Words of a MavericK

With a crowd lining from the school gates to way beyond the school compound, the 25th Osaka Gakuen Festival starts off with a bang. The classes fight it out to attract the most number of customers, and even Akiha and her partner are trying hard to make money by selling the photos of their student. Class 3-C, Nanba’s class, is having a host club, but they face fierce competition form 2-C’s maid cafe. At the entrance of Class 2-C, guests are greeted by sweet Nurse Kayashima and Maid Ashiya, though things are not quite the same inside. Ashiya hits Sano with her tray, telling him to greet the guests with a smile. Hearing the arrival of a ‘big’ guest, Sano turns and greets with a radiant smile, but both him and the guest, Kagurazaka, are shocked to see each other under such circumstances. Kagurazaka comically picks Sano to serve him.
Tennouji and Oscar’s class is performing the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’, with the dorm heads playing the title characters. At the hugging scene on top of a school building however, Tennouji sees the signals of Ashiya and the other, and then sees a jealous Kanna crying out to him. He throws Oscar down the building, and finally completes the play with Kanna. Meanwhile, Juri is roaming around within the school when she sees a board featuring top members of the host club. She holds up her hands when the photo of Kayashima catches her attention, and Kayashima appears out of nowhere, placing his own hands on hers. At the host club, Nanba curses at the couples present: Tennouji-Kanna, Sekime-Erika, Kayashima-Juri. Nakao tries to get Nanba to go out with him and gets punched by him instead.

At the toilet, Nakatsu and Sano talks about Ashiya while relieving themselves (a scary sight). Nakatsu asks Sano why he does not confess to Ashiya about his feelings, even though she is waiting, but Sano replies that Ashiya is still wishing to stay in the school as a guy, and he respects that decision.

Hibari is having takoyaki alone when Oscar walks past, cursing and swearing at Tennouji for spoiling his play while devouring a sausage. He sees Hibari and asks if she can join her, and though he gets snubbed by Hibari, he confesses his love to her. Hibari hits him where it hurts most, but accepts his confession, and ‘Masao’ runs after Hibari, yelling ‘Hibari 4′ endlessly.
Returning from the toilet, Nakatsu and Sano sees Ashiya, who tells them to hurry up for the next item in the festival: a fashion show. Many of Osaka Gakuen’s student dress up in downs, to the (strange) delight of the audience. Oscar gets mocked by Hibari to be ugly, and even Kagurazaka gets roped into the show. At the end of the show, the shocking winner is announced by Yoshioka-sensei: Sano Izumi, and everyone is amazed that Ashiya, the real girl, has lost. Several of Dorm 1 tenants try to dispute with Yoshioka about the results, and Tennouji confronts them, asking them why they had not choose him to be the winner. He punishes them after hearing them hearing that it is impossible. Despite the commotion, Ashiya is enjoying every moment of this time together.

The next day, everyone prepares for a day of celebration for the success of the school festival. Though asked to join in by Sano, Ashiya uses the excuse of leaving something behind in their room and sneaks out. She, dressed in her uniform, packs all her luggage and leaves a message ‘Forever in my heart’ on the window of her dorm room for Sano. Ashiya then carries her luggage and takes a lonely and sorrowful walk around the school, with the intention of leaving the school without anyone knowing. After a last visit to Yuujirou, Ashiya walks out of the dormitory gates, but she finds Yuujirou following her. Waving goodbye to him, she continues on her way out until she sees all her schoolmates, together with the Hibari 4 and Kagurazaka, all in school uniform. already waiting for her arrival. Nanba tells her they have already predicted what she would do, and a touched Ashiya runs up to them.
Nakatsu asks Ashiya for the reason why she wishes to depart secretly, and she replies that it is to avoid a painful farewell. Seemingly unable to accept this, a sullen Nakatsu leaves and Sano follows him. Facing the rest, Ashiya has a lengthy farewell from the respective dorms and Hibari 4, followed by tearful goodbyes from Sekime, Nakao, and the dorm heads. Finally, she is greeted by Akiha, who hands to her a photo album containing photos of her time in the school, and Tsubaki and Sawatari, whom she receives her graduation certificate from, together with the applause from her friends. Right when she is about to leave, Nakatsu comes running again, this time properly completing his farewell to Ashiya, who is now unable to stop her tears, and Nakatsu embraces her, telling he will never say ‘goodbye’, since they can meet whenever they want to.
Ashiay sees the person hardest to say ‘goodbye’ to: Sano, and breaks into tears again, yet Sano remains silent, not knowing what to say. Umeda then shows up with the keys to the school bus, and asks Sano to tag along the trip to send Ashiya to the airport. With a final expression of gratefulness to her schoolmates, Ashiya departs on the school bus, and everyone waves goodbye.

On the bus, Sano, who was sitting at a distance away from Ashiya, moves to sit next to Ashiya. After telling her that it is the same blue sky outside as when he was high-jumping, both of them reminiscences about their time together throughout Ashiya’s stay.

Reaching the airport, Ashiya expresses her thanks to Umeda for all the help that he has given her all those times. While watching Ashiya walking off with Sano, Umeda hears the much-feared voice of Akiha, who has been hiding in the trunk of the bus. Umeda realizes he no longer has a phobia of women after nothing bad happening when Akiha holds his arm. Akiha jokes about becoming his girlfriend again, and is shocked when Umeda replies that he will think about it.
With only the two of them now, Sano confirms with Ashiya that she is no longer a student of Osaka Gakuen, and she is rather hurt by this reminder. Sano then also confirms Ashiya to be no longer a guy, and using a distraction, holds her in his arms and finally giving her a kiss on the lips, confirming his affections to her.
Sano promises Ashiya to go to her the next time, and this time, she confesses her love to him.

And that is the end of Hanazakari no Kimitachi e……

Nakatsu informs Sano about Ashiya having her identity exposed

The reaction of the dorm heads after seeing a girl changing in their school

Sekime hears from Yuujirou about the disguised girl

Shocked to find the secret leaked despite their efforts

Ashiya miraculously (or deviously) passing the gender test

Hibari decides to return Ashiya’s missing passport and wallet

The dorm heads find out their girl is in fact…Ashiya!?

Nakatsu and Sano try to help by negotiating with the Sakura Committee

Enjoy the present, and fret not the future

The Hara sisters, whose relationship only a few know of

The Sano family finally finds peace

Kayashima’s words of consolation are as cold as winter

Ashiya apologizes to everyone in Class 2-C for deceiving them for so long

Kagurazaka stupefied to see Sano in a maid costume

Maid Ashiya…what’s not to love?

The unwanted bachelors at the host club

A truly terrifying sight

Hibari’s way of accepting someone proves too painful for Oscar

Kyobashi, Nakao, and Noe in gowns!?

