May 17, 2014

Akai Ito [Chapter 22]

After blurting out that she wanted to go to Sho’s room, Chihiro starts to become nervous yet she couldn’t let go of his shirt. She mentally begs him to refuse her but to her shock, Sho says okay. In front of his apartment’s door, Chihiro tries to mentally tell him that this isn’t what she meant and she isn’t being lewd. Sho asks her what’s up, quickly come in. Chihiro can only stiffly say, yes. As Chihiro nervously smiles, she thinks that this is like déjà vu for it is a similar scenario when she first came over. “That’s right. At this time, there is no one at home..” She blushes in realization that no one is at home and it isn’t like there is no one at home that she wanted to go to his room and it isn’t like she doesn’t have a little bit of good conscience. While she is freaking out, Sho asks her if she’s coming inside or not. She tells him that she’s coming. While she tries to remove her shoe, she loses her balance and falls down on Sho, who fell flat on the floor. Chihiro quickly gets of him and apologize. Just when she is asking if he is alright, Chihiro is surprised upon realizing that she’s touching his back. She suddenly recalls Elena. Sho says that is dangerous and she’s too careless. He turns around and asks if she is alright. He is surprised when Chihiro is lying on his back. He asks her what is it, what’s this situation, hey--.. Tachibana? Pouting Chihiro thinks that up to this degree, she can also do it after all, not only did Elene coil around his arm, she would even tightly stick to him. Sho glances at her, and blushes a bit. To Chihiro’s surprise, Sho touches her back. This made her quickly stand up. She thinks that she carelessly stood up. She notices Sho glancing at her meaningfully. She becomes shy over this kind of mood. Holding up her hand to him, she shouts that it isn’t because she’s cranky that she did that kind of thing. There is no reaction that she thinks that he ought to be laughing at this part. Sho leans close and licks her palm. Chihiro is stunned. He takes her hand and pulls her to a kiss. Then, he pushes her down on the floor. Chihiro starts to freak out. She calls out his name and he looks at her. Chihiro wonders what to do, if this keeps up.. She also doesn’t want to refuse but she felt it is a bit perplexing and scary.
She starts to wonder if she’s actually scared. She snaps out of it and thinks that if at this time, it is Elena.. Chihiro closes her eyes and hugs him. She thinks, “No. I don’t want to lose to Elena. *kisses Sho* I don’t want to lose.” While she is hugging him tight, she notices that Sho is starting to grope for her chest. This made her shout no, in the end, it is still.. “I’m sorry. I went overboard! I’m sorry!” She closes her eyes and braces herself over what would happen. Nothing is happening so she opens her eyes and sees Sho pulling himself up. This is a shock to her. She quickly sits up and tries to call his name. Sho makes her sit up to him and looks at her. He asks, “So, what do you want to ask?” This surprises her. He repeats that there is something that she wants to ask. She tries to deny it but Sho says that it is obvious that with just one look that she is very strange today. Chihiro glumly becomes quiet for it is about Elena. Sho tells her to just say what she wants to ask because for her to be this uneasy would also start to make him uneasy. Realizing this, she apologizes to him. Thinking that he’s concerned about her, she clenches her fist. Holding up her hand, she exclaims, “Okay. Then, I’m going to ask. What did you and Elena talk about today? And also, how did the two of you get acquainted with each other and why did you two break up? After breaking up, did you always have no contact with each other? Or, do you still keep in touch through LINE [/internet messaging and call app].” After saying that she’s asking too many questions at once, Sho tells her that he knew Elena through his sister for she is basically her sister’s friend. He came to know her when she came to hang out at their house. Chihiro realizes that’s the reason why she’s older. Scratching his head, Sho says that about the break up, he ought to say that he was the one dumped by Elena because at that time, he’s quite childish. “When we broke up, we didn’t keep in touch nor did I know how to contact her. After a long time, we met again today, and I’m also truly shocked by this. So, I also didn’t contact her through LINE before. We didn’t get to chat much today because Souta came midway and we didn’t get into the personal topic.” Chihiro thinks is that so, good job Souta, so in the end, she’ll buy him that pie.
Bending his head to the side, Sho asks her if she can accept that. She smiles and says yes. But, she is thinking that actually, there is something that she really wants to ask, did he had H[/sex] with Elena but she felt that asking this can be quite intimidating to him. She apologizes to him for asking too much. Then, she starts thinking that she doesn’t want Sho to consider her as a serious girl and like that, he was quite frank and open that she went ahead and ask without any embarrassment. “I actually still have all sorts of things that I want to ask.. all sorts of.. in short, that thing a while ago, it seems that he’s very used to it.. all sorts of.. In..in the end, together with Elena.. he did the lewd stuff.. no, it’s all sorts.. *surprised* Ah, I’m recklessly thinking again!” Sho pinches her cheek and says, “I pinch. Hey, don’t be preoccupied. I pinch. I pinch.” While he pinches both her cheeks, Chihiro asks what he is doing.. Sho laughs and says that in the end, octopus mouth is quite fun. She tells him to stop that. And, he kisses her. Then, he turns around from and says for today, it is up to here, he’ll restrain himself first. He covers his face and groans. He says that just now, he thought that she inviting him because she has that kind of intention and in the end, it’s quite reckless that it make him embarrassed. He peeks on her and she blushes at blushing Sho. She thinks that he’s so cute and can’t she think that way. While they snuggle, Chihiro hopes that she’s the only one whom he has shown that kind of expression. Sho’s cellphone rings. Sho looks surprised. Chihiro asks if he isn’t going to answer it. He says that it is a message from Elena. He tells her that Elena said that she asked his friend in order to know his email. Sho shows the message to Chihiro. Elena’s message is indeed that she got the email address from Sho’s friend and it’s really great that she was able to meet him today, thank you ^_^ Elena ♡♡.  Chihiro lets out a smile and says, it’s true. Chihiro thinks that it is rare for Sho not to conceal it and tell her about it. She thinks that she should also pay attention in order for him not to sense her uneasiness. She tells herself that it isn’t Sho’s fault and she obviously knows that, but how come she felt quite uneasy.
