Kimi ni Todoke S1E12 - Romantic Feelings

February 18, 2026

This episode begins by continuing Ume's conversation with Sawako. Ume says to Sawako, "If you talk to him, maybe you'll discover some sparks? After all, he saved you, right? So he's the same as Kazehaya." Sawako says, "The same?" Ume continues by saying, "What do you think... about Sanada?" Sawako replies, "Sanada-kun is a nice person." Ume says, "See? He's the same. He doesn't avoid you either, does he?" Sawako answers, "Th-That's right." A whistle blows signaling the start of the baseball game. Sawako taps Ume on the shoulder and says, "Oh, the game... The game's starting, Kurumi-chan." Frustrated, Ume says, "Gosh, are you listening?" Sawako answers, "I am. I'm listening, but... We both want to see Kazehaya-kun play softball--right, Kurumi-chan? I'm like you. When I heard he played baseball in middle school, I truly wish I could've seen him play. Because... that's a Kazehaya-kun I don't know. I want to see it." Ume says, "That's right. Sawako-chan, you don't know anything about him. Don't compare my feelings with yours. I've been watching him ever since we went to middle school together, even on rainy days. Windy days... Even snow flurries. And then, I'd talk to him every time I had the chance, setting things up to make sure he would never get a girlfriend." Sawako, with tears in her eyes, says, "Such effort." Ume continues, "I did everything humanly possible." Ume, realizing that Sawako didn't notice her admission of manipulating situations to get close to Kazehaya, thinks, "That was close." Ume then says, "Anyway, I know him that well. It didn't just happen today or yesterday. I've always... always been watching him." Kazehaya is shown intercepting a baseball and throwing it back to the catcher. A player on the opposing team is out due to Kazehaya's actions. Kazehaya says to his team, "Let's keep it up." The team replies with, "Yeah!" Sawako tells Ume, "Our eyes... keep following him, huh?" Ume, astonished, says, "Don't speak... as if you understand." Sawako thinks, "When I realized it, he's always everywhere I look. And then I can't look away. When I realized it, my thoughts are always about him. When I go to bed, his image always comes to mind. Everything is a 'first' for me. I thought this feeling... was something special." Sawako says, "I realize... I don't know anything... about Kazehaya-kun. Even if it wasn't him, would I still feel the same? Or is there more out there I don't know?" Sawako thinks, "I want to learn..." Sawako then says, "I want to learn more about Kazehaya-kun and myself. I want to know more. I'll try talking to Sanada-kun in private. Thank you, Kurumi-chan." Confused, Ume thinks, "She... accepted my challenge?" Ume stands up and says, "I'll just... do things my way." Ume then walks away from Sawako. Sawako says, "Oh, K-Kurumi-chan, what about the game?" Sawako then thinks, "Huh? Was she opposed to watching it with me? Kurumi-chan... must see Kazehaya-kun as someone really, really special. She's always been watching him." Sawako then thinks back to a memory where Ume said, "I want us to be an official couple..." Sawako thinks, "An official couple... I see. Her feelings are solely romantic." Sawako's heartbeat quickens and she thinks, "Romantic... feelings?" Kazehaya looks back at Sawako as Sawako thinks, "Romance. With clear words... I finally thought of this concept." The baseball game ends with Kazehaya's team winning. Sawako thinks, "I'm glad. Congratulations, Kazehaya-kun. Congratulations, everyone. Oh, Kurumi-chan didn't come back." Other girls walk up to Sawako and say, "We finally found you. With that different hairdo, it's hard to recognize you from a distance." Sawako turns and find it was Endo speaking. Sawako says, "Endo-san." Endo says, "Tomo. Our softball team won their first game. We're going to cheer for the volleyball team. Wanna come?" Surprised that she was invited to go along with other girls, Sawako says, “What!? Me? C-Can I?” Endo replies, “Didn’t we just ask? You’re going to root for Ayane-chan and Chizu-chan, right? Ekko’s playing, too.” Another girl says, “So… come with us.” Sawako displays uncomfortable body language. The other girl says, “Oh no. Did I say something to offend you?” Sawako replies, “No. That’s not it. I’m happy. Thank you. I’d be glad to.” While she is walking with the others, Sawako thinks, “Being alone used to be normal for me, but now… everyone around me is kind to me. If any one of them didn’t exist, my situation wouldn’t be the same. If there were no Kazeyaha-kun, I would have never known that everyone was this kind. My world… has changed. Admiration… Respect… Romance. I don’t even know what my feelings are. I want to find out. I want to know.” Sawako then has a flashback to when Ume said, “So he’s the same as Kazehaya.” Sawako turns to look at Sanada who is drinking from a water bottle. Sawako thinks, “If I talk to Sanada-kun, will I learn something? Will I find some kind of answer?” Kazehaya, with a concerned look on his face, sees Sawako looking at Sanada.