Tennouji and Oscar…and even Kagurazaka is pulled into the show

The Dorm 2 ‘beauties’

The highlight of the fashion show, and Sano wins instead of Ashiya, the real girl

A final message from Ashiya to Sano

All of Ashiya’s schoolmates send their well-wishes and farewells

Konno Mahiru（紺野 まひる） as Hara Akiha（原 秋葉）, Matsuda Seiko（松田 聖子） as Tsubaki（椿）
Ukaji Takashi（宇梶 剛士） as Sawatari（猿渡）

Shirota Yuu（城田 優） as Kagurazaka Makoto（神楽坂 真言）

Matsuda Madoka（松田 まどか） as Kishizato Juri（岸里 樹理）
Taira Airi（平 愛梨） as Abeno Erika（阿部野 エリカ）
Iwasa Mayuko（岩佐 真悠子） as Hanayashiki Hibari（花屋敷 ひばり）
Kiritani Mirei（ 桐谷 美玲） as Amagasaki Kanna（尼崎 カンナ）
Kurose Manami（黒瀬 真奈美） as Imaike Komari（今池 こまり）

Okada Masaki（岡田 将生） as Sekime Kyougo（関目 京悟）

Kimura Ryou（木村 了） as Senri Nakao（中央 千里）

Yamamoto Yuusuke（山本 裕典） as Kayashima Taiki（萱島 大樹）

Ishigaki Yuuma（石垣 佑磨） as Tennouji Megumi（天王寺 恵）

Kyou Nobuo（姜 暢雄） as Oscar M. Himejima（オスカー・M・姫島）

Mizushima Hiro（水嶋 ヒロ） as Nanba Minami（難波 南）

Kamikawa Takaya（上川 隆也） as Umeda Hokuto（梅田 北斗）

Ikuta Toma（生田 斗真） as Nakatsu Shuuichi（中津 秀一）

Oguri Shun（小栗 旬） as Sano Izumi（佐野 泉）

Horikita Maki（堀北 真希） as Ashiya Mizuki（芦屋 瑞稀）

…or so it seems!

1 month later, now in California, Ashiya is on her way out from home when an arrow mysteriously lands on the lawn right before her. She picks it up to find a newspaper tied to it: Osaka Sports! She reads it and is shocked to find out…the students of Osaka Gakuen will be coming over to California for a field trip!
Together with the dorm heads who will pay for their own tickets!

“NO WAY!!!”

Snapshot of the episode!

The real kiss between Ashiya and Sano!

At the National Track & Field Rally, right before the high-jumping event, Sano realized that he had forgotten his good luck charm which was given to him by his mother. Being told by Sano to keep it for him for the time being, Ashiya rushed back to their dorm room to retrieve the charm. At the same time, Sano’s mobile phone, which he had also forgotten to bring with him, rang, and it was a call made from the hospital Takehiko was staying in.
On her way back to the field, Ashiya drops her wallet, which had her passport inside, and Hibari happened to pick it up. Returning finally, she sees Sano passing every chance to jump, until the bar was raised to a height of 2.21 meters then did Sano attempt. For the first 2 tries, he failed to make the jump, and Ashiya, holding Sano’s charm tightly, yelled out to him an advice given in relay to her from Takehiko at the hospital. And it was with this piece of advice which resulted in Sano barely making the jump, and thus achieving his first national jump in 5 years and breaking his own previous record.
Meanwhile, Hibari looked inside Ashiya’s passport and to her surprise, found out about her true identity as a girl. She arranged to meet the 3 dorm heads of Osaka Gakuen at the park that evening, wishing to tell them the truth. At the same time, Nakatsu was strolling around when he chanced upon them without their knowledge.

The dorm heads treat Hibari’s words as a joke, but is surprised when she tells them she possesses evidence of Osaka Gakuen having a girl in the student body. She is about to show Ashiya’s passport to them when Nakatsu intervenes, using the celebration after the rally as a distraction. Hibari leaves shortly, but not without promising the dorm heads another meeting of their own.
At Room 205, Ashiya is desperately searching for the wallet that she had lost. She even stops Sano from helping out, afraid that her identity would be exposed from her profile in her passport, which she had placed in her wallet. Just then, Nakatsu drops in, and asks Sano for a private talk outside. Nakatsu tells Sano about Ashiya’s wallet and passport in Hibari’s possession, and how she had tried to reveal everything to the dorm heads. He assures Sano that the dorm heads have no idea who the cross-dressing student is, but are aware of one in their midst. Both of them decide to do something about this matter.

At the cafeteria, a party is held for Sano achieving second place in the high-jump event, and for Sekime achieving third place for the 400m hurdles event. Being dragged away by Nakao, Sekime is reminded of a school event right after the National Rally: The Osaka Gakuen Festival. Announcing this very important news to everyone present, Sawatari goes on to elaborate that it is not a competition between dorms this time, but a competition between the classes of Osaka Gakuen, and that the one class that has the highest profit will receive a special prize. The crowd goes into a frenzy hearing the good news, except for Ashiya, who bears a dejected look on her face.
Later that night, Hibari meets Sano upon his request. Though excited at first, Hibari’s face changes when she hears Sano asking for Ashiya’s belongings from her. She states a condition to Sano before she can do so, which is to ask Ashiya to see her.

The next morning, Class 2-C is in its usual rowdy state as the students discuss on what they are going to do for the Osaka Gakuen Festival. Dorm 1 tenants suggest a martial arts competition, while Dorm 3 tenants recommend a play or a musical. Another suggestion is a maid cafe. Unable to come to a consensus, the students start getting physical, but Ashiya calms them down and suggests on voting to decide on the item. During the course of voting, Nakatsu asks Sano about the passport, and hears about the condition lied down by Hibari. Understanding Ashiya, both of them knows that she will leave on her own accord if she knew her identity was expoed. From the votes, everyone votes for a maid cafe, and Ashiya is aparently tired of the idea of dressing up again.
Later in the day, Ashiya heads to her usual spot for changing into gym wear. At the same building, the three dorm heads are conducting a search on their own for the alleged ‘girl’ in their school, when they see a girl , though not seeing her face, changing in one of the offices. Their faces get cramped from extreme shock.