Soon, it is the night festival. A committee member calls out as to who hasn’t gotten the flower for the exchange, to go to their respective classroom’s committee member. Standing with the others in the school grounds where there is a bonfire, Chihiro thinks that everyone are giving the flower to the person they like. Looking at her own flower, she wonders what she should do for even if she wanted to give it to Sho, but she felt like apologizing to him [/doing wrong to him] since she’ll be giving it to him with this kind of feeling that she has now. She wonders if she’s thinking too much. Someone calls her name and puts the flower on her left ear. She turns around and sees Sho. Sho smiles and says that it really suits her and she’s very cute. He closes his eyes and leans towards her. This surprises Chihiro that Sho says, “Flower. Mine?” This made Chihiro recall it. Sho asks her to stick to him. She asks where. Then, she puts it on his right ear. He winks and asks if it suits him. This made Chihiro giggle and says it will do. Sho takes out his cellphone so that they can take a selfie picture together but they were interrupted by a phone call. Sho takes off the flower and answers it. Chihiro can hear that it is a girl’s voice and she wonders if it is Elena. After Sho hangs up, he apologizes and says that they continue with the picture taking. She asks him who called. Sho says that it is his sister. Thinking that he’s lying and is it for real, Chihiro asks if isn’t Elena. Then, Chihiro is shock over what she just said. Sho asks if she is still concerned about that and didn’t she say yesterday that she accepts it. “Didn’t I tell you that if you’re uneasy, tell me about it?” Chihiro couldn’t say anything so Sho tells her to say something. Sho frowns and asks if she doesn’t trust him that much. Sho suggests that they go home separately since if they are together, he felt like it would just cause some unnecessary dispute. This surprises Chihiro. She calls out to him but he already left. Chihiro thinks that she couldn’t say it for if she said it, it will definitely be willful and she’ll be hated by him. [<- ah, I think the willful is more like asking Sho not to have anything to do with Elena.] Felt like crying, she knows that it isn’t Sho’s fault, but her’s *cries* since she just kept on thinking about Elena. Soon, glum Chihiro walks out of the train station. She wipes her tears and looks up. She sees the Patisserie Satie and remembers to buy a pie for Souta. She is surprised when someone calls out to her. It is Nanjou who asks if she’s going home right now and it is quite rare for them to meet in this kind of place. When Chihiro turns to face him, Nanjou sees her crying face that he asks her what happened. Blurb: “Nanjou finally moving-!?”
Comment: Anyone who thinks that it isn’t a coincidence, but Nanjou is kind of stalking her, raise your hand. Nanjou doesn’t seem to love her or anything so I’m curious what is he planning/thinking. Is it because she is the fish that got away or he just wants to break up couples? ^^; Well, whatever the reason, Sho might also start to realize why Chihiro feels uneasy even if nothing is happening between him and Elena, and he is being honest with her about everything. Like, how does he feel if Nanjou starts to hang around too close around Chihiro even if she obviously has no feelings for him. Well, in this world, it always look bad if it is a girl for she’ll be like flirty but for a guy, it is called being popular. ^^; As for Elena, she obviously can get in contact with Sho so why did she leave her number to Chihiro. Is it to confuse Chihiro and make her think that ‘I just want to be your friend’ to lower her guard? Aside from jealousy and curious over what else did Sho did with Elena when they were going steady, I think the uneasiness Chihiro is feeling is also somewhat like a gut feel that something is wrong or bad is going to happen..maybe like a woman’s instinct. In such case, should Chihiro immediately nip it from the bud since Elena seems to be out to get Sho back but then, she doesn’t have concrete proof yet. Earlier, Elena has all sorts of excuses like, ah, it is a habit to sit beside him. Since Chihiro is a nice girl, she doesn’t want to doubt Elena’s intention. Sho might indeed think of her as some jealous dominating girlfriend that he couldn’t even be ‘friends’ with an ex-girlfriend. I’m assuming that based on his actions with Elena, he pretty much let down his guard and doesn’t think anything bad as to why Elena seems very happy to see him, clingy on him and eager to keep in touch with him. So how much is okay? Maybe for now, it is okay but would it be too late later on? It is basically how paranoid should one be with one’s lover’s ex who suddenly wanted to get in touch with one’s lover. Aside from this, it doesn’t help that Sho is Chihiro’s first boyfriend so there is a tendency to be overly curious/bothered over how far did he went with Elena. If Chihiro had a boyfriend before or experience, maybe it won’t bother her too much nor would she be that curious. It is understandable that Chihiro doesn’t want to ask too much either since she doesn’t want to be too intruding, I guess. Not sure if it is a Japanese thing or something. There might be those who do not want to be asked such questions like that as if ‘do you really have to know EVERYTHING?’ But, since Sho seems to be open and truthful, I think he would least answer her regarding the sex thing. Anyway, it would probably be better for Chihiro to talk things out with Sho because either way, it will cause a rift between them even if she didn’t tell him her uneasiness. Also, how uneasy it made her feel over what Elena is doing earlier. Nevertheless, even if he was kind of clueless over Elena, I do comment Sho for being honest and willing to talk to Chihiro about it even urge her to do so. He is also quite understanding that Chihiro isn’t ready to go that far and has not did any comparison of her with Elena whatsoever. I think Chihiro also has to overcome her inferiority complex with Elena and accept the fact that Sho won’t be doing some things for the first time with her and possibly, sex. Of course, it isn’t confirmed if he did it or not. The lovey-dovey moments here are nice and too bad they got interrupted twice by Sho’s phone. From the looks of things, it won’t just be his phone that is going to interrupt them. Scans by 深雪

