Filthy Casual for Life

Chapter 1: Confession
It’s the school day and one of our protagonists, Kakeru just got back his pop quiz. His score was so low, it qualified him for extra lessons. As Kakeru talks to his friends, they see another classmate receiving a confession. Kakeru notices it is his friend Yamato. Yelling out the window, Kakeru tells Yamato that there was a change in plans since he has to stay for extra lessons. The other boys point out that it is weird Yamato and Kakeru are friends since they’re polar opposites.

In lessons, Kakeru falls asleep while solving his math problems. Yamato shows up and wakes him up. Then he offers to help him. As they are working on the problems, Kakeru points out the confession that happened. Yamato admits that he turned her down because he’s never talked to her before. Worried about Yamato because he is shy, Kakeru asks him if there is anyone that he likes. In response to his question, Yamato says Kakeru’s name.

Yamato then gets up to leave for work. Left to his thoughts, Kakeru wonders what Yamato was thinking. Kakeru thinks there is no way Yamato meant what it sounded like.

Chapter Two: Reason
At home before school, Kakeru is eating breakfast with his family. The television is talking about a famous couple. Kakeru realizes that handsome people end up with each other. That has him thinking about how different Kakeru and Yamato are even though they have been childhood friends. He recollects how girls always look at Yamato. He’s tall, handsome and smart. Whereas, Kakeru is plain and average. He wonders how they ended up so different. On the train, things are busy and Yamato is pushed into Kakeru. Kakeru can’t help but think how swoon worthy it would have been if he was a girl. In his head, he apologizes to Yamato for being a guy. In PE class, Yamato gets hurt, but keeps a straight face and leaves. The other student is scared of Yamato and thinks he is angry. Kakeru tells him that Yamato isn’t angry. Kakeru goes and finds Yamato alone in the clinic. The nurse is doing their rounds. Kakeru offers to bandage him up. Thinking to himself, Kakeru said it was some akin to a shoujo manga. He once again apologizes to Yamato for being a guy.

Chapter 3: Social Mixer (Part 1)
Kakeru’s other friends invite Kakeru to a mixer. Needing one more guy, they ask Yamato to tag along. Yamato has reservations, but he agrees. That Sunday, the group meets, however, Yamato is running late. Apparently, his cat decided to get sick before he left. Yamato is immediately popular with the girls due to his good looks. Kakeru does his best to hype Yamato up to the girls. The girls ask Yamato his type and he replies “a childhood friend he has known forever.” Kakeru overhears this and starts overthinking again.

Chapter 4: Social Mixer (Part 2)
After overhearing Yamato, Kakeru can’t focus. When Yamato asks if he is feeling okay, Kakeru has a bit of a fit because he’s thinking about what Yamato said. Kakeru goes to get a drink and sees one of the girls, Akane, playing a crane game. She really wants to win a stuffed animal, so Kakeru tries to help her out. However, he isn’t having much luck. Akane goes to get more money. While she is away, Yamato shows up and wins the stuffed animal for Kakeru to give to Akane. When the mixer ends, Akane has a stuffed animal. However, when Kakeru and Yamato are alone, Kakeru points out that he won Akane one and kept the one that Yamato won.

Chapter 5: Yamato and Mikoto
While walking home together, Yamato invites Kakeru over to play some games on the television. Kakeru points out that Yamato is very caring toward his sister Mikoto. At the convenience store, Yamato sees a brand of tea that his sister likes and buys it. Once home, Mikoto and Yamato have a conversation. Yamato asks his sister to let him use the game system the next day. She figures out that he invited Kakeru over. She hits the nail on the head and asks Yamato if he likes Kakeru. She mentions that he feels the same way she does. The next day at school, the mixer host announces that he has a girlfriend. He brings up the fact that Kakeru has been texting Akane. In a moment of jealousy, Yamato walks off to go to the bathroom.

Chapter 6: Speaking Up
Things are tense while Kakeru and Yamato game. Kakeru knows that Yamato is mad about something, but he doesn’t know what. He doesn’t know how to approach the situation either. He finally confronts Yamato, but Yamato keeps telling him that he isn’t mad. Then, the topic of Akane comes up. Things get tense again. Sensing the issue, Kakeru asks Yamato if he is upset that he might get a girlfriend. Yamato admits that is the issue.

THOUGHTS

The classic tale of two friends that are closer than they could have ever imagined. Kakeru and Yamato are polar opposites, but isn’t that what makes their relationship appealing? Yamato is good-looking, athletic, and smart while Kakeru is average at everything. However, they manage to be best friends. I am interested to see what Mikoto meant when she was talking about her feelings. Does she like Kakeru as well?