Congratulations!
The popular idol Kotomin has married.
Her beauty as she walked through the shower of flowers seemed the picture of happiness!
The groom is an ordinary man who attends college in the city.
They were matched through governmental registration, and at long last, were wed just today!
The "Law to Combat Low Birth Rates", also known as the Yukari Law, went into effect 40 years ago.
When this country's boys and girls turn 16, they receive a notification of who their future spouse will be,
and romance with anyone besides their assigned partner is forbidden.
Because of this policy, the birth rate has stabilized,
and the children born of such matches have higher average intelligence.
These "Yukari Marriages" which promote happiness based on genetics,
are also known as the "Red Strings of Science".
But there was an ordinary boy who was in love and unhappy with this system.
My eyes always follow her in the classroom.
I only watch her for a little bit, so she doesn't notice.
And then I wonder sometimes,
"What is love?"
Do people fall into that trap without realizing it?
Yo, Neji.
Wh-what?
I... think I want to try falling in love.
Y-yeah! You should!
I'm going to live for love. Live, live, LIVE!
I'm not gonna get married!
Hey, Nisaka. What's up with Takeda?
I think he finally got his notification yesterday.
What? Really?
The families are meeting tomorrow. He's scared.
I'm not scared!
I just want to be true to my feelings!
Just be honest and say that you wanna have sex.
You're wrong! I want love! Love!
I just want to ask if there can be love in these government notifications!
Anyway, I swear it here and now!
I'll fall in love! I'll never marry someone the government picked for me!
I think I get you, Takeda.
Definitely.
It's weird having marriage be no big deal. It's like a grave for men.
Hey, you guys.
Let's make a vow, right here, right now.
Let's never get married!
Yeah!
Ta..Takasaki-san?!
Oh, sorry. Are girls not allowed to join?
No... that's not it at all.
Why are you being all formal?
Well, okay then.
Takasaki-san's so hot!
If only she were my arranged marriage.
She turned 16 in April, but I heard she hasn't been assigned anyone yet.
Seriously?
I haven't had my birthday yet. She could be my partner.
Or mine! Or even Nejin's! Right, Neji?
Um, yeah.
But, you know, she'll probably get hers soon. Her government notice...
Why does the world work like this?! I don't want to marry someone I don't love!
The government notice, huh?
A promise of happiness. A secure future.
It all might be wonderful, but...
I don't want anything to do with it.
I want to be in love with her!
I want to confess my feelings! Not to anyone else! Just to Takasaki-san!
I want to tell her how I feel, no matter what anybody else thinks! I've loved her for 5 years!
I... I'll give you half of this!
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
With those few words, she stole my heart.
That was the only time I've actually spoken to her.
But, I've never forgotten that smile.
Come to think of it, Yukari, your birthday's in 2 days!
That's right!
I guess it is.
I wonder if you'll get your notice!
He might!
It'll be here in the afternoon, right? My, I'm getting all excited!
Big brother's getting married!
I'm sure they'll find you a nice girl. It's why I named you Yukari!
That's right. I'm sure they'll find you a nice girl. It's why I named you Yukari!
I'll be getting my notice too, and when it arrives, I'm sure they'll find you a nice girl. It's why I named you Yukari!
I'll be getting my notice too, and when it arrives,
I'll have to marry the girl they assign me.
I won't be able to fall in love with anyone else.
I wonder what she'll be like.
I'm so excited!
I'm excited!
No, I don't want this.
I just want to be in love with Takasaki-san.
I've loved her for all this time.
Even while I'm lying in bed like this, she might be getting her notice.
And I might get mine tomorrow.
There's no time. I have to tell her!
First thing tomorrow morning!
I'm going to be brave!
Ta..Takasaki-san!
G-good morning. Do you have a minute?
Sure.
Sorry, go on ahead. I'll catch up.
Okay.
Is someone going to confess again?
What's this? The second time this month? Maybe the third.
Umm... M-my name's Nejima.
We were in the same class one year in elementary school.
Oh, we were?
You... you don't remember?
What grade? Who was our homeroom teacher?
I see.
Wh-wh-what... What should I do? What do I say? The words aren't coming out!
So, what do you wanna talk about?
Nothing! It's nothing! I'm sorry I stopped you!
Really? Okay then.
I guess that's how it is.
It might be a special memory for me, but Takasaki-san doesn't remember at all.
Tonight at 6 pm, the park behind our elementary school!
I'll be waiting!
I mean, only if you want to! But I'll be waiting anyway!
She's late. I wonder what happened.
My heart started beating so fast when I thought of you, Nejima-kun. I just couldn't calm down.
That's why I'm late.
What do I do if she tells me something like THAT? What do I do then?
8:30...
This sucks... I think my heart is breaking.
Oh, that's right!
Hey, Kid.
It's 10:30 at night.
The police?
S-sorry. I was just having so much fun building these burial mounds. I'm going home right now.
Burial mounds?
Well, be careful going home.
I will be!
I guess I am a minor when all is said and done.
