Kobayashi ga Kawai Sugite Tsurai [Chapter 49]

At a certain studio’s dressing room, the stylist is giving Azusa a couple of movie preview admission tickets. She tells Azusa that she still has work today so she couldn’t go. It would be a waste if it becomes invalid so ask her boyfriend to go with her. Blushing Azusa exclaims that she doesn’t have a boyfriend. Recalling her confession, Azusa thinks that even if she said such a declaration at that time, but to the degree of making him kneel down and beg her. She wonders what is the best way to do that. Meanwhile, at Akechi Academy’s faculty room, the PE teacher is furious that Mitsuru’s grade in history is 30 that he has to take a make-up exam. The teacher warns him that next time, if he wasn’t able to get a grade of 50, he is going to use his summer vacation to take extra lessons. Kneeling Mitsuru begs the teacher to forgive him. Then, Mitsuru hears the voice of a woman and it turns out to be on the television since they are in an all-boys school. He thinks that it is a beautiful woman. An eyeglasses woman is speaking about women having a career and family[/home] education together-- The PE teacher hits Mitsuru’s head and asks if he is listening.

Mitsuru sees Aoi coming in and apologizing to the teacher for coming late. Aoi is submitting his aspiration questionnaire. The teacher says that he had decided to go for further studies. Smiling Aoi says yes, he wants to study in college for four years and he is going to strive hard for the future. The teacher says that his grades always rank among the best and even if the tuition fee is troublesome but he can choose a relatively cheaper national public college. Smiling Mitsuru thinks that ever since that day, Aoi had gradually changed. It started on the day when Mego accepted his everything that it is like Aoi was reborn. There is a twinkling, dazzling radiance on him. Mitsuru muses that a good romantic love can make one mature so he’ll also do his best. His cellphone rings and it is a message from Azusa. While walking on the street, Mitsuru grumbles over what’s up with Azusa that she’ll suddenly email him, ‘Anyway, I’m free tonight so come and accompany me in watching a movie.’ Mitsuru wonders if she really likes him. Then, he sees her waiting for her. His eyes widen upon seeing cutely-dressed and made-up Azusa. Azusa timidly apologizes for suddenly calling him out, and she got tickets from the stylist.

Blushing Mitsuru says that it feels that she’s very feminine today. While mentally squealing over being praised, Azusa shouts, “Today!? I’m always very beautiful, very feminine, okay, ignorant commoner!! Hurry up, go down on your knees and beg me, ‘Please go steady with me, goddess Azusa’!?” Mitsuru angrily shouts, “Ha!? I just praise you a bit and you already got carried away!! Am I a guy who’ll easily get charmed by you, idiot!!” People are watching them as they trade barbs. Azusa thinks that she is stupid for as always, she let her emotions affect her decisions when it is rare for the stylist to dress her up. “Ah~ geez. I should be happy that I’m being praised by him. How come I cannot be honest and cutely smile~~~” Mitsuru thinks that when they are facing, they have no way of being honest with each other but then, he doesn’t want to kneel and beg...what to do.. At the movies, the ending is the couple exchanging ‘I love you’-s and let’s get married. After leaving the theater, it is Mitsuru who is moved to tears over that good movie and thankfully, the ending is a grand reunion. Azusa says is that so, for she feels that the male and female lead seems to just compromise because of marriage. “That way, they’ll quickly divorce, right.” This surprises Mitsuru.

Then, he teases Azusa that is really a strange way of thinking and if she says it like that, she won’t be able to marry. This irks Azusa. Then, Mitsuru spots a jewelry street vendor. He tells Azusa to wait for a moment. He goes back to Azusa and shows her a pair of cherry earrings. He tells her that it is a return gift for the movie. “Even if it is very cheap, but it really suits you. Cute, right?” Super happy that he is giving her a gift, Azusa squeals that it seems that his taste is not bad. She tells him that she won’t be modest, and she’ll accept it. Mitsuru is glad that she is very happy. Azusa tries to put it on herself but wasn’t able to. Mitsuru offers to help her. Since he is too near, Azusa insists that she can wear them on her own. Holding her wrist, Mitsuru says to come to him and no need to be shy with him. While he is putting the earring on her right ear, Azusa goes, ‘ah-ii♡’ This made Mitsuru blush and his heart beat. He tells her not to make such a strange sound. Embarrassed Azusa says that she cannot help it since her ear is very sensitive. He blushes even more at how shy Azusa looks with the earring.