Tennouji and Kana are on a sweet date when he suddenly recalls on the changing girl in their school, and he breaks out in an insane amount of sweat. He kneels in front of Kanna, apologizing to her for ‘cheating’ on her unintentionally, and accidentally leaks out the news of a girl in Osaka Gakuen. Hearing this, Kanna zooms to Hibari and her friends, telling them what Tennouji had told her. However, Hibari, thinking that it’s still too early to let the cat out of the bag, tells her that she had probably heard wrongly, and gives another (lame) rumour. This ridiculous rumour starts spreading, starting with Komari, and after a long series of nonsense conveyed by people not even associated to Osaka Gakuen, the (correct) news about Osaka Gakuen having a girl in its midst spreads to Yuujirou by a stray cat. Eventually, Sekime, after confirming with both Yuujirou and the cat, learns about the shocking news too.
That evening, Ashiya continues her search for her wallet at the cafeteria while everyone is having their dinner. Sekime comes rushing in, announcing the news of a girl in their all-boys school. Nakatsu and Sano spits their soup in response, while Ashiya is shocked stiff. Everyone seems to doubt the credibility of this piece of news, and Tennouji gets knocked out by a kick from Oscar for leaking the news. Nanba comments that they have no choice but to find the girl out.

The entire student body starts conducting their own search for the rumoured ‘girl’: Dorm 1 deploys search parties to conduct body checks on anyone suspicious; Dorm 3 tries receiving enlightenment from mystic forces again, resulting in Oscar getting possessed yet again, this time turning into a woman; and Dorm 2 conducts checks on everyone using Noe’s scientific inventions. Through combined trickery from Sano and Nakatsu, Ashiya manages to make it through all the checks without exposing her identity. Seeing their efforts to be futile, the students deem the news to be false, and they start discussing about what they would do if there really was a girl. Understandably, almost everyone think that the ‘perpetrator’ should not be forgiven for deceiving them, and a depressed look shows on Ashiya’s face again.
At night, Ashiya lies on the floor as she starts thinking about things, while Sano is out meeting Hibari again. Though expecting her to remain firm on her condition, he is surprised to see Hibari handing the wallet and passport to him, telling him that the mission of the Hibari 4 is to bring joy to the students of Osaka Gakuen, not chaos. Hibari also becomes the first person Sano tells of his love towards Ashiya.

The next morning, while preparing for school, Ashiya is elated to see her wallet on the desk. Sano refuses to tell her how he had found it, and assures her that he had not looked inside the wallet.
Outside the same building where they had witnessed the girl changing a week ago, Nanba and Tennouji lie in wait, hoping to recognize the student this time, while Oscar, still possessed, arrives dancing. Hearing footsteps, the dorm heads hide, pulling Oscar along, and Nanba is shocked to see Ashiya, a fellow tenant of Dorm 2, to be the suspicious one. Later in the day, Ashiya is asked to see the Sakura Committee in the student council room. Inside, the three heads lets her know of their witnessing of a girl changing in the management office in the secluded building, and go on to question her about any secrets that she might be keeping from them.
Outside, Nakatsu hears from Sano about Ashiya retrieving her wallet. Along the way, they meet Sekime, who tells them about Ashiya getting summoned to the council room by the Sakura Committee, and they rush off to find her.
Back in the student council room, Ashiya has kept quiet so far, but after some further urging by Tennouji and Oscar, she finally reveals to the 3 of them her identity as a girl. Just then, Sano and Nakatsu barge through the door. They confess to knowing Ashiya as a girl even before the dorm heads, and Sano goes on to explain how she had entered Osaka Gakuen just for his sake. When asked by Nanba, Ashiya makes the decision of leaving the school, so as to prevent anymore problems for the student body, but Nanba convinces her to stay until his and the other dorm heads’ graduation in March, to give her time to think about her next step.

Once outside, Ashiya, Sano, and Nakatsu gather around a bench, but things are awkward between them, now that Ashiya knows the secret of the both of them. Just then, the principal, Tsubaki, finally returns to the school and seeing the glum faces, advises them to spend their youth on enjoying the present instead of fretting too much about the future. The 3 of them return to their usual selves. Returning to her office, Tsubaki is greeted by Sawatari, and she thanks him for managing the school so far. She teases him to write a resignation letter when he forgets about the plant she had placed in his care from the start of her departure.

In their dorm room that night, Sano and Ashiya have a chat about how Sano had found out about her identity, and why he didn’t expose her at that point. Sano cannot muster the courage to let his feelings be known to Ashiya and hides in the shower.
The next day, Sano meets his father, who has been discharged from the hospital. While waiting for Shin to arrive and bring Takehiko home, Sano lets his father know about his rekindled passion for high-jumping, marking him as his rival. Takehiko also uses the chance to teach his son a brief lesson about love, which can surpass anything. Soon, Shin arrives in a cab and after telling Sano how he will start chasing him like before, Shin and Takehiko depart for home, leaving Sano.

Meanwhile, back in Osaka Gakuen, Class 2-C students are preparing and setting up their maid cafe. Nakatsu is silently observing Ashiya when he suddenly realizes that there has been no improvements in the relationship between him and Ashiya recently. After yet another mime of his own, he is asked by Ashiya to speak in private outside. There, although he is confident that he stands a chance to be with Ashiya, she rejects Nakatsu straight, saying that although she likes him, she cannot see him in any light other than a best friend, and that there is already another person in her heart, confirmed by Nakatsu to be Sano. Nakatsu, putting up a strong front, tells her that his confession then was just a joke, and leaves. However, now alone, he weeps silently to himself.

At the Principal’s Office, Tsubaki is thinking of a reward for the winning class in the Osaka Gakuen Festival, but all she can suggest are those used in previous competitions. Akiha then arrives at the office, calling Tsubaki ‘Big Sis’, thus revealing her relations to the principal. After Sawatari and the rest of the staff take their leave, Akiha shows the photos she had taken so far of the students during her sister’s absence.
At the same time, Ashiya and her classmates are still busy decorating their classroom when she falls off a stepladder, losing consciousness. Her classmates freak out and while waiting for one of them to call upon Umeda, they decide to loosen ‘his’ shirt so as to help in Umeda’s checkup in any way, but they are surprised when they see Ashiya wearing a vest beneath. Umeda arrives just in time to stop the students from checking any further and carries Ashiya off to his infirmary, but the students of Class 2-C already have their doubts.

Sano, hearing about Ashiya’s accident, rushes to the infirmary, where Umeda is keeping a close watch on her. Umeda tells Sano to hide the truth about Ashiya no matter what the students ask. Ashiya soon regains consciousness. On their way back to their room that evening, Ashiya is asked by Nakao to go to the cafeteria, unknown to what lies ahead. Upon her arrival, she sees everyone gathered around her with dissenting eyes. An apologetic Nanba tries to tell her about what happened in the afternoon, but he is cut short by Nakao, who asks Ashiya directly whether she is truly a girl in disguise. Having nothing to say in her defense, Ashiya runs away, thus confirming everyone’s doubts about her.
Ashiya sits on a bench alone in the park, thinking about what her next step should be.

