Akai Ito [Chapter 15]

Thinking that Sho is angry, Chihiro is nervous when he leans down to her. To her surprise, he whispers to her that her underwear is quite flashy. She blushes as Sho grins at her. This made her shout, stupid. The next day at home, Chihiro looks at the mirror. She points to her hickey on the neck and thinks that it hasn’t disappeared. She is embarrassed to go to school like that. She thinks that a hickey unexpectedly hurts compared to what she imagined. She blushes really red upon remembering it. “In the end, after yesterday, he didn’t do anything to me again.. *surprised* What do I mean he didn’t do anything to me again. For me to say that, it seems that I really wanted him to do something. I..I don’t have that kind of wish at all.. Ah..Could it be that I’m really hoping that something happens..? That..that kind of thing.. no way, right? By the way, after the hickey, Hinase’s expression is.. I was wondering whether or not it is because of Nanjou’s paper that he got jealous, but after that, his attitude is the same as usual.. *frown* same as usual. So..so, I’m saying why do I feel disappointed. *flustered* How could Hinase be jealous because of me. Because, he’s that Hinase, right? Right! That experienced Hinase. *gloom* In any case, you better be jealous, Hinase *angry* Hinase you idiot” Pointing at Chihiro, Souta shouts to their mother that his sister has flipped[/broken]. At the train station, Hinase greets Chihiro who has a scarf around her neck. He wonders if it is currently winter. Embarrassed Chihiro says that’s right, it is winter for her. Hinase laughs then seriously tells her that she’s so interesting. Hinase compliments her by saying that he admires her courage for coming here with that. Chihiro exclaims that whose fault is it. Rino asks if Chihiro has a cold and has a sore throat. This made Chihiro pretend to cough and says yes, it is because she got wet in the rain yesterday, and whose fault is it. She looks at Hinase who smiles and says, is that so. Chihiro is irked by that expression. At school, Chihiro looks at her neck with a small mirror. She is relieved and it is thanks to Rino’s advice. Rino had advised her to use make-up to cover up the hickey instead of wearing a scarf, and Chihiro went to the convenient store to buy some. Still looking at the mirror, Chihiro wonders why she didn’t think of such a simple thing. She looks at Sho then shows her neck to him – be disappointed [/too bad]. This made Sho click his tongue, tsk. Rino goes to Chihiro to talk about contacting Nanjou regarding supporting the competition. Nervous that Sho would overhear it, Chihiro ushers Rino to talk at the hallway. She glances back and sees Sho casually talking with his friends. She thinks that he totally doesn’t mind this kind of thing.

At the hallway, Chihiro asks if Rino knows Nanjou’s contact number. Rino says no, he got her number from their other members and he texted her if she’s going or not. This puzzled Chihiro because if Nanjou can get their contact number from the other members, why would he specially go to their school to tell her. She wonders if it just so happen, that he is nearby so he passed by there. Rino tells her that Nanjou said that he had asked Chihiro but she didn’t reply back. Chihiro chuckles for she had totally forgotten about it because of what happened yesterday. She asks Rino if she’ll go. Rino wants to go and meet everyone again after a long time. This made Chihiro agree. Just then, the teacher says that it is a good timing that Chihiro as class committee, is here. He asks her to bring some materials from the preparation room for their fifth class period and they are on the table. Chihiro thinks that it isn’t quite good to meet up with Nanjou but forget about it. She goes to the prep room and sees the materials. She looks at her cellphone and wonders if it is okay for her not to properly reply back when Nanjou specially came to their school to inform her about it. She is hesitant for if she did, he will know her email address and what would Sho think about that if he knew. She thinks that if she’s Sho, she won’t be happy about it, but then, maybe she’s thinking too much since she assumes Sho simply doesn’t care. She is surprised when Sho suddenly enters the room. She quickly hides her cellphone and asks what it is. Sho says that Rino told him that she’s here and if he wants to help her out. Pointing to the materials on the table, he asks if those are the stuff. Chihiro says yes. She thinks that he’s so nice that he would even help her over this little thing. She decided to just make Rino contact Nanjou about it. Blushing Chihiro thanks him for helping her. She looks timid since she thinks that like this situation, she actually wanted to say ‘I like you’ but she’s embarrassed. Sho holds her hair and leans towards her. She thinks that he’s going to kiss her. To her surprise, he suddenly pushes her down on the table. He goes for her neck. Thinking that it is a hickey, Chihiro shouts for him to wait, no, he cannot put it in a place where it can be seen. Sho asks if it is okay as long as it is some place that cannot be seen. Chihiro becomes nervous. Sho says that he’ll do as requested. Thinking that he isn’t a bit nice, Chihiro calls him an idiot. Then, the door opens and Rino sees them. Blushing Rino says that it is because the teacher said that they’re so slow that he asked her to check on them.. While Chihiro tells her to wait, Rino apologizes for intruding and left. Sho tells her not to get rid of THAT before the competition. He points to her hickey that is just above her chest. Chihiro wonders if Sho is actually jealous because of her, and if it is for real, she’s truly happy about it.

