Murai in Love (2024) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[narrator]
French novelist Maurice Bedel once said,
"Love is the shortest path from
one heart to another."
"A straight line."
FACULTY ROOM
Excuse me.
Sensei, what did you need to see me about?
Seriously
You've gotta cut the crap.
[narrator] Murai,
a 17-year-old high school student.
Has excellent grades but is a bit weird.
Tanaka, a 24-year-old homeroom teacher.
Anxious to go home and play otome games.
Why couldn't you fill it out properly?
With your grades,
you could get into a good college.
I did fill it out properly.
If you keep screwing around like this,
I'm going to call your parents.
I have never,
not once in my life, screwed around.
[Tanaka] How can you say that
with a straight face?!
CAREER PLAN
FIRST CHOICE: MARRY TANAKA-SENSEI
Let's just say, for the sake of argument,
that you're serious about this.
I can't accept it.
You know why, don't you?
Yes, I know.
The truth is, I'm confused myself.
This is the first problem I've encountered
that I can't figure out with my head.
[Murai] Here's my conclusion.
This emotion is impossible to control.
It is truly a once-in-a-century,
once-in-a-millennium, love.
[Tanaka] I just wanna go home
and fawn over my fave.
-[Murai] Are you listening to me?
-[Tanaka] I wasn't listening at all!
I understand how you feel.
But listen, Murai.
Here's the thing.
I would never go for someone
[narrator] in the 3D world
with long, black hair
in the first place.
[Tanaka] So will you think about
your career plan seriously?
[Murai] Thank you for your advice.
[narrator] The following day.
[all groan, exclaim]
[opening theme song playing]
[Tanaka] Murai, do you understand?
This is an important period
for you as a second-year,
as your scores in school
will determine your career path.
Okay, let's start homeroom.
[Murai] Yes, I do understand.
I believe I'm scoring
higher than ever now.
I love you, Sensei. Please marry me.
Murai, come see me
in the faculty room after homeroom.
[Murai] With pleasure.
[Tanaka] I'm a 24-year-old
high school teacher.
People around me are always asking,
"Don't you have a boyfriend?"
-Shut up.
-[Hitotose speaking indistinctly]
[Tanaka] I'd rather spend my time
and money on video games
than waste it dating some guy.
[moaning]
Hitotose!
Let me pray. I am so content.
I don't want a boyfriend.
I don't want to get married.
This official pic is killing me.
I have him.
Tanaka-sensei, are you okay?
You've been frozen
for two minutes straight.
[Tanaka groaning softly]
[Murai] You told me to come see you
after homeroom, so here I am.
[Tanaka] Wait.
Wait a minute. Wait What?
He He looks
exactly like him!
Looking at him up close,
he's the spitting image of Hitotose!
Sensei.
The distance between us is unnatural.
[Tanaka] No. Get a hold of yourself.
Calm down!
[grunts] I'm just losing it because of
that godly new pic, that's all!
[ragged breathing] Make sure you
dye your hair back by tomorrow.
Calm down and look again.
He looks nothing like
-He looks exactly like him!
-Why?
[Murai] So, Sensei. Would you go for
someone with short, blond hair?
[Tanaka] Would I?! It's like my fave
walked out of the game and into real life!
This isn't about what I go for.
Stop messing with me, will you?
I'm not messing with you.
I truly am in love with you.
[Tanaka] I'm dead!
Enough is enough!
I'm telling you this
for your own good, Hitotose!
Who's Hitotose?
[bicycle bell rings]
[Tanaka] Now I'm dead.
[Kiriyama screams]
[shouting] What the hell
is up with your hair?
KIRIYAMA (16)
LOUDMOUTH
I thought you were
going for TenTen's look!
I was rooting for you, you know?
HIRAI (16)
SLEAZEBALL
It suits you somehow.
TenTen wasn't going to cut it anymore.
-The hell does that mean?!
-Quiet down.
-Why didn't you tell me? Hey!
-So, what happened, Murai?
-A little thing called love.
-[both] Love?!
Wait a minute!
You know the concept of love?!
[Murai] I've known it for quite a while.
For real?
Love? You're talking about L-O-V-E love?
[Murai] Yes, L-O-V-E love.
So? Who's the girl?
Who is it? Who, who, who, who is it?
Tanaka-sensei.
[Murai] Why do you guys look like that?