At the same time, Nakatsu is sitting alone in front of the school, when Kayashima comes running to him, reporting about Ashiya’s identity being exposed to everyone. Nakatsu runs off on impulse, but stops suddenly, and Kayashima asks if he had been rejected. Nakatsu, unhappy that Kyashima has phrased it so directly, has a heart-to-heart talk with his best friend on how he should console him. When about to leave, Nakatsu realizes from Kayashima’s words that he has already known that Ashiya is a girl, and Kayashima elaborates that he had known from the start from her aura. Kayashima gives a late ‘decent’ consolation to Nakatsu, and the 2 of them walks off together.
Back at the park, Sano shows up, apparently taking Yuujirou for a walk. He starts a one-sided conversation with Yuujirou, though his words are actually directed to the depressed Ashiya. After she has finally spoken, Sano and Ashiya head back to their dorm room.

The next day, Ashiya readies herself to face her class after what had happened the previous evening. True enough, almost everyone starts dissing her for lying to them, and those who remain silent refuse to look at Ashiya. The dissing continues until Nakao, in his only manly moment so far, shuts everyone up with his outburst, telling everyone to face the problem like men and not beating around the bush. With the class now silent, Ashiya apologizes to her classmates for lying to them, and explains that it was not intentional, and that she still treats everyone as her good friends and classmates. However, everyone remains cold towards her, not muttering a word, and Ashiya dashes out of the classroom crying. Sano, unable to bear seeing Ashiya like this, decides to explain her purpose for coming to this school to the entire class.

Ashiya, having escaped to the infirmary, is asked by Umeda about her follow-up actions on this incident. She replies that she has no idea, but is determined to face it no matter what. Umeda reminds her dearly that she is not alone.
Like what she has expected, news of her real identity spreads throughout the school, and Ashiya gets taunted by 3 students at the toilet, threatening to show her how to ‘relief’ like a guy. To her surprise, Sekime and 2 other classmates come to her rescue by scaring the bullys off. Standing in a row, they apologize to Ashiya, and Sekime tells her that they have learned everything from Sano back in the classroom. He also adds that he just cannot be mad at the only person who remembers his name.
The bullying from the other classes continues, however, Ashiya’s classmates are always standing up for her and giving her a helping hand, and soon the students of Class 2-C return to their usual, rowdy selves, and with Ashiya still being a part of the class.

At the night, Ashiya tells Sano of her decision to quit school. Seeing his disappointed look, she cheers him up, saying that it has been great for her so far to meet everyone, and to have come to this school. But most importantly for Ashiya, she is able to meet Sano and even see him jump. With his spirits lifted a little, Sano asks Ashiya whether she is returning with a smile, which she confirms. In return he thanks Ashiya for meeting him, and expresses his gratitude to her with a handshake. Ashiya accepts this manly gesture.
Ashiya hands her drop-out letter to Tsubaki, who expresses a slight helplessness to this. Ashiya goes on to apologize to the principal for her disguise and the problems she might have caused so far, but Tsubaki does not seem to mind and tells Ashiya that the most important thing is that she does not regret her time in Osaka Gakuen. Ashiya informs of her departure right afetr she is done packing, but Tsubaki encourages her to stay for the day for the school festival, and Ashiya is elated. Before she leaves, Tsubaki asks Ashiya of the school’s place in her heart, and she replies that ‘It is irreplacable’.
Returning to her classroom, Ashiya sees her classmates gathered in a circle, and Nakatsu asks her to join in. With everyone in Class 2-C present, Nakatsu motivates the class into doing their best for the festival and become the winner in the competition, for everyone in the winning class gets a notebook (laptop) each. Soon, everyone goes into ‘battle, and with a pat on the back by Sano, Ashiya goes to prepare for the festival too.

Off to Part II!

By the end of last episode, the couple of Ashiya and Nakatsu was declared the winner of the Cup Dance, and so the grand prize goes to them! The 3 gold bars…which are special Belgium-made chocolate! Meanwhile, after her dance, Ashiya notices Sano outside the dormitory with someone unexpected: his father Takehiko. She eavesdrops on Sano’s true emotions about his father not caring for his mother while on her deathbed, and not even shedding a tear for her even after her death, and just going to work as though nothing had happened. After Sano’s leave, Ashiya tried to learn more from Takehiko, and though she did not get much answers, she feels there’s more to Sano’s father than what Sano knows of. And indeed, before Takehiko’s departure, he had thought to himself that he had wept over his beloved’s death, just not in front of his sons.
Ashiya confronted Sano about his father back at the dorm room, but Sano, clearly in a foul mood, vented his frustrations on her, telling that she knew nothing of his feelings, and neither did he expected her to. Left to weep on her own in the room, Nakatsu chances upon this scene and all of a sudden, embraces Ashiya and confesses his love to her, to Ashiya’s surprise.

Despite knowing that the person Ashiya loves is Sano, Nakatsu promises her that he will not give her sadness like what Sano did throughout their time together. Meanwhile, Sano is alone near the school field, regretting his previous harsh words towards Ashiya.
After the incident in Room 205, Nakatsu is back at the cafeteria, having a slight sense of regret on what he had done. Kayashima drops in and tells Nakatsu that even without reading his aura, he is able to tell what Nakatsu is feeling and guess probably what he did. However, he tells his good friend that since he had already done what he has always wanted to, he should not regret on it. At the same time, Ashiya is once again left alone in the room, only this time feeling a sense of loss over what to do.

A carrier pigeon, even in this age, flies into the Principal Office, delivering a message from the Principal herself to Sawatari. Upon reading the message, he lets out an exclamation of delight, and he goes on to tell Yoshioka-sensei that Osaka Gakuen will be hosting the National Track & Field Rally this year. And after having announce this news to the students of the school, he wants them to put up an exciting performance at the opening ceremony, in order to promote their school and increase the number of new students enrolling into Osaka Gakuen. However, the students have no intention of doing so, finding it too troublesome, even to the extent of disobeying the Principal’s orders. Sawatari has no choice but to come up with a prize for the dormitory which is willing to perform at the ceremony: a trip to Hawaii for every tenant. Hearing this, everyone gets hyped up and volunteers his own dorm, but Sawatari then declares it will be a trip to Atami instead if everyone’s performing. As a result, the right to perform at the opening ceremony becomes another competition between the dorms.

At the training camp, Sano looks at his father while thinking back on Ashiya’s words the previous night. Kagurazaka asks about Sano and his father, and tells Sano that he will meddle into his affairs as long as he clears the jump. Takehiko looks on as Sano leaves, heaving a sigh, and just then, he holds his abdomen, as though in pain. Back at Osaka Gakuen’s infirmary, Ashiya pays Umeda a visit, while sharing her troubles with him. Ashiya starts to suspect whether Nakatsu knows of her identity as a girl, but Umeda assures her that he is not one to worry about over this matter. Umeda has expected Nakatsu to confess to Ashiya, and tells her that she needs to give an answer to him. He then reminds her of another trouble: Sano. He advises Ashiya to see him practice since she minds him so much.

