Hachimitsu ni Hatsukoi [Chapters 35-36]

And, it is finally, the cultural festival’s night before festival. [<- Technically, it is day and I think it is the prelude to the cultural festival wherein outsiders cannot go in the school yet] Koharu finds the soccer club’s stage drama interesting. Konoha says that she didn’t imagine that Natsuki would be the lead character. Natsuki arrives and complains that it isn’t interesting at all. Koharu and the others laugh over Natsuki who is dressed up as Cinderella. Grabbing hold of Koharu, embarrassed Natsuki says that she isn’t allowed to laugh. Koharu laughs anyway and says that it really suits him. Then, he shouts at Konoha not to take a photograph and regarding this, he is going to strip it.. Natsuki is shock when prince Naohiro grabs his hand and says that it turns out that the princess is here. While Koharu greets Naohiro, Konoha takes a picture of Naohiro and Natsuki. Konoha says that he looks very handsome. Showing a v-sign, Naohiro thanks her. Trying to free himself from Naohiro’s hold, Natsuki shouts for him to let him go, it’s gross and he is going to change his clothes immediately. Naohiro says no, for his reaction is quite good and as senpai, he orders him to perform on stage. Patting Natsuki, Koharu wishes him good luck[/gambatte] and he’s so cute. He slightly corners her to the post and asks if it is quite cute, and doesn’t her heart beat [/feel moved] towards him even when he is like this. This made Koharu blush and scream. Natsuki sticks out tongue and says he wins. Soon, Naohiro and Natsuki walk together and invite the people to watch the play at 14:00. This made Koharu mutter that it isn’t quite interesting. Koharu tells her to let it go since she is moved by Natsuki. She giggles and says that they are the world’s number 1 stupid lovers. Blushing Koharu thinks that no matter how Natsuki is dressed up, her heart would beat. Waving at her, Natsuki calls out to Koharu that they stroll around tomorrow. This made Koharu think this is so-called love[/like because her heart would beat fast]. At the stage, Aki looks away and says, “I..I like you..” to Nishina. Then, Koharu plays on the music from the CD player and Konoha is clapping. They are having a dress rehearsal. Looking at the list of songs, Konoha says that the idea of playing the couple’s memorably song is quite good. Aki says that it is Koharu’s idea. Nishina asks if the CDs are prepared. Aki says yes, Touya went to get it. The others become tense when Konoha comments that she finds Aki’s confession quite realistic, could it be that Aki..can become an actress and she’s tall, beautiful and slim. Aki thanks her for the compliment. Koharu thinks that Konoha is so sharp that it’s quite frightening but then, sorry for keeping it a secret from her.

Koharu notices a girl looking up on the stage. Koharu goes to her and asks if she participated in the Confession Stage. The girl says yes. Koharu shakes her hand vigorously. She thanks the girl for joining and good luck. Koharu is surprised that the girl thanks her for she always didn’t have the courage to confess but then, she thought that confessing onstage is a very beautiful thing. She thanks Koharu for giving her the courage to confess. At the old abandoned building, Touya plays the piano a bit while looking what seems to be the application form for the Confession Stage. He goes out of the building and is surprised to see Koharu running towards him. He asks if the rehearsal is over. She says yes, and she’ll start distributing the flyers. Touya tells her that no one is here [in this place]. She happily says that there is someone here whom she wants to thank. She tells him that the idea of playing music during the confession is thanks to that person, the person who encouraged her using piano music. Touya looks surprised. She says that it is thanks to that person that she has cheered up now. Touya looks flustered. Then, there is a strong gust of wind. Koharu drops one of the flyers. Touya helps her pick it up. She apologizes and thanks him. Koharu is surprised when he didn’t let go of it. He asks her why did she choose Natsuki and hasn’t she thought of being in love with someone else, such as him. Koharu looks surprised. And, the Confession Stage starts. With Natsuki as host, he calls for the audience to cheer the ones confessing. While Aki watches over the confessing, Natsuki goes backstage and tells Koharu that her plan is an amazing success. Absent-minded Koharu just timidly agrees. Koharu looks on stage and sees the girl who came earlier. The girl is on stage and the one she likes goes on stage. There is a problem since there is no music. The girl timidly looks backstage. Natsuki says that the player is broken. He runs to get a replacement. Koharu is fretting over this when someone starts playing piano music. The audience says that it is wonderful for it is live piano music. This made the girl confess to the guy she likes. Koharu thinks that she knows this sound, it is nice and heart-warming that always encourages her, making her heart beat[/feel moved]. She turns around to see that it is Touya who is playing the piano.