Holding her other ear, he says that he’ll also put the other. Azusa groans while holding back his hand. He tells her to move her hand away. Mitsuru thinks that before, she didn’t make such a delicate sound. They look at each other and she lets him put the other earring. Mitsuru feels that if he carelessly touch her, she’ll break and it makes his heart beat nonstop. They were interrupted when some people squeals that it is model Azusa, together with her boyfriend, and it’s so affectionate [/like conjugal love]. To Mitsuru’s surprise, they immediately take out their cellphones and snap pictures. Mitsuru tries to stop them but Azusa tells him to let them be. Mitsuru is puzzled. Turning to leave, Azusa says that it doesn’t matter, just let them take pictures, anyway, they are not doing any shameful deed. Mitsuru exclaims that she is a celebrity and what if it is spread around microblogs. She tells him that she is only that degree of model if just because of that, her popularity will slide down. “It is better for it to spread around. “What’s wrong with me dating with a guy whom I sincerely like? This kind of thing won’t affect my popularity. *smiles* It isn’t a shameful thing and better say that it’s upright.” Mitsuru blushes over that.

While Azusa is walking ahead, he wants to reach for her hand. Even if he is a bit shy, he still wants to hold her hand. “This is..” They were interrupted when someone calls out to Azusa. It is the beautiful woman on the television earlier. She asks Azusa what she is doing here. Surprised Azusa mutters, “..mama.” This shocks Mitsuru that he quickly greets her. He thinks that she’s young and super beautiful. Her mother asks if he is a school friend. Azusa says yes, and introduces Mitsuru. She introduces herself as Tokugawa Kyouka [guesswork from 京香]. A man calls out to Kyouka and asks if she knows them. Kyouka introduces the man as Honda [guesswork from 本田] who always takes care of her at work. She tells him that this is her model daughter. Kyouka tells Azusa that in a while, she’ll be going to a formal dinner at the company so don’t worry that she might be coming home very late. She urges Azusa to quickly go home for she is still a high schooler. Kyouka tells Mitsuru that she’ll leave Azusa to him. Blushing Mitsuru thinks that Kyouka’s so beautiful but it seems that he had seen her somewhere. Azusa tells him that her mother is the president of Toushou [her school]’s PTA [parent teacher association].

Since she is an education critic, she is always on the television. This made Mitsuru exclaims that she’s super amazing for her mother is a famous person. Blushing Kyouka says that it is nothing, it isn’t some amazing thing. She tells him that the media just exaggerate it on its own. After her mother left with Honda, Mitsuru happily tells gloomy Azusa that it is so amazing for she’s really an ideal mother. Mitsuru thinks that she is totally unlike Azusa since Kyouka is beautiful, modest, elegant, and nice. He says that it feels that Kyoukoa is a very amazing adult. He feels envious for her mother can be shown off to others. Azusa tells him that he’s too naïve that for him, that woman looks like an ‘amazing adult’. Mitsuru is puzzled but Azusa turns away and says that it is nothing, she should go home early like what her mother said. Mitsuru wants to the one to bring her home but she says it is okay, she’ll just ride a taxi. With that, she flags down a taxi. Mitsuru tries to call her but to his surprise, Azusa turns around and looks at him as if she is about to cry. She hugs him tightly. He mutters her name. Then, Azusa pulls away and says, “Surprised? If you still don’t quickly kneel and beg, I’ll punish you.” Mitsuru angrily exclaims for her not to tease him. Azusa laughs.