On her way to Toukyou Gakuin, she sees an ambulance at the entrance, and watches on as a suffering Takehiko is carried into the ambulance. She rushes back to her dorm room and seeing Sano, tells him of his father being hospitalized. Despite expressing no concern over his father, Ashiya knows that he is truly worried from the inside-out shirt he has worn, but runs off saying that she will visit Takehiko in Sano’s place if he really has no intention of going.
Sano eventually makes his way to the hospital in a rush, but is surprised to see Ashiya at the school entrance with a cab. She pushes him into the cab, sending him off to the hospital on his own.

Sano arrives at the hospital to see Shin waiting outside the ward room, and learns from him that their father’s condition has stabilized. Shin continues to explain that their father is suffering from duodenitis, or the inflammation of the duodenum, and that there was a relapse a previous time, but Takehiko had prohibited Shin from telling Sano. Shin leaves, and Sano proceeds into the ward room. Upon his entrance, Takehiko wakes up, and the father and son face each other awkwardly. Takehiko goes on to apologize to Sano for not being there for his mother, and doing his duty well as a husband. Sano, having heard this, describes to his father the final moments of his wife, about how she had a face of happiness while calling out to her husband. And although he couldn’t understand why his mother acted in such a way, Sano tells his father that he can somehow understand now, and the hatred of Sano towards his father has silently faded away.
Exiting the room, he sees Shin again, and he leaves the care of their father to his charge.

At the cafeteria, Ashiya and Nakatsu have an uneasy meeting, due to the events from the previous night. Nakatsu, breaking the ice, tells Ashiya about the competition for the right to perform at the opening ceremony. He also makes a ambiguous declaration of him not losing to her, leaving Ashiya thinking about it while giving her a pat on the head. At the school field, Naaktsu meets up with Sano, and he finally asks whether Sano knows of Ashiya’s identity as a girl too. From Sano’s silence, Nakatsu confirms his doubts and declares Sano to be a love rival to himself, and that he will not give Ashiya up.
Back at Room 205, Ashiya is lazing around, but tenses up when Sano, also tensing up, enters the room. Both of them apologize to each other for what happened the previous night, and then making the same comment later at the same time, causing both of them to break into short laughter. Sano goes on to talk about his father to Ashiya, and thank her for bringing him back to his senses about his father. Later in the night, Sano stares into Ashiya’s side of the room, and promises to himself that he will not give her up too.

The next day, the showdown between the dorms starts in the form of contests of 90 different categories. While the dorm heads fight among themselves over who’s going to win the showdown, Nakatsu and Sano see this as a showdown between the 2 of them. The absurd contests include: Rope-jumping, breath holding, sit-ups, unrolling toilet paper, understanding Ganguro talk (which only Sano is amazingly able to understand), and making fire primitively using only wood. During break time, Dorm 2 tenants have their lunch together, and Nakatsu and Sano have their backs facing each other even during this time. Nanba comments on how rare it is for Sano to be participating in school activities, and Nakao adds on that it does not seem like a showdown between the dorms, since Nakatsu and Sano emerge victorious on so many contests. The rest continue to ponder over the reason for the pair’s enthusiasm.

At the infirmary, Akiha drops in on Umeda to his disgust, notifying him about the showdown for the performance rights at the opening ceremony between the dorms. She also informs Umeda about a showdown between Sano and Nakatsu, which he finds nothing interesting, and Akiha is dragged away with the chair before she is able to extract more information from Umeda.
Second half of the showdown begins, and the contests include: Log-cutting, sneezing, mustard cream pastry Russian Roulette, Daruma-san, balloon-breaking, and push-ups. Finally, the showdown ends, and each dorm achieves a result of 30 victories each, meaning a draw. after a short disagreement, the dorm heads come to a conclusion of performing together on the opening ceremony and going Atami together with everyone else, marking a first voluntary collaboration of the 3 dormitories.

Now that the event is over, Sano makes his way to his own training when he meets Nakatsu at the corridors. Nakatsu asks Sano why he still participates in the full-day event when he has the National Track & Field Rally the next day, and Sano replies that he merely does not wish to run away anymore, especially from himself. Nakatsu then realizes and lets Sano know that he is not giving Ashiya up because Sano is his opponent.
Returning back to his room, Sano is greeted warmly by Ashiya, who has been reading on massage of the leg muscles. She knocks over one of her boxes though while doing so, and while clearing up, Sano picks up her passport without looking inside, and Ashiya hurriedly keeps it in her wallet. She then asks Sano to lie down on his bed so as to let her massage his legs for the rally the next day. Sano tells Ashiya that he likes himself now than the ‘him’ back before Ashiya arrived in Osaka Gakuen, and ask Ashiya if ‘he’ knows of the significance of himself jumping for ‘him’. However, Ashiya is unable to get what Sano is trying to say, since she still thinks Sano is oblivious to her identity, and before she can get any answers, Sano has fallen asleep.

The big day for Sano finally arrives, and the rally kicks off with a cheer leading performance from the Osaka Gakuen students……

A confession to Ashiya, despite knowing she has someone else in mind

At a loss over the sudden turn of events

Sawatari thrilled over the news of Osaka Gakuen hosting the National Rally

The only confidant Ashiya has in school pokes fun of her

Takehiko is taken to hospital due to duodenitis

A worried Sano with an inside-out shirt and an unconcerned front

Sano asks Shin about her father’s condition…

…and finally patches up the relationship with his father

Things become awkward for Ashiya and Nakatsu

Then: Classmates; Now: Love Rivals!

Synchronized apologies

Sano and Nakatsu at the breath-holding contest

Sano sneak attacks Nakatsu with a smothering flint

Their rivalry continues even at break time

A victorious Nakatsu at the sneezing contest

The stress proves too much for Sano as he turns into an Oni…?

United they rise, together they fall

Ashiya providing massage service for Sano as a preparation for the rally

Osaka Gakuen cheerleaders

Snapshot of the episode!

A jubilant Sano with his victory “Baby!” pose

Next episode: Final! Ashiya’s secret identity is revealed to all! Will she be expelled from the Osaka Gakuen that she loves so dearly?

By the end of last episode, with the help of the Sakura Committee, Kitahama finally believed Nakatsu to be innocent in the ‘cheating’ incident, and thus able to continue with his soccer club training. Before leaving the school, Kitahama was taught a lesson by Sano and the students of Osaka Gakuen that not every individual is the same, and that although the incident of his brother’s death due to delinquency was sad, he shouldn’t treat everyone like his brother, forcing everyone to follow his orders. Having realized all these, Kitahama finally left. While cheering Ashiya for their class’ performance in the Mid-Term celebration, Sano called her ‘Mizuki’ for the first time, to her amazement.
Meanwhile, Kagurazaka asked Sano to join in his school’s training camp, which many national athletes will be taking part, including Sano’s brother. And in Room 205, while Ashiya was having a shower, Nakatsu, who visited to borrow shampoo (again), used his ruler trick to open the bathroom door again, and to his shock, he finally realizes that Ashiya is a girl!