A player of the baseball team tells the entire team, “Let’s head back, guys.” Another player asks, “What’s next?” A player replies, “Girl’s volleyball and boy’s soccer, right?” Kazehaya calls out to Sanada while he is walking away by saying, “Ryu.” Sanada turns back and looks at Kazehaya. Kazehaya says, “Well, the incident earlier…” Sanada asks, “Incident?” Kazehaya says to Sanada, “Do you… care about Kuronuma a lot?” Sanada replies, “Oh, Sakako–I mean, Sawako… Right?” Kazehaya says, “Kuronuma!” Sanada says, “Grimnuma?” Kazehaya says, “Kuro!” Sanada says, “Ah, that means black.” Sanada laughs and says, “I do like Kuroyama, but… not in the way you’re thinking.” Kazehaya blushes and says, “It’s Kuronuma!” Sanada says, “What, I just said that, didn’t I?” Kazehaya says, “That was ‘yama’--mountain.” Sanada says, “For real? What? Talking about that ‘Divine Ball’?” Kazehaya says, “No, it’s nothing.” Sanada explains, “I just happened to be nearby.” Kazehaya says, “I know. I know, but…” Kazehaya thinks, “But still… I just thought–I wish I caught it instead.”

The following scene shows Pin standing at a poster that contains the results of all the events with a marker in his hand. Pin says, “All right. Both boy’s softball and girl’s soccer won their first matches.” Pin laughs and says, “Free yakiniku barbecue…” Ume calls out to Pin by saying, “Sensei!” Ume continues by saying, “I thought I’d review the Sports Festival Committee’s schedule.” Pin asks, “Class? Name?” Ume says, “Well… That’s alright. I’ll figure it out on my own.” Confused, Pin says, “What? Just tell me. I don’t mind showing you.” Ume, hoping to charm Pin, then says, “I just don’t want to burden my teacher at all.” Pin, confused at Ume’s response, thinks, “What’s up with her?” Pin hands Ume the Sports Festival Committee’s schedule and says, “Here.” Ume takes it and says, “Thank you very much.” Scanning the schedule, Ume thinks, “Kazehaya is… there.” Ume writes down notes from the schedule into a small notebook. Ume thinks, “In the afternoon, all cleanup equipment gets put back in storage.” Pin says to Ume, “Once you’re done, get outta here.” Ume finishes writing her notes and says, “Yes, sir.” Ume returns the schedule with both hands to Pin and says, “Thank you very much.” Ume then turns to leave the room and says, “Excuse me.” Pin says, “S-Sure.” Pin, confused at the situation, says, “What’s up with… the excessive smiling?” Ume walks outside and thinks, “I was… I’ve always been… watching him.”

The next scene shows Yano buying a drink from a vending machine near the shoe lockers. Yano says, “All right, Chizu’s favorite is… ” Yano then turns back and notices Ume standing near a shoe locker. Yano walks up to Ume and leans her elbow on a locker. Ume turns to leave and notices Yano standing next to her. Yano says, “Oh dear, if it isn’t Kurumi-chan.” Ume, hoping to charm Yano, says “Yano Ayane-chan, right? Sawako-chan and Chizu-chan’s friend?” Yano says to Ume, “You went to the same middle school with Chizu, ri…” Yano notices Ume’s flawless skin. Yano leans forward and says, “Hey you, what skin toner do you use?” Ume replies, “Nothing, really.” Yano buys more drinks at the vending machine and thinks, “I’ll totally get a facial today. Like my sister’s expensive one!” Yano says to Ume, “I wasn’t aware you knew my name. Oh yeah, must be thanks to those rumors, huh?” Ume says, “Rumors? You shouldn’t be worried about that stuff. It’s their fault for believing such nonsense.” Yano replies, “So true. It’s very stupid to believe them. By the way, you knew of the rumors, right? Didn’t you help spread them?” Ume says, “No way. I didn’t believe them to begin with. I only overheard a group of girls talking about you.” Yano says, “Of course you did! I can’t picture you gossiping about it at all.” Ume says, “You’re exaggerating.” Yano then says, “Those rumors… I bet they were concocted by some girl with a crush on Kazehaya. Sawako was probably getting in her way. Plus, if we’re there to protect Sawako, it’d make it more difficult to get rid of her. Well, rumors about me aside… Chizu’s rumors were just exaggerations of existing facts, so… I imagine the mastermind must have gone to middle school with Chizu and Kazehaya. If Kazehaya learned of this, I wonder how she’d backpedal.” Ume now knows that Yano is suspicious of her. Ume says, “I do, too. But we can’t really make any accusations without solid proof.” Yano says, “Right.” Yano laughs and says, “I didn’t realize we talked for so long.” Ume also laughs and says, “Yeah.” Yano starts walking away and says, “The game’s starting soon. I think I’ll head out. Good luck with your business.” Ume says, “Thanks. Same to you.” Yano says, “Thank you. Oh, by the way… Sawako is a pretty formidable rival, isn’t she? She’s completely legit, y’know?” Yano then walks away from Ume.

