Childhood Friend Wants Him To Be Her Fake Boyfriend - Manga Recap

the manga opens with our hero masachi mizono watching an anime where a childhood friend is battling to become the protagonist's love interest suddenly he hears a cheer behind him it's his own childh and friend too karumi excitedly rooting for the characters to end up together she sigh lamenting how the childhood friend character never gets the appreciation she deserves msii glances at karumi thinking of her chilling around like a lazy seal they've been neighbors since they were kids practically growing up as siblings he wonders if having a girl in his room should make him feel more

excited but it doesn't karumi is so laid-back and carefree that those feelings just aren't there she starts teasing him pointing out how unpopular he is at school while she boasts about how she's the complete opposite super popular msii couldn't care less he turns back to what he was doing tuning her out as she continues bragging about her popularity he can't rap in head around the idea of her being so popular but he can't confirm it either since they've been going to different schools since high school karumi keeps going on about it saying that since MSI

doesn't have any friends at school there's no way he has a girlfriend embarrassed masii tries to explain that he just doesn't have time for that he's too busy with video games and nna karumi seems satisfied with that answer and since they were already talking about school msii remembers that classes start next week but karumi tries to change the subject to video games clearly wanting to avoid talking about school and they end up spending the night having fun playing when classes start Michi is flipping through one of his books when he hears a familiar voice in

the back of the room it's karumi turns out they ended up in the same class Michi is kind of stunned by how much karumi shines in public later while he's buying a drink from the vending machine he overhears some girls Whispering that a boy from The Soccer Club is planning to confess to karumi in the hallway he hears boys talking about how cute she is even in the bathroom two guys are excited because one of them got to talk to her back in the class A girl compliments kari's hair color and says she wants to

do something similar to her own hair karumi agrees it would look great Michi is confused wondering if they're talking about the same karumi then sand suraya gives a book to Michi and calls him which he doesn't like suraya remarks how cruel that is anding he respect msii more if he tried to be a bit more careful msii warns him that the environment feels different from middle school it's changed sad agrees and goes on to explain how all the boys attend a dull school where the gray days seem endless he asked msii if he came to

this school because he wants to experience things like that but msii doesn't agree with him seraya wants them to work hard together but msii tells him to do it himself his passionate gaze is fixed on karumi noting that surugaya teases him that he has already set his sights High msii doesn't agree especially after hearing that several guys are already waiting to confess their feelings to karumi San he understands what's going on with her but still can't imagine they're talking about the same person suraya suggests that he should start seeing karumi from a different perspective mide

she thinks it's better not to tell people their childhood friends as they would ask too many questions about her surugaya is talking about other girls but masii isn't listening the scene shifts to his room where he's playing a game where his character is already dead it's a game karumi wanted to play with him he gets up to go to the Mart and thinks about the challenges they'll face at the end of the month he sees karumi and asks if she's still out so late she responds telling him not to act like her dad and that

she only stays out late when she's with urur Chan and her other friends she asked about his day and he agrees it was fine then she teases him by asking if he likes her too mentioning if he is falling for her as well he jokes about whether she needs him to take a picture of her at home to share with everyone she tells him to mind his own business he mentions that he tried the game and she yells reminding him it's the one she told him they should play together he admits he's not very good

at it because the game is difficult and he keeps dying she replies it's because they haven't spent time in her room in a while she wants to to go now but it's already late they decide to do it the next day he tells her he'll see her tomorrow and she wishes him a good night back in his room he thinks that for someone who stays up late she sure stands her ground the scene shifts to class where everyone is talking and gossiping but Michi remains quiet after school he heads to tornado the store it's Saturday

night early in the morning and the stock hasn't been decided yet he has no choice but to line up tomorrow morning just then someone calls him and asks if the bag is from tornado the one near the station karumi remarks he made a cute girl wait and asks if you got anything he replies that she's the only one who made him wait otherwise he would have already gone home if she hadn't called she smiles and says surprise he jokes back saying it's just a neighbor across the street she corrects him saying she's not just any

neighbor but a super cute one he' ask what they're going to do now and she suggests they take take a walk they head to the river bank and sit down masaki remembers when he used to play by this River as a kid with karumi she asks him what's been going on today she mentions that she hasn't been hanging out with him lately because she thought he'd feel lonely msii assures her that she doesn't need to worry about that especially if that is the reason he'd been in his room playing a game she asked if anything

happened at school she brings up that someone in class called her during lunch asking if she'd had taken and her boyfriend when he asks for more details she explains that lately whenever she's out with her friends there's always some nosy guy around one of them even comments that she can't tell if one of them is her boyfriend karumi adds that she clarified but she still doesn't quite understand he says it can't be helped and it wasn't intentional she admits she's been dealing with a lot of problems msii feeling like her childhood friend wants to do

something to help her but if it's love what can you do so he asked her to suggest something she reminds him that they'd known each other since they were kids then she suddenly asks if he wants to go out with her which makes both of them blush msii feels confused by what she just said and asks if she likes him she's caught off guard but explains that she does because it gives her a chance to spend time with him after school and during holidays he points out that they barely hang out these days she replies

