A Star Brighter than the Sun (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

BEWARE OF BEARS
Next, Iwata.
Yes.
Height, 167cm.
Weight
We're still in our growing phase.
Every time we have a health checkup,
I can't help but think
about how slim and petite
everyone else is.
PRIVACY PROTECTION
Iwa! How tall are you?
Huh?
Let me see your checkup form!
Huh? What, no way!
Iwa!
I'm sorry!
You okay, Iwata?
Um Iwata?
Uh, yeah. I'm fine.
Here.
PRIVACY PROTECTION
I didn't see a thing.
That was embarrassing.
Oh, you fixed the door.
Iwa, you're so strong.
Wow, just like that?
Kamishiro's so cool!
But he kind of looks like a player.
Kamishiro's not a player!
Oh, you went to elementary school
with Kamishiro, didn't you, Iwa?
Was he cool back then, too?
Yeah, he was.
He used to be a bit different, though.
Koki Kamishiro is
my first love.
Looking back, it's a long story.
Okay, Sae.
Smile.
ENTRANCE CEREMONY
-Mom.
-Mom.
You're pretty tall, Sae.
You might be the tallest in your grade.
I AM?
So cute!
You're in first grade, right?
You're so cute!
What are you looking forward to
in elementary school?
School lunch!
I heard there's something called
school lunch in elementary schools.
She's looking forward to school lunch!
-That's so adorable!
-Oh, Sae.
Did you hear that?
She's looking forward to school lunch.
You don't eat much, and milk's
still kind of scary, right, Koki?
Are you allergic to milk?
I hate it.
Don't worry! I'll drink yours, too!
I love milk!
Really?
Yeah.
Yay! Thank you!
I think it was love at first sight.
Aren't you drinking too much milk?
I'm trying to get my stomach used to milk.
I kept drinking milk for two
for the next six years.
We were classmates for all six years,
and we often sat next to each other.
The line was lined up
"Formed."
Formed!
Listen, Iwata, giving him the answers
wouldn't help him learn.
Sae!
I'm sorry you got scolded because of me!
Thanks, though!
He's always been cool, really
Watch out, Iwa!
since elementary school.
Wow, she caught it like it was nothing.
It's Iwa!
Oh no, oh no, oh no!
P.E. reminds me of Kamishiro, too.
Pass the ball!
He's aiming for Koki!
Koki, you went over the line, you're out!
That's so lame!
Hey! It was because Sae bumped into him!
You're out!
Ko
KAWAHARA MILK
Takoyaki!
Takoyaki!
Let's play rock-paper-scissors!
I win!
It was me!
Koki doesn't like school lunch,
but he likes this
U-Um
I'm sorry I bumped into you in P.E.
-You can have my takoyaki!
-You can have my takoyaki!
Why?
You look kind of sad, Sae.
You like takoyaki, don't you?
We just swapped our plates.
That was pointless.
It wasn't!
He was cool.
He was working hard
on the boys' soccer team.
He might have been skinnier and smaller
than the younger kids
but in my eyes, he looked big.
To me, he was such a cool boy.
I was glad none of my friends were
interested in Koki.
But in sixth grade,
he started to grow taller.
Now we're in our third year
of junior high,
and he's become someone
everyone thinks is really cool.
Oh.
Morning, Iwata.
M-Morning, Kamishiro.
When did his voice get so deep?
Yeah, coming.
We went from calling each other
by our first names to using last names,
but he still talks to me when he sees me,
like back in elementary school.
But I should stop having a crush on him.
KAMISHIRO
Koki has become Kamishiro.
Over here!
Like your favorite artist
suddenly gets popular,
or a manga you've been into
turns into a social phenomenon,
you know that feeling.
I guess this is kind of like that.
-Look! Isn't he so cool?
-People finally noticed how cool he is.
-The one without the undercut!
-It's great.
Hooray.
But I feel a bit lonely, too.
You know what I mean.
And it's not like
we were ever into each other.
I had a one-sided crush on him,
that's all.
Now I can't tell anyone
that I used to like him.
The Koki I fell in love with
grew into Kamishiro, someone admired
and thought of as handsome by many.
KAWAHARA MILK
Who's the class rep
for the sports festival?
That'd be me.
There's a meeting after school
in the second-floor meeting room.
MEETING ROOM
THIS DOOR HAS BEEN BROKEN
AND COMES OFF EASILY
That's the door I broke
You're the rep for Class B?
Yeah. Class A?
