We Never Learn: BOKUBEN

2019TVFINISHED71% Score

Synopsis

His late father always said that a useless man should strive to be useful, so to that end, third-year high school student Nariyuki Yuiga dedicated himself to becoming a high-achieving student in his school, despite his history of poor grades. In order to give his destitute family a better life, his ultimate goal is to obtain the special VIP nomination, a prestigious scholarship covering all future university tuition fees. Although Nariyuki could feasibly be a shoe-in for the nomination, he is constantly overshadowed by classmates Rizu Ogata and Fumino Furuhashi in mathematics and literature, respectively.

To his delight, Nariyuki receives the nomination, but there’s a catch: he has to tutor his two star classmates, who are each hopelessly mediocre at the other’s subject of expertise! To make matters worse, the subjects they are horrible at are the same subjects they want to pursue for their future. As the time to submit university applications draws nearer, Nariyuki must find an effective tutoring method for the girls before it’s too late.

(Source: Official Website)

EP 1

Genius and X Are Two Sides of the Same Coin

There are two geniuses at Ichinose Academy: Fumino Furuhashi, a liberal arts prodigy, and Rizu Ogata, a scientific whiz. Nariyuki Yuiga is a talented student who has contempt for them, especially as he’s aiming to get a "special VIP recommendation.” But then, as a condition for receiving it, Nariyuki is ordered to tutor Fumino and Rizu so that they’re accepted at their first-choice university. Nariyuki rolls up his sleeves but is dismayed to find that Fumino wants to be a science major and Rizu a liberal arts major, the exact opposite of where their talents lie. Moreover, they seem to have no aptitude whatsoever for the subjects they’re interested in. Nariyuki advises the geniuses to change their minds, but...

EP 2

A Fish is to Water as a Genius is to X

Uruka Takemoto has been a friend of Nariyuki's since middle school and is a swimming prodigy who should have a brilliant future ahead of her, but her academic grades are so bad that she's in danger of losing the college scholarship she's counting on. The academy's headmaster orders Nariyuki to tutor her, too. Uruka hates studying but suddenly becomes eager when she hears that Nariyuki is going to be her tutor. Actually, she's been in love with Nariyuki since middle school which is when he started helping her. Aware of her fellow mentees, Fumino and Rizu, Uruka secretly gets fired up.

EP 3

A Genius Resonates Emotionally with X

The results of Nariyuki’s tutoring are about to be put to the test with the midterm exams. If the girls don’t raise their grades, they’ll get a new tutor. The three of them want to keep Nariyuki, though, so they become even more resolved to study hard for the exams.

EP 4

What She Wants from a Genius Is X

Fumino is determined to go on a diet after a sudden weight gain. Rizu's self-proclaimed rival, Sawako Sekijo, has the wrong idea that the reason Rizu has set her sights on humanities is because she's in love with Nariyuki, and she tries to test Rizu's "love."

EP 5

A Genius in the Forest Strays for X

Ichinose Academy’s famous three-day, two-night study training camp has begun. Nariyuki and the students study hard at the boarding house in the mountains, but Rizu can’t stop thinking about her tutor.

EP 6

Thus, X Geniuses Never Learn

Nariyuki is summoned by Mafuyu Kirisu, the girls’ former tutor, who interrogates him about the camp incidents. A worried Fumino, waiting outside the student guidance counselor's door, hears snatches of the conversation, including the expression "illicit sexual conduct."

EP 7

A Former Tutor's Secret Spot Is X

While Nariyuki and Fumino are talking to each other behind the school, she loses her balance and falls into Nariyuki’s arms. Rizu apparently sees the "hugging" part and looks furious.

EP 8

Sometimes a Genius's Every Action Is at the Mercy of X

After Nariyuki wins a smartphone in a lottery, he can't wait to use it for apps like the dictionary, schedule managing, and the like. He also learns that studying in the bathtub is effective and quickly puts the method into practice.

EP 9

He Struggles with X in a Forbidden Zone

When Nariyuki is walking by Mafuyu's apartment one day, she invites him in because she apparently had seen a cockroach. He goes inside and finds the place just as messy as it was during his last visit.

EP 10

A Lost Lamb in New Territory Encounters X

As a reward for being a tutor, Nariyuki gets to take a short summer course at an entrance exam prep school. He's eager to take the course in order to improve his results, but he meets Asumi Kominami, an academy alumni who is still studying to get into a university.

EP 11

An Illustrious Veteran Sometimes Serves X

Downtown at night, Ms. Kirisu finds Nariyuki as he's about to enter a suspicious café and calls him to a halt. It's the maid café where Ms. Kirisu's former student, Asumi, works part-time.

EP 12

Sometimes a Genius Travels Down Memory Lane With X

Nariyuki consults Fumino about how his relationship with Uruka has become awkward, but he claims he's asking "for a friend." Right after that, Uruka comes to Fumino to discuss the same issue.

EP 13

The Light in a Genius's Eye is All X

When Nariyuki goes to a festival, he runs into Uruka and strolls with her past the food stalls, helps Rizu deliver food, and takes an injured Mafuyu to Asumi's father's first-aid tent. In other words, as ever, he's a busy do-gooder.