Haibara's Teenage New Game+ Episode 3: Perfect Behavior

Natsuki works his second day at 'Cafe Males,' effortlessly preparing complex dishes like Napolitan pasta. His culinary skill astonishes Uta Kirishima, who watches him with admiration, noting his surprising competence. Soon, Ryota, Tatsuya, and Yuino burst in, lively and teasing, and are then served restaurant-quality food by their friend. Tatsuya's praise for Natsuki's ability to do

The school hallway buzzes with the dread of midterm exams. Uta is visibly distressed, admitting her lack of attention in class. Ryota delivers the harsh reality: failing grades mean being barred from club activities. This news lands particularly hard on Tatsuya, whose basketball spot hangs in the balance, creating an undercurrent of genuine anxiety in the group.

In a school multipurpose room, Natsuki takes charge of a study session, quickly pinpointing the academic struggles of Uta and Tatsuya. He finds Uta particularly lacking in basic math, a fact he processes with quiet surprise. As Natsuki leans in to explain an equation, his face close to Uta's, a blush spreads between them, an awkward, charged moment that Tatsuya observes from across the table, his expression unreadable.

Daily study sessions become the group's norm, the midterms looming closer. In the school hallway, Tatsuya bows deeply, pleading with his friends to continue studying through the weekend, terrified of losing his basketball eligibility. He then abruptly turns to Natsuki, asking if he has feelings for Uta. Natsuki, flustered, deflects the question by mentioning Hikari, a clumsy evasion.

The study group reconvenes at Natsuki's cafe, with Miyori joining them. Natsuki presents Uta with a meticulously crafted, personalized study notebook, tailored to her specific weaknesses. Uta's eyes shine, deeply moved by the care and effort Natsuki put into her success. The gesture is pure, an act of thoughtful friendship.

Away from the group, Miyori pulls Natsuki aside, directly addressing Uta's obvious romantic feelings for him. She jokingly offers to act as a 'wingwoman,' to help them connect, a suggestion that overwhelms Natsuki with its bluntness. Later, on the train, Miyori warns him that his 'Rainbow Youth Plan' might be making him miss something fundamental about his friends. Her words are serious, leaving Natsuki with a sense of unease.

Natsuki is relaxing at home when Hikari calls, her voice filled with concern. She asks if Natsuki has noticed anything strange about Tatsuya, remarking on his recent depression during their study sessions. Natsuki admits he hadn't noticed, a revelation that surprises Hikari, who urges him to pay closer attention to their friend.

The midterm exams finally arrive, a tense three-day ordeal. A montage shows the group members battling their test papers. Natsuki remains calm and focused, his concentration unbroken. In contrast, Uta and Tatsuya are visibly strained, their faces etched with the effort of recall. The exam hall is a crucible of silence, punctuated only by the scratching of pens and the relentless ticking of the clock.

After the exams, the group celebrates at a karaoke bar, relief making the atmosphere electric. Yuino impresses everyone with her professional-level singing, but the mood shifts when Natsuki takes the stage. He chooses a sentimental song, and as he sings, the scene visually narrows, stripping away the background noise. Flashbacks of his past, a lonely, gray existence, contrast with his vibrant present, pouring raw emotion into his powerful performance.

Natsuki's song ends, leaving the room in a stunned silence. His friends stare, awed by his unexpected talent. This fragile moment is brutally broken when Tatsuya slams his hands on the table. He announces he's leaving, his face obscured by shadow, his voice thick with an unfamiliar, hostile emotion. He brushes off his friends' attempts to make him stay, the celebration curdling into confusion.

Natsuki pursues Tatsuya into the karaoke corridor, demanding to know what is wrong. Tatsuya finally breaks, shouting at Natsuki to 'leave him alone.' He calls Natsuki a 'perfect superhuman,' accusing him of being unable to understand ordinary feelings. Tatsuya's voice is raw with resentment, revealing his deep-seated feelings of inferiority, that Natsuki's effortless perfection makes everyone else feel pathetic.

Ryota catches up to a bewildered Natsuki after Tatsuya has left. He calmly explains the source of Tatsuya's anger: overwhelming jealousy. Ryota reveals that Natsuki has, perhaps unintentionally, surpassed Tatsuya in every area he once valued—basketball, cooking, and now even singing. Natsuki is left stunned, the reality of his impact on his friend hitting him with cold force.

The episode closes with Natsuki walking home alone through the night, his mind reeling. Regret and a profound sense of failure weigh heavily upon him. He realizes that despite his second chance at life, he remains the same person, struggling to comprehend the complex emotions of others. Looking up at the stars, he feels his 'Rainbow Youth Plan' starting to collapse under the burden of his own ignorance.