as expected he must feel lonely he quickly clarifies that not what he meant then she suggests they pretend to be a couple msii is startled and asks what she means she explains that it would be fun to hang out freely and it would also keep other guys from bothering her he still can't believe it and repeats in disbelief wondering if she really means a fake couple karumi nods and insists on her idea but Michi tells her it's impossible leaving her surprised when she asks for his reasoning he explains that what she's proposing feels strange to

him msii flat out refuses catching her off guard she tries to convince him by saying she would fend off all the guys wanting to confess to her however he can't help but think that since he's never been in a real relationship everyone would immediately see that they're Faking It Plus pretending like this would eat up all his free time karumi notices his hesitation and asks if he's in love with someone MSI denies it but karumi getting desperate insists that nothing would change between them even if they pretended to be a couple she acknowledges that other

guys might get mad if they found out msii was dating her which only makes him more determined to refuse just as msii is about to turn her down he notices how worried karumi looks almost on the verge of tears before he can speak she interrupts him and offers him a deal she brings up the stack of cards he couldn't get the other day and Promises to help him wait in line for the limited edition box if he agrees msii Amazed by this offer can't resist and agrees without thinking twice as they walk home they chat

about the cards and karumi is back to her usual upbeat self msii is still uneasy about the whole situation but karumi tries to lighten the mood reminding him that since they'd known each other longer than most couples they should have no issues msii starts thinking about how much he really wants those cards and seeing karumi so happy can't bring himself to say no karumi is also excited to get his help as her fake boyfriend later that night karumi gets out of the shower flops onto her bed and hugs her pillow feeling a mix of excitement

and embarrassment she just confessed to a side sheet but not in the way she wanted she tells herself she doesn't have romantic feelings for him but since he's her childhood friend and Adventure buddy pretending to be a couple feels like the best way to spend more time together now calmer she looks forward to what's coming excited about spending more time with msii but she's also a bit anxious about how this fake relationship might unfold on their way back home karumi informs him that she's already told her friends that they're dating and they all seem to

believe her msii on the other hand is still worried about what the other guys think but the thought of that limited edition box keeps him going she pushes the couple act further by suggesting they do activities that couples normally do walking home together is a start but it's not enough for her she proposes holding each other's hands sharing a pair of headphon phones and just hanging out he finds this funny since they've done that countless times before but he goes along with it the opening theme of The Season's new anime is playing through the headphones

and Michi is enjoying the music that's when he realizes she's inching closer surprising him they've taken opposite ends of the headphones meaning they have to sit super close to keep them from falling out a group of girls walks past Michi and karumi glancing at them and assuming there are a couple wishing they could spend time like that with their own boyfriends Michi immediately shakes his head aggressively yanking kari's earphones out in the process she yells at him pointing out that the chorus was just about to start and quickly realizes that he's embarrassed about doing couple

like things in public she teases him about it but he tries to excuse himself saying the cable is too short and they should switch the headphones sideways instead karumi smirks telling him she gave him that side on purpose so they have to sit closer she continues teasing him enjoying how flustered he gets then she comes up with a game if msii can't do a normal couple things he'll get a punishment she's thinking of something simple like making him buy her candy and dares him to accept the challenge msii not wanting to back down agrees the

first thing she does is call him by a cute nickname Makin which leaves him speechless she laughs and reminds him that as her boyfriend he should come up with one for her too masii struggles to think of one mumbling something too quietly for her to hear he finds it embarrassing to call each other by pet names karumi teases him again warning him about the punishment for not acting like a real couple embarrassed but determined msii tries his best to say the nickname out loud karumi getting closer urges him to say it again but when a

group of kids walks by she gets flustered too and quickly changes the subject to the weather saii seizing the moment Strikes Back by calling her by the nickname TN in front of a group of passing girls karumi turns bright red but msii keeps doing it teasing her until she loudly complains that it's too embarrassing later she apologizes for pushing him so much they agree to add a new rule to their fake relationship no more fighting over nicknames from now on they'll just call each other by their normal names like usual karumi has some things she

wants to tell msii under the Cherry blossoms but he thinks all these coupl like activities feel unnecessary plus it seems like people around him are getting jealous now that he's supposedly dating karumi San they're all saying how lucky he is to be going out with someone like her and they can't help but wish they could date a cute girl like that too masii tosses the ball which surprises suraya and he mentions that the ever adored karumi has a boyfriend now msai he comments that rumors have even spread to other schools seraya jokes that he is

the hero of all the lovers msii laughs musing that the rumors are spreading faster than expected just as they planned kari's popularity is no joke then the scene shifts to masaki's older sister Serena she mentions that she heard about them dating and brought them some pudding karoni asks where she heard that and Serena states that she overheard people talking about it in the city mentioning how a beautiful girl from Moko has a boyfriend msii feels a wave of nervousness when she asks if the rumors are true suddenly she shouts inquiring whether they're actually dating she

admits she's just curious about the kind of guy Toro Chan would choose msii can't help but question why she had to pick someone like him remarking that both his looks and personality are pretty average at best karoni answers instead questioning how she could be so cruel to her own brother then with a smile she confirms their dating adding that she's genuinely happy to be with msii and enjoys spending time time with him she asks Oni Chan to take care of her from now on hearing this Serena hugs her so excitedly showing happiness for her msii