Hey! Wait!
Takasaki-san?
Um... I'm sorry I was late.
No, that's-
The girl I was always watching is here in front of me... but the words just won't come.
Those...
They're burial mounds, aren't they?
Oh yeah! Ancient Imperial graves!
They were in our textbook, and they're the most important shape of building!
I like the four cornered ones on the edges myself, and I think the ones in the middle are the ones I did best on.
What am I talking about?
You haven't changed a bit.
Huh?
When we were presenting research projects,
you gave this long, passionate explanation about the different kinds of ancient burial mounds, right?
Even though nobody asked you any questions.
I guess I did.
Wait... I thought you didn't remember me?
Oh, that? I lied.
You lied?
Yeah. I lied. I'm sorry.
Oh! Well, that's good.
But why did she lie?
Her eyelashes are so long... Her eyes are so big, and the whites are so clear they look blue.
And her hair is so long and silky-looking.
Compared to her, I'm...
Is something wrong, Nejima-kun?
I..I never really stand out in class. I know I'm not ugly, but I'm not good looking either.
My looks aren't worth commenting on, good or bad.
I wanted to be the kind of man who'd look good next to you, so I've tried a lot of different things.
I've asked Nisaka about different hairstyles, or new ways to wear my uniform.
Even when it came to high school... I wanted to go to the same one as you, so I studied really hard.
I made my parents stress out over the money for cram school...
Wait, what am I saying?
Anyway, what I wanted to say is... Everything I am now, I owe to you.
I need to say it. There's no more time.
I could get my notice tomorrow.
I like you.
I said it. I actually said it!
T..Takasaki-san?!
Sorry. It's nothing.
That's not nothing!
I'm sorry! I didn't think about how you might feel about this, I just-
I don't care if she turns me down. I just don't want her to cry!
R-right! You know Takeda, in our class? He tried to see if he could make bubbles out of his snot...
Nejima-kun...
Have you forgotten already?
I... I've liked you too. All this time.
But I never thought you'd still have that eraser.
Back then...
You realized all the way back in first period that I'd forgotten my eraser, right?
H-how did you know that?
It was obvious!
I shouldn't have waited until fifth period to hand mine over, right?
But it made me happy.
You could have just pretended not to notice,
but when I realized you spent all day worrying about me, trying to figure out how to help,
it made my heart skip a beat.
Really?
You're a nice person, aren't you, Nejima-kun?
Am I?
I think you are.
You plucked up all your courage to do something kind for me back then, didn't you?
I think that's something wonderful and special.
At least, that's what it was for me.
What do I do? I think I'm going to cry.
It's so weird that I'm talking with you like this. I'm all flustered!
Nejima-kun?
Takasaki-san!
I've been in love with you for five years! All this time!
I want to be with you forever!
Takasaki-san...
Every cell in my body was saying the same thing. "I'm glad that I fell in love with her."
Hey. Should we kiss?
Let's kiss.
The way that I like you... makes me want to kiss you and do... other things...
What about you?
Me too. Me too.
Takasaki-san... I...
I wonder who that is? Maybe my parents?
M-my notice!
That's right. I'm 16 now.
Aren't you going to look at your text?
I-I am.
An important message for you from the Government of Japan.
Taking your personal data and hopes into account...
Marriage... Your partner in marriage has been decided.
Resides in the city...
Born on April fourteenth...
Misaki Takasaki-san!
Huh?
What?
Takasaki-san! This is a miracle!
Huh? What happened to it? Hey!
You ARE Yukari Nejima-kun, right?
Good evening. I'm Ichijou, from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.
I'm Yajima.
The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare?
We've come to deliver your notice.
My apologies for coming at this hour.
Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage.
Th-thank you.
Lilina Sanada?
E-excuse me! I received a text notice with a different person's name on it. With this girl's name.
I don't believe that's possible.
I'm telling you, it happened!
But this is the name on the official document.
But it had her name! Right here!
It was likely some mistake. These notices are absolute.
But...
Ah... Since you and your partner are both minors, please use us as a go-between to arrange first contact.
We wish you every happiness in your union.
Hey. It might just be some mistake. Why don't we go together and-
Nejima-kun. Hey. It might just be some mistake. Why don't we go together and-
Happy birthday.
Huh?
I... I wasn't actually planning on coming.
And I never planned on telling you how I felt.
Wait. What do you mean?
So... even being able to wish you a happy birthday in person like this is like a dream.
I feel like I could live 70 years just off the strength of this half hour's memory.
I'd be happy if you felt the same.
Takasaki-san's hands...
They're so cold. And they're shaking.
It's a lie. You're lying.
I'm... I'm going to go now.
Wait!
In this crazy world where people have their future spouses decided, my feelings of love are no lie!
Takasaki-san...!
I love her. I really do.
Yukari Nejima?
That's a strange name.
Yukari Nejima? I wonder what kind of person he is?
Next time: "A Small Lie"
You got to do the whole preview.
Who on Earth are you?