Adachi and Shimamura (安達としまむら)

Sometimes in manga, you see kids going up

to the rooftop when they skip class.

But if you were to actually take a nap up there,

you'd get the worst sunburn of your life.

Right about now,

I think everyone else is getting ready to start

third period.

I skip class almost all the time,

and Adachi usually doesn't bother coming to school

in the first place.

We ran into each other one day and started

hanging out together.

A lot.

This time, mind if I serve?

Sure, that's fine.

Uh...

I learned that trick from a website I found.

But I don't have these things at home,

so I've been practicing with a rice paddle.

No fair.

You shouldn't use advanced techniques on a rookie.

You lack ambition, young Shimamura.

'Kay, ready? And--

When both of us decide to skip class,

somehow we just sorta know to meet up

in the gym loft.

It's almost like we can sense each other.

Let's go stretch and get some exercise!

Oh, yeah, third period is PE.

I hope nobody comes up here.

It's no big deal. We can just jump out the window.

Huh? We'll break our legs!

Right? We're too high up.

It sounds like someone needs more calcium in their diet.

You don't know my life.

My diet's fine.

This is fun. It's kind of a rush.

I don't think they know we're up here, though.

I feel like, maybe I should have some milk

with my lunch today.

You never know, someday we might have to jump.

Ha!

Look at you, suddenly being all proactive

about your bone health and stuff!

The time we spend together is always so special.

It's like nothing else matters.

Ugh, I can't stand it! Too hot!

Let's go outside. It's almost lunch, anyway.

Oh, my, how risqué! Show a little more, uh...

What's the word?

You mean dignity?

Yeah, that's it! We are still at school!

Crap. What should I do? I'm all gross.

That's true.

You can't walk around campus looking like that.

I guess I'll go by myself, then.

I can get it for us next time.

Yeah, you say that, but you and I seem to have

two different ideas of what "next time" means.

So, I'll get you a danish, as usual,

and do you want some milk today, too?

Water.

Roger that!

Skipping classes with Adachi is a lot of fun.

I wonder sometimes if it's because I'm spending time

with her, or maybe it's because I get an adrenaline rush

when I know I'm doing something bad.

I think I know which, but I'm not ready to say it yet.

What is she even doing?

Shimamura started hanging out in the gym loft

before I did.

I wasn't sure what class she was in,

but she looked like a middle schooler,

so I figured she was probably a first-year like me.

Um, aren't you Adachi?

Uh, yeah. That's me.

We're, uh, we're in the same homeroom.

Oh, right.

Everyone at school calls me Shimamura.

Nice to meet you.

Do you come up here a lot?

I don't, actually.

How about you?

Nah, I just stopped by.

Jeez, it's so loud.

Sure is.

I'll get it!

Oh.

You're gonna touch it?

It's just a cicada.

Think it'll stay there?

I wonder how much longer that thing'll be alive for.

No way to know.

Oh, well.

How long do you hope it lives?

I dunno, like, 15 days?

Fifteen days later,

she came to the gym loft with her hands all covered in dirt.

And that was how we met.

Adachi!

Lucky you, they still had one danish left!

And here's your water.

Oh, thanks.

That's when things changed.

Until then, I hadn't actually thought of her

as a friend.

Squeak, squeak, squeak.

How much is this? Not cheap!

Look, it's Shimamura!

Hey, Hino.

Whatcha got there?

Oh, ping-pong!

That's my classmate, Hino.

She's kind of a goody-goody.

Hasn't dyed her hair before. Hasn't shoplifted, either.

Hino never gets into fights or pulls people's hair, nothing.

Hino!

My other classmate, Nagafuji,

is your typical glasses chick.

There's one in every group, am I right?

See anything interesting?

She's pretty mature, but she's still kind of

an aloof bimbo. with huge aloof bimboobs.

Carry on.

So, did you have a reason for sexually harassing

Nagafuji back there?

Well, she's so shy about her body.

I'm trying to give her confidence the boost

it needs!

Okay?

Well, ever since they got this big,

people tend to stare a lot more.

It's a curse.

Yeah, I'm sure all the guys in our class

have fantasized about grabbing them and stuff,

so I understand why you'd be self-conscious.

Ew!

Please don't say things like that.

That's the price you pay when you're famous.

Oops, did it again!

They've been friends since they were little.

I joined their friend circle after we started high school,

so some days I feel super close with them,

and some days not so much.

But hey, when it comes to friendships,

being as tight as possible with someone

isn't always the best.

If you're inseparable, you're probably going to

fight a lot and have misunderstandings.

So, the other day I saw this weirdo

at the fishing hole.

They were wearing a spacesuit!

Whoa!

Hey, guys!

Look over there!

Getting close to someone is like free diving.

She seems so familiar.

Wasn't that girl in our homeroom back in, like, April?

I swear, you say that every time we run into her.

Her name's Adachi. We're classmates.

She's a total bad girl, though, always skips.

Whoa, kinda like you, huh?

I guess.

You sink deeper and deeper,

and slowly the world disappears from view.

You start running out of air, so you try to swim

to the surface.

At some point, you manage to poke your head

out of the water for a quick breath.

But eventually you sink further than you did

the last time.

And, if you keep repeating that cycle...

G'morning.

Adachi.

Uh, hey.

You're here late today.

Yeah, guess so.

I was actually getting ready to go back home, but then, uh...

I thought I heard a ping-pong ball.

So, yesterday...

Yeah, I saw.

Where's your bag?

It's still sitting in my bike basket.

Oh.

I gotta head out.

Okay.

Hey, Adachi?

Either come to class with me or let's walk home together.

Which one sounds better?

Let's see.

I guess...

I can go kill time somewhere else,

and we can meet up after school lets out.