feels a bit anxious hearing all of this but also relieved that karumi can say it so openly even if it makes him feel a little awkward Serena then mentions the cherry blossom Legend and asks if they've heard of it karumi admits she hasn't Serina explains that it's one of the seven wonders of mokahi supposedly if a couple confesses their love under the big cherry tree behind the school they'll be together for the rest of their lives karumi shrugs saying she's never heard of that while Michi jokes it might just be an old urban legend Serena

teases msii asking if he's looking for a fight after all this time and Michi laughs saying he just wants to play video games instead karumi however is curious even though she doesn't believe in the legend she thinks it would be fun to try she asked msii to be her boyfriend to avoid unnecessary problems but still she is curious about how it feels to have a real relationship she mentions to msii that they should go there to look more like a real couple she doesn't want her friends to ask if she's already been there with her

boyfriend and have no answer realizing she might have said too much she admits she's being a bit selfish but doesn't know what she'll do if he rejects her after contemplating for a moment he agrees to her making her excited he gets up to head to the tree while this kindness impresses karumi they both head out carefully making their way to the spot there's no one around when they arrive she notices masagi is acting a bit strange and teases him saying he might be nervous because they're in a couple spot msii is definitely nervous but denies

it she then asks if they are supposed to talk about love under this cherry tree masii caught offg guard repeats love karumi reminds him that it's his turn and Michi asks what she means she explains that according to the rules the boyfriend has to go first msii is confused because he's never heard of such a rule she urges him to hurry up saying they just need to exchange a quick love message with each other feeling even more nervous msii awkwardly blurts out that he lost his pencil trying to dodge the moment karumi however insists it's

still his turn saying he'll be punished if he doesn't get it right finally msii says that he likes her and that he loves her his sudden confession catches karumi offg guard leaving her blushing and confused she knows they're just pretending to be a couple but michi's words sound so serious flustered karumi responds that she likes him too admitting for the first time to anyone that she has feelings for Michi she feels weird but Michi looks incredibly happy he tries to switch the topic suddenly rambling about how the manga 11 is his favorite and how it

sequels just keep getting better karumi still caught in the moment is slightly confused by the sudden change of subject Michi remarks that they're supposed to be discussing love under the cherry tree which is why he expressed his feelings for suraku karumi growing slightly annoyed tellson it would make more sense if they actually talked about love itself UNF Michi casually suggests that she could try reading fced instead if she's not a fan of sycu frustrated she backs off realizing things aren't the way she had hoped afterward there sitting in class when karumi asked asks if she

left her clothes at his house and when he confirms it a nearby guy overhears quickly telling his friend that she's already leaving clothes at michi's Place thinking it's too soon for that as they walk away another guy mentioned seeing them the other day and noting that they weren't even holding hands he points out that Michi was walking so fast that it looked like he was leaving karumi San behind it seems to everyone around them that their relationship just started but there's something strange about how they act together msii realizes that people are watching them and

feels like he's let his guard down they've been acting too much like childhood friends which is drawing attention since msii isn't used to being the center of attention he becomes uneasy he knows that if he doesn't handle things carefully their fake relationship might be exposed despite his discomfort suraya reassures him implying that most people are probably just jealous and offers his support msii appreciates the support but is confused when suraya jokes that his happiness might come from spending time with karumi and their friends the comment leaves masii questioning their friendship as he doesn't recall ever

considering surugaya a close friend meanwhile surugaya insists that they've always been like soulmates bonding over anime for as long as he can remember leaving Michi amused but slightly baffled he says he wants to check if karumi is the right fit for him and questions whether it's okay to introduce him to some of her friends she arrives fully backing this idea leaving Michi confused as she seems to be playing along with the whole situation she mentions talking with urora Chan and starts insisting on introducing him as her boyfriend msii a bit annoyed plays along with the

idea suggesting they be cautious so they don't get found out karumi agrees and soon everyone is gathered during their break she mentions that since they're in the same class introductions might feel a bit odd but still she proudly presents herself as michi's girlfriend Saraya responds already familiar with karumi San and thanks her for taking care of msii saying it's a pleasure to meet her karumi suggests that since they're all classmates they should get along well msii nervously introduces himself mentioning that he recently started dating karumi eurora one of kurumi's friends since middle school watches msii

closely evaluating him he feels like he's being judged Jed especially as urora continues to observe him with a serious expression he wonders how they're supposed to handle this situation and the pressure makes him feel awkward surrounded by a group of girls suraya briefly thinks about how cool it would be even if there weren't an equal number of boys and girls he contemplates how it might have been fun even if they had more girls in the group but urora quickly reminds him it wouldn't make sense without msii around feeling slightly flustered he is glad that he

brought up surugaya and the conversation moves on msii reflects on how despite coming from an all boy school he is too confident to talk to girls he believes that if they keep up this act they might just get through this situation without raising too many suspicions they're quietly passing food around and thanking each other for it when surugaya suddenly yells stopping msii in his tracks he questions what he just witnessed pointing out that it didn't seem like a normal exchange of food between friends msii feel feels confused but he remarks that the way they naturally

