Namaikizakari [Chapter 22]

Flashback: Looking at the thermometer, Yuki’s mother said that young Yuki unexpectedly had a fever, and that is quite rare. She told Yuki that she called the kindergarten school that she will be absent. Normally, Yuki doesn’t get sick so definitely, this is very difficult for her. Sick in bed, Yuki said that it is alright, and what about her deadline. Her mother remembered that she still has work. She told Yuki that she’ll be staying at the other room so if she needs anything, just call her. Yuki called to her mother. She asked what it is. After a pause, Yuki said that it is nothing. Even if puzzled, her mother said that she’ll made her some congee later on and bring it to her. Yuki whimpered and opened her eyes again. End flashback.  Then, in the clinic, she saw Shou sitting on the bed where she is lying down. She reached out to him but hesitated before, she starts to reach out again.. “Hello- Hello- Yuki! Is it true that Naruse-kun has a girlfriend!?,” asks her two friends. Yuki and the others are in cleaning duty at the courtyard. While pushing a cart filled with garbage bags, Yuki asks, “Huh?” One of her friend says that she heard this rumor that Shou is going steady with a model student. Another friend says that she heard that he is going out with a college student. They ask Yuki if she heard of anything since she is in the same club as Shou.

Yuki says that she hasn’t heard of anything and she’ll go throw the trash. They say that as usual, Yuki’s handsome guy antenna is damaged just like before. While pushing the cart, Yuki thinks that rainy season is over and there is only one more school term left. Shou’s incomparable hasty ‘actually I have a girlfriend’ statement had brought about a tempest in school. But then, as long as Shou keeps quiet, the crisis will quickly pass by. Then, carrying a huge garbage bag, Shou says, “Yuki-senpai- About going steady with me, what happened to thinking over it.” Yuki angrily tells him, Shhh-- While looking around, Yuki nervously says in a low voice for him to quickly shut up, his voice is too loud and what if there is someone around. Shou says so he’s saying that she ought to more or less give him the answer, right? “Yuki-senpai thinks of me once every 5 minutes.” Yuki asks what that is. After a pause, Shou asks if she doesn’t remember what happened when she had a fever. Yuki says that she didn’t say that kind of words. Shou says that she did, and she had this expression that seduces him. Yuki asks why he would say that kind of lie. Just then, behind some tall bushes, Himiko sees Yuki. She is about to call Yuki when she sees Shou so she quickly hides back the bushes. While Himiko eavesdrops on them, Shou says that it isn’t a lie and it is quite terrible for he is almost assaulted. Yuki tells him to shut up.

Putting the garbage bag on the cart, Shou says that for her to forget it, then he’ll make her remember it clearly. The one who promised him that she will ‘think about’ him is her. “So, let me first say it clearly. *leans to Yuki and whispers to her ear* I have no way of being nice like this again and just wait [for you].” Holding her ear, Yuki angrily shouts in a soft voice that he’s too near. Shou says that didn’t she tell him not to make a racket. Yuki angrily thinks if he is looking for a fight, this brat who is shoving false arguments down someone’s throat [/sophistry]. ‘Ought to almost give me the answer, right’ when she knows that there’s no need for him to mention that thing. She also knows that. Even if she knows- but she herself doesn’t know what she ought to do. Blushing Himiko continues to watch Yuki. At Misuzu Academy’s basketball club room, a guy calls out to Shizuka that he is the one in charge of purchasing items this week so can he buy some bandages and mist sprays for they had almost ran out of those two. Shizuka says okay. One of the guys asks if it will be his turn after Shizuka, he doesn’t want to do that. While writing down what he had to buy, Shizuka says that it cannot be helped for it is their coach’s policy for them not to have a manager. The guy says but in the end, he wants a dependable manager, like the one from Ryuhoku. Shizuka starts to look nervous.