When she is perplexed and at a loss in her love life, he would use that gentle piano music to cheer her up. Koharu didn’t think that piano person is actually Touya. Outside, Nishina calls out to Natsuki and tells him that it is already okay, he can go back since everything went smoothly onstage. Natsuki asks if the music player was fixed. He is surprised when Nishina tells him that Touya played piano live onstage. Somewhere else, Touya is walking ahead and Koharu is calling out to him. She trips so he immediately holds her up. She thanks him then grabs him – I gotcha. She happily tells flustered Touya that she won’t let him run off again. Sitting on a bench, Koharu clings on to bored Touya’s arm and asks him why he always didn’t tell her that he is the piano person and she knows that he is pretending that he doesn’t know. Touya asks why he has to say it. Koharu says that of course, it is embarrassing for her since she didn’t know it is him, and she said a lot..said a lot of stuff. Touya tells her that since she couldn’t even remember it, it proves that those things aren’t important. Koharu protests that it isn’t, wait, and she’ll immediately remember. Touya tells her that it is something that she’s striving her best [/gambatte]. She looks surprised and Touya looks at her. He tells her that she is always talking about doing her best in her love life. Koharu recalls about striving hard on a love [with Natsuki] that almost disappeared [because of his crush on Aki]. He knew everything that he is always encouraging her. Touya is surprised when Koharu is moved to tears. Clinging on his sleeve, Koharu says that he is such a good person and thank you. To Touya’s shock, Koharu tells him that he is worried about her always consulting him about Natsuki so he asked that –‘why choose Natsuki’-, before the confession activity. She happily tells flustered Touya her thanks and he is truly a great friend. After calming down a bit, Koharu tells him that she chose Natsuki because he makes her heart beats fast, and look, doesn’t he [Touya] also like some girl.. She is surprised when Touya asks if it is just because one’s heart beats fast [for someone], that is love.

Taking her hand off his arm, Touya asks if it will do if he also makes her heartbeat fast. Koharu is stunned when Touya gently pushes her down the bench and kisses her on the forehead. Standing up from her, Touya tells her that he isn’t some very good friend. With that, Touya left stunned Koharu lying on the bench. Then, blushing Koharu touches her forehead and her heart beats fast and loud. While walking away, Touya clicks his tongue and mutters what the heck he is doing.. He looks up to see blushing Aki. Aki has seen it. Aki excitedly tells him that it is alright, she won’t tell [anyone] and it is the first time she saw this kind of Touya. Taking off his glasses, Touya silently facepalms. That night, while bathing with her siblings, Koharu is lost in thought that the twins told her that Kosumo has become an exploding head [<- in cartoons = afrohair when a character got exploded]. While blowdrying the twins’ hair, Koharu is at a loss since her heart beats fast for Touya. Going into her room, Koharu wonders why her heart beat endlessly when obviously, it is only Natsuki whom she likes. She is surprised to see Natsuki already in her room. She exclaims what it is. Natsuki says, what, she is obviously rattled. Koharu denies it by saying that she is the same as usual. Natsuki asks if it is about Touya. This made Koharu trip down and lie on her bed while covering her face. Approaching her, Natsuki asks her what happened between her and Touya. Koharu claims that nothing happened. Natsuki is surprised to see Koharu teary-eyed. Koharu insists that it is nothing, Touya only played the piano for her at the music building. Koharu thinks that she couldn’t tell Natsuki that her heart beat endlessly for someone other than Natsuki because if he knew, he’ll definitely hate her. Natsuki pats her head and says that piano helped a lot in their activity. Preparing to leave, Natsuki tells her not to sleep with her hair wet and it will be the cultural festival tomorrow. She says ya. Holding her head, Koharu mentally apologizes to him for not telling him the truth. Outside, Natsuki angrily mutters over what Touya could have done. He punches the wall. Touya is with his pet bird. Koharu is flustered. As those in love have complex feelings, it is already the second day of the cultural festival.

Comment: It turns out that Koharu is utterly clueless about Touya’s intention even with all that has happened and what Touya is heavily hinted. At first, I thought she would already know since he is asking her why it is Natsuki. It turns out that she still doesn’t get it and thinks that Touya is worried about her. With that, I think in this case of forehead kiss and ‘I can also make your heart beat fast, now what do you do’, Koharu would still assume that Touya is doing that just to determine her love for Natsuki. That won’t be surprising and Touya would probably go along with it as the pitiful ‘other guy’ who will just help the girl get along better with her boyfriend. Of course, that is assuming Koharu doesn’t believe him when he said that he isn’t a ‘good friend of hers’. It would have been better if Touya just informed her or confess her about it so that Koharu would quit hurting him unintentionally + make him fall deeper in love by being so nice to him, provoking him, talking about Natsuki to him and kept on bugging him like she is doing lately. So, what do you do if your heart beats fast for two guys who love you? What will Koharu do now if she is basing that it is ‘love’ if her heart beats fast for someone? In the end, it has to be something more than that. Konoha is quite sharp to notice that it was a realistic confession of Aki but I guess she didn’t think of the possibility that it wasn’t acting. I’m thinking that it might be Konoha or Aki who would tell Koharu about Touya’s feelings..but then, they would probably make Koharu figure it out herself. ^^; Since Natsuki knows, this might be a case of Natsuki vs Touya with Koharu totally clueless over the animosity between the two. I’m not too sure if Koharu would suddenly become indecisive and fickle between the two, like the female lead in most love triangles but based on the covers, Koharu x Natsuki is ‘fixed’. Anyway, I guess this arc would probably answer, ‘Why, it is Natsuki, aside from him making her heart beat fast?’ =P Scans by 夜莺工作室

Quote of the day:

Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways that no other medium can. It pulls heart strings. ~ Macklemore