Suki-tte Ii na yo [Chapter 45]

In school, Ren is playing an online handheld console game with someone who asked for his help and that person thanks him for he helped out. Rin and the other classmates are talking about some special program of Yuri [guesswork from 小由理] and how annoying is that otaku guy who is always beside her. Then, the scene changes to Yamato taking pictures with his camera but he is unsatisfied with the pictures since they are blurry and he doesn’t know why. At his house, Nagi serves some omurice [omelette rice] and juice to Daichi and tells him that Yamato isn’t here. Nagi cringes in disgust when Daichi tells him that he didn’t come for Yamato but to see his cute sister, Nagi. She asks again why he came back. After a pause, he says that he only wants to see if their parents are doing well. Nagi says that they are. Nagi asks if he is staying for the night. He says yes. Later, he goes into Yamato’s room and look at some photos[?] on the table. At school, Asami asks Mei why she seems a bit strange. Mei tells her that this Golden Week, she is going to a kindergarten school for a day as a volunteer. Asami asks if she is nervous. Mei timidly says yes. Asami exclaims that is great and kids are very cute so why does she want to go there. She says that she wants to participate in a society job training[/learning]. Asami exclaims that she’ll go too and that way, Mei won’t be nervous. Mei says that she’ll go ask. Yamato arrives and they tell him about Mei’s volunteer job. They talk about this and decide to go eat lunch. Then, they see Ren playing with his console game. Mei asks if Asami can go. Seeing cheerful excited Asami, Ren says that he thinks it should be okay but don’t be too loud or else the kids would be startled. While Asami is happy over this, Ren says that he’ll also tell the teacher about it. Yamato asks if he can go, too because he wants to practice taking pictures of people rather than always scenery. Ren says no, for the kids would be nervous if he brings along some camera-type thing. Asami invites Ren to eat with them. Ren refuses for this thing is troublesome since he isn’t familiar with them and he would be more relaxed eating by himself. He says that he would still have to confirm with the teacher so he’ll just email Mei about it.

As Ren left, Asami wonders if she said something strange to make him angry. Mei says that Ren is always like that, so don’t mind it. They tease Mei for using polite language when she is obviously older than Ren. While they eat together, Mei got a message from Ren that it is okay to bring her friend along and it is best that they don’t wear flashy clothes, just ordinary ones. Mei thinks that his email is quite courteous that she feels that he’s a serious person. On the day, Asami meets up with Mei and says that their clothes are quite the same. Then, they are a bit surprised to see Ren wearing all black. Ren says that he’ll also come for now. Mei tries to thank him but Ren just darkly looks at her. Arriving at the kindergarten school, the teacher comments that Ren is all in black. Asami laughs and says that she also think that way. Ren introduces the girls to the teacher. The teacher thanks them for coming and even if it is for one day, there are a lot of things for them to do. She says that it is good if they learn something before going home. Hiro [guesswork from 尋] calls out to her brother, Ren and says that he usually come to play so would he play with her today. Ren tries to say no. Then, Mei calls out to Hiro. Hiro happily calls out that it is the ‘sis’ from before and will she play with her. To Hiro’s delight, Mei says a little while. The teacher says that kids would always reckless run off, go outside and touch all sorts of things, they have to be notice it immediately and stop them. She tells them to tidy things up and clean the toys. She gives them three aprons and Ren is surprised that he also has to wear one. Soon, they clean things up and play with the kids. Mei notices that Ren is playing the console game by the wall. She helps a child draw on the paper-folded frog but she made it look like a monster. Then, she sees Ren resting when a boy wants him to play with a ball. Mei gets busy when a kid asks for her help. Later on, Mei notices that Ren has left his console game and went out to play ball with the boy. She smiles over this. Then, Mei notices a boy crying for he had peed on his shorts. He cries that he cannot find the teacher and the others when he wanted to go pee. Mei apologizes for not noticing it and she’ll quickly change his clothes. The boy asks her not to tell anyone and keep it a secret. Mei smiles and says that she won’t tell and it is alright. She wraps him around a towel and carries him off so no one realized it.

Later on, the boy asks to play with Mei. The boy introduces himself as Shouta [guesswork from 祥太]. He pulls Mei out the playground for he wants to show her how good he is at the horizontal bar. Mei tries to tell him that is dangerous but Shouta says that it is okay, so look. [I think he is doing some flips] Then he tells her that he can also do it backwards. To Mei’s surprise, he backflips and crashes on the floor. With a bruise on his forehead, Shouta is crying loudly as the teacher tries to comfort him. Mei looks really aghast. The teacher says that they have contacted Shouta’s mother. The other teacher lectures Mei that a big kid has difficulty judging his surrounding’s situation so they are needed and if there is dangerous things, they should first eliminate it but it is good since this time, it is only a scratch[/bruise]. She reminds Mei that the while the guardian isn’t around, the kids are given to them to keep them safe and they are responsible for the kids’ actions. Trembling Mei starts to cry and apologize. Seeing that, Shouta tells the other teachers that Mei isn’t at fault, he had called her to watch him at the horizontal bar and she said that it is dangerous but he insisted on doing it. Hugging Mei, Shouta says that he doesn’t hurt anymore so don’t blame her anymore. Mei is moved by how direct and sincere the words of a kid. Mei apologizes to him. Later on, Shouta’s mother smacks him on the head for he is always like that, not listening to the teacher. The mother tells the teacher not to mind for Shouta is always excited so he’s hard to control. Shouta thanks Mei for today and asks if she’ll come back again. Mei hesitates that Shouta asks again if she’s coming. Mei smiles and says yes. Hiro comments that Shouta turns out to like Mei. Mei is puzzled and Asami is delighted. Mei wonders if she can do this, won’t she trouble everyone, would she be hated, and would they say they don’t need her. While walking, Ren says isn’t it good to be scolded for everyone would have to learn at first but don’t commit the mistake twice. Mei smiles and says yes. She thinks that even if there are so many things she’s uneasy about but as long as she doesn’t give up on herself, in the end, she’ll find the answer. “I want to become a person needed by others.” And, the series goes on a two month break.

Comment: Yamato’s photography is a bit problematic but I guess upon seeing his pictures, his brother would help him out a bit on that. It is established that Ren is a loner and a gamer but nice enough to play with kids. I wonder if he is also a ‘kid at heart’ because of his attachment with Mei and well, kids like Mei. She seems to be the only one whom he is ‘friends’ with. Mei seems to be suited to be a kindergarten teacher especially how kids easily get attached to her and how she can earn their trust. Mei is lucky that it wasn’t a serious injury and Shouta’s mother is understanding and knows her child well. Because, if were a stern, overprotective mother and Mei got a bad scolding, Mei would probably no longer consider this kind of job. Since she promised to come back, this can enable Mei to learn more about the job and perhaps, come to like it for it to be her future career. Scans by 离境汉化组

Quote of the day:

Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes. ~ Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan, 1896