Having discovered Ashiya’s secret, Nakatsu is still unable to recover from the shock of it and goes into one of his regular bouts of ‘madness’, scribbling the word ‘女‘ (female) on the rolls of toilet paper, to the extent of expelling steam from his body and faint as a result, only to be rescued by Akashi of Dorm 1. At the cafeteria, several of both Osaka Gakuen and St. Blossom students are practicing for the Edward J. Harrison Cup Dance, a traditional annual event of Osaka Gakuen. 8 couples are chosen by a computer from a database, and many students are clearly displeased, including Nakao and Sekime. According to Sawatari on a ‘prerecorded’ tape, the selected students are to dance with their assigned partners so as to ‘enhance their taste and improve social contact’. Apparently the couple of Oscar and Hibari isn’t going too well, with her keeping a tight rein over Oscar’s performance. Just then, Akashi comes rushing in, announcing that Nakatsu had collapsed. Everyone goes to Nakatsu, who is on a stretcher, and he soon comes to, but he suffers a short seizure and faints once again after seeing Ashiya right in front of him. Dorm 1 tenants carry Nakatsu off to his own dorm room.

Finally waking up with a ‘Mi!’, Nakatsu reconfirms in his thoughts that Ashiya has been a girl all along, and regrets having placed his hands on her chest on her first day of school. Kayashima, who is also in the room, inquires about Nakatsu’s troubles, and though he does not get a definite reply, he gives an advice to him of ‘looking at things at a 180-degrees perspective, and the world would be coming up roses’, leaving Nakatsu pondering. In the evening, the practice and preparations for the Cup Dance is still continuing. Sano, returning from school, arrives at the cafeteria and volunteers to help out, to everyone’s amazement. Sano asks Ashiya to pass him the hammer near her, but wishing for him to call her ‘Mizuki’ again, Ashiya ignores his requests while praying hard. After hearing him call her ‘Ashiya’ despite many ‘tries’, she forcefully pounds the hammer on his hand. Sano gives a small cry of pain and Ashiya rushes to him, holding his hand delicately. The two of them share a conversation like a dating couple, while the rest look on at the ‘forbidden’ pair-up.

The next day, Sano is on his way to Toukyou Gakuin for the training camp Kagurazaka had asked him to join, while Ashiya is walking with him, taking Yuujirou for a walk. Ashiya accidentally lets slip about her knowing about Sano’s training camp. Just then, a bus ferrying the athletes attending the camp stops in front of them, and though Sano has already known that his brother Shin to show up, he did not expect to see his father, Sano Takehiko, to be there as well. Ashiya sees Sano’s face change into one of anger.

Back at Osaka Gakuen’s cafeteria, Hibari and the Hibari 4 announce that everyone except them from St. Blossom are in hospital due to food poisoning, leaving only the 5 of them to be available for the Cup Dance. Instead of canceling the event, Sawatari suggests 3 of Osaka Gakuen’s own students to cross-dress and replace the missing 3 female dancers. Nakao volunteers to be Nanba’s partner, Daikokucho and Kitahanada pair up to fight against Tennouji, and Sawatari selects Ashiya himself to be the partner for Nakatsu. On his way to the cafeteria, Nakatsu continues to fret over Ashiya’s hidden identity until he sees the cross-dressed Ashiya. With his ‘Super Nakatsu Vision’, Nakatsu straightens his thoughts and decides that no matter whether she is a boy or a girl, Ashiya is still Ashiya. With him kneeling and asking for a dance from Ashiya, the practice and preparations for the Cup Dance is reseted.

At the locker room, Sano confronts Shin about their father showing up at the camp. Kagurazaka answers him instead, telling him that Takehiko is there to be their coach, and he’s also a promoter of this camp. Shin rudely takes his leave. Sano makes it clear to Kagurazaka that he will not listen to the orders of his father, but Kagurazaka replies that he will not be able to improve as a result. At the field, Takehiko finally sees Sano and calls out to him, but is ignored by him.

Kayashima and Komari practice their dance item (while having many spirits lying in ambush), and Komari sees Ashiya and Nakatsu doing the same. Kayashima, knowing that Komari still hasn’t gotten over Nakatsu, uses their practice to her troubles away. Nakatsu is clearly enjoying his practice session with Ashiya, giving the excuse of ’skinship’ being important when she complains of him being too close. Their practice is interrupted when Ashiya runs to Sano, who has returned from his camp, to Nakatsu’s disappointment. While looking at Sano, Nakatsu wonders if he also knows of Ashiya true identity.

Back at their own dorm room, Ashiya and Sano have a chat about the training camp, like how Kagurazaka is one of the best athletes in the nation. Ashiya, though doubtful, asks Sano about his father, and Sano replies with a vague answer, since he did not take part in the practice that day. He tells Ashiya to forget about his father, since he himself don’t care much about him, and while asking ‘him’ to take a shower, Sano accidentally pats her chest. After a moment of shock, Ashiya runs off to the bathroom, exclaiming to herself that Sano had just touched her (breast), while Sano is left ‘repenting’ outside, commenting on how flat her chest is at the same time. Right after he has changed, Nakatsu comes visiting, wishing to ask Sano if he knew about Ashiya being a girl. However, like always, Nakatsu cannot express himself before Ashiya comes out from the shower. Due to the embarrassing moment just then, Sano amusingly heads for a shower again.

At the infirmary, Nakatsu tries to understand what will happen to Ashiya if her identity is revealed to all, by using an example of opposite factors (a girl school having a boy student inside). Umeda, clearly understanding what Nakatsu is trying to say, tells him that it will be a certain expulsion for that student, but as long as ‘his’ identity is kept hidden, ‘he’ will be able to stay with his schoolmates until graduation. Nakatsu runs off happily with this knowledge.

At the training camp, Sano performs poorly, compared to the other athletes. Even Shin has surpassed his level of performance. Kagurazaka poses a challenge to Sano by jumping a height of over 210cm, telling him to reach this level. At Osaka Gakuen, Nanba loudly expresses his disgust over pairing up with Nakao for the Dance Cup, and Yoshioka-sensei makes a sudden appearance in a form of a dance. He then asks if Nanba wishes to forfeit the Cup Dance, which he agrees immediately. A beautiful lady then appears this time, pushing a cart with something covered in a veil. Yoshioka then declares the grand prize for the Cup Dance: 3 gold bars! After having Nakatsu sharing his short fantasy of being rich, Nanba regains his interest in the Cup Dance and goes off to practice with Nakao. Meanwhile, Kayashima senses an evil aura from Sekime, who is doing up a fake ticket on his notebook.
With the Cup Dance nearing, the practices of the couples go into full throttle, especially with 3 gold bars as the grand prize. Oscar continues to get his ass kicked around by Hibari.