On the 57th Junior High Kendo competition, South Junior High scores a win. This made Rino tell Chihiro that if things go smoothly, they can enter the finals. Chihiro lamely says yes. She thinks that it isn’t easy to come there and cheer for their kouhai-s but she couldn’t get into it whole-heartedly. She is still thinking over Sho’s attitude at the prep room especially since she didn’t tell him that she’ll be going to the competition. She is surprised when Nanjou who is sitting beside her says that it is too bad that it wasn’t Chihiro who replied back. While Chihiro is puzzled by that, someone shouts for Furuta not to lose to South Junior. This surprises Chihiro for from behind, she knows that very familiar voice. Behind them, Ren tells Sho not to cheer out loudly during the competition. Sho sheepishly apologizes for he is excited. Chihiro turns around and is shock that she calls out to Sho. Sho waves his hand and greets her. Chihiro wonders what he is up to. Later on, Sho says that it’s really too bad, South Junior, and he really meant it. Irritated Chihiro says that he didn’t look like he meant it. Sho says is that so. The kouhai-s are infuriated that they lost to North Junior, the ones whom they don’t want to lose the most. Chihiro wonders if Sho is here because he’s worried about her, and even if it isn’t what she thought it is, it is very awkward right now because even if nothing has happened yet, it feels like something bad is going to happen when these two people [Sho and Nanjou] are under one roof. Rino tells Chihiro that Nanjou and others are inviting everyone for karaoke. Chihiro glumly thinks that she isn’t good at singing and she isn’t in the mood for it. She glances at the side to see some girls talking to Sho asking if he remembers them and they heard that he is friends with Furuta. Chihiro is surprised when Nanjou asks if that is Chihiro’s boyfriend, that guy from North Junior, and she was with that guy when he bumped into her that night. “It’s quite unexpected for you, Tachibana, to go steady with that kind of guy. It’s truly such a pity.” Surprised Chihiro wonders what he meant by that. Rino asks her again about the karaoke. Seeing Sho with the girls, Chihiro thinks that even if she’s jealous of Sho, he basically doesn’t mind this small thing. Chihiro decides to go and Rino says that she’ll also go. Sho glances back at them. At the karaoke, Chihiro seriously plays the tambourines and glares that it made the singer nervous. The kouhai-s are scared for Chihiro-senpai hasn’t changed a bit. The singer asks Rino to do something for Chihiro is too scary like he’ll be killed if he sings the lyrics wrong. Rino asks if that is so, Chihiro looks like she’s in good spirits.

While still playing the tambourines, Chihiro glumly wonders what Sho is doing and is he still with those girls. She obviously doesn’t want to be jealous but in the end, no matter where she is, she is thinking of him. She shakes the tambourines in frustration that Sho is totally not jealous even if she talked with Nanjou and she thought he came to the competition because of her. Looking at tired [from playing the tambourines] Chihiro, Rino suggests that she drink something for she’s perspiring. Since their drinks are almost gone, they order more drinks. While Chihiro orders two colas, Rino notices that Nanjou hasn’t come back and did he call someone on the phone. They think that he has been gone for a long time. Chihiro offers to look for him while going to the toilet. Rino decides to be in charge with the drinks. After going out of the room, Chihiro feels a bit dizzy. She notices a couple of guys looking at her. She wonders if they are looking at her and she doesn’t feel good about it so she should quickly go far away. As she passes them, one of the guys calls out to her. Chihiro wonders if they are trying to hit on [/flirt with] her. Thinking that this is her first time to be hit on, the guy asks if he can chat with her for a while. Nervous Chihiro says that she’s in a hurry. The guy says that she really looks the same in the MMS [multi-media messaging service] and why would she unexpectedly be loud [in talking] that he’s startled. While Chihiro is puzzled, the other guy apologizes and asks if she is Sho’s girlfriend. He says that they are Sho’s good friends during junior high. The guy says that she looked familiar and it took half a day for him to remember that she looks like the MMS Sho sent him so he just wants to greet her. Embarrassed for thinking that she is being hit on, Chihiro says is that so. The guy tells the other guy that she’s very cute just like Sho said, even if from the MMS, he knows that she’s a beautiful girl [bishoujo]. The other guy says that the actual person is more beautiful. This made Chihiro blush for Sho said that she’s very cute. Some guy calls out to the two. Before leaving, the guy tells Chihiro that Sho’s luck with girls is actually not quite good so from today on, they’ll leave that guy to her, he’s a good guy. After they left, Chihiro thinks that it turns out Sho talked about her to his friends and told them that she’s very cute. She blushes over this when she hears a sound. She turns to see Nanjou sitting by the vending machine. Going to him, she says that it turns out that he’s there when she thought he has gone somewhere. He asks if she’s worried about him. Chihiro is surprised by that and, she asks about his glasses [which he isn’t wearing].