While sticking out her tongue, smiling Azusa says that she is really happy today and thanks, she’ll consider the earrings as a treasure. Narration: “That turn around smile is actually a face of acting strong with one’s utmost effort. But even for a little bit, I did not notice it.” Riding the bus, Mitsuru is sleepy because it is only almost morning when he got to sleep. He recalls Azusa’s tight hug and wonders at that time, what her feelings are. Then, he overhears a man reading the newspapers and saying if this is for real when this person is always on the television. Mitsuru glances at the newspaper. Surprised Mitsuru apologizes and takes the newspaper. On the news is Eighteen famous model, Azusa (17 years old)’s parents are having extra-marital affairs. The father is the chairman of private school, Toushou High (40 years old) and the mother is a beautiful woman, an education critic (39 years old). Popular model’s broken family!? Her parents are separately having a late night tryst with their lovers. Father, Shuuichi with a young woman going into a motel. Mother, Kyouka making out with a man [most probably Honda] inside a car. Coming out of her house, cold and serious looking Azusa confronts the reporters asking her if she can tell them her feelings right now. Narration: “Tokugawa, Right now, I can hear your cry for help.”

Comment: Hehe, it seems that they still have some pride issues. Azusa won’t let herself take back what she said about him kneeling and begging for her. Mitsuru cannot bring himself to do that either. Even if Azusa is still herself like a queen, there are just things that she does and says that makes him fall harder for her ^^ Hehe, actually, I think their bickering is fun as they try to outwit each other in insulting each other fondly ^^ The earring thing is nice even if, I don’t know if it is only me, it can be viewed as somewhat erotic ^^; As for the picture-taking, that can be a big issue at times in Japan wherein idols and celebrities has to be single in order to be bankable. So it is no wonder Mitsuru is captivated by her when Azusa didn’t care about it and she is even proud that she is with him. For Mitsuru, in terms of first impression with the Tokugawa-s, appearances can be deceiving. Because of what they are saying and doing when he saw them, Mitsuru immediately jumps into conclusion about them. Of course, that is inevitable for most of us are like that unless we know the inside story of the people involved. I also wonder what Azusa was thinking when she hugged him. Was she feeling lonely for she knows that her mother is going to have an affair again? Asking him to save her from what? From her shameful parents?

I do wonder if it won’t be a big deal if Azusa isn’t a model. Her mother is also somewhat of a celebrity so it should be more of a scandal that school ‘role models/leaders’ are doing those kind of things. The news probably wants to make it juicier gossip by involving Azusa like what she feels about them, etc. I’m not sure how it will affect her career. People might not like her anymore because of her family background and might assume that she is like her parents. You know, the apple doesn’t fall far away from the tree. The other reaction would be pity like poor Azusa. For a queen-like high pride person, Azusa won’t like it. I recall Shino also somewhat pities her so that might be one reason why Azusa hates her. Speaking of Shino, I’m wondering how she got related to this family. Judging from the type of hair and color, I’m guessing that Azusa’s mother and the twins’ mother are sisters. That will strengthen my theory that the twins’ mother used to belong to a rich family. Aoi was taken in by the father’s brother but probably couldn’t take Shino in because of financial constraints. It was mentioned that Aoi couldn’t go in a better school due to money. So, is Shino taken in by the mother’s sister? I’m not sure though why would Azusa be jealous of Shino when her parents are acting nice to her. Was she angry that they are showing affection to Shino and not towards her?

But she already knows the true nature of her parents..unless that was later on. Shino doesn’t seem to live in the same house as Azusa now but then, maybe the mangaka just didn’t show it yet. Anyway, maybe Azusa hates her parents for being hypocrites ^^; I’m not sure if her mother is genuinely concerned about her. I guess her parents kept up appearance as an ideal family so they didn’t divorce. Because of her parents’ situation, it made Azusa more realistic about marriage given her view about the movie’s ending. It also made her not inclined to fall in love easily..or let the other party have his way. Also, I don’t recall if it was mentioned before about her parents being the higher-ups in the school, but this pretty much explains why Azusa can get away with a lot of things she did at school before. I do find it strange that it is Azusa and not her parents facing those reporters. ^^; Did they make her go? Or, they are not at home yet? Well, Mitsuru has failing marks in history, who’s going to save him? Of course, it is Mego so I think we’ll have a twin switch soon. And, Mitsuru will use that opportunity to be at Azusa’s side during this important time. ^^ I’m also curious how that ‘kneel and beg’ thing is going to be resolved =P Scans by 夜莺工作室

Quote of the day:

Things are not always as they seem; the first appearance deceives many. ~ Phaedrus