Hirunaka No Ryuusei [Chapter 52]

And, this is the Suzume who has come back. Holding out a bowl, Suzume munches and asks for another bowl. Her uncle says fine, and how much. Suzume says a super big bowl. Her vitality is at full 100%. Suzume exclaims that she wants another bowl. In her room, Suzume looks at the treasure box. She thinks that actually, she still hasn’t totally recovered. She grabs some paper and tape to fully wrap the treasure box. Anyway, she is already tired of crying and besides, it isn’t a bit like her. “Because I’ve already decided that next time I cry, it is ‘for whom’ I’m crying, and perhaps it is because of ‘tears of joy’. In school, she glances at the back of Shishio. She thinks that she still sees him everyday and he is her homeroom teacher. Nana[/Kameyoshi] happily calls out to Suzume and suggests that they go to a goukon [group dating]. Monika[/Tsurutani] says that they’ll go to a karaoke bar after school along with some friends from junior high. Since Suzume is hesitant, Nana tells her that it is okay, there’s no need to be nervous about it and she only has to be a bit prepared. Suzume is puzzled. Nana says, right, prepared for the next romance[/love] and in order to forget about being dumped by that guy, she must look for someone else. Thinking over this, Suzume says she understands. Nana is delight to hear this and asks if Yuyuka is coming. Yuyuka refuses. Monika comments that she thought so. While Nana is talking about contacting the other party, Yuyuka’s cellphone rings. It is from an unknown number and the message is ‘save me’. Suzume wonders if things would progress smoothly. At the karaoke bar, three guys greet the girls and asks if they are Nana’s friends. Nana happily says yes, they’re classmates. Suzume nods and nervously says hello. Monika greets them back and asks what they’ll be drinking. Suzume is having this slightly baffling nervousness and she wonders if it’s only her. A guy asks what her name is. Suzume tells him. While the other guy wants to sing, the guy kept on mishearing Suzume’s surname into something else until the end, when it is his turn to sing together with the other guy. Suzume looks really uneasy and thinks that it is possible she isn’t suited for goukon.

Meanwhile, Yuyuka looks at a house and thinks that it should be this place. Wondering if the doorbell isn’t broken, she rings it and waits. Suddenly sick Minagawa comes out and welcomes her. He tells her that it is a bit narrow but please come in. Carrying her coat and bags, Yuyuka comes in and hands him a shopping bag which contains some medicine. Preparing some tea, Minagawa apologizes and thanks her. He says that he’ll pay her back and would she like some tea. Yuyuka refuses by saying that she’ll leave immediately. Looking around, Yuyuka thinks that there’s no television. Yuyuka asks him about how he finally got hold of her cellphone number. Yuyuka is irritated when he tells her that he emailed a lot of first year girls to ask around about it. While coughing, Minagawa apologizes for she’s the only one whom he can ask about this kind of things and there is no one else who knows of his family situation. Yuyuka says is that so then, she’ll go back and tell them, so take care. Minagawa holds her right hand and tells her to wait. “Actually, I only wanted to see you and that’s it. It’s because if you know that I’m sick, I think that you’ll definitely come. In case I’ve infected you, I’ll also take responsibility for it so can you stay for a while, okay?” Hitting his hand away, Yuyuka angrily shouts that she knows already and let go of her hand. “It’s very anno-ying for the patient to still be here swaying around back and forth! Quickly drink the medicine and go to sleep!!” While coughing, Minagawa sheepishly says, “As you~~wish. And like before, [she] won’t take the bait.” Yuyuka holds her right hand tightly into a fist and she seems to be blushing. After the goukon, Suzume thanks her friends and see them at school tomorrow. Her friends bid her goodbye and quietly watch Suzume leave. While walking, Suzume thinks that it seems that in the end, she made them more worried. She looks up and sees Mamura who asks her what she is doing. While walking together, Suzume is munching on a meat bun. Mamura says that she’s coming home a bit late today. Suzume says ya, munch, munch, Monika and others brought her along to a goukon today. Mamura says, is-that so.. Suzume comments that the meat bun is delicious.

After a long pause, Mamura asks what happened in the end. Looking at him, Suzume says that after it started for five minutes, she already know that she cannot cope with it. Mamura says that’s quite fast. Suzume says yeah because she couldn’t think of what questions she should ask. “I totally don’t understand why everyone would ask those kinds of questions to people whom they’ve met for the first time. Besides, perhaps, I also basically don’t plan on going steady-whatever. That’s what I think. Ah, I should first not think too much for the time being.” Mamura glances at her and says, that basically, it is absolutely impossible for her to go to a goukon-whatever. Suzume says that if she doesn’t try it, she won’t know. Mamura says that even if she didn’t go, [he/one would] knows. Suzume thinks that in the end, compared to a goukon, she is more happy chatting with Mamura. Then, Suzume couldn’t remove the lid of her lip balm. Mamura offers to help her out but Suzume insists on doing it. And, she opens it but she also hit her lip with her hand. Mamura comments that she’s really stupid. Suzume says it hurts. Mamura calls out to her and tells her to let him see it. As she looks up to him, Mamura bends down to her. He tells her that her mouth is bleeding a bit and does she have some handkerchief or something. Looking surprised, Suzume stutters that she doesn’t have one. Thinking that he’s quite near, Suzume just stares at him. They both quietly look at each other before Mamura tosses his handkerchief on her face. He tells her to wipe it. Suzume thanks him. Suzume wonders if, in the end, kids who are cultured would carry handkerchiefs. Taking the handkerchief, she wonders if she had carelessly touched him. Suzume thinks that there is a soap fragrance on Mamura. Soon, they bid each other goodbye. Mamura glances at Suzume who is walking away. He looks away then suddenly calls out to Suzume. “By the way, this Sunday, you should be free, right?” Suzume looks surprised at Mamura.

Comment: And, the ‘other guys’ are making their moves since the girls they are after were ‘rejected’ by the ones they like. Will it be successful as they want it to be or would the girls realize that they still like the ones who ‘rejected’ them? For now, I think Minagawa has a high chance of getting Yuyuka. Contrary to what he thinks, Yuyuka seems to be falling for him. If she does and things progressed, I hope it will be romantic when the unrequited love is returned ^^ As for Suzume, it is still hard to determine since her reaction with Mamura can be dismissed as ‘friends’. And, if she does go out with him on that Sunday, it might be eventful..maybe something between them or perhaps meeting a certain someone. =P Scans by all★wink汉化组

Quote of the day:

If you want to accomplish anything in life, you can't just sit back and hope it will happen. You've got to make it happen. ~ Chuck Norris