The next morning, after waking up from the alarm, Hinata thinks that even if he doesn’t
like Nanoka, and he also doesn’t hate her either, but is there meaning to this
kind of going steady. His cellphone rings. He wonders who it is so early in the
morning. It is a message from Nanoka greeting him a good morning and according
to this morning’s horoscope, Pisces is number 1 [in luck]. Hinata wonders if this is the so-called going steady, wherein
lovers in this world would mutual spread this kind of irrelevance and it is
this childish email, amazing.. Nanoka waits for him downstairs. She asks if it
is okay for her to occasionally go with him to school together. Hinata thinks that it is obvious that
she’s waiting for her. While walking, Nanoka asks if he is busy this Saturday
in drawing his manuscript. Hinata
darkly laughs says that he wasn’t able to complete finish the storyboard so for
the meantime, he plans to buy some drawing materials for a change of mood.
Nanoka happily says that she’s going with him especially since he tends to buy
a lot with his hands full which is quite dangerous so she’ll help him carry the
things. Hinata says that he is fine
by himself but Nanoka strongly insists that she’s going with him. So, Hinata finally relents. While Nanoka
happily walks, Hinata wonders if she
really wanted to go to the art store but it is doesn’t matter if it is only by
himself or the two of them.. Then, he realizes something that if the two of
them go together, that would be like a date, right? On Saturday, Nanoka emails Hinata a good morning and an apology
that she overslept. While waiting at the street, Hinata is thinking that shopping for art materials couldn’t be a
date and Nanoka would probably not think of it as a date so there’s no strange
meaning to this-- And his thoughts are cut off when he sees how pretty Nanoka
dressed up. Nanoka apologizes for being late. Hinata is stunned speechless that Nanoka has to ask him what it is.
He says that it is nothing, let’s go. Blushing Hinata wonders if this is the style how Nanoka dresses up before, and
he has no way of looking straight at her. So, perhaps, this can be considered
as a date. Soon, after going out of the art store, Nanoka exclaims over the
many things that Hinata bought. Hinata says that it is because he
already got the manuscript data[?]. Hinata
starts to feel a bit apologetic to Nanoka for he is only wearing ordinary
clothes. Nanoka offers to help him carry half of the bags. Hinata refuses. Nanoka insists because she came along to help him. Hinata shouts that there’s no need for
how can he make his girlfriend carry his own stuff. This made Nanoka surprise
and timid. Hinata is shock by what he
just said and that is too embarrassing. Hinata
says that the thing he has to do [shopping] is finished so does she have any
plans like going or doing something. Nanoka says that there is still time left
for him to.. Hinata tells her that it
is okay so she doesn’t have any-- Nanoka says that she wants to go to a photo
sticker booth. In the arcade, stunned Hinata
says that it is an unknown world. Nanoka asks if he hasn’t done this before. Hinata says no. He thinks that he knows
that lovers would definitely have pictures of this. He is surprised over the
sample pictures of the lovey-dovey pictures of couples. Soon, they have ‘plain’
pictures.
At the bus, Hinata
thinks that it looks awful even if it is his first time. He is nervous that Nanoka
would scold him for such awful-looking pictures and couldn’t it be better ones.
To his surprise, Nanoka giggles over the pictures for Hinata has the same kind of expression. Hinata wonders why she is so happy when the pictures were ugly. Hinata suddenly tells Nanoka that next
time, he will strive hard to have better pictures. This surprises Nanoka. She
smiles and says okay. Later on, the editor tells Hinata that the storyboard is quite good and the girl role is also
drawn quite well. It is the cutest he has done and he can continue drawing it
up to the end. So pass it on the date they talked about before. Hinata is quite happy over this
development. At the shoe lockers, Hinata
happily tells his friend, Shima [guesswork from 嶋]
over how fast there is an effect on romance even if he isn’t quite sure but the
storyboard is finished so it’s a good thing. Shima says is that so, and his
girlfriend would help him draw the manuscript. Hinata happily says that she only helps him in erasing the pencil
marks and inking but it has been a big help. Shima says that is nice, he got a
convenient girlfriend for not only is she a help for his work, she also helps
in drawing the manuscript so it is two birds in one stone. Hinata darkly tells him that statement would make him seem quite
awful to death. Shima tells him that he is wrong, it is him, the one who is
doing those things is Hinata. This
shocks Hinata for he is right, for
how could he pretend to be amazing and lecture someone, is he an idiot. At
home, Nanoka happily tells him that she finished inking. Hinata thanks her. He looks at it and says that it is quite good.
