Shouta tells Sawako that he would always tell him ‘do what
you want’ as his last word. His mother’s health isn’t good that she is always
hospitalized during junior high and his younger brother is still young so if he
joins the baseball club in high school, he would have to devote himself to it
so in order to conveniently help out when something happens, he wants to stay
at home as much as possible. Sawako asks if that is the reason he chose this
high school. Shouta says, yes. He laughs and says that strictly speaking, he
didn’t give up baseball for he still participate in the Pin’s morning baseball
team’s.. Sawako asks if he actually doesn’t want to give up on baseball. This
somewhat surprises Shouta that he insists that it isn’t so, and he feels that
if he continues on being lectured about all sorts of things regarding baseball
by his father, he will start to hate baseball. Shouta admits that is the
primary reason and it is the first time he mentioned it, he actually doesn’t
want to take his father’s advice [/take his word]. So, he has decided that this
time, he’ll say ‘I will continue the family business’ and personally tell him
about it. He recalls his father shouting that no matter what Shouta does, it is
quite half-hearted[/amateurish] and he ‘isn’t good enough for high post but too
proud to take a low one’, he isn’t this nor that. Shouta lets out a loud sigh.
Covering his embarrassed face, Shouta says that his father has totally seen him
through and he even got punched that he feels really ashamed. Shouta asks if it
is funny. Sawako says that she won’t laugh, for just now, everything he said is
all of his real thoughts. And, she thinks that whether it is him or his father,
they are sincerely watching each other attentively. Shouta doesn’t seem to
believe it. Sawako asks him that didn’t his father say, ‘do what you want’ and
it is definitely that Shouta is the current Shouta. Before, he told her that
‘he is very headstrong’ and that refers to thinking ‘it should be like this’
and he would keep on persist on it. Shouta tells her that his father
never..*pause*didn’t think that way. Shouta laments that it is totally no good
when it comes to his own issue and his foresight regarding himself is this
‘little bit’. Excited Sawako says that it isn’t so and did she say too much
again. Shouta laughs and says that he wants to stand equally with his father,
wanting to be struggle free from the restrictions, and in the end, he actually hasn’t
struggled free. He tells Sawako that he always wanted to be a person who’ll
depend on one’s own strength in doing everything. He says that he’ll re-think
about it again just like what Sawako said, think what he really wanted to do.
Sawako happily says, yes. He asks her if she has found out what she wants to
do. She says yes, she wants to become a teacher.
While she is trying to tell him that it isn’t sudden, he
says, yes because she always thinks of things and of everyone to ‘express
herself and make everyone understand’ so it isn’t ‘sudden’, it is okay, he
totally understands. This made Sawako cry in happiness. He wipes her tears and
says that is what he really wants to say. Soon, Shouta is bidding her goodbye.
She asks if it is alright. He asks if it is about ‘don’t come home’, and no
matter what, it is his home and he won’t lose to his father. Shouta says that
thanks to her for being here today or else, he won’t calm down and he would
create a huge uproar. Sawako is surprised by that and how he will do it. He
asks if she wants to see it. When she says that she wants to see it for a
little bit, Shouta kisses her and says no. Turning to leave, Shouta says that
he has cheered up [/become enthusiastic] and Sawako says, me too. She mentally
wishes him ‘gambatte’[/strive hard]. Soon, Sawako informs her parents of her
decision. Shouta returns home and his father asks him if his brain is wide awake.
His father starts to lecture him for being arrogantly wanting to continue the
family business and it is too beautiful for him to think that he can directly
inherit it. While Shouta’s mother tries to interrupt them and tell them to
start eating, his father tells him that he deliberately made him angry by
saying that he would quit baseball. Shouta says yes so his father shouts that
he is always being amateurish for his behavior has a skin-deep[/shallow] way of
thinking and using the family as an excuse, and is that related to him..his
mother and younger brother. Shouta replies that it is related to him. He admits
that his way of thinking is skin-deep but he and these things are not
unrelated. Just when his father is about to retort back, his mother angrily
shouts at them to eat already. Soon, Shouta and his father continue to argue
while asking for another bowl of rice from Shouta’s mother. At school, Sawako,
together with his mother, meets with Pin. Sawako changes her ‘future prospects’
into studying college. She tells him that she wants to become a teacher like
him. Pin says that she’s dreaming but it’s a wonder. He asks if she admires him
and she says yes. Then, they meet up with Sawako’s friends. Sawako’s mother
made a side remark that it will be Valentine’s Day soon. Then, Sawako
introduces her mother to some students passing by, that made them give a good
comment about Sawako. Sawako thinks that without everyone, she wouldn’t have
this kind of goal. She meets up with Shouta who is waiting at the shoe lockers.
Sawako’s mother decides to go ahead and leave the two alone..and this surprises
the two. Sawako thinks that with Shouta at her side, this ‘gambatte’ thinking
which she always have to herself, has now become ‘together, let’s do our
best[/gambatte]’.
Comment: I think
that the thing with Shouta’s father is a bit similar with what happened with
Sawako earlier. Shouta tends to do things for ‘good intention’ but it isn’t
really what he truly wants or feels. That seems to be the common problem for ‘good
kids’ on whether doing what is expected of oneself or what one truly wants. It
does seem that Shouta is a bit conflicted over himself because of being branded
‘good kid/son’ so with his very strict and rigid father, it is somewhat wanting
to be either ‘a good son’ or ‘to rebel’. It maybe good to do everything on your
own and don’t consult anyone about it but there are times when it becomes bad
if it is too much. Somehow, the ‘doing everything on my own’ is a bit similar
with his father which is why I think his father doesn’t want to accept any
‘help’ from Shouta regarding the family and thinks that it isn’t related to
Shouta. It seems that Shouta has to speak out his mind more and be truthful
rather than ‘keeping appearances’ especially because relationships tend to
become more complicated by the ‘good intentions’. In a way, it is good that his
father would rather he truly do what he wants rather than ‘what he thinks that
he should do’. Without talking with Sawako, things would have turned out
differently between Shouta and his father. I guess like what Shouta mentioned,
he tends to have difficulty if it is his own issue. In the before-and-during
dinner conversation, Shouta seems to be taking the step in expressing himself
more truthfully. I’m not sure if that has made his father limit things to
shouts rather than his fists..or it was because his mother kept on insisting
that they eat dinner. As for Sawako, she is now going to be a teacher in the
future. ^^ Anyway, it’s nice for the couple to cheer each other up in striving
their best and they are becoming a bit more communicative with each other
unlike before. Hehe, Shouta is also showing more affection. I guess this is the
end of this arc, since V-day is already hinted. Scans by 夜莺工作室
Quote of the day:
Relationships are built on all different foundations, but
the ones that last are built on trust and open, honest conversations. ~ Nishan
Panwar