Ume overhears a male student say, “Kazehaya has another game?” Ume hides behind the shoe lockers. Another male student says, “He’s got several events to join. Plus he has to do committee stuff. Ryu, what’re you going to do now?” Sanada says, “Eat and nap.” The male student laughs and says, “Eating lunch already?” Another male student says, “And then a ‘siesta’, huh?” Sanada picks up a note in his shoe locker. Sanda says, “Trash?” Sanada opens the note. The note reads, “Kuronuma Sawako. I want to thank you properly. Please come to the storehouse at noon.” Sanada, thinking about the change of plans, says, “My nap…” A male student says, “What’s up, Ryu?” Sanda says, “Oh well. I’ll just nap outside.” Another male student says, “Outside? Where?” Sanada replies, “By the PE equipment storage shed, I guess?” A male student asks, “Why such a weird place?” Another male student says, “It’s fine. Let him be.” Ume is still hidden behind the shoe lockers. Ume thinks, “Formidable? She just made me… miscalculate a bit, right?”

The next scene shows the events after the volleyball game. Yano and Yoshida are standing next to each other on the volleyball court. Sawako walks up to Yoshida and says, “Nice game. Here are some towels.” Yoshida says, “Hey, thank you, Sadako! How was my fine performance?” Sawako replies, “Very impressive. And red.” Yoshida says, “You’re flattering me again.” Yano says, “Wait, being red is all that matters to you?” Yoshida asks, “What’re we gonna do? Eat lunch?” Yano says, “Sure, why not?” Sawako says, “Sorry, I have plans for now.” Yoshida says, “Plans?” Sawako explains, “When a ball nearly hit me, Sanada-kun caught it. I want to thank him.” Yoshida says, “Oh, Ryu did that? He does good things every now and then.” Sawako says, “And… there’s something I need answered.” Yano and Yoshida look at Sawako with confused looks on their faces. Sawako continues by saying, “Right now, I don’t know what my feelings are. I don’t even know where to begin, but… once I figure it out, can I share it with you?” Yoshida says, “I don’t quite get what you mean…” Yano says, “But of course!” Sawako says, “Thank you. I’ll be back.” Sawako then turns and jogs away. Yano tells Sawako, “Sawako, don’t let yourself get confused. Just hold onto how you feel above all else, okay?” Sawako turns and looks at Yano. Sawako nods her head at Yano’s advice then turns and jogs away. Yoshida asks, “What? What’s going on?” Yano replies, “Well, I figure she has her own business to worry about.” Yoshida says, “Her own business?” Yano figured out that Sawako wanting to speak to Sanada is part of a plot by Ume. Yano then says, “And then… we’ve got our own business to take care of, too.” Yoshida says, “Yano-chin’s wearing that evil look!”

Sawako is shown jogging by the shoe lockers. Ume stops her by saying, “Sawako-chan.” Sawako turns back and finds Ume standing there. Sawako says, “Kurumi-chan.” Ume says, “Did you see Sanada? I saw him earlier.” Sawako looks at Ume with tears in her eyes. Ume says, “What’s that dumb look?” Sawako says, “Y-You talked to me first.” Sawako reaches forward to Ume and says, “I thought I might have said some things wrong and hurt you.” Ume says, “You’re so annoying.” Two female students are walking near the shoe lockers. One student says, “That was amazing.” The other student says, “Yeah, it was.” Ume, now aware that others can hear her, says to Sawako, “S-Sanada-kun was walking toward the PE equipment storage shed.” Sawako tells Ume, “Oh, thank you, Kurumi-chan.” Sawako then jogs away to speak to Sanada. Now alone, Ume thinks, “She’s… more difficult to handle than formidable.”