shared food made it seem like they had been together for years he would give Toro his last piece of fried shrimp her favorite and she would always remove the tomatoes from his meal because she knew he didn't like them their actions seemed so casual and unconscious like they had been doing it forever almost as if they were an old married couple this sudden realization hits Michi and he knows they have to be careful not to give away too much he tries to explain that he simply likes fried shrimp and karumi backs him up mentioning they've

talked about it before but urora isn't convinced even though MSI tries to brush it off he starts to feel like they're being watched more closely than ever yur also notes that despite the two of them supposedly dating now Toyo never mentioned mizono before she's suspicious of how suddenly their relationship developed msii realizing the situation is getting worse feels like he's about to be completely exposed karuni asks why eurora would doubt their affection but she is determined to find out if their relationship is real and warns them that she'll be asking a lot of questions from

now on with nerves High ur's first question comes when are each other's birthdays msii and karumi brace for what's next when asked Michi says his birthday is September 9th and karumi is May 1st he mentions he's blood type O while she's type A he feels relieved noting the questions have been surprisingly normal so far urora however isn't done yet her next question takes a more personal turn when they sleep which way do they turn both Michi and karumi are taken aback by the question's level of intimacy karumi thinks uroid is going a bit too far

and MSI silently agrees he wonders what's the point of asking such specific details but he answers anyway saying that karumi sleeps facing the right while she responds that msii sleeps on his back not satisfied ur's next question gets even weirder when they shower which part of their body do they wash first msai and karumi are both stunned thinking that these questions are starting to become really strange urera insists that if they don't answer it will raise suspicion about the legitimacy of their relationship msii recalls how back in elementary school they used to bathe together because

it was convenient for their parents so without much hesitation he says he starts with his right arm karumi adding to the awkwardness mentions that he used to wet the bed quite often which is why he got used to starting with that part of his body mide he quickly stops her from sharing any more embarrassing details urora smirks stating that since she has been with karumi during every school trip she already knows these answers she points out that while they haven't been dating for long their answers make it clear that they are close msii feeling even

more trapped wonders how this turned into such an uncom comfortable situation so quickly seraya playfully brings up how surprising it is that karumi is progressing so fast with msii hinting that their relationship might be more serious than anyone expected in the middle of all this tension he challenges them to share food as a couple would insinuating that it's a test of their relationship this shocks both of them and He suggests that since they've already bathed together in the past an indirect kiss shouldn't be a big deal both Michi and karumi freeze really realizing where this

is headed both nervous comply with what he said karuni offers him a bite of her food and msii hesitantly accepts after the exchange both are blushing and urora can't help but comment on how cute they are together Saray remarks how it's clear that msii has grown fond of karumi though she is puzzled by what he means urara who's been watching all this unfold acknowledges that at least it's evident they're more than just friends now msii wonders if she believes them now even if she continues to hie them suspiciously from afar at school karumi remarks on

the beautiful view noting how the place proudly calls itself the school by the Sea despite being a public school it boasts a fancy cafeteria mostly frequented by couples he asks why she brought her here joking that it feels like a strategy meeting to fool everyone he guesses that it's about their relationship again and she nods he mentions that if it were only about their relationship they they could have just met in his room but karumi admits it's hard to focus at home she then shows him some social media posts from their classmates confessing she's unsure

what else to do msii mentions that Yuro Chan had doubts the other day and believes that things would have been easier if they were just childhood friends turned lovers but she told everyone to back off for a bit so they could figure things out themselves things would get even more complicated if people found out they'd been childhood friends all along msii didn't expect too to be so popular and kept quiet about it because he didn't want anyone getting involved then she suggests going to the mall this weekend kind of like a date msii mishar and

thinks she said death but quickly realizes she actually said date leaving him confused he wonders why she'd call it that since he always thought dates were just when the girl buys a bunch of things and the guy ends up carrying everything karumi teases him for having a weird view of dating reminding him that he even gave up his favorite wallet because he read online that using a simple one was tacky she tells him they don't really feel like a couple yet so they should start going on more dates to get the hang of it msii

is not too keen on the whole dating thing but karumi mentions there's a raffle at a store for cars he wants and that grabs his attention he suddenly remembers the whole point of their fake relationship was so she go with him to that TCG card raffle karumi prefers going out in the afternoon but she reluctantly agrees to go with him early in the morning for the raffle msii feeling a bit annoyed thinks she's got him wrapped around her finger but he's determined to do anything for that limited edition box set then when he meets her

later he looks at her and is caught off guard by how pretty she looks realizing he's used to seeing her in sweatshirts with messy hair she tells him that since they're going out he should dress a bit more stylishly confused Michi asks what she means and she says he should wear what he normally wears when hanging out with friends he glances at her outfit and asks if she's talking about what he's wearing now karumi replies that those clothes are already out of season MSI hadn't even noticed she was dressed so casually karumi says this current

look suits her and msii wonders if he's already acting like a boyfriend he denies it saying he just thought she looked cute which makes her blush she thanks him and asks where they're going msai still surprised by how casually he complimented her thinks about how he said it like they were playing some kind of punishment game but even with all that he can't help but notice how pretty she looks he Ponders complimenting each other's outfits at the start of a date is exactly what real couples do karumi points out that Michi dressed just like he