Training for the day has ended and everyone is dismissed. Before Sano is able to leave, Takehiko calls out to Sano, asking him about his poor performance so far in his high-jumping, and whether if he is still running away from him. Hearing this, Sano stops in his tracks, and he makes it clear to his father that he is running away not because of his training, but for his actions during and after his mother’s death. Takehiko is left dumbfounded. At the dormitory compound, Ashiya is practicing on her own when she sees Akiha taking pictures of her. Akiha then tells her the reason why Sano hates his father so much: His mother was sent to hospital due to an accident, but Takehiko did not visit her even once due to being tied down by his work at an important event. Sadly, when his father did arrived at the hospital, his mother had already passed away……

Nakatsu chances upon Ashiya…bathing!?!?

Akashi crying over a fallen Nakatsu

The pairing of the couples, as selected by a computer

The terror of Hibari drives Oscar up a pillar

The ever-wise Kayashima is always there to help a friend in need

The crowd watches on as Sano and Ashiya go ‘lovey-dovey’

A moment of anguish for Sano as he sights his father

The ’surviving’ students of St. Blossom from food poisoning

“Shall we dance?”

Shin warns his brother not to run away like what he did 5 years ago

Sugimotto Tetta（杉本 哲太） as Sano Takehiko（佐野 岳彦）

Nakatsu is clearly enjoying every moment of practice with Ashiya

Ashiya gets touched accidentally at her chest (breast) by Sano…!?

Nakatsu seeks advice from the reliable Umeda

A prize that is able to motivate anyone to do things against their will

Nanba and Nakatsu sharing a common fantasy world

Oscar continues to suffer under the ‘iron fist’ of Hibari

Ashiya learns of the past between Sano and his father from Akiha

Relationship between Sano and Ashiya seems to have taken another step forward

Snapshot of the episode!

Nakatsu embraces Ashiya and confesses his love to her!!!

Next episode: Nakatsu vies for Ashiya’s affection against Sano! The students of Osaka Gakuen cheer on as Sano takes center stage at the National Competition!

The darkest days for Osaka Gakuen are here, and 天道 総司 (Tendou Souji) from Kamen Rider Kabuto is here to save the day!?

By the end of previous episode, Sawatari was referring to coffee beans when he said something about ‘only keeping the good quality ones, and disposing of the bad ones’, thus meaning the students of Osaka Gakuen were only scaring themselves by thinking that the school was closing down. However, in their self-delusion, they managed to take a ‘family’ photo, showing wonderful expressions on their faces, which had in fact answered the question for their personal interview: Do you like (the) school?
Meanwhile, after the entire misunderstanding was cleared, Nakatsu declared to Sano that he likes Ashiya, thus hinting that he now sees Sano as a love rival.

Sekime announces yet another big news: They are going to have a new form/homeroom teacher for their class. Nakatsu, like when Ashiya’s arrival into Osaka Gakuen, reminds everyone to know what to do. Shortly, Sawatari enters to introduce their new teacher, 北浜 昇(Kitahama Noboru). Everyone agrees that Kitahama himself is one handsome guy and begins to get rowdy again, but Kitahama, after seeing the An-An magazine where the 4 Osaka Gakuen had been featured, tells them that he will not accept such behaviour, and that anyone will be suspended if caught. Nakatsu then starts off the welcome ‘ceremony’, but Kitahama manages to dodge every attack, with Sawatari getting hit instead. Kitahama goes on to ask who is the mastermind behind the ‘low level prank’, and Nakatsu owns up, giving a haughty self-introduction to Kitahama when he asks for his name. Kitahama tells Nakatsu that he will remember him well.

Nakatsu and Ashiya visits the cafeteria, only to find Nanba and the other Dorm 2 third-year students seemingly practicing on a band performance. Nakatsu reminds Nanba that the next day is the start of their tests/exams, but Nanba tells them that they do not bother with what’s ahead of them. Both Ashiya and Nakatsu are puzzled, and adding to their confusion are Oscar, who arrives singing with his Dorm 3 tenants, and Tennouji, who leads a march with his Dorm 1 tenants. Sawatari soon arrives to clear things up: Another competition between the dormitories is to be held after the exams, the Osaka Gakuen Mid-Term Celebration LIVE! The reward: Whichever dormitory does the best performance in the competition gets free meals for an entire year! Everyone, including Nakatsu, dances in their excitement, while Ashiya reminds the viewers to study hard.

Nakatsu studies for the exams with Ashiya in her dorm room, and he tries to get as close to Ashiya as possible, even telling ‘him’ that physical contact/’skinship’ is very important during study. Sano returns from training, only to see Nakatsu having his arms around Ashiya, who greets Sano as though nothing’s wrong. Ashiya asks him if he should still be training when it’s so near the exam period, with Nakatsu telling him that striking a balance is important as well, but Sano manages to find mistakes in Nakatsu’s work in just one short glance. The trio later study together, but Nakatsu dozes off in the sitting position, holding a pen. Sano, recalling Nakatsu declaring to him of his affection towards Ashiya, smiles and flicks him on the forehead, thus causing Nakatsu to wake up with a start, stumbling off his seat. Nakatsu regains his composure, shouting that he did not fall asleep and that he still has lots of energy left, but immediately dozes off again when his butt lands on his seat. Both Sano and Ashiya laugh at this sight.

The first day of exams arrives, and Class 2-C is having their first paper invigilated by Kitahama. Nakatsu suddenly asks himself what if he gets a perfect score (……), and Sano reminds him that he had been sleeping the entire night when they were supposed to be studying. While the papers are being distributed, in a twist of fate, a piece of paper lands just between Nakatsu’s table and exam paper, without Nakatsu noticing. Kitahama announces the start of the exam, and after moments into the exam, while Kitahama is making his rounds around the classroom, he stops at Nakatsu’s table, noticing a corner of a piece of paper sticking out under Nakatsu’s exam paper. Kitahama pulls it out and realizes it is the study note for the exam paper. He asks the oblivious Nakatsu what is the study note doing on his table, telling him that it is cheating. He tells Nakatsu that they will talk about this in the Student Disciplinary Room after the end of the exams for the day.

