
Who are you?
I...
... I am...
BLACK ROCK SHOOTER
See ya!
And then Yamamura-san...
... she wanna try this dunk again...
What are you doing?
Come on Yuu. come over here.!