Quote of the day:
Assumptions are the termites of relationships. ~ Henry Winkler

16 comments:

  1. Ah, Kat, here it comes.

    It's okay that Sho is somewhat clueless as to what a current Gf is feeling regarding an ex. But I do feel that since he is capable of being aware what his current GF feels about his ex , he should have known as well that it's not good to be too casual in allowing his ex to contact him and be too friendly with him. This is Bokutachi Shitte Shimatta all over again.

    How about seeing Chihiro getting close to Naujo. He does know Chihiro crushed on Naujo before. What is he gonna feel about that?

    As to the question whether Sho had done it with Elena...... it's 50-50. Take note that Elena is older than him ( by how many years, I don't know ) , and since Sho is just a first year HS, he probably had the relationship in middle school. The problem here is Sho seems to know what to do.... and he 's always forward in his advances. Like on this chapter, he started groping Chihiro's breasts. I can aready imagine what more he has done with Elena who most probably has been a willing partner and less than innocent. I can assume they have gone all the way.

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    1. Ya..it seems like that, megaworthit..and Nanjou would be like the other guy in BwSS when Kotori is all alone after that incident. =P

      I think that is what the mangaka is going for since she tends to be 'fair' with her characters = 'get what you deserve'.

      My guess is around four years older than Sho. True..