[Hirai] Murai, Murai.
There's no way you could be
talking about Tetsuko, is there?
-[Murai] Tetsuko?
-Don't be stupid, Hirai.
I'm sure it was the autocorrect
in Murai's head.
It malfunctioned and Tetsuko popped out,
right, Murai?
[Murai] What's Tetsuko?
[both] Huh?!
[Hirai] The teacher of class 2-1,
Tetsuko the Iron Mask.
She's your homeroom teacher. Come on!
She came in first on the ranking
of Merciless Teachers her very first year!
And by the way, based on appearance alone,
her BWH measurements are 30-22-32.
Not bad at all!
Listen to me, Murai.
As your friend,
there's only one thing I can tell you.
Give up on her.
No.
You
Winning Tetsuko's heart would be harder
than winning Osaka Castle
during the Toyotomi regime.
Do you understand that?
So what?
I'd defeat even Ieyasu Tokugawa
in order to marry Tanaka-sensei.
[Hirai exclaims]
Are you insane, Murai?
We're talking about the Iron Mask here.
Snap out of it!
Such a mask doesn't suit her.
I'll throw it in a blast furnace
along with the two of you.
[Kiriyama] Help!
[both] We support you.
[Tanaka] I am Tanaka,
a high school teacher.
I have 20/200 vision.
I usually wear contacts,
but my student has transformed into
my fave and I'm about to lose it,
so no more contacts!
I'll just wear glasses when I need them.
Okay, finals are coming up next week,
and those with low scores will have to
take extra classes over the summer.
That's all from me.
[students] No way!
Sensei.
[Tanaka] There he is,
the troublemaker boy!
What is it, Murai?
What is the schedule
-for the extra summer classes?
-[Tanaka screams internally]
[Tanaka] The schedule isn't set yet.
Besides, I don't think
it's relevant for you, Murai.
That may be, but since I am
highly concerned about my teacher,
I'll attend the summer classes while
staying on top of the college prep class.
That's admirable, Murai.
[inwardly] Too close,
too close, too close
-Thank you.
-[Tanaka exclaims]
[narrator] A haiku from Tanaka.
[Tanaka] Seriously no
Seriously no, for real
Seriously no
[Murai] Sensei.
You've turned into the Buddha, Sensei!
[Tanaka gasps]
I almost achieved enlightenment.
By the way, Murai.
What happened to your face?
Oh, it's from a fight I had with Tao.
Tao? Do you have a brother?
[Murai] No, Tao is who I live with.
[Tanaka] So cute!
Tao's front paws are both white,
like he's wearing socks.
God, that's so cute!
[Murai] This is a picture of Tao
when he was a kitten.
[Tanaka] Cute!
[Murai] This is when he called me
for the first time.
[Tanaka] No way, that's too cute!
[Murai] This is when Tao walked in on me
in the bath for the first time.
[Tanaka] So cute! So precious!
[narrator] Cats have the power
to save the world.
And
And?
I love you, Sensei.
Huh?
Hey, Murai.
We were looking at pictures of Tao,
weren't we?
How about you stay on-topic?
I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself.
[Tanaka chuckles lightly]
[narrator] A haiku from Tanaka.
[Tanaka] I can't with this guy
I truly cannot with him
I can't with this guy
Sensei, you've turned into
the Buddha again. Sensei!
Murai in Love.
[both sigh in relief]
-Thank you.
-[bottle cap pops, can fizzes open]
BATH
HAPPINESS
[both sigh]
[Tanaka] Huh?
-[Tanaka] Murai?
-[Murai] Sensei.
What a coincidence!
Do you come here often?
Why the hell are you here?
[Murai] Yes, since I was little.
I feel relaxed whenever I come here.
How about you, Sensei?
Me? I've been coming here
since I moved back to town.
I went to college far away,
so it's nostalgic for me.
BEER
[sighs] At this distance, this'll be easy!
I'll go home before he has the chance
to get any closer.
Sensei.
May I sit next to you?
[Tanaka] What?
That's a bit
A bit?
No, nothing. It's fine
Wait, wait, wait!
Why the hell did I have to
get a beer after taking a bath?
Why didn't I choose strawberry milk
or something?
Worse, I'm wearing the same old clothes
I've had since middle school.
I mean, what the hell is "happiness"?
I'll kick your ass!
May I take this opportunity
to ask you three serious questions?