always does and ask why he hasn't dressed nicely he explains that this is his battle outfit since the card shop they're going to his small he wants to be prepared and doesn't want to be outdone by the other customers it's a real Battlefield convinced by the clear skies he agrees while she excitedly declares that today is perfect for their date Michi feels anxious about tomorrow's raffle but twero encourages him sheering him on to win it she then mentions that her friends have been asking what kind of dates they go on and she doesn't have much

to tell them msii asks for some suggestions karumi checks her phone and shares some ideas like picking out clothes for each other sharing a par fate at a cafe and talking about their future pet in a pet shop masii Chuckles saying the last one is oddly specific karumi suggests they start with the clothing store and he agrees even though he's not super into fashion but karumi seems totally motivated to make this date work so he feels he has to step up too they joke around trying to pick out outfits when karumi notices he's still hesitant

she points to the clothes and asked if he can handle looking at that she also mentions that going to arcades is another popular date idea msii says he's not sure about that but the itch to give it a try doesn't go away he decides he's okay with the date plan they came up with earlier and karumi suggests they try it again next time she cheers him on for the game they're about to play and Michi responds that it's his dream to try out the arcade version at least once karumi makes things interesting by saying that

whoever loses has to treat the other to ice cream msai accepts her Challenge and the race begins karumi starts calling him names like reincarnated demon Slug and Bug candidate but Michi tells her not to hit below the belt in the end they just end up doing their usual childhood friend banter when Michi wins karumi pouts and complains that it's not fair confused he asks what she means and in response she quickly counters and beats him Michi feeling caught off guard asks if that's really something a girlfriend would do he's genuinely annoyed at him self for

letting it happen she asked if they'll try again next time in the end they both get more into the game msii ask what she wants to do next and she says the prizes are hard to win so it's probably cheaper just to buy them he teases her asking if she's giving up on the romantic gestures but she denies it saying that's not the case she admits that realistically while the stuffed animal is cute its price is definitely not she trips and accidentally hugs him she then grabbs grabs his hand which confuses him he asks the

reason for hugging him she replies it's so adorable that he should just buy it for her msii says no reminding her that it'll be cheaper to just purchase it then she tells him to look behind him it's Mayo Chan and some other girls from their class he realizes that since they're in casual clothes they have no choice but to act like a couple MSI tells her to leave it to him and she cheers him on with that he quickly shifts gears because it's an emergency he asked if she's really okay with the plushy the other

girl comments that there are a bunch of figures based on his W you around the corner karumi admits that she'd actually preferred those and he agrees saying he doesn't even have space in his room for more things karumi adds that she doesn't have anywhere to put it either unlike his closet which is stuffed she asked if he knew she was going to borrow some clothes when she saw him then asks how much she spent msid she says it wasn't that much he got a little hooked at the time she jokes that he's running out of

space and wonders why he wants such a big plushy she offers to leave it in his room and when he questions if she's using his room for storage she agrees she gets her way in the end and he thanks her he jokes that it could double as a pillow karumi is happy they got such a cute souvenir to mark their first date and feels like she was right it almost felt like a real date for a moment she admits she had fun he reflects on whether this can really be called the date as they end

up doing their usual routine though it feels familiar they take some pictures as proof and she seems satisfied with just that having enjoyed herself a lot he wonders if she feels like something is missing but brushes it off when she suggests they hold hands at first he's taken a back but when she adds this is what couples do then he quickly goes along with it realizing that this isn't how kids hold hands it feels different and he wonders if this is how couples do it for her it seems fine since they're pretending to be a

couple anyway and it brings back memories of their childhood he recalls how they used to hold hands all the time playing by the river and catching crabs which they took care of at michi's house they were like little caretakers though she used to do most of the work he remembers how they always ended up with a strange smell after playing but he loved it even though she wanted to leave the crabs behind as they walk along he notices how little has changed between them yet something about holding her hand still still feels new later karumi

shares with her friend that she went on a date and her friends excitedly talk about bowling with the basketball Club boys eager to join in on the fun then they ask about her date to which karumi reflects on how even though others don't see msi's good points she's the only one who truly knows him that little bit of goodness makes all the difference for her back home Michi proudly shows off the limited edition deck he won feeling proud of himself he offers to buy karumi whatever she's craving and she happily suggests a few snacks he

laughs thinking about how hard it is to quit sweets like chocolate and how he's also trying to give up soda despite all that he's ready to buy her whatever she wants and she sings content with how things have turned out she tells him that his genuine Behavior speaks volumes always knowing what he wants and staying true to his beliefs which makes him truly radiant he wonders why she's bringing this up now but she just brushes it off as a compliment she quickly changes the subject thinking about how she also wants some tamagoyaki which he likes

and wants to buy as she tries to remember something else she wanted to say she suddenly recalls that she's going out with urora and the others he asks if it's been a while since they hung out together and she agrees he reassures her saying it'll just be a girl's night but he thinks it's better to keep certain people out of the mix so it doesn't become romantic he's a bit cautious not fully trusting everyone one who will be there and wonders if it's just a regular outing with her friends or if they need to do