Nanjou says that he is a bit tired so he took them off. She asks if he is okay. Nanjou says that he isn’t quite well. Chihiro tells him to lie down for a while and she’ll buy him some tea. Nanjou chuckles and says that if Sho sees this, he ought to be jealous, right. This surprises Chihiro that she tells him that today’s Nanjou is different from the usual. She thinks over what he said about her contacting him and from his words, it seems like he is saying that he likes her. She thinks that is impossible and she’s definitely thinking too much but in case, she wasn’t mistaken.. Blushing Chihiro says that she would like to apologize first if she’s mistaken and even if she shouldn’t say this when he isn’t feeling well. “The.. the.. the one I like the most is only Hinase and right now, my mind is filled with stuff about him, so.. I’m so..sorry.” Nanjou smiles. He laughs and says that she’s easy to deceive for he only wants to waver her because she’s very interesting. He stands up and says that he’ll go for some fresh air before going back. Chihiro is embarrassed for in the end, she was mistaken and he’s just teasing her. As he leaves Chihiro, Nanjou looks glum and serious. While walking, Chihiro is embarrassed for at first, she thought that she is being hit on, and now she is mistaken. She is surprised to see Sho in front for her. She wonders why he is here and could it be that he has seen all that..and she even said that she likes him the most. Passing by him, Chihiro pretends not to see him as if no one is there. This darkens Sho that he grabs her from behind and tells her to wait. He hugs her and tells her, “Stupid, do not make me worry.” This made her blush. She wonders out loud if he’s worried about her, why. He tells her that of course he’s worried if other guys are flirting with his girlfriend. Chihiro asks, flirting..huh? Sho sighs. Wondering if he’s talking about Nanjou but she was mistaken, Chihiro tells him no, actually, it is.. Sho says forget it, he knows that she isn’t frivolous [/indecent] so he didn’t say much about it and if something happens, he cannot just turn away and not care about it. Chihiro says that even if it is hard to believe but he’s worried about her. Sho angrily asks what she’s talking about, does she think that he is a person who doesn’t care about anything. Chihiro timidly admits that she did..a little bit. Sho emotes that he is hurt, his heart aches. “Forget it, and just come. *holds up his arms* Come comfort me.” She says only for a while. Sho smiles. Chihiro lets him hugs her tight. Hugging him back, Chihiro thinks that even if she’s quite embarrassed, but it’s quite warm. “Obviously, my heart is beating nonstop, but I also felt quite relieved. It turns out that there’s no need to use a lot of words and one can still convey the feelings to the other..”

Comment: And, it turns out that Sho knows about her underwear all along. Maybe even if Chihiro doesn’t intend to do so, she is unconsciously giving vibes of ‘want to do it’. ^^; From her monologue, it is revealed that she is a bit confused – want to do it or not want to do it, want Sho to be jealous or doesn’t want to because it’s impossible. I wonder how Souta really sees his sister =P Apparently, the hickey is meant to show Sho’s possession of Chihiro..aside from teasing her. It is really nice that Chihiro is considering Sho’s feelings that she didn’t directly contact Nanjou. Sho trust her enough to know that she won’t fool around with any other guy so he lets her go to the competition without much fuss. Of course, Sho has reasons to be worried since she seems clueless with other guys. Well, he can easily tease her so.. =P I wonder if Nanjou’s intention is really to break them up but Chihiro didn’t fall for the bait and ‘rejects’ him instead. I also wonder why he is doing this now, and if he would give up after this. Anyway, Chihiro learns that Sho is worried about her and he isn’t a ‘I don’t care’ type of guy. With that hug, I guess they know how much they like each other even without saying it ^^ And, I find Chihiro with the tambourines quite cool looking =P Scans by 深雪汉化组

Quote of the day:

...A hug is an amazing thing
It's just the perfect way
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say....
~ Johnny Ray Ryder, Jr., "A Simple Hug"