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  2. Kikou ... ^^
    Tks you Kat for your summary ...!!! I was looking so much for it !!! .... Humm ... well it's hard to see that things are now complicated between our two heros ... !! ... Even if Sho seems to be open at all sortes of conversations, I can really understand what Chihiro is feeling toward his past ....!!! ... But well nanjou apparing at the end of chapter will it bring more troubles ?! ... I don't know but I think that we arrived at a critic moment of the story ....
    So in all cases tks a lot Kat for continuing this manga !!!
    Bises^^

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  3. I think that Chihiro is not just the fish that got away in Nanjou's mind. He might have even liked her since middle school. The problem is that since it seems as if it's the girls who goes after him, he must have expected her to confess to him too. But since she didn't and she seems to have moved on easily with a new interest, it must be a new experience for him not to get what he wants. And since he knew that she liked him before too and he likes her [I believe] of course that's why he's pursuing her now. And so of course something like this must happen since Nanjou is one of the mc that was introduced from the first. This is where his red thread or something intertwines with them.

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    1. Is that so. True, that is possible.

      The reason I think that Nanjou is kind of 'playing' because during the junior high kendo competition, Sho saw him kissing some other girl in the forest. So I've said 'fish that got away'. And, when Chihiro 'rejected' him during the karaoke party, he claims that she is easy to deceive, and he just want to see her waver because she's very interesting. Even if he might be trying to cover up the rejection, his expression when he left seems like like a 'cunning' one = 'I'll be back' rather than 'sigh I'm been rejected'.

      Anyway, because of the red thread and we don't know much about him nor his intention, things are still mostly based on one's perception of him from what he's doing. So, we'll just have to wait and see. ^^

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    2. I didn't know Nanjuo was like that. You're most probably right, Kat. Maybe he's the type who pretends to be cool, despite the girls liking him. But , the truth is, he's actually really playing with these girls. He's not mysterious at all. I bet he was just waiting for Chihiro to confess, but instead , her interest was diverted to some other guy. So, yeah, she;s the one that got away. And perhaps , he wasn't used to that.

      I have a feeling it would turn out like Bokutachi. Sho is not as insensitive as the mc in Bokutachi. Sho even encourages her to speak out whatever she's thinking. And he demands that she trusts him. Maybe, Sho was disappointed that t Chihiro didn't believe him about the call. I guess that would be the start .I'm sure Elena will step up whatever it is she's planning.... and this, Sho might be a bit peeved with Chihiro that he might just go ahead and let Elena meet with him... and Chihiro will see that, maybe a scene where Elena and Sho are in a lovey dovey situation.... Bam .. break - up... or maybe, it would be Sho who would see Chihiro and Najuo together. Heh... just my prediction.LOL

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    3. Ya, it seems like that, megaworthit..I'm waiting for it to be confirmed.

      Yup..in a way, I think the mangaka will try to make this better than Bokutachi even if there are similar elements in it.

      Those are possible situations and in both..things don't look good since it would cause a misunderstanding which can drag on for a lot of chapters. It also makes me wonder if their friends will just be 'bystanders' or will get involve in their problem..like help them out.

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  4. Oh lord, please don't make this manga's plot similar to Bokutachi Shitte Shimatta! I will definitely lose my interests in this manga. Btw, thanks for the summary! <3 Tika

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    1. Hehe..is that so. Thanks for reading, Tika ^-^

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  5. Do you think dating them will last long?
    Well I think that things are taking a turn very bad and Shou seems the kind of guy who does not realize the feelings of others and do not know if he will understand Chihiro.
    I think he deserves to suffer jealousy to begin to rethink their actions.

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    1. Hm..it depends.

      And it is possible that it will have a bad turn.

      Well, I think that will happen - jealousy to realize. ^^

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  6. Hey Kat! Thanks for the summary I really love this manga, Sho is so hot!!! ,It would be great if there is a guy like him in the real life, haha I wonder what is going to happen between Nanjou & Sho?? And I would like to know the reason why Should broke up with his ex, I mean she is trying to get closer to him again...she gave me that feeling specially when she told Sho about Chihiro and their opposite personalities.anyway I'll be waiting for your next summaries. >_<

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    1. Sho told Chihiro it was Elena who broke up with him because he was childish ? I 'm not sure if Elena told him that, or Sho assumed that was the reason because Elena, according to Kat, is 4 years older than Sho.

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    2. Thanks for reading, Allison ^-^

      Hehe, maybe they'll fight it out in a kendo duel =P

      As megaworthit mentioned which is in the summary, Sho mentioned that it is because he is childish.

      True..from Elena's actions, it does seem that she wants to get closer to Sho again.

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  7. Chapter 23 in chinese is already out on baidu:) http://tieba.baidu.com/p/3099334069?pid=52025618133#52025618133

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