Mei felt so embarrassed that she always closed her
eyes but nevertheless, she felt the warmth of Yamato’s hand. And, after it is
over, it made her feel quite embarrassed. Mei is covering herself with the
blanket. Blushing Yamato calls her name. Mei thinks that in shoujo manga, the
couple would not think of anything throughout and after it, they would be very
happy and laugh together. Actually midway, she has no way of thinking of the
aftermath and after it ended, in one breath, one returns to reality. She is so
embarrassed that she doesn’t know what kind of expression to show Yamato. To
her surprise, Yamato asks if she regrets it because she doesn’t look happy. Mei
scolds him why would she regret and explains that it is because she doesn’t
know what kind of expression to show. He hugs her and tells her that it is okay
for her to show any kind of expression. She asks if she is strange because it
is her first time. Yamato recalls some girl. He hugs her tighter and says that
he likes her more, can’t he? Mei says not.. Then, they notice that Mei’s cat is
looking at them. They wonder if it is hungry or wants to go to the toilet. They
decide that it is time for Mei to go home. While walking, Yamato tells her that
he is very happy that they are together because she got a fever last year and she
can’t go out. He also tells her that he wants to be with her this year’s winter
vacation, New Year’s Eve and New Year. Mei says okay. She thinks that this isn’t
the same as last year’s. By the train tracks, Mei will walk on ahead to her
house so Yamato tells her to send him a message once she arrives home. She
arrives home and her mother happily asks if she had fun at the Christmas party
with everyone. Mei says yes. Her mother goes to prepare the bath. The cat
quickly jumps down and goes to its food. Mei writes a message to Yamato that
she has arrived home. Yamato writes back that is good and he is quite lonely
that he quickly wants to see her. At the bathtub, Mei thinks that she doesn’t
regret it and that must be her most embarrassing expression since her birth and
it is the first time being seen by Yamato. But, Yamato.. She recalls him with
some other girl [iirc, first one whom he had sex?; Aiko?] Mei tells herself
that it is useless to think too much over it and it won’t erase the fact. And
even if she is very happy, it is also good thing for Aiko. After taking a bath,
she has a message from Asami who greets her a Merry Christmas. She asks if Mei
is still lovey-dovey with Yamato and how about they go out and gossip tomorrow.
Aiko also wants to know what happened. At his kitchen, Yamato gets a message
from Mei that she will have ginger baths everyday in order not to catch a cold.
Yamato happily smiles over this. His younger sister asks him what’s with that
smile on his face. He says that it is nothing. His younger sister thinks that
it’s quite gross. She asks if Mei likes that cake. Yamato is a bit speechless
when she says out loud over planning to open a cake shop in the future because she
likes to make sweets. Then, she starts to scold Yamato over how to clean up the
dishes.
The next day, Mei meets up with her friends. Asami
asks if she was surprised that they’ve left. Mei says that it is alright. At a cafe,
it seems to be Aiko’s idea for them to leave for there is no progress between
Mei and Yamato even if they are going steady so it is no good if everyone is
there. Aiko asks about Asami and Kenji. It seems that Asami is excited over the
party since Mei can come that both wear reindeer suits to the party. Aiko
teases Asami over wearing the reindeer horns that Asami teases her back about
holding hands with Masashi. Mei smiles at them. They ask her about Mei and Mei
admits that they’ve done it. Her friends couldn’t believe it. They started to
ask questions about it over how it happened, is she wearing nice underwear,
contraception, etc. They ask if Yamato initiated it. To their surprise, Mei
tells them that Yamato is just sitting and she’s the one.. Aiko asks if she
attacked him. Asami says that Aiko is overly excited. Mei tells them that no
matter when, Yamato would communicate with her if something happens to her and
when she thinks of it in detail, she would just accumulate her love with Yamato
and she wasn’t able to convey it to him so making Yamato lonely. Before Aiko
told her that if she doesn’t take the initiative to do her own thing, there won’t
be an outcome and she wondered if it is really like that. When Yamato prepared
that album for her as a gift, she doesn’t prepare anything, and she’s very
happy. Asami gushes over knowing about that for Yamato has always been doing
it, and she’s happy with that gift. Aiko spoils it to Asami that if it is
Kenji, it would absolutely be no good. Mei continues that afterwards, she went
and touched Yamato. While Aiko smiles on in approval, Asami holds Mei’s hand
and says that’s good. After Asami left, Aiko teases Mei over doing the seducing.
Aiko says that she is at ease because she is a bit bothered over telling her
that she having sex with Yamato. She is troubled that it is because of that, things
between Mei and Yamato always couldn’t progress. She apologizes over that thing
before and she’s quite happy that Mei remembered what she said before. Aiko
hugs Mei and says that she did her best in changing. Then, there is a scene of
a guy seeing a cover of a magazine of a model [I think from the last arc] at a
convenient store. Soon, there are scenes of Mei with her female friends, Yamato
and family inviting Mei since Yamato’s sister baked,..and after all that
eating, Mei is horrified that she gained weight. Then, there is a scene of the
guy [from convenient store earlier] meeting with the model[?] at the gym. After
some teasing, it seems that they’ll have a thing between them soon. While Mei
is jogging, there is a narration about deciding to do one’s best, and even if
there is no success, keep on moving forward. Then, Asami tells everyone that
they are going to the hatsumode [first shrine visit] tomorrow. While there’s a
New Year countdown, Mei and Yamato are on the phone. He tells her that this
year, he’ll be under her care [/yoroshiku]. Mei greets him back, yoroshiku. In
the last scene, everyone meets up to go to the shrine.
Comment: So, I think that caps this arc. And it is a pretty
nice one. Holiday seasons with family [in the case of Mei], friends and lover
^^ Fitting for this season which coincides with our actual time ^^ Scans
by 離境漢化組.
Another fresh new year is here... Another year to live! To
banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! ~ William Arthur
Ward.