Next scene : Kaoru arrives home.

Kaoru : Tadaima.

Koichi : So? How'd it go?

Kaoru : ... Uh. I got the job... I mean, I was hired.

Koichi : (big smile) Hontou?? Good job!

Kaoru : ... (nods) I'm going to my room now. (goes to her room)

Kochi : (notices her) Eh? How come she doesn't seem so enthusiastic?

(In her room)

Kaoru : (puts her bag aside and goes to her drawer) (opens it and gets some sort of scrap book)

Narrator : Back then, I couldn't tell him the reason why I think working with him was awkward... to be honest, I never really thought I'd be seeing someone like him again after that day...

>flashback<

Graduation Day... At the rooftop.

Ukiyo : Sotsugyou shita... omedetou gozaimasu. [Congratulations for graduating!]

Kaoru : ... (tries to smile) Arigatou gozaimasu. [Thanks.]

Ukiyo : Uwa! Urayamashii ne! [Ahhh... I envy you.]

Kaoru : (gives him a face) Nanda urayamashii... baka! [Why are you envious... baka!] (seems irritated) Why did you even come here? ...(mutters to herself) don't you feel bad coming here at all?

Ukiyo : You're really so mean to me. Even on a day like this. Intelligent people are really such a snob.

Kaoru : Uruse na. [Shut up.] Why are you even here? Do you want me to console you?

Ukiyo : Eehhh? No... Of course I just want to congratulate my classmates who finally did it. (smirks)

Kaoru : ... You could've done it too, you know.

Ukiyo : (lonely smile) ... (cheers up) I will. Someday. Doesn't mean I'm a little left behind, I can't do it. I'm sure I will.

(a moment of silence...)

Ukiyo : You better go.

Kaoru : ... (looks at him) (nods) Yeah.

Ukiyo : (stares at her)

Kaoru : What are you looking at? It's giving me the shivers, you know.

Ukiyo : (chuckles) Nandemo ne. [Nothing.]

Kaoru : (turns around to leave)

Ukiyo : ... (looks at her)

Kaoru : (stops and turns around again) Matsubara!

Ukiyo : (shocked)

Kaoru : Zettai akiramenai ne... Ganbatte. [Don't you ever give up, okay? ... Hang in there.]

Ukiyo : (somehow surprised) ... ... (smiles) Mochiron. [Sure.]

Kaoru : (leaves)

...

Kaoru : (opens to the last page of her scrapbook) (a graduation photo with her friends)

Narrator : So he did make it, like he said. All along I was a bit worried... no, I was really worried about him. Matsubara Ukiyo...someone whom I thought was not serious or didn't have any plans ahead of him... someone who'd laugh as if there was no tomorrow and just say something like "You need to enjoy life more, rather than worry about it!" so easily...

>flashback<

(Kaoru hurriedly running in the hallway and bumps into Ukiyo)

Kaoru : Gya! (her stuff scattered on the floor)

Ukiyo : Uwa! Ii sou! [Whoa! Looks great!] (looks at her project) You're really a skilled artist, Kaoru!

Kaoru : (grabs it) I'm in a hurry, okay?

Ukiyo : Why? Is sensei dying?

Kaoru : Ha? (hits him) Baka! Don't say something like that so casually!

Ukiyo : (chuckles) It was just a joke, y'know.

Kaoru : (gathers her stuff) I need to submit my works now. What about you?

Ukiyo : Ha? When's the deadline?

Kaoru : On Thursday!

Ukiyo : I still got time left then.

Kaoru : Eh? Don't tell me... You haven't started yet??

Ukiyo : (chuckles) I'll just do what I can to pass.

Kaoru : (frowns) 'ttaku! You're always like that. How are you ever going to get by college if you slack off too much... playing video games and all that.

Ukiyo : Video games are made by artists too. Also, it stimulates my brain and I get ideas from it.

Kaoru : Mou ii hanashi yo! [I'm done talking to you!] I'm leaving! (stands up and leaves)

Ukiyo : If you're done submitting, maybe you can help me out! (chuckles)

Kaoru : Shut up! Leave me alone, lazy bone! (runs away from him)

...

Narrator : Who would've thought he could do it... I guess no one can really tell one's future... if one would turn out to be lucky or unlucky in life... For someone like me who almost died trying my best in school and end up struggling now... and then someone who was so relaxed would end up becoming a top photographer of a popular magazine company...

Kaoru : (feels irritated) Kuso... this is frustrating...

...

Next scene : A few days passed... at GZM.

Ukiyo : So I guess you pretty much remember the shooting techniques I taught you the whole week.

Kaoru : (nods)

Ukiyo : Good, good.

Kaoru : Will I be able to actually shoot soon?

Ukiyo : (thinks) ... son'na koto... ... muri. [Well, that... ...no.]

Kaoru : (shocked) EH?! Dame ka? [What? No??]

Ukiyo : You need to observe more... I haven't really shown you how I shoot in and out of the studio... so, for now... you can't shoot.

Kaoru : What's the purpose of hiring me, then? ... At the first place, I guess you really didn't need an assistant... Ah! You just pity me, don't you?

Ukiyo : Son'nan jane yo- [No...]

Kaoru : (feels frustrated) Ah, kimochi warui! [Ah, gives me the shivers...] To be pitied by someone who almost got all Cs...-

Ukiyo : Eh?

