Three Leaves, Three Colors (三者三葉)

It's not because nobody else was willing to eat with me,

all right?

We didn't think it was.

Wait, hold on. Do you not have any friends at all?

Are you always this direct?

The poor thing was crying pretty hard

by the time it was over, though.

I wonder if it was something I said.

I'm starving!

Can we eat already?

Sorry I'm late!

I swear, it's true!

Did he really say that?

Yep, word for word!

Wow, that's hilarious!

What'd you tell him?

Oh, no, I don't mind at all.

I just want to do the best I can as class representative.

Slow down. Wait for me!

C'mon, just hurry up!

Huh?

Move, people! Out of the way!

Whoops, sorry! Coming through!

Ugh! I'm so hungry!

If I don't eat soon, I'm gonna pass out.

And then I'll miss my next class!

I'll just have to get creative.

There has gotta be a shortcut around here I can take.

Excuse you!

Hey, hey, hey! What are those you're eating?

Well, what do they look like?

These are bread crusts, thank you!

Wow, pig out much?

That's a lot of food!

It's not that much!

I'm actually being kind of restrained today.

Oh yeah?

Personally, I wonder how you can eat so little.

Is that really enough to keep you going all day long?

My body is just more efficient than yours.

I don't need all this. Do you want some?

Yeah, I do! Woo-hoo!

You can have some too, if you want.

What's the matter with you? Don't you have any manners?

I don't recall asking either of you to join me for lunch.

Honestly, how rude!

Ah! That was amazing!

Oh, come on, say it again!

Please? You sound like a perfect little rich girl!

Easy, now. Practice restraint, remember?

Are you joking?

I don't even know how to respond to that!

Guess we are being rude.

We haven't even introduced ourselves yet, have we?

My name is Hayama.

I'm doing Class 3 the favor of being their representative.

Is that so? Lucky them.

And this is Futaba Odagiri, Class 3's glutton.

How's it goin'?

Well it's a pleasure to meet you.

My name is Yoko Nishikawa, and I'm in Class 2.

Yeah, we know.

Everyone here does. You're famous.

Famous?

So... I may have told someone to keep their filthy hands off me,

but last I checked it wasn't a crime

to value one's personal space!

Actually, that's the first time I've heard this story.

And however it looks,

I'm eating alone because I want to.

It's not because nobody else was willing to eat with me,

all right?

Okay. We didn't think it was.

Wait, hold on.

Do you not have any friends at all?

Are you always this direct?

I don't have much in common with the other students.

We're just too different.

How can I talk to anybody if I don't know what to talk about?

It can't be that hard.

We're talking just fine right now.

Uh-huh.

That breeze... This is really great.

I'd forgotten how lovely it can be to eat outside.

Well, maybe--

-- --Oh, there goes the bell.

Oh no!

Okay, all done!

See you around, Yoko!

Catch you later!

Oh. Yeah. All right.

Hey, just so you know, bread crusts are really yummy

when you deep fry 'em and sprinkle some sugar on top.

You just fry them in oil?

And add sugar?

I never thought of that.

Could you write down the recipe--

Sorry, we gotta get going!

Our teacher gets super angry whenever people are late!

--English is next. -- Yup.

How was the homework? Did you get it done?

Those girls were so strange.

I'm not sure what to make of them.

But still...

They were nice enough in their own way, I suppose.

And that was the first time I haven't eaten lunch alone

since I came to this school.

Class 3. So this is theirs.

I could barely keep my eyes open.

Yeah, I hear you.

Is that Nishikawa?

What's wrong with her?

I'm so glad I made it before the sale ended.

Look at all this food!

Hey. Just so you know,

bread crusts are really yummy when you deep fry them

and sprinkle some sugar on top.

Let's see...

I'll need oil, and hopefully I have some sugar.

Finally, lunchtime!

I thought I was gonna starve!

Watch yourself!

I think being class rep is going to your head.

Sorry, Nishiyama. I don't know what you mean.

Yes, you do.

Or did you forget about how you badmouthed Kondo

to the teacher yesterday?

There must be a misunderstanding.

All I did was deliver the printouts he wanted.

I'm not exactly sure why Kondo didn't do it,

since she was the one on duty.

Well... that doesn't matter.

I still think we should settle this with a little private chat.

Follow me.

Sure, if that's what you want.

Try not to be too hard on her.

Whatever. I don't take orders from you, okay?

Um... I was actually talking to Hayama,

but never mind.

It was a bit of a challenge,

but I hope they like it!

I'm here! And I brought a surprise.

Well, it's not like we actually agreed to meet again.

And now I can go back to enjoying a solitary meal,

just like before.

I like it this way. Really.

That was a stupid way to go.

I'm all scratched up!

What a surprise. It's you.

You're the one who insisted we take a shortcut.

Well I didn't want to keep Yoko waiting for too long.

I thought you'd forgotten about me.

Did you have to wait long?

I'm so sorry.

Yes. It's been five minutes!

I hope you have a valid excuse!

I do, actually.

Someone decided they wanted to pick a fight with me.

What? Oh no! Are you all right?

Yep!

The poor thing was crying pretty hard

by the time it was over though.

I wonder if it was something I said.

Trust me on this.

It's best not to ask.

Huh? Who's in there?

I bet it's some freaky stalker.

They go around hiding in bushes, right?

Yamaji!

You know this guy?

I do. He's my former servant.

Please, forgive me for intruding!

Okay...

Calm down. Explain yourself.

I'm sorry, but I had to know for sure what I'd seen.

Was yesterday's encounter fleeting or would it endure?

So you were in the bushes yesterday too?

Yes, and I admit I was shocked by what I saw.

I was convinced that it would take a miracle

for Miss Yoko to make friends.

Hey, what's that supposed to mean?

With your family company's bankruptcy,

you're a shadow of the rich young lady you once were!

Even so, your upbringing makes it difficult

for you to forsake the upper-class attitudes

you've embraced all your life.

So for you to befriend the everyday folk

who attend your new school...

It must surely be a miracle!

Wow...

It's not like that at all.

Yamaji, you're obviously exaggerating!

I beg you!

Look after Miss Yoko as she starts her new life!

Be her true friends!

Boy, that was fascinating!

Should we eat?

But I...

You know I'm down.

Listen, I can explain.