Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! Episode 1: Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! / Super Exciting Cooking Class!!

Nakamura Okuto, a first-year student, finds himself in a classroom, passing papers with half-closed eyes. The teacher announces a cooking practical, and something shifts in Nakamura. He quickly launches into an inner monologue, revealing his deep, immediate affection for his classmate, Ai Hirose. His cheeks redden, and he confesses to a fervent love that he knows will define his high school days.

Nakamura recalls the entrance ceremony, the moment he first saw Hirose under the cherry blossoms. While other students make friends, he is captivated by her. His internal narration paints a vivid picture of her: 'soft chestnut hair,' 'large, sparkling eyes,' 'slightly tanned skin,' and 'her adorable smile.' This detailed, idealized vision culminates in a sudden, almost physical shock for Nakamura as he realizes this is love at first sight.

A month passes, yet Nakamura has not spoken a single word to Hirose. He laments this failure, his patience wearing thin as he sits in class, hands clenched. The teacher's voice is just background noise to his internal struggle. Nakamura declares that today, his patience has run out, and he *will* speak to Hirose, vowing to become her friend.

Bolstered by rehearsed conversations, Nakamura approaches Hirose confidently after class. Disaster strikes when his eraser falls and rolls under her desk. His internal panic is a flurry of mathematical equations and frantic thoughts. Hirose picks it up for him, leading Nakamura to momentarily imagine a perfect, cafe-date invitation, only for him to blurt out a simple 'Eraser, you dropped it,' leaving him flustered and overjoyed by a simple 'thank you.'

As Hirose walks away, she drops a handkerchief, unnoticed by her. Nakamura sees a golden opportunity, a 'perfect plan' to naturally connect and earn goodwill. He rushes forward, determined to be the hero, but in his eagerness, he accidentally stomps directly onto the handkerchief, flattening it. The horrified stares from Hirose and her friend solidify his crushing failure.

Back home, Nakamura is in utter despair, convinced Hirose now hates him. He screams into his pillow and laments his inability to speak to girls normally, confiding in his pet octopus, Iichan. But in a sudden surge of resolve, he declares that high school has just begun and he will absolutely become Hirose's friend, striking a dramatic, superheroic pose. His mother is startled by his outburst.

The next day, Nakamura has a red rash on his arm, a souvenir from Iichan. Hirose notices and, concerned, touches his forehead, leading to a flustered Nakamura being rushed to the infirmary. To Nakamura's surprise and delight, Hirose also has a rash, having touched the octopus as well. This shared, mysterious affliction leads Nakamura to believe they now share a 'love bond,' a special connection.

Nakamura basks in the glow of his supposed unique bond with Hirose, imagining fireworks exploding in his mind. But the school nurse's words shatter his fantasy: the rash is a common allergic reaction, not contagious, and others who touched Iichan have it too. As Nakamura looks around the infirmary, he sees his classmate's friend and then others also covered in spots. His 'special connection' evaporates, replaced by the crushing realization that he is 'just an ordinary guy,' his unique bond with Hirose dissolved.