a bit more as a couple he offers to help if needed but doesn't want her to get tired of him since they've been spending a lot of time together lately she appreciates his concern noting that they haven't had any problems so far and feels like their plans have been successful despite their easygoing time together he believes they should always be careful she's confused for a moment but laughs and tells him not to look he questions whether there are and if they should feel more embarrassed he keeps wondering when would be the right moment to mention

something but for now he's content with them being in the room together she reassures him that it's just a normal thing for childhood friends even though he's still confused she takes his hand sits him down beside her and remarks that this is exactly what couples would do if they were one she asks him if he knows what happens next and if he wants to give it a try karumi playfully pushes him and they both lock eyes msii realizes that after this he's no longer oblivious to what's happening but what comes next is beyond anything he

could have imagined taking a step forward in a situation like this feels significant he recalls suruga his comment about her school uniform and his eyes are drawn to her impressive figure he holds back realizing he's dealing with Toro yet Everything feels different now he considers this to be a bad sign she's also feeling nervous but knows she can't let him notice if he sees her embarrassed by her own suggestion it would be mortifying she bets that in a real couple when something like this happens they both get even more excited she's heard that when the

atmosphere turns steamy things flown naturally into what comes next leading to an Inseparable childhood friend Dynamic like theirs as they continue to stare at each other she finally says it's enough for now leaving him confused as he asks what she means by enough she explains that since his guard was down it might be too early to take that step but it's not exactly good practice for a seasoned lover she notices his face turning slightly red and asks if he was expecting something he reflects that she's been like this throughout their date completely unphased he can't

figure out how she stays so casual about everything while he feels a mix of relief and frustration she reflects on their earlier Embrace which had felt too intimate as she considers how unexpectedly broad msi's shoulders are she imagines what it would be like like to be fully enveloped in his arms feeling a surprising warmth at the thought she recalls how when they held hands she couldn't help but notice how much he had grown both in stature and presence realizing the weight of her earlier jokes she acknowledges that she shouldn't joke like that she suddenly gets

up and urges him to go shopping again but asks him not to treat her like that this time pointing out that they are not a real couple the next day masii sitting in class when he receives a text from too letting him know that she has something to take care of after school and will be heading out first the teacher announces that everyone needs to hand in their notebooks after class msii thinks about what he should do now realizing it has been a while since he has gone home alone he considers checking for new items

at the bookstore or stretching his legs by hiking over to the card shop by the station as he walks out of school he decides to head home finally having some time to himself but he feels like something is off he reflects on how he has been spending so much time with Toro lately as he walks he spots her walking alone on the road and glances at her secretly wondering if they might go home together if she finishes her errand he questions where she is going and notices her talking to a muscular guy arousing his interest

suddenly a hand appears from behind and grabs his bag catching him off guard he turns around in shock to see Ur Chan standing there staring at him she tells him to stay Sil silent placing a finger on her lips the muscular guy asks karumi if she's quite popular and what she thinks about dating him as Michi observes he wonders if this is a confession karumi responds that it is too sudden since this is their first meeting and she questions why he is interested in her the guy insists it is because she is super hot claiming

that rumors about her beauty have even reached the seniors and that he has heard she may or may not have a boyfriend he boldly asked her to go out with him asserting that if she is with him everyone will recognize him as a couple msii starts to sweat nervously thinking about the audacity of the guy's confession especially knowing she has a boyfriend he wonders if this guy's brain is made of muscles too karumi then walks away saying she feels like the person he imagines isn't the real her and apologizes stating that they are done here

and that she does have a boyfriend hearing this the muscular guy becomes angry and screams that he has heard about her boyfriend claiming he is just a plain looking Wimp And that he is way better than some weak loser he presses the point stepping closer and placing a hand on her shoulder urging her to consider going out with him urur Chan quickly intervenes and slaps his hand away seeing yur's reaction karumi is shocked and looks back to see msai Chi standing in a corner as yur Chan screams at the muscular guy demanding he keep his

dirty hands off karumi and tells him to go away the guy glares at her but finds her angry face intimidating making him run away at lightning speed once he is gone karumi asks urura if she followed her there urara feeling a bit nervous stutters that she just came to get her bike and happen to see her she argues that Yura Chan takes the train to school suggesting she could have just told her what happened afterward urera then runs away screaming that she was just worried about her she approaches asaii angrily asking why he didn't do

anything questioning if he is supposed to be the one protecting karumi if he is actually her boyfriend karumi rushes toward them calling out for urora but she quickly walks away feeling downcast karumi explains that she simply wanted to thank urora she then turns to msii and asks what he's doing there he nervously responds that he was just grabbing his bike but she points out that he usually walks home frustrated she accuses them of of being terrible Liars after that they begin walking together karumi explains that a girl in their class wanted to discuss something with

her and arranged to meet there however she was surprised to find the guy instead she suspects the sene set this up calling it a waste of time concerned she looks at Michi who walks silently beside her she calls his name and he easly asked if she thinks she should have refused the senior's confession she questions him about the confession insisting it wasn't even one since the guy was alone doing squats when she arrived the first thing he said was that squats are great comparing them to quality time with your muscles karumi finds him strange and