Nanoka is quite happy to hear this. Hinata
says that she did it quite fast and the inking is quite even without leaving
anything behind. Nanoka happily says that actually she practiced a bit and it is
the result of her practice. Nanoka shouts that she didn’t do this because of
him, it is only because she is motivated. Hinata
lamely says ya which made Nanoka pout over his reaction. Hinata wonders what’s up, before she would say that she would help
but in the end, she sleeps after reading the manga, and she still doesn’t know
why he went steady with her. So, in the end this won’t do..he cannot go on. Hinata suddenly prostrate down to her
that Nanoka exclaims what he is doing. He apologizes that he still cannot go
steady with her. He admits that he decided to go steady with her is not because
he likes her but rather, she can help him with his manga but now, he finally
realizes that this is very weird so he’s very sorry. Nanoka looks glum and says
that she knows that early on. She asks if he recalls his expression when she
confessed to him. It’s like that ‘huh’ and she isn’t stupid to think that their
feelings are mutual upon seeing him having that kind of expression. Nanoka
comments that it is his style to use the manga as his reason for going steady. Hinata apologizes again. Nanoka declares
that even if that is so, she thinks that it isn’t necessary to break up. Hinata goes huh. Nanoka says that it is
because he wants manga which he as a consistent interest in, and she likes him
so she wants to go steady with him so isn’t that like identical pros and cons.
Hinata nervously
says no..that is. Nanoka calls him stupid for there’s nothing for him to feel
guilty about for she totally doesn’t mind it. If she can help him draw his
manga, she will be quite happy and it is okay even if he doesn’t like her.
“Nanoka totally doesn’t mind.. *starts to cry.* ..Nanoka won’t break up with
you. Absolutely not.” Hinata tries to
call out to Nanoka who is going out of the room. Nanoka shouts for him that’s
enough, quickly finish drawing the manuscript, you manga otaku, manga idiot.
Recalling her confession, Hinata
wonders what the heck he is doing. At school, Hinata looks at his cellphone and there is no message from Nanoka.
He thinks that even if she said that, she doesn’t want to break up, but after
that time, she also didn’t send an email, so is that a break up. He doesn’t understand..
Just then, Ayane calls out to him and says that she bought the magazine that
has his latest work. Hinata has
forgotten that it would be released today. Ayane reprimands him about it but Hinata sheepishly says that it is
because lately, he is always thinking of something.. Hinata becomes nervous when Ayane asks if it is about Nanoka for
how could she not notice the change in Nanoka that she even made Nanoka spit
out what’s up. Hinata darkly mutters
that she’s really such a scary girl. Turning the magazine, Ayane comments that
the lead girl in his new work is the cutest one he made. Hinata happily asks if that is true for even the editor praised the
girl he drew this time around. Ayane says that the girl is really cute, a
carbon copy of Nanoka. This made Hinata
speechless. Ayane is surprised that she asks if he wasn’t conscious of it. He
recalls the editor telling him not to think of something complicated, it is
fine for him to just draw a girl he thinks is cute. The scene changes to Nanoka
getting ready to go to school. She gets an email from Hinata, ‘Good Morning’. She is surprised that Hinata is waiting for her at the building’s gate. He gives her the
magazine which carries the manga he drew before. While Nanoka holds the
magazine, Hinata tells her that Ayane
said that it is the cutest girl that he has drawn and she is a carbon copy of
Nanoka. This surprises Nanoka. She looks at the manga and asks if it is like
her. Hinata says that he doesn’t know
for it seems like her and yet it doesn’t seem like her. Nanoka asks in the end,
which one is it. “Forget it, I give this back to you. *shoves the magazine to
him* I don’t want it because Nanoka already bought it.” Hinata looks surprised. His cellphone rings and it is an email from
Nanoka telling him that he’ll forever regret for dumping her. Hinata smiles and mutters that’s not
definite[/maybe]. While walking with her, Nanoka asks what he is smiling for.
Narration: “In the end, whether it is similar to her or not, I feel that some
more time is needed for me to know it. For now, I temporarily first start by
sending email in the morning.” The End.
Comment: Well,
this is a side story wherein the unrequited love is going to be returned
soon..unlike the other side stories. Obviously, Hinata isn’t ready yet or perhaps not conscious of his feelings so
indeed time is needed. During the ‘date’, he is somewhat acting like a
boyfriend already. It is nice that he is willing to take the initiative in the
end. Anyway, they are a cute couple ^^ Thanks for reading ^-^
Quote of the day:
Love is like a good cake; you never know when it's coming,
but you'd better eat it when it does! ~ C. JoyBell C.