Yeah.
These meetings are such a drag.
Aren't you excited
about the sports festival?
Is everyone here? Let me take attendance.
White Team, 1-A.
Here.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Each grade needs to make a banner.
I suggest a couple of people
from each grade team up to do that.
-What?
-Seriously?
THE BANNER LOOKS PRETTY BIG
Iwata.
Huh?
You're good at arts and crafts, right?
Uh, yeah, kind of
Want to make the banner with me?
You're the only person I know here.
For the third-years, Iwata and Kamishiro
from the White Team will do it!
Whoa!
Iwa's ball hits hard!
Her serves are super powerful.
Be careful, first-years!
Oh, all done?
Let's work on the sports festival banner
for our grade.
Let's go up to the classroom to make it.
Let's do our job as class reps
for the sports festival.
It's pretty big.
Got any ideas?
How about this?
Come to think of it,
Kamishiro has always been good at drawing.
What do you think?
Cool!
Since when can he design like that?
Yay!
Okay, then, let's do this.
Markers will do, right?
It's pretty big,
it might be easier to use paint.
I'll go get some!
A Star Brighter Than the Sun.
-Done!
-Done!
What are you two doing here at this hour?
We were making the sports festival banner.
We got permission from our teachers.
Oh, is that so?
Sorry, my bad.
This is the banner?
Hmm
It doesn't feel very junior high.
What? But it's so cool.
Well, I guess young people like
styles like this nowadays.
I'll take this to the teachers' office,
you two go home.
It's already 7:00 p.m.
See you.
Uh-huh.
Crap.
I lost my bike key
I didn't see it in the hallway.
It wasn't in my desk either.
Oh, well. I'll just walk home.
Maybe someone will turn it in tomorrow.
What? Wait, you can't just give up!
Try to remember!
Close your eyes and try to remember
what you did since this morning.
Hmm
It was a weird request, wasn't it?
Oh!
It's in my pocket!
I FORGOT ABOUT MY PANTS POCKET
You're kidding.
Sorry.
Glad you found it.
But it's pretty late now.
I'll give you a ride, hop on the back.
I'll run home! Don't worry about me!
Biking's way faster.
Then let me pedal.
The saddle's too high for you
But I'm kind of heavy
Don't worry, I give rides to guys
from the soccer team all the time.
I'm good at riding
with someone on the back.
I might be heavier than them
I even give Negishi a ride.
Oh, then it should be fine.
You doing the relay race?
Yeah.
You've always been a fast runner,
even in elementary school.
I'm just big.
This is killing my abs.
It's not like tensing up
will make me any lighter
Oh, my house is this way.
I know.
I've been there before, remember?
Hey, Iwata,
do you still like school lunches?
I do.
You know, I'm not a picky eater anymore.
Really? That's great!
Lunch at our school is pretty good,
isn't it?
Like the fried rice and ramen
and the fried chicken!
I always hoped you'd get to enjoy them.
Yeah, I do.
What
Oh, a flat tire
Oh
I-I'm sorry!
Why are you apologizing?
This must be it, a shard of glass.
My bike's dead, I'll walk you home.
It's okay! Don't worry!
Thanks, though. I'm sorry. Don't bother.
I remember how you let the other kids
go ahead during the obstacle race
in elementary school.
You don't need to hold back.
Which high school are you applying to?
North High.
North High, huh?
Well, you've always been smart.
What about you, Kamishiro?
North High.
What? The same school!
Yeah.
We talked like this
for the first time in a while.
Yeah.
We were never in the same class
in junior high.
We talked like we used to back in the day,
for the first time in a while.
Kamishiro's the kind of person
who can talk to anyone.
Even if I wasn't the one
who helped find the key,
you'd still give them a ride on your bike,
no matter how far away they live, right?
I'm sorry.
If someone else had been on the bike,
maybe you wouldn't have
gotten a flat tire.
You're so kind.
ENTRANCE GATE
Iwata, can you move this thing first?
It's for the tug-of-war.
I saw Kamishiro over there,
so get him to help you.
Kamishiro
Hey, you painted
the banner for our grade, right?
We saw it. That looks so cool!
Iwa, isn't that heavy? Let us help!
Thank you.
Wow, you can't carry this on your own.
Iwa, the girls' cavalry battle is next.
Aren't you in the general's cavalry?
Let's go!
Start!
Let's go!
We'll grab every single one of them!
Raise me higher!
O-Okay!