Michi quips that it sounds like something you'd hear before a boss fight baffled by the situation she smiles humorously suggesting a comparison she adds that the guy smelled like cigarettes and declares that delinquents are an automatic no msii agrees saying he's not even worthy of being called a muscle head karumi seriously nods knowing he doesn't seem serious about his muscles at all betraying His Image internally Michi wonders why he feels relieved now when earlier he couldn't take a single Step At Night Michi speaks on the phone with surugaya who confirms that the situation is as

bad as masii fears it weighs on him realizing that if someone like that guy can succeed many others might think they can too after the call he lays down to sleep his mind RAC with thoughts he Ponders why people doubt that he is Toro's boyfriend and feels as if they are denying his very existence he understands the reality he and Toro are like heaven and earth when it comes to the school hierarchy as a couple they don't seem to fit together at all their friendship remains hidden and Toro's otaku hobbies are private matters there appears

to be no visible reason for their closeness and now someone has come along effortlessly breaching the boyfriend defense random guys approaching karumi and wanting to hook up is precisely what she wanted to avoid he recalls sur's advice about reaching out for help and gathering information to build confidence he reflects on how surugaya mentioned that he himself is somewhat of a muscle head laying in bed Michi feels sadness wash over him questioning if he is really supposed to be the one protecting karumi if he truly is her boyfriend lost in thought the sudden loud entrance of

the sister disrupts his contemplation she demands the next volume of manga and is startled by the darkness in the room jokingly asking if he is turned into a fungus frustration bubbles within him as he wishes she would at least knock before barging in she mocks his annoyance assuring him she won't go looking for any embarrassing magazines she teasingly suggests that since he has just hit puberty perhaps something happened with Toro given that their date ended earlier than expected he brushes off her comment insisting that whatever happened is none of her business in response she insists

that it is her business as Toro's older sister she understands why he might feel anxious about having such a cute girlfriend and thinks it's natural for him to be Hol Up in his room considering it she reminds him that karumi has said she loves spending time with him as she gathers multiple additions of manga he pushes her toward the door offering to lend her the whole series she protests insisting she doesn't need all of them he declares his intention to go next door for a bit surprising her but eliciting a smile as she thinks about

their youthful connection as he heads to her house he reflects on how much he loves gaming and reading manga with Toro yet he worries that if he stays with her in his current state it will only lead to more problems for her she steps out curious about why he called her out so late teasingly suggesting he suddenly wants to see his beloved girlfriend he instantly corrects her emphasizing that she's his fake girlfriend he confesses that he's been struggling with the idea of acting like her boyfriend feeling more like a hindrance than a partner earlier that

day he felt completely useless in response she reassures him that it's not his fault and that he shouldn't feel responsible for anything internally he wrestles with what Toro expects from him but tries to focus Gathering his courage he looks at her and calls her name admitting he wants to be a man worthy of her her cheeks flush and she seems taken aback closing her eyes and surprise and asking him to repeat himself he stammers trying to clarify his feelings while acknowledging that he wants to continue their pretend boyfriend relationship breaking free from his thoughts he

asserts that he doesn't want anyone to question his right to be by her side he expresses his desire for her to help him become a suitable boyfriend as he finishes her eyes widen in shock and her cheeks turn Crimson leaving her clearly confused about what he means she wonders if he really just confessed to her but then he quick quickly changes his tone making it clear he's talking about being her fake boyfriend and not crossing any lines he just wants to take his pretend boyfriend roles seriously which makes her a little disappointed she can't help

but think he's overreacting a bit he goes on to admit that he doesn't feel like he can convincingly act like her boyfriend right now neither in how he looks nor how he behaves he asked her to teach him how to be more like her she's confused at first but he explains how despite being a bit of a sweet too otaku she's popular when she's in the spotlight and people genuinely like her he says he wishes he could be more like that she gets it but also knows people talk about them behind their backs now that

they're dating people only see the surface and don't get how great he actually is she asked if he's really sure about this and he quickly assures her that he'll do it his best it's important to him that they start his makeover so they can enjoy their time together without interruptions she's surprised by his seriousness although he leaves room for flexibility saying they don't have to go all out if she's not ready she smiles feeling happy about his commitment inside she's relieved she thought he might want to end their fake couple status instead he's willing to

change for her which catches her off guard she realizes this could be her chance to help him become her ideal guy an idea strikes her why not use the upcoming field trip for his big reveal instead of changing his look immediately and risking awkwardness they could surprise everyone when he shows up in casual clothes with most guys not looking their best it would be the perfect moment for his transformation to shine she's pumped thinking this is the perfect moment to introduce him as her boyfriend he nervously agrees saying he'll follow her lead they've only got

two weeks until the trip so they need to get ready right away as they walk home and say good night they both hold their breath karumi is thrilled she can't believe she gets to make msai into whoever she wants now even though she told him he was fine as he was she's already planning out what to do with his hair and style she lies down excited that the day has finally come when she gets to do this on the other hand Michi is already regretting his decision he wonders what he was even thinking when he

said all that about being his suitable boyfriend he sees this as a dark moment and hopes no one ever finds out about his embarrassing slip up meanwhile karumi checks her phone and reminds herself to get some sleep so she's ready for tomorrow while Michi just sits there stressing over what he's gotten himself into the Michi mizono makeover mission is now in motion aiming to solidify his role as the camouflage boyfriend however it's not without its challenges karoni holding a pair of scissors moves toward masii who immediately panics she carelessly brushes Off This concerns declaring that