[Tanaka] Sure?
Are you seeing anyone at the moment?
[Tanaka coughs] Where did that come from?!
[Murai] Please answer me.
-[Tanaka] That's none of your busi
-[Murai] It is my business.
It'll help me decide
how I should proceed from here.
[Tanaka gasps] No, I'm single.
[narrator] In the 3D world, that is.
[Murai sighs]
That's a relief.
A relief? You little
It's a natural response.
Because I love you, Sensei.
HITOTOSE "IT'S A NATURAL RESPONSE.
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU."
Because I love you.
[man grunts]
-[Tanaka groans]
-[axe chopping]
Sensei, what's wrong?
-The lumberjack suddenly
-Lumberjack?
No, never mind.
These nerves are real tough.
But I like a good challenge!
[Tanaka] Stop it!
Who the hell are you? Get out!
Here's my second question.
Who is Hitotose?
[groans] This is no good.
They're too hard.
-Hey, Apprentice, bring me a chainsaw.
-What?
Like I said, I just misspoke.
I found it to be beyond the scope
of acceptable misspeaking.
Not a single part of it
was even close to my name.
But Master, that would go against
the craftsman's code!
[Master] I can't cut this.
What choice do we have?!
Bring me a chainsaw now!
Hitotose really isn't anyone.
Just forget it. Please.
-[Apprentice weeps]
-[chainsaw whirs]
[Tanaka] Oh, God, my nerves.
I'm going home now. Good night!
[Tanaka] My nerves are breaking down.
[upbeat romantic music playing]
Sensei, may I ask my last question?
[Tanaka] What is it?
[Murai] Why won't you look me in the eye?
[Tanaka] What? Eye
[Tanaka's heart palpitating]
That's because
you look exactly like
my beloved fave!
[groans]
[Murai] Sensei?
Sensei!
CAREER GUIDANCE ROOM
[Tanaka]
I have committed a terrible blunder.
A blunder in which I got a nosebleed
and passed out in front of my student.
It's not like I wanted to become
a high school teacher.
I would've taken any job
with a stable income
that allowed me
to devote myself to my fave.
I only want one thing.
To protect the beautiful, sweet world
where me and my fave can live in peace!
Don't worry. I love only you, Hitotose.
Please stay and watch over me.
[narrator] Illness.
GAUGE OF DELUSION
MAX
-[Murai] Excuse me.
-[Tanaka] Here he comes.
Don't worry, Kitty. I'm with you.
[Tanaka] Yes. Thank you, Hitotose.
[narrator]
Visual and auditory hallucinations.
Sensei, what did you need me for?
[inhales deeply]
First of all, thank you very much
for carrying me home after I fainted.
No, you have nothing to thank me for.
Actually, I was really glad
I got to talk to you that day.
-Now, let me get to the point.
-Okay.
I need you to stop being in love with me.
-No.
-[Tanaka] That was fast.
[Tanaka groans]
Kitty, don't give up.
Defeat that alien for me!
[exhales]
[Tanaka] Do you even understand
what it means to be married?
It seems like you're being awful frivolous
about this whole thing.
Marriage means becoming husband and wife
and spending your whole lives together.
I would never be frivolous
about something so serious.
[Tanaka] You're still in high school
right now.
How can you talk like that
when you have no plan for the future?
I can.
I have an absolutely unshakable will.
[Murai] I love you, Tanaka-sensei.
That is the one thing
that will always prevail.
[Tanaka] People's feelings change.
[Murai] Then that means
there is a possibility
that you will fall in love with me.
If I give up on that possibility now,
it would render my life
up to this point meaningless.
[Tanaka screaming internally]
That's quite the exaggeration.
How could that be?
We've only known each other
for a few months
[Tanaka] Huh? [echoing]
What's with that face?
Kitty, that boy is totally insane!
I understand.
[Tanaka] If you love me, that's fine!
You're free to do whatever you want.
But I will never fall in love with you!
Remember that, if nothing else!
Yep. I'm the one Kitty loves, not you.
Sorry 'bout that, my little doppelgang
GAUGE OF DELUSION
[Tanaka] Murai?
Sorry.
I somehow felt a strange evil presence
behind me all of a sudden.
[Tanaka] My
My almighty Gauge of Delusion.
No matter what happens,
I will never stop loving you
with all my heart.
