Chapter XII: Groupmates, Part 1
The next day, science begins and the students need to start off with grouping for their own investigatory project in science that will be passed at the end of the year. Though, it is not by the students who are picking, but the teacher will choose which is determined by their own location. Each is grouped by three and some two. He then dictates,
"Mizushiro, will be grouped with Chisai"
This shocks the whole class while Kota and Akiko are very surprised. The atmosphere turns from a chatty-patty to a dead silent library. The two still refuses to look at one another. The teacher notices and asks them both if something is wrong between them. The two then tells them that nothing is wrong with them. The teacher then smiles at them so the grouping is settled.
At lunch, concerned, Asahi, Masashi, Haru, Enmei, and Satou approaches Kota and ask him if it's okay for him to be with her in the same group. He tells them that it's fine. The four then goes to Akiko and ask her the same. She also answers the same.
On the other hand, the afternoon session starts and as soon as the literature subject is done with the lecture, she tells the class about their group project which is by acting out various cultures. But for this, the grouping is by row. Kota is grouped with Enmei, Satou, and Akiko. Kota is noted as the leader of their group. Their topic revolves around serenading. Kota then lays the material for the props. He asks them about who will be the man. Sadly, they point at him.
The practice starts and they wait for Akiko at the fountain. A white car approaches and Akiko gets off. Kota then notices that they have no transportation. He tells Satou to ask Akiko if they all can get a lift to his house. He nods and tells Akiko. They go inside the car and they got off at his house. Kota then gets the piano ready for the music. While trying to get the tune, rhythm, and notes right, a higher key plays. He looks to his right to find Akiko trying to play something in the higher section of the piano. She suggests about a song she wanted to play. He knows about the song which complements the story of a giant ship that sunk into a cold demise. He plays the song, and from a distance, Satou and Enmei hear it and got their attention. As he plays the song, Akiko then sings the lyrics in English. Because of the beautiful melody and the collaboration of the accompaniment and the vocals, tears began to roll down Satou and Enmei's cheeks. The atmosphere lights up due to these elements. When they're almost at the end of the song, Enmei then brings out his phone and starts recording. Akiko notices this by the mirror, and kicks him in the balls. As soon as he recorded the song on his piano, they start practicing the choreography. It's then getting late so Satou and Enmei goes home. Suddenly, it rains and Akiko is left behind. She already texted her ride to pick her up. She goes back into Kota's house and sits in the living room with Kota and his mother.
Kota's mother then asks her about her family and what will she wants to be in the future. Akiko looks at Kota and the latter also looks at her. She tells her about it and as soon as she goes to the part she wants to be in the future, Kota's uncle arrives and recognizes Akiko as one of the previous patients he encountered at the hospital, however he doesn't tell her. Akiko's ride arrives and when she is away, Kota's uncle then tells Kota about it. Kota wants to know more but his uncle can't remember anymore.
On Monday, the leaders pick pieces of paper with numbers, indicating the arrangement of groups that will be performing. They are the first and as they are performing it in front of the class, the class are cheering for Akiko and Kota as they soon dance with one another.
After a week later, the same literature teacher lectures and after the teacher finishes, she then tells them another drawing about a poster-slogan project which the groupings are still the same. It will be composed of two poster-slogans about society. As the leader, Kota asks them about who will be the drawing. Satou and Enmei points at Kota and Akiko.