Someone says that she’s called, ‘Machida’. Another one protests that no, that girl is a bit terrifying, that she will suddenly have a devil-like expression while shouting. Someone says that is true for he had never seen her smile. Another says that since it is a coed [/boys and girls] school, can’t they find a soft moe [/cute] lively girl.. Kira says is that so, but he still quite like Machida, backneck-type [?; pain in the neck?]. Blushing Shizuka slams the locker door and shouts for them not to discuss about that topic in the club room. He tells them that he’ll go to the gym first. The others tease Shizuka that he hasn’t changed his clothes yet, and he really isn’t good with that kind of topic so he’s a virgin. Kira just quietly watches Shizuka leave. While jogging with the other club membrers, Amamiya asks Shou so, who is the one he’s going steady with. Shou says that his shoes are too tight. Amamiya says that he isn’t allowed to ignore him and by the way, did his feet grow again, then buy new shoes. Shou says that as he was saying, it is a fake, he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Amamiya asks if it is necessary for him to say such a sad lie when he [Shou] isn’t Abe. Abe exclaims that just now, he heard someone saying something bad about him. Then, a girl, together with friend, calls out to Shou to come over. By the sink, Yuki is filling up some plastic bottles with water. She thinks that gradually, her memories return..regarding the time when she had a fever.

That’s right, it seems that at the clinic, she is like a child who is getting angry [/throwing a tantrum].. Because she is tired and weary, her consciousness is a bit hazy that she thought that she is having a dream. She nervously feels that she did say that, she has this intense feeling that she did told him that she thinks of him once every five minutes. Not only that..she felt that while she is sleeping, Shou is beside her. She felt that she had snored..!!! How could she do that beside a kouhai and it is Shou..what is she to do.. *bends down to the sink [<- not sure if she hits her head on it. ^^;]* she was also too muddle-headed then, that she wants to die. Just then, Himiko arrives and offers to help her with the water. Upon seeing Yuki, she exclaims what Yuki is doing. Standing up again, Yuki says that it is nothing, a bottle just so happen to have dropped down on the ground. Yuki tells herself to calm down, she mustn’t let a kouhai see her in an embarrassing situation again. Himiko nervously apologies and says that there is something that she wants to ask her, is she going steady with Shou. While telling herself to be calm, Yuki says no, it isn’t like that. Thinking that it wasn’t that, Himiko apologizes for she felt that they are always together, and also today, they are. Yuki realizes that they were seen and if this keeps up, maybe other people would see that [kind of] disastrous scene. Yuki says no, today, they are only talking about the club..

Then, she sees Shou with a couple of girls. She thinks that he is being called out again and are those third year students. The girl asks Shou what’s up with that. Shou asks what refers to. The girl asks about him having a girlfriend. Somewhat flustered, Yuki wonders to go steady or not to go steady, the person who must decide on this isn’t Shou but rather, her. Even if it is very difficult and very annoying, she cannot run away from it because she promised him that she’ll sincerely ‘think about it’. Outside the college building, Rina is talking on the phone. She tells the other party that yes, she just got out of class. “Huh? Kido-kun, didn’t you also say that kind of words when you are in first year? What is it? Giving up? *listens to him* Hair loss? I don’t care about that kind of thing..” Then she notices someone by the post. Hanging up the phone, Rina calls out to Yuki and asks what’s up. Yuki greets her and says that she just so happen to be nearby to purchase some items. Yuki thinks that maybe Rina is busy so she’ll just come again next time since she just made Rina hang up the phone. She wanted to talk with Rina about Shou but in the end, visiting without even contacting first really lacks common sense. Thinking that she should just buy the items and go home, Yuki says that it is great that she got a chance to greet her, then she’ll go ahead. As Yuki turns to leave, Rina calls out to her and smiles.

Later on, at a donut shop, Rina asks if she is hungry. There is a pile of donuts on the table. She tells Yuki not to be shy, and please eat. Yuki says itadakimasu [/thanks for the food]. Yuki thinks that Rina still eats a lot and for her to have such a small body built, where did all the food go. Yuki apologizes about the phone earlier. Rina says that it is okay, for the other party is Kido. She asks if she told Yuki that Kido has joined the basketball club in college and it seems that it is quite hard to practice and get along with others. “When something happens, Kido would call me and complain. Honestly speaking, I have thought a bit of wanting him to go to hell.” Yuki is shocked that someone is saying a mean thing to Kido, his girlfriend is making thoughtless remarks about [/criticizing] him. But then, someone like Kido would also complain to others. Yