NAGISA: Let’s say if each of us was a girl and we were to go out with someone in this group, who would you pick? MAKOTO: Huh? HARUKA: Why did the topic suddenly turn to that? REI: I have absolutely no idea. NAGISA: It’s a hypothetical question! MAKOTO: Why did talking about lunches turn to talking about dating? NAGISA: Because Rei-chan said [imitates REI] ‘A man who cooks is popular.’ So I was wondering, if we were girls, who would we pick? REI: That wasn’t an imitation of me, was it? NAGISA: I sounded just like you, didn’t I? REI: No. NAGISA: [imitates REI] No. MAKOTO: Pfft! NAGISA: I would pick… hmm… I wonder… Not Rei-chan. You seem to get too hung up by details. REI: What are you saying, Nagisa-kun? You’ll find no partner more perfect than I am. NAGISA: Eh? Really? But Rei-chan, you’ll definitely be a huge nagger. Always telling me not to spill things or to tuck my shirt in, and stuff. REI: Me, a nagger? Listen. I have confidence in my memory, so I would never forget special days like birthdays. I can cook, and manage my time so I would never be late for a date. I would research beforehand the places we’d go, and even research the best path to take to the restaurant where I’ve already put in a reservation, so I would be the perfect escort for my date from start to finish. I would make a date enjoyable, leaving nothing to be desired. MAKOTO: H-Haru… did you just think that Rei sounded like an infomercial? HARUKA: How could you tell? MAKOTO: [laughs] Because I thought so too. NAGISA: Then, Rei-chan, who would you want to go out with among the guys here? REI: Myself, of course. [pause] NAGISA: That’s… um… That’s very sad. HARUKA: Really sad. MAKOTO: Don’t say that. That’s who Rei is. REI: Makoto-senpai… you’re not helping… NAGISA: Then what about you, Mako-chan? Who would you go out with? MAKOTO: Me? Well, let me see… hmm… I’ve been with Haru since we were kids, so I feel relaxed around him, and Nagisa is a cheerful person, so I have fun being around him, and Rei is upright, so I feel like I can expect him to take really good care of me… You all have your good points. Hmm… I can’t choose. [All three sigh] MAKOTO: Eh? Huh? What’s wrong, guys? NAGISA: What do we call that kind of attitude again? MAKOTO: Eh? HARUKA: Wishy-washy. MAKOTO: Ehh?! REI: Makoto-senpai… You’re going to be in trouble one day… MAKOTO: Wha– why?! HARUKA: Being too nice brings the worst results. MAKOTO: Not you too, Haru! NAGISA: Then what about you, Haru-chan? Who would you choose? HARUKA: …Makoto. MAKOTO: Me?! HARUKA: It just seems easiest. REI: That’s your reason? NAGISA: Ehh, you picked Mako-chan? REI: Well, Makoto-senpai is kind and he seems likely to treat the person he dates with respect. NAGISA: Hey, Haru-chan! If I was your boyfriend, I’ll cook mackerel for you for breakfast every morning! HARUKA: I choose Nagisa. MAKOTO: Ehhh?! NAGISA: Yay! REI: Haruka-senpai’s decisions all center around mackerel… MAKOTO: I lost to mackerel…