Kaoru : (stops)

Ukiyo : (chuckles) ... So... I see.

Kaoru : (shuts her mouth) ... ... su... ... sumimasen... deshita. [No... I meant... ... sorry.]

Ukiyo : (takes a camera) What are you apologizing for? ... I'm not offended at all. It's true anyway. (amused) (recalls) You're right...ahhh, natsukashii... [Ahh... nostalgic.]

Kaoru : (feels guilty)

Ukiyo : But, right now... it doesn't really concern me anymore. It's just the past.

Kaoru : (looks at him)

Ukiyo : I don't regret it too. (chuckles) Everything that had happened to me then, it's all part of the molding process... I am who I am now, despite being who I was.

Kaoru : (struck by his words) ... gomen.

Ukiyo : Dakara ayamanakutte ii yo. Ima ganbaru dake. [So no need to apologize. Just do your best now.] And don't think I pity you. I don't. I just believe in your skills. I've seen it. (checks the other cameras)

Kaoru : (feels awkward)

Ukiyo : You can't shoot right now... but, I need you to do something for me.

Kaoru : Nani?

Ukiyo : Be the judge of my shots. (smirks) While I take the shots,you look at the preview and give me your comments.

Kaoru : Me?

Ukiyo : (nods)

Kaoru : ... Isn't that the job of the head or something...

Ukiyo : I was the head, silly. (chuckles)

Kaoru : I mean! ... like, editor-in-chief or someone from the publishing team...

Ukiyo : I first screen the photos and pick the best shots... then submit it to the upper team for approval. But sometimes I get too lazy and just send them everything... they're starting to complain.(chuckles) They said my shots are too good they can't choose which one's the best.

Kaoru : (mutters to herself) So full of himself now...

Ukiyo : But now that you're here... it'll divide the work. So, I'm letting you do it... don't hesitate or hold back... if you don't feel contented at the shots, you can always tell me to shoot more photos.

Kaoru : Can you really trust my judgment?

Ukiyo : Of course.

Kaoru : ... why...?

Ukiyo : Eh? Why? ... we're both artists, anyway...

Kaoru : No, not that.

Ukiyo : Eh?

Kaoru : ... Why... why do you always think that...

Ukiyo : What?

Kaoru : ... (lowers her voice) ... it seems like you're trying to give way for me... like... putting yourself to a lower place... just because I'm here now.

Ukiyo : ...

Kaoru : You've done this work all this time and I'm pretty sure everyone treats you in such a professional way... yet now...

Ukiyo : ...

Kaoru : ... Gomen ne... maybe I sound so conceited, saying all this stuff... ... demo... ... iya da yo. [I don't like it.] The environment that you're trying to set up... ... I can't stand it. It really makes me feel as if you're giving way for me.

Ukiyo : ... (thinks)

Kaoru : ...

Ukiyo : Sorry, if I made you feel that way.

Kaoru : (looks at him)

Ukiyo : It was not my intention. (looks serious) In fact... I just want you to feel at ease.

Kaoru : Eh?

Ukiyo : We haven't seen each other in such a long time...(chuckles) I just wanted to act like the old me... then maybe you'll lighten up and feel more at ease with me... like the old days.

Kaoru : (shocked)

Ukiyo : Even back then I always admired your talent and openly praised you on your works, right?

Kaoru : (slowly nods)

Ukiyo : You never felt like I was giving way, didn't you? Or like,I was just forced to admire your skills...?

Kaoru : ... (shakes her head)

Ukiyo : So why do you feel that way now? ... is it because of our position?

Kaoru : ...

Ukiyo : (smiles) I'm just me. I'm still me. Still the same old Matsubara Uki.

Kaoru : (shocked)

Narrator : That's right... I guess among the two of us, I was the one who changed a lot... became frustrated and bitter... yet he seemed like the old self... that carefree spirited guy...

>flashback<

(Kaoru was drinking water on the fountain when Ukiyo surprised her)

Ukiyo : Kaoru!

Kaoru : (shocked) Pfft! (some water enters her nose) *cough*sniff... (spits some water out)

Ukiyo : Ah, yabe! [Oh crap!]

Kaoru : (glares at him) OMAE! [Why, you!]

Ukiyo : (runs away) Suma! [Sorry!]

Kaoru : Baka! Get back here, you!

(Kaoru chases Ukiyo around their campus)

Narrator : That time... those days...

...

Ukiyo : Nishioka?

Kaoru : (snaps out) Eh?

Ukiyo : You were suddenly in a daze. Are you okay?

Kaoru : Uh, yeah. I'm fine. You were saying?

Ukiyo : (goes to her and messes up her hair) We'll start shooting soon so start preparing the equipment.

(chuckles)

Kaoru : (steps back) O-ooi, nani sun'da! [Hey, what are you doing!]

Ukiyo : Stop feeling awkward, okay? Just think of us like the old days. (smirks)

Kaoru : (pause) ... the old days...? (feels awkward)

Ukiyo : Why?

Kaoru : N-nandemonai desu...! (turns around and starts preparing some stuff for the shoot)

Narrator : "Just think of us like the old days." ... is that right? ... Even if he said that to make me feel at ease... there are just certain things that can't be done such as treating him just like the old days... and I definitely don't want to be reminded about how we used to be in the past... it's just... too embarrassing!