OW, IT HURTS
YOU BUMP INTO PEOPLE A LO
DURING A CAVALRY BATTLE
I can't afford to drop her.
If I did, she'd get injured.
Yeah!
The White-Team general wins!
Their general cavalry
is the last one standing!
Wow, that was scary.
Their general's cavalry is way too strong,
I would've totally run.
Oh, no, my hair's a mess.
I think I got dirt on it.
It looks fine, don't worry.
What about mine?
You look fine.
Next up, the boys' cavalry battle.
The boys are next.
Iwata, can you crouch down a little?
Oh, sorry.
-Koki!
-All right!
-Kamishiro!
-Let's go!
You're in the general's cavalry.
I saw you guys practicing in P.E.,
so I already knew,
but look how strong you've gotten.
I've known this already,
but you've become someone everyone sees
as cool, not just me anymore.
I know. And I'm okay.
Even when our eyes don't meet,
I don't feel lonely.
So fast!
Next up, the third-years' scavenger hunt.
Ready
SOMEONE YOU LOVE
Rei, come with me!
M-Me? Okay!
"Someone you love"?
She's someone I love!
I love her, too!
I SEE
Next, the boys' scavenger hunt.
I wonder who snuck in a card like that.
Iwata!
What, why are you looking around?
I said Iwata.
Let's see your card.
Come on, Watanabe. What's it say?
"A tall girl."
Oh, yeah. She is.
Glad I fit the prompt.
Okay, I'm going back now.
I'm glad. He got first place, right?
I'm glad I ran hard.
It's not an insult or anything.
It's just a fact.
But
just Kamishiro
All I wanted was
for him to see me differently.
That's not it! It's not!
Actually, that card
for the scavenger hunt
said "a cute girl,"
and you came to mind, so
Not that I was trying
to hide it or anything,
but I've never told you that,
so I didn't want him to say it for me.
I signaled him not to read it, so
I'm sorry.
Oh um
No, I'm okay, really.
Really cool, huh?
Yeah, right?
Go for it!
Go for it.
HOKKAIDO NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
EXAMINATION ROOMS
Good luck.
I thought I shouldn't be in love with him.
He wasn't the Kamishiro I knew
back in elementary school.
He was out of my reach, and my love
seemed destined to remain unfulfilled.
But there was never a rule
that said you couldn't fall in love
with someone you had no chance with.
CONGRATS ON YOUR GRADUATION
Iwata.
Uh, my mom wants me to send her
a photo of you. You mind?
Not at all.
Takuya! Take a photo of us!
Together?!
Ready?
Here, check it out.
Okay.
YEAH, IT LOOKS GOOD!
Thanks!
Isn't it a bit annoying
how parents always treat you like a kid?
Oh, sorry! I stood too close, didn't I?
It's fine
Can you send that photo to me, too?
Sure.
Let's exchange contact info.
Yeah.
Can I get yours? I'll send you the photo.
We're going to
the same high school, right?
Yeah. Can I text you
if I have any questions?
I feel like I'm going to forget something.
Yeah, sure.
I hope we'll be in the same class.
I hope we will.
You like kohaku manju, Iwata?
Yeah, they're special.
You can buy them at stores,
but getting them at our graduation
ceremony makes them even more special.
Yeah, right, they're special.
Do you want mine, too?
What? You sure? Thank you!
Here. Let's get along in high school, too.
I've always loved his smile
with that charming little snaggletooth.
It's never changed.
Traditionally, guys give girls
a button from their uniform.
But I'm happy.
Even though it's kohaku manju.
I think I'll try taking on
a seemingly impossible love.
1-A
SAE IWATA, KOKI KAMISHIRO
I'm in the same class as Kamishiro.
I'm so happy.
FIRST-YEAR: 3RD FLOOR
I wonder if he's already there.
I've decided to take a shot
in high school.
And now we're classmates.
I feel like I'm being told, "Go for it!"
She's so light,
and her hair's silky-smooth
I'm sorry! I slipped.
Oh, it's okay.
You okay?
I'm okay.
Why do I keep running into him
at the weirdest times?
I see.
Hey, we're in the same class.
He looks so cool
in his high school uniform.
Subtitle translation by: Aki Tamaoka
Hey, what club are you going to join?
I'm thinking of joining the tennis club.
I can't make up my mind
Want to join the volleyball team?
-Who was that?!
-Who was that?!
-Episode 2, "Call My Name."
-Episode 2, "Call My Name."