Please remember that, if nothing else!
Big Sister, have you heard?
About Murai's drastic transformation?
Little Sister, as a fellow member
of the Murai fan club
[narrator] Total members: two.
it should go without saying
that I have.
[both] Now.
Let us investigate!
[narrator] Hitomi Nishifuji, 16 years old.
A famous cosplayer.
Yuuka Nishifuji, 16 years old.
A formidable manga artist.
[Yuuka] Kiri-chan!
-Call me "senpai"!
-[Hitomi exclaims]
I bet you know what happened, don't you?
What are you talking about?
Isn't it obvious? I'm talking about Murai!
[Kiriyama] Oh, Murai?
That guy He's crazy.
He's awesome, just deeply amazing.
Yeah. He's so badass
he'll blow your socks right off!
He's super awesome.
Big Sister, I think we've hit the limit
of Kiri-chan's tiny vocabulary.
This is no good. We've got no choice.
Let's go ask the pervert.
Kiri, lunch.
[Kiriyama] Hey, Murai. Speak of the devil.
Be right there.
[Hitomi and Yuuka] Murai! Good afternoon!
Good afternoon. Lunch.
This is our first time seeing you
after the transformation.
-Excuse me.
-[both] Huh?
-Okay, come on.
-[Hitomi] Big Sister, that's
-Get lost, you two.
-[Yuuka] Wait That's
-We're going to lunch now!
-That's
[both] Hitotose.
[gasps]
I'm telling you this
for your own good, Hitotose!
Hitotose really isn't anyone.
What the hell are you talking about?
I'm not talking to you!
Get your hands off him, now!
Don't provoke him!
[Kiriyama] Now you've pissed me off!
You've got some nerve, first-year!
[Murai] Hitotose
-What? You wanna step outside?
-[Kiriyama] Sure, let's do it!
[Murai] Did you just say "Hitotose"?
What?
[both] Yes.
[Hitomi] Hitotose, aka Midnight Angel.
He's a ninja from the Date Army
in the otome game Sengoku Koi Emaki.
His outlandish statements and crazy antics
have won him some hardcore fans.
[Kiriyama] What's an otome game?
A game in which
you experience virtual romance
by dating a character in the game world.
We've gotten into this game just recently,
but Hitotose is so quirky
that we really struggled to beat it.
[Hitomi] As my big sister said,
Hitotose is a really unique character.
He's famous for confusing players
with statements so cringe
they make your hair stand on end.
I see.
I didn't understand any of that,
but do you think I could borrow this game?
[all gasp]
[Hirai] Murai? What's the matter, Murai?
What made you say that?
Come on, you can tell us.
The person I'm in love with
called me Hitotose by mistake.
-[girls] The person you're in love with?
-[boys] Tetsuko?
-That means
-Tetsuko is playing this otome game
[shushes]
Who is the person
you're in love with, Murai?
[Murai] I will tell you
when the time comes,
but for now I need you to listen to me.
Since she got my name wrong,
she's been acting strange.
First, she won't look me in the eye.
And if our eyes do meet,
her face turns bright red
and she turns into the Buddha
or even faints.
-I'm sorry, Murai.
-[Murai] It's an adorable sight,
but it feels like she's avoiding me,
which is frustrating.
Could this all be due to the fact
that I look like Hitotose?
[Hitomi] Yes, I think so.
The fact that she even knows Hitotose
is pretty telling already.
But if she's turning into the Buddha,
I think it's safe to say
that he's her number-one fave.
I agree.
I don't know what I'd do
if my fave appeared in the real world.
If so, I would like even more
for you to lend me this game.
-[Tanaka chanting]
-[Murai] I need to learn about
this Hitotose person as my romantic rival.
If that's what you want.
[Murai] I appreciate it.
With all due respect,
since this is a rare opportunity,
I do have one condition.
What is it?
I'd like you to help us out
at an event we're participating in.
[narrator] I'd like you
to cosplay as Hitotose
at the doujinshi convention
we're participating in.
Sure, no problem.
Yay! Thank you. You'll be a big help.
[Hitomi] I did it, Big Sister!
[Yuuka] Nice work, Little Sister.
[Murai] Kiri, can I stay over
at your place tonight?
I just thought it'd be nice
to have someone with me.
[Hirai] What about me?
[closing theme song playing]
NEXT TIME
EPISODE 2