New Game!! Episode 4: How Dense... Can You Be?

Natsuki's carefully constructed

Despite his meticulously planned efforts, Natsuki finds no joy in his academic success. He stares at his first-place exam results, but his mind remains elsewhere, consumed by the growing rift with Tatsuya. Even Uta's excited praise for her own improved scores, which she attributes to Natsuki's help, cannot pierce his melancholy. He declines her invitation to celebrate with the group, choosing to isolate himself further in the pouring rain, feeling his 'youth plan' unravel.

Just as Natsuki wallows in self-pity amidst the downpour, Miori appears with a pink umbrella, a splash of colour in his grey world. She teases him gently, calling him 'Mr. Number One Genius,' seeing past his outward misery. Despite Natsuki's attempts to push her away, Miori refuses to abandon him, embodying the unwavering loyalty of a true childhood friend as she insists on walking him home.

Inside Natsuki's bedroom, Miori makes herself comfortable, her presence a familiar intrusion from their shared past. She soon unearths his hidden collection of anime and light novels, forcing his 'cool' facade to crack. Miori’s playful teasing, including a threat to post a photo of him with his 'nerdy' interests, leads to a clumsy scuffle, shattering the tension and bringing them to a more honest, physical interaction.

Natsuki finally admits to Miori that his 'Rainbow Youth Plan' is collapsing, fearing his friendship with Tatsuya is beyond repair. Miori gently places a hand on his head, reminding him that his relentless pursuit of a 'perfect' image is the very thing creating distance. A brief flashback reveals Miori comforting a bullied, bespectacled young Natsuki, emphasizing her long-standing role as his protector and confidante. She insists his true, 'nerdy' self is who he should embrace.

With a newfound determination, Natsuki approaches Tatsuya the next day at school, ready to face their fractured friendship head-on. He leads a reluctant Tatsuya to the school rooftop, a traditional stage for pivotal conversations. As they stand under the open sky, the silent tension between them promises a difficult, but necessary, reckoning.

On the rooftop, Tatsuya finally unleashes his long-simmering resentment, confessing his deep jealousy of Natsuki's seemingly effortless perfection. He reveals that seeing Natsuki succeed in every endeavor makes his own efforts feel meaningless, admitting he's moved beyond envy to spite. A flashback to a painful basketball game highlights the root of Tatsuya's inferiority complex, where Natsuki's 'natural' talent overshadowed his own maximum effort.

Natsuki, stung by Tatsuya's accusations of effortless perfection, erupts in a raw, uncharacteristic outburst. He angrily refutes the idea that his success is natural, declaring that Tatsuya has no understanding of the immense, agonizing effort behind his every achievement. Natsuki challenges Tatsuya, rejecting his friend's use of jealousy as an excuse to avoid facing his own struggles and choices.

Natsuki confesses that his cool exterior is a complete fabrication, a 'high school debut' designed to bury his past self. Trembling with the effort of honesty, he pulls out his phone and shows Tatsuya a photo of his middle school self: a nerdy boy with messy hair and thick glasses, utterly unrecognizable. Natsuki then launches into a passionate, uninhibited rant about his otaku hobbies and 'waifus,' completely shedding his cool facade, demonstrating the sheer effort he'd put into simply appearing 'normal.'

Natsuki admits he was also jealous, of Tatsuya's natural athleticism and easy charm, revealing that his entire 'perfect student' persona was an attempt to emulate what he thought Tatsuya possessed. The two boys bicker like true friends, the dark cloud of resentment finally lifting, replaced by laughter. A montage of Natsuki's hidden efforts – studying late, practicing basketball alone, learning to cook – highlights that his 'perfection' was not a gift, but a product of solitary, arduous work, finally understood by Tatsuya.

The rooftop door swings open, revealing Uta, Yui, Rei, and Miori who have been eavesdropping on the entire dramatic confession, much to Natsuki's mortification. The atmosphere shifts as Uta approaches Tatsuya with a serious expression, gently but firmly rejecting his romantic feelings, declaring she only sees him as a 'good friend.' Tatsuya's spirit comically departs his body, leaving him devastated on the concrete, as the others awkwardly try to console him.

Despite the rejection, Tatsuya stands up, declaring he won't give up on his goals or his friends. The girls eagerly ask to see Natsuki's middle school photo, finding his former nerdy self surprisingly endearing, a complete validation of his honesty. As a bright rainbow appears in the clearing sky, the group stands together, their bond strengthened by shared vulnerability. Later, Natsuki genuinely thanks Miori at his part-time cafe, finally feeling that his 'rainbow youth' is a real, authentic possibility, with Miori affirming they are 'partners'.