Akai Ito [Chapter 30 + Side Story]

Imagining the two of them going sightseeing, eating together and doing intimate stuff together, Chihiro thinks that she really can go on a trip with Sho. She snaps out of it and tells herself that she must study. She continues to review her lessons at her desk. Then, she sees the travel magazine behind her notebook. She ends up looking at the magazine and wonders which place is a nice to go to. Her mother goes in her room and says that she brought a midnight snack. This startles Chihiro that she quickly jumps on the desk to cover the magazine. Her mother asks what happened. Chihiro tells her that for a second, the sandman powerfully attacked her. Her mother says is that so, then don’t go to sleep. She wishes Chihiro good luck with her review for the final exam but do not force herself too much. She advises her to eat the snack while it’s hot. Chihiro says okay, thanks.

After her mother left, Chihiro starts looking at the magazine again. She is somewhat irritated that her mother didn’t knock at the door and it is absolutely deliberate but then, she really didn’t think that her mother would unexpectedly agree to the trip. She thinks that it is definitely thanks to Sho saying those things to her mother –> formally informing her mother that they are going steady and he will be serious with Chihiro. Chihiro giggles over getting her parents’ approval. Then, she starts to feel her arm. She thinks that even if Sho told her not to work out again but it ought to be okay if it is only the arms for them to tighten up a bit since she is a bit bothered by this.. Then, the door opens again and her mother says that there is something that she forgot to tell her. Upon seeing Chihiro using thick books as weights, her mother asks what kind of review is that. Aghast Chihiro asks instead what she wanted to tell her. Her mother says that actually, it is about the trip..

At school, Rino exclaims about going to the trip together with them. Chihiro says yes, for her mother is still always a bit worried if it is only the two of them. Rino says is that so. Flashback: Chihiro’s mother said that as a mother, in the end, she is still a bit worried and even if she trusts Sho but just thinking that if it is just the two of them and they might encounter something.. End flashback. Chihiro says that because of that reason, she thinks about inviting Rino to go too. Sho says so if Rino can go, then Chihiro would be at ease so how about it. Rino says okay. Chihiro exclaims if it is really okay. Rino says yes, and she always think that it is really fun for everyone to go to some faraway place together but then, she won’t bother the two of them so she can relax. This embarrasses Chihiro. Rino whispers to her that because she will create some time for them to be alone together. This surprises Chihiro that she says ah..ya..no..how embarrassing. Giving Rino a thumbs up, Sho says that she’s really an angel, thanks.

Putting his hand on Ren’s shoulder, Sho thanks him, too. After looking puzzled by it, Ren says that it is inevitable. Rino exclaims in surprise. Sho puts his arm around Ren and says that he still hasn’t said anything, and if Rino comes, he’ll also come along, right! This made Rino exclaim in disbelief and ask Ren if he is really coming along. Ren asks what, can’t he come. Flustered Rino says it isn’t that he cannot. Ren asks Sho to let him look at those travel pamphlets. Sho lamely says that isn’t he completely enthusiastic and it turns out that he isn’t at all forced into doing this. Holding up his hand, Sho exclaims, “Question, Kiritani-sensei! Even if I felt that the hot spring is not bad but I also want to go see USJ [Universal Studios Japan]!” Holding up her hand too, Rino exclaims, “About that sensei! I have no preference about going to some specific place but as long as there is delicious food that I can eat until I’m full, then it’s okay!” Stern Ren asks who is a sensei.

This made Chihiro smile and thinks that at first, she is disappointed that there is no way for the two of them to go together but like this, everyone making a racket, it isn’t bad at all. It feels that with the four of them together, it will be quite fun. Then, Ren says that even if going on a trip is not bad, but before that, they must pass through the term exam because if they fail, they cannot go to the trip. Rino says that she seriously studied so there ought to be no problem with her. Sho says that it is the same with him, because he bet everything for this winter. They ask Chihiro who looks glum. Looking sideways, she says probably, she’s okay? Sho asks what’s up with that doubtful sentence. Later on, the teacher is going to give back the exam papers during first period, and those who got a grade of 55 and below, they will have to take the make-up exam next week. Gloomy Chihiro looks at her math exam that has a grade of 54. She folds it and looks at it again. It is still 54. She folds it again, and looks at it again. Yup, it is 54. She looks up and thinks that looking at it three times, in the end, it isn’t a dream.

Then, someone exclaims how amazing Ren is for getting 100. And Sho also passed, getting top 5 in class, not bad at all~ The other guy says that his isn’t bad either, he passed. Sho says that everyone is quite enthusiastic. They say that it is because they want to have some fun during winter vacation. Chihiro is nervous for everyone’s grades are quite good. Rino asks how Chihiro’s grade is for there’s no problem with her grade. Chihiro looks tense as she looks at her exam paper again. She wonders what to do. She wonders if falling in love lead to decreased studying, no, wrong, it isn’t that at all, for this has nothing to do with having a boyfriend! “It is because I’ve relaxed upon getting permission to go to the trip. The reason is I’m been spoiled by mama and Hinase. If mama see this kind of grade, she’ll definitely oppose against going to the trip.. Wrong, compared to that, if it is because of this issue, it would cause mama to have a bad impression on Hinase.. Then, that greeting that he took the trouble of doing.. I..”

