Asteroid in Love (恋する小惑星)

When I was little,

I went on the town camping trip where I met an interesting boy.

-- Hey! --

What are you doing way out here all by yourself?

What am I doing?

Trying not to be mad.

Wow!

All the light from the campsite interferes.

Look, there's Jupiter.

Which one?

Here.

Oh, thank you!

Look, right up there.

Oh! That dot?

Dot? Uh, yeah.

You can't see it with binoculars,

but Jupiter has stripes and thin rings circling it.

Whoa...

Also, it has about 70 moons in its orbit.

Wow, you know a lot!

So then, what's your name?

I'm Ao.

And my name's Mira!

Ah! The star!

I'm a star?

Oh, that's not what I meant.

The variable star, Mira.

It's in the Cetus constellation, and it's unusual because

its brightness varies.

How cool!

I never knew I shared a name with a star!

What about you, Ao? Is there a star with your name?

No way. My name's too weird for that.

I don't think it's weird!

Your name's cool!

Huh?

Besides...

You could always just name one after yourself!

Name one?

Nah, maybe an asteroid.

If I discover an asteroid, I'll get to name it.

Let's find one together, then!

Let's do it! Find an asteroid!

After that night, I never saw the boy again.

And now, I'm in high school.

I'm so excited to begin the new school year

with all of you.

Especially those who are just starting here.

As we all work toward our goals,

let's support each other and help our peers do their best.

As of today, I'm a high schooler!

And the one thing I've been looking forward to most

in high school is...

...gone?!

Huh? What's wrong, Mira? You okay?

Suzu! They've always had an astronomy club,

but now it's gone!

I was so excited to join it when I got into high school,

but now my dreams have all been crushed.

Why?

Yeah. About that...

Oh, uh... Hi, Miss Endou.

The Astronomy Club and Geology Club have merged now.

Why don't you join the Earth Science Club?

Earth Science...?

I can't believe the clubs have merged!

Why would they do that?

Maybe they just weren't big enough on their own.

Wait, that's not true!

Remember last year's cultural festival?

Welcome to our sexy planetarium!

It was an enormous success!

Maybe that's got something to do with it.

They were punished for that stunt.

But that's not the reason they merged.

Punished, you say?

They lost a few members,

and there were some other issues on the school's side of things.

So, we decided merging the clubs was the best option.

and that's how we got the Earth Sciences Club.

Well...

But looking up at the heavens and down at the ground

are literally opposites, so how would that work?

I don't know.

They're kind of the same if you're looking at Earth

from outer space.

Good call! I really like your galactic perspective!

Stop. You're embarrassing me.

So, uh, what galaxy is the club room in?

Very clever.

The building is on the far end of the campus.

It's ancient. You think it's still safe in there?

Oh, stop.

There are still of couple drafty spots here and there,

but we got all the leaks repaired, at least.

Hey. I brought two prospective members!

"Sky." "Earth." "Man"?

Is it aliens?

I don't think so?

Sorry. We're still adjusting.

The club merger is new to all of us, too.

I'm the club president, Morino.

From the Astronomy Club.

And I'm vice president Sakurai.

I used to be in the Geology Club.

Now choose!

Sorry. Choose what?

Geology or astronomy.

Which one were you hoping to join?

If you're here for geology,

you get this power stone set that boosts your luck!

It's for new members only, though.

--Now choose! -- Vice President!

If you're too aggressive, you'll scare her away!

So sorry.

Uh... She's really concerned about the club ratio.

Oh! I'm Inose, a second year.

Geology.

Manaka, a first year.

I'm here for astronomy.

I'm so glad that there's another newbie!

I was hoping for astronomy, too.

So, um... You like stars?

Yeah!

And there's something that I've always wanted to do!

You see... I wanna discover an asteroid!

Oh, yeah?

That's a pretty lofty goal you've got there.

Is that, like, a hard thing to do or something?

Some high schooler discovered one in the past,

but that was, like, a world record.

It's practically impossible, to be honest.

At least for our tiny club?

You don't have to crush her dreams like that,

Vice President!

Well...

Maybe, but I made a promise to a boy when I was little.

What? Mira, why haven't you told me about this?

'Cause if I'd told you about it,

you would never have stopped grilling for more info.

Yeah! I'd string him up!

Tell me his name!

Ao. We promised we would discover it together.

He told me that he wanted to have an asteroid

named after him.

The sad part is, after that, I never saw him again.

Oh, dear.

Don't you guys think we ought to break it to her?

That is the ethical thing to do.

Huh?

Wanna tell us why you're blushing?

Earth to Ao Manaka.

What...?!

You're him? Or... her?

The kid from the camping trip?

My name does sound kinda boyish.

And my hair was really short back then.

So, uh...

Do you remember me from that night at camp?

Of course I do!

I've been trying to discover an asteroid

ever since we talked about it!

And look!

A whale charm?

Oh, I see.

You thought that would help you remember my name.

Uh-huh.

Quite the development.

Yeah, things have taken an interesting turn!

And so, the boy I met that night

at the campsite turned out to be a girl!

Good evening!

Today was a big surprise!

I never imagined you'd be in the same high school club as me!

I'm so happy we're reunited!

I'm really sorry I mistook you for a boy.

It's good to see you again!

Mom! I need help!

I'm borrowing the book!

Huh?

Is she planning to get a part-time job or something?

Mira.

Hey, is something the matter with you?

C'mon, you've finally been reunited

with your old flame from that fateful night so long ago!

Smile!

My old flame? Please.

You're having entirely too much fun with this.

You're always mean to anyone who tries

to get close to me, so what gives?

Duh.

Manaka's a girl, and a super cute one, too--

it's not the same.

I so support you getting close to other girls.

So, what's your deal?

Look.

Hmm, pretty formal.

I remember her being so much more open and expressive.

Do you think her tone could mean

that she doesn't like me anymore?