Episode 1: Her Case

We are presented with Mizazawa Yukino, a well-respected student at school among the students and the teachers. Yukino basks in the praises that she receives. There is a problem though. And that is with Soichiro Arima, the representative from class who gets more attention than she.

Introduction

We then see Yukino at home, a complete antithesis of herself at school. She greets her siblings as they come back from club activities. She's a complete slob who wears her Jr. High warm-up suit comfortable, wears large glasses and ties her hair up like an old maid all in the name of comfort. She explains that her image at school is completely for show and she lives just to be admired by others.

At the dinner table, the family discusses how she tries unrelentingly to keep herself ahead of her peers. She pulls all-nighters, physically trains in secret and perfects her poses in front of the mirror. However, she can't do this all the time. So she drops her guard at home. Her sisters think it's scary, but her parents get a kick out of the complements they receive. Her father concludes that admiration is a physical part of Yukino. But Yukino doesn't understand why everyone can stand to be normal. They all conclude she is a weirdo. And then the subject of Arima gets mentioned and she blows her top.

During the competition for class representatives, Arima was selected over Yukino. And therefore, he got more attention than her. So, from that moment on, she vows to take down Arima and regain her respect. However, he is almost perfect in every way and that annoys Yukino even more.

At the Prefectual Hokueri High School, Yukino goes to class early but meets Arima there. Although she despises him, she acts like she's a caring friend. They exchange a few pleasant words in their encounter. She complements on his Kendo skills and he on her academic prowess. However, in her mind, she knows that he is facing his worst nightmare.

During class, people flock to ask the class representative questions on the homework and leave Yukino out of the loop. As she is showing classmates how to play basketball, they get lured away by Arima's soccer match. In Japanese class, the teacher calls on Arima and he answers the questions perfecting, earning him "ooos" and "ahhs" from his classmates. She used to be called on by her teachers and praised by her classmates, but now, she is buried in the snow of "normalness."

Back in class, she almost falls asleep in class. She almost does but quickly realizes it because if she had, her classmates would have mocked her. He looks around to see if anyone saw her and sure enough, Arima is looking right at her. After class, he tells her that she shouldn't stay up so late. She tells this story at home and her siblings laugh at her.

Intermission

Back at school, she is talking with Arima again. She cajoles with him and mentions that she likes Brahms, even though she likes popular music instead of classical. He says that he has a CD for her and would bring it to her someday. As they are going home, Arima asks to accompany her. As an act of graciousness, she accepts. We then see Arima thinking about Yukino.

At home, her siblings are telling her that they're bored because she is so preoccupied with Arima that they haven't had time to play together. She studies like crazy focusing only how Arima will be humiliated when he is defeated. When the results of the next test come out, she beats Arima by 6 points. She receives cheers from her friends and feels like she's won the victory between Arima and her. However, Arima complements her and shows no grudge. Yukino realizes he is the "real thing" and not just pretending like she is. She feels like crap again because she realizes what she has been doing is stupid.

She arrives early to class as a habit. But in her depression, she decides to do something else, like go to the music room. As she is leaving, Arima shows up. He is the last person she wants to see right now. As she is running off, Arima takes a hold of her and tells her that he loves her. Having him having a crush on her makes her happy again because she feels she is superior towards him. After some explanation from her brother, she realizes that it might be a mistake to go out with Arima. But she admits that she already refused him.

The family is going out to the movies, but Yukino, being her lazy and slobby self, is staying at home. She advises her sister to take an umbrella but they don't. After they leave, the doorbell rings. She thinks it's Tsukino coming back to get the umbrella, so she is going to surprise them by running to the door with it. However, as she is flying through the door, her foot ends up in Arima's stomach. Arima is shocked, but not from the kick. He then holds in his laughter.