his hairstyle is the first thing they need to fix his hair has grown too much and it looks like a helmet dense and unruly her words dampen his spirits though she's unaware of the effect laughing as she plans to give him a fresh clean look to improve his image karumi takes control preparing to cut his hair without hesitation he slowly accepts the situation and instinctively reaches for his phone to make an appointment but kari's frustration grows as she reminds him that as a childhood friend she should be the one to handle this she insists they

should save money where they can given their other shopping plans reluctantly masii agrees sitting still as karumi moves behind him com and scissors in hand ready to begin nervously he gives in telling her to do whatever she needs to do karumi reassures him that she often cuts her own hair and has done so without him ever noticing still msii can't help but feel anxious as she works twitching in his seat she' assures him she won't drastically change his appearance but needs to trim a significant amount from the back of his neck despite his nerves msii

braces himself for the transformation trusting kari's casual confidence as she Snips away at his hair she starts cutting michi's hair and as she continues his concern grows he squirms in his seat unsure if there's any hair left on the back of his head she firmly holds him in place pulling his head close to her causing him to blush deeply the proximity flusters him and is his face turns red as he tries to subtly move his head away breathing out softly karumi refocuses bringing his face back towards her and reassuring him that she's almost finished as

she Snips away with every cut she shyly expresses her appreciation adding a final touch before announcing that she's done msii panics about his calic feeling like it's been ruined and expresses his frustration karumi however remains calm and brushes it off thinking she has fixed it his his Panic only intensifies as he wonders if she messed up his haircut she quickly grabs a mirror to show him the results and he is left in shock at the transformation the next day at school Michi walks to his class catching the attention of everyone around him his new haircut

leaves his classmates in a state of surprise though he feels a bit gloomy despite looking noticeably better he approaches his desk noticing the shock in his classmates faces as they Shuffle aside to give him space as he sits down he overhears them Whispering about how he looks realizing they'd noticed his new haircut cold sweat runs down his back as he feels like all eyes are on him wondering if his appearance looks weird he still questions whether there's hair left on the back of his head suddenly karumi bursts into the classroom slamming the door open and

greeting everyone with her usual energy as she approaches her friends they start whispering to her and masachi watches from a distance she then then turns to him her cheeks slightly blushing giving him a thumbs up in silent approval of his new look the Michi maono makeover Mission seems to have cleared its first hurdle he chose to go through with the change but he remains just as bad at standing out as always the scene shifts to msii reflecting on what's next after his haircut fashion is the next step and they find themselves at the mall once

again as they enter the store he notes that while this place doesn't make him nervous it still feels a bit underwhelming Toyo teases him suggesting they're not yet ready for the brand name stores on the first floor which frustrates msai Chi he snaps back at her annoyed by the Casual nickname she's using for him they begin browsing with msii feeling that the whole experience is anticlimactic karumi explains that she even comes to this kind of outlet store for loungewear while he tries to defend his casual wardrobe however she cuts him off calling his clothes tacky

she emphasizes the importance of proper sizing pointing out that the sizing is all wrong on his usual outfits and suggests they avoid pants with patterns on the back pockets he protests claiming he's always been a size M but she insists that sizes vary and he needs to try on everything with a pile of clothes thrown at him she instructs him to try on black skinny jeans and a white T-shirt he hesitates asking her to close the curtain as he changes to which she teases him about their fake relationship causing him to get even more flustered

despite his frustration he insists she stops peing inside the dressing room Michi grows more annoyed thinking about how she always acts like a kid the skinny jeans feel too tight and as he struggles she pops her head in again explaining that's what skinny means shocked he stumbles and yells at her but she brushes it off and points out his zipper Miki wonders why he has to embarrass himself like this when he finally steps out she admires his look complimenting his thin frame and deciding the black skinny jeans suit him well she eagerly suggests pairing the

outfit with a cap and continues encouraging him to try out different poses much to his annoyance despite her teasing she insists she's taking the makeover seriously explaining how excited she is to help him pick clothes masii though still flustered reluctantly accepts her enthusiasm karumi shyly adds that this whole experience feels like they're a real couple making msii even more flustered he admits he doesn't know what a real couple feels like unsure of how to respond to her suggestion after completing their shopping she announces that his wardrobe for the school trip is now sorted and MSI

heads back to change wondering if these simple clothes are really enough he reflects on kum's earlier comment about wanting to make her boyfriend look cool and reminds himself to emphasize the fake nature of their relationship as they leave the shop karumi asks how they're doing with funds and and he tells her he has about 10,000 Yen left she advises him to save it for accessories and skincare items leaving him thinking about how challenging real life can be just as she turns to ask him something he prepares to speak as well she lets him go first

and msii admits he'd like to find a hat to match his new clothes despite feeling tired amused karumi asks if his fashion sense has finally awakened msii reminds her it was her idea to get a hat in the first place he's just curious about how his final look will turn out was she agrees to look for a hat on the third floor msii can't help but wonder what to was about to discuss with him earlier I [Music] am about my love here I stand I know I walked away had to find a person i' become