In the Student Disciplinary Room, Kitahama interrogates Nakatsu regarding the cheating incident, but Nakatsu is unable to explain himself, only telling Kitahama that he does not know anything about the study note, which Kitahama obviously does not believe. Sawatari, who has been watching them, tells Kitahama to leave this matter until the exam period is over and dismisses Nakatsu, but before Nakatsu leaves, Kitahama tells him that it is not the end of everything yet. Nakatsu returns to the classroom to find his fellow Dorm 2 classmates waiting for him, asking if he requires their help in the cheating incident. Nakatsu is touched by their actions, and Sano hands him the study notes he had help compile for their Physics exam the next day. A seriously touched Nakatsu ‘cries’ on Sano, to the amusement of everyone. They leave the school compound, meeting Nakao, who has been waiting at the gates, worrying about Nakatsu as well. As they make their way back to the dormitory, Ashiya looks back at the school and sees Kitahama looking out of a window at them.

Back in the Student Disciplinary Room, Kitahama recalls on an incident which someone was stabbed, and he looks depressed at this recollection. Umeda visits him in the room, and being their first meeting, Umeda comments that it is true that Kitahama is good-looking, then gropes his ass. Kitahama tells him that he is not into such a hobby, and Umeda looks at him intently in the eyes, then removing his spectacles, saying that they are foggy. Returning them to Kitahama after wiping them, Umeda tells him that he will not be able to see the true forms of the students if he continues to see them through those glasses of his. Umeda takes his leave, and Kitahama ponders over his words.

In the meeting rooms of Dorm 1 and 3, Nanba and Nakao spies on the tenants, who are practicing their respective performances for the competition. Dorm 1 does a performance involving baseball players due to a pun in the names, while Dorm 2 practices a children song. Back in the cafeteria, Dorm 2 decides that the the other 2 dorms are of no threat at all, and starts to discuss on their own performance. After several lousy suggestions, Ashiya, seeing the dejected Nakatsu, proposes a band, and everyone in Dorm 2 agrees, including a revitalised Nakatsu. In Room 205, Nakatsu and Ashiya are studying together again. Ashiya is listening to a learning cassette for English, closing her eyes in concentration. Nakatsu sees this and starts to imagine things and self-act again, only this time Sano, who returns from training, is watching in disbelief. Nakatsu decides on his own to give a push to Ashiya into accepting a forbidden relationship with him and tries to kiss ‘him’, but he is knocked out cold by Sano with a hit to the back of his neck. Sano leaves Nakatsu lying at a corner of the room, and Ashiya notices the return of Sano, and that Nakatsu is lying on the floor, twitching. Sano tells her that he is sleeping.

It is the last day of exams, and the final paper is finally over. Everyone is cheering at the end of their ’suffering’, and in the midst of it, Kitahama goes to Nakatsu, telling him to go back to the Student Disciplinary Room to continue the investigation on the cheating case. After both of them have left the classroom, someone from the class suggests that perhaps Nakatsu really did cheat during the exams, and a dispute is started between the students of Class 2-C. That evening, Ashiya gathers everyone in the cafeteria, and Noe introduces another new invention of his, a robot that would be able to detect the one guilty of framing Nakatsu. However, the dorms start to fight among one another again due to suspicions against one another. Nakatsu arrives in the cafeteria, only to find out that everyone is fighting now because of him. An apologetic Nakatsu apologises and leaves the cafeteria, and Ashiya follows him, expressing her concern over the matter, but Nakatsu cheerfully tells ‘him’ to worry about ‘himself’ first.

The scores of their exams are released and the students compare their scores with one another, displaying a distinct separation between the dorms more than before. Nakatsu walks past and someone from Dorm 1 asks ‘Cheater’ Nakatsu his score, which Nakatsu, putting a strong front, cheerfully announces to be zero, the lowest score in the entire level. The rehearsals for the Celebration LIVE start, and Dorm 1 puts up a festival performance. However, during the rehearsal, Kitahama arrives, telling them to stop all these nonsense of celebrating after the exams when not everyone had done well for the exams, even threatening them to announce their scores to everyone. Dorm 1 immediately leaves at Kitahama’s orders. Nanba tries to talk his way out with Kitahama, but immediately asks Dorm 2 to evacuate when Kitahama tells him to be prepared to stay back for another year if he continues to be defiant. Only Ashiya, Nakatsu, and Sekime remain. Dorm 3 continues their rehearsal, but gets the hint to disappear after seeing the disappeared crowd and Kitahama.

Akiha visits Umeda regarding the news about the postponed celebration, and explaining her purpose of visit to Osaka Gakuen again: To make a photo album for the students. She tells Umeda not to worry for she’s not interested in him, but she surprising kisses Umeda on the chek, to his disgust. Back in the classroom, several of Dorm 2 tenants are practicing their band performance on a guitar, while asking one another how long the celebration are going to be postponed. Kitahama enters the classroom, and upon seeing the guitar, he once again recalls the stabbing incident, and in a fit of rage, he snatches the guitar and throws it down the window, smashing it. He then shouts to the class that if they should be studying instead of wasting their time on useless things like these, and to listen to whatever he says.

At the school garden, Sano finds Nakatsu on his own, troubled. Sano tells him that he should share his troubles if he regards him as his friend. Nakatsu then tells Sano everything that happened during the meeting with Kitahama: Kitahama had asked Nakatsu to write a reflection letter, stating that he had cheated during the exam, but Nakatsu refused to do so. Kitahama then threatened Nakatsu that he would be suspended both from school and his soccer club, thus putting Nakatsu in a difficult position, as he would not be able to play in the District Preliminary matches. Ashiya, who is passing by, heard everything and goes up to the both of them, telling Nakatsu that she will talk to the Principal about the case, but Nakatsu tells ‘him’ it is okay, for he decides he will write the letter to just to be able to play in the soccer matches……

Inagaki Gorou（稲垣 吾郎） as Kitahama Noboru（北浜 昇）

All hyped up for the Osaka Gakuen Mid-Term Celebration LIVE!!!

Nakatsu takes another step towards getting closer to Ashiya

The trio study together for their exams…

…but Nakatsu surprises the others with his incredible ability to doze off while sitting

Kitahama catches Nakatsu cheating ‘red-handed’

An interrogation by Kitahama and Sawatari

Dorm 2 tenants show their support in their belief in Nakatsu’s innocence

A murder involved…?

Umeda sets his sights on the suave Kitahama

Dorm 1 decides on a performance involving baseball…

…while Dorm 2 decides on a children song and dance

Final decision of Dorm 2: A band performance

Sano sneak-attacks on Nakatsu, who is trying to kiss Ashiya

Another (useless) invention of Noe’s, under the request of Ashiya

A まつり/Matsuri performance by Dorm 1, all donning festival outifts

Dorm 2 matches their performance with their costumes

Akiha kisses Umeda!!!

Nakatsu finally shares his troubles with Sano and Ashiya

Snapshot of the episode!

The Sakura Committee/Kaoukai（花桜会）, led by…天道 総司 (Tendou Souji)!?

Next week: Sano’s father makes his appearance! And Nakatsu confesses to Ashiya!?