At the shoe lockers area, Chihiro says that she has something that she wants to tell Sho. Showing her exam paper to him, Sho exclaims that this is really unfortunate. She says yes, sorry, she messed up the exam before the trip. “But, I felt that I should properly tell you about it..” She thinks that until now, she has always been hiding things and causing him to have some strange worry. She timidly tells Sho that probably, because of this, it is possible that she won’t be able to go to the trip. Sho pats her head and says that rather for her to be gloomy, isn’t there still something she ought to do, and that is to take the make-up exam. She says huh, yes. Sho tells her to first face towards this goal and forge ahead. “Let’s go!” She is moved by what he said but she protests where they are going. He says that there is a place where there is a good teacher. At Kiritani’s house, Chihiro says this is.. Soon, at a table with books and other school materials, Chihiro, Sho and Rino bow to Ren and exclaim, “Please, Kiritani-sensei!” Ren lamely says, “..Yoroshiku.” [/please take care of me]

Side story: High school student studies daily and do a muscle check everyday. Half-naked Ren slightly flexes his arm and mutters that today, it is also very perfect. He exhales and smiles. He didn’t notice someone is by the door. Later on, at the living room, an old man says that Ren has already gone to school. Someone says, yes, father. The old man says then, they are going to start their usual family meeting. Today’s topic is, ‘regarding Ren’s half year’ and reporting will be done in order. Iku, Ren’s older sister, [police] assistant inspector, 3-dan kendo says that she’ll start, a few days ago, she seized this item from Ren’s room. It is the frog prince key chain [that Chihiro made for Rino which she dropped and Ren picked up]. The old man asks what this is.

Iku says that she fears that it is something given by a girl and possibly, one can consider that it has been dishonestly obtained. The old man, is Kazu, Ren’s grandfather who is an 8-dan kendo, former police director. Kazu says, girl huh..Ren that guy’s heart is finally moved.. Kei, Ren’s older brother, 4-dan kendo, first riot squad platoon leader says that speaking of that, this morning, Ren is checking his muscles and said, ‘very perfect’ and had a happy expression. Holding up his cellphone, Kei says that he got a video as proof. Kai, Ren’s father, 7-dan kendo, local police commissioner asks Kei if this is a report that totally has no error. Flustered Nao, Ren’s mother, 2-dan kendo, former policewoman exclaims so, lately Ren has been talking a long time in taking a bath, and she unexpectedly didn’t notice it. As a mother, she neglected her job.

They all agree that there’s no mistake about it. Kazu says that it had become like this, Ren’s love, they have to support him. The family nods. Later on, Ren says that it is like that, if it is okay even if it is a troublesome family, then it is okay for them to study in his house. If it is at the noon, his mother and grandfather will be the only ones there. Though he should say that his grandfather can be particularly troublesome because of his level of being annoying, and his mother isn’t far behind [/won’t lose to him]. Chihiro says that in the end, couldn’t it be very troublesome at that side.. Rino happily says but, she felt that it is very interesting. Sho says that actually Ren’s family is quite affectionate with him. Ren asks, really, but he respect Sho who can communicate normally with his family. Blurb: “Unexpectedly overprotective Kiritani’s family! Next, the studying will be!?”

Comment: And, as I thought, the other two will join them. ^^ Apparently, the mangaka is going to focus a bit on the other couple now that before the trip, since they will be studying at Ren’s place. I wonder though why the other two are joining Chihiro. They passed the math exam but could they have failed something else? They didn’t really pass it? Or, just to accompany Chihiro? Anyway, it isn’t like Sho is going to let Chihiro be alone with Ren and Ren won’t bring her to his house alone either because of his family. Somehow I think that Ren’s family is the opposite of Chihiro’s. At Chihiro’s family, she’s the weird one. In Ren’s family, he is the normal one. ^^; It does make me wonder if Ren will follow his family member’s footsteps and become a policeman but for some reason, I can totally imagine Rino being a policewoman. ^^;; Still, just like what Rino thinks, it seems that Ren’s family is going to be an interesting one ^^ Since he is the youngest and seems that the age gap is big, no wonder he is overprotected though what they are doing seems to be an invasion of privacy. ^^; Ren doesn’t seem to mind them though. I wonder if Ren is a vain type or he started to become conscious as his brother mentions, since it is connected to being in love. Anyway, given their kendo ranks and being in the police, this is family you do not want to easily mess with. =P Also, it is nice that Chihiro has started to stop her habit of keeping things to herself and tell Sho her problems in order for it not to cause some misunderstanding between them and unnecessary worries. Sho is also nice not to nag her or anything for failing but instead, telling her what she should do next. ^^ Scans by Link同好会汉化 

Quote of the day:

Failure is success if we learn from it. ~ Malcolm Forbes