The next scene shows Sawako jogging outside while she goes to the PE equipment storage shed. Sawako reaches Sanada and finds him laying on the grass with his hands behind his head and his baseball back covering his face. Sawako says to Sanada, “S-Sanada-kun?” Sanada leans forward and finds Sawako squatting near him. Sanada says, “Here you are.” Sawako says, “Here I am?” Sanada says, “Kuro… Kuronuma Sawako.” Sawako says, “That’s my name! Wow, that’s amazing!” Sanada says, “No, it’s written here.” Sanada shows Sawako the note he received in his shoe locker. Sawako says, “This… is really mysterious. Why are my current thoughts written on that paper? Is that… Well… Thank you for saving me earlier. I owe you my life.” Sanada says, “Nah, I doubt his ‘Divine Ball’ had much force anyway.” Sawako offers Sanada a drink from the vending machine. Sawako says, “If you’d like…” Sanada says, “For me?” Sanada squats down with Sawako and drinks his fruit milk. Sanada asks, “That’s it?” Sawako says, “No, I actually wanted to talk with you a little.” Sanada says, “About?” Sawako thinks, “About…” Sawako says, “Do you know what romantic feelings are?” Sanada’s eyes widen and he stands up. Sawako also stands up. Sanada says, “Romantic feelings?” Sawako says, “I mean ‘liking’ someone, but not the way you ‘like’ a friend. It’s something special.” Sanada says, “No, you don’t need to explain. I understand.” Sanada leans forward to meet Sawako’s eye level. Sanada says, “I only… like Chizuru. A secret, okay?” Sawako has a shocked look on her face. Sawako says, “A very, very wonderful couple.” Sanada says, “Quite a compliment.”

The following scene shows Ume waiting outside. Kazehaya walks past holding traffic cones. Ume calls after Kazehaya by saying, “Kazehaya.” Kazehaya says, “Kurumizawa.” Ume says, “You seem spread thin. Do you want a hand?” Kazehaya thinks, “This…” Kazehaya laughs. Ume asks, “What happened?” Kazehaya says, “Oh, no… If I were Kuronuma, I would say, ‘This is the task I was given.’” Ume has a shocked look on her face. Ume says, “Kazehaya? Is it true you rejected Sawako-chan right before summer vacation?” Kazehaya replies, “People still believe that? I never rejected her.” Ume says, “Really?” Kazehaya starts walking. Ume follows Kazehaya. Kazehaya says, “First off… Kuronuma never asked me out or anything. It’s not like she feels that way about me.” Ume says, “That’s right. I asked her if she wanted to date you and she was like, ‘No way.’” Ume’s words are like an arrow through Kazehaya’s heart. Ume continues by saying, “She seemed to completely forget about you earlier.” Kazehaya says, “E-Earlier?” Ume says, “During your softball game. She was only watching Sanada. If someone saves you like that, it’s only natural to fall for him. If she really likes him, let’s support them, okay? For Sawako-chan’s sake.”

The scene goes back to Sawako and Sanada’s conversation. Sawako asks, “Sanada-kun, since when have you liked her?” Sanada says, “When was it?” Sawako asks, “Was there some catalyst?” Sanada says, “Why was it?” Sawako then asks, “How did you realize she was special to you?” Sanada says, “Let’s see…Do we really explain those logically? By the time I was aware, she had always been special to me. I can’t compare her with anyone else.” Sawako asks, “Someone incomparable means someone special?” Sanada replies, “Dunno. Do you hope it’s like that?” Sawako thinks, “If that’s how it is…”

The next scene shows Ume grinning as she brings Kazehaya to see Sawako and Sanada’s conversation alone together. Kazehaya is shocked at what he sees. Kazehaya sees Sawako grinning and blushing. Ume tells Kazehaya, “I told you so. Let’s support them, okay?” Kazehaya drops the traffic cones he was holding. Kazehaya runs toward Sawako. Ume is shocked to see Kazehaya going to Sawako after everything he has seen.