A Condition Called Love (花野井くんと恋の病)

Okay, serious question.

What does love mean to you?

To me, it's like this sacred gift,

one you reserve for just your soulmate.

So, uh, maybe you need more love

than I can give right now.

Or maybe...

it's that you and I weren't meant to be soulmates.

Are you trying to blame this on me?

Uh oh, sounds like a breakup fight.

Because if so, then don't.

Hold on, I don't know the girl...

but isn't that Hananoi?

? No, you're not hearing me.

Hananoi who?

Are you kidding, Hotaru?

No way?

He's the tall, hot guy in the class next door

that everyone says is in the ninety-ninth percentile?

What?

Do you pay attention in school at all?

How do you not know him?

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's hard enough for me to remember the names

of everybody in my own class much less one I'm not even in.

What do you mean it's December!

Oh please!

Good luck trying to find anyone of quality

who will put up with your load of crap!

Just goes to show you even hot guys get

their hearts broken sometimes, huh?

How could you say something like that

to someone you had strong feelings for?

Haven't you heard that a love that strong

can become an even stronger hate?

It's true.

You'll understand once you're finally in it.

I don't wanna fall in love.

To let one person become more important

than your friends and family?

I'd never want to do that,

so maybe the dating thing isn't for me.

You've gotta stop using that excuse.

So this is an awkward segue, but I do have

something to tell you.

I'm in it, I have a boyfriend now!

Cool, congratulations.

That's it?

No way, you're supposed to be excited

or be wrecked that you won't see me anymore!

That's kinda asking a lot, don't you think, Kyo?

I'm Hotaru Hinase.

I'm almost sixteen years old,

and in my first year of high school.

I haven't cultivated a love life like most high schoolers.

It's no problem, good luck!

But I am so blessed to have good friends

and a great family.

I love the simplicity of my life.

I get to enjoy the little things

because I'm not distracted by romance.

If I have to sacrifice ever falling in love

for emotional peace, I think I'd be okay with that.

At least, that's what I'd always thought.

He's out here without an umbrella?

That breakup must've put him in shock.

That's what I mean, though.

Why do people want to fall in love

when they end up so sad?

What in the world does it feel like?

Um, hi, this is... so you don't catch a cold.

I never imagined

that the umbrella I held out for him that day...

You're Hotaru Hinase, right?

- I remember you. -Are we really seeing this?

You're very nice.

I would love to be your boyfriend.

Could be the very thing

to change my life forever.

Not even in my wildest dreams.

Have you ever seen anyone

as gorgeous as that guy?

I can't look!

Oh hey, Hotaru, good morning.

Hello, Hananoi.

I mean, good morning.

You weren't waiting for me, were you?

I was.

I'm so sorry if I wasn't clear, but I declined yesterday.

You were perfectly clear.

But I thought I should let you get to know me first.

Look over there!

Is that the girl Hananoi asked out yesterday?

It's so crazy that he decided to do it

in front of the whole class!

The good-looking guys can get away with stuff like that.

I'm just shocked he's not tryna snag

some sick babe, ya know?

Shut up, she'll hear you!

Are you okay?

Hotaru? Huh?

What sorry, what'd you say?

Oh, I was asking you about the kind of things

that interest you.

Also, what hairstyles do you like?

Hairstyles?

Hm?

If I had to pick short hair is easier.

Short hair's cool, sure.

Hey, uh...

would you please tell me why you wanna date me?

Well, when you held your umbrella out for me,

I knew that it must mean that I had found my soulmate.

You said something like that yesterday, too.

I meant it.

I get approached by a lot of people,

but once they get to know me, they drift away.

Yeah, he asked her out in front of everyone.

They say I'm strange or even creepy.

-Whoa, not what I expected! -And that they're disappointed.

I guess it's because I look the way I do,

they expect me to fit into some weird mold.

And then... you showed me genuine kindness

just because I was a person in need.

I found that so beautiful.

Take care.

Hey, is this real life?

Are you seriously walking to school with Hananoi now?

Uh, good morning, Kyo, hi, Shibamu!

Good morning.

I thought you told him no!

Did you decide to date him after all?

Please don't leave me out here all alone!

Take a deep breath.

I definitely told him no, but then he asked me

if I'd get to know him first

and then I'd give him my decision.

Huh, okay and...

Has your impression of him changed at all?

Hmm...

so far he seems complex.

Can I carry that for you?

Uh, sure, thanks.

I was just taking it to the faculty room.

Oh wow, your hair,

you cut it, it's short!

Of course it is!

This is the style you said you liked, isn't it, Hotaru?

When you asked me about hairstyles,

you weren't talking about my hair, were you?

So then you don't like it?

Did you really cut it

because of what I said yesterday?

Uh-ha, I'm working on my look first.

Have I left you speechless?

Sorry, it's just...

It's fine, it's fine.

You said you're heading to the faculty room, right?

I'll go with you.

Thank you so much that's a huge help.

Yay, it's my fave!

I'm sorry Hananoi,

I appreciate everything you're doing for me.

But I've never dated anyone,

and I don't know what it's like to have feelings

for someone in that way.

Sometimes, I think I might be a robot or a cyborg.

Beep boop, beep boop.

Well, if you've never tried,

maybe this could be the perfect opportunity?

How?

Now you can experience it for yourself, like a sample.

Test drive being my girlfriend until like, Christmas.

I can't do that.

We'd basically just be planning a breakup.

I'm wired differently, that's all.

People like me have no business falling in love.

There's no such thing as someone

who doesn't deserve love.

He is quite the enigma,

but I'm okay with it.

I think.

Don't hate me!

I told my boyfriend I'd have lunch with him.

And I gotta go to a club meeting right now.

Sorry.

Yeah, I'm sorry, too!

Guess I'm on my own today.

Hi, Hotaru.

You free? Do you wanna eat together?

Wait, what was I thinking?

Hey, come over here.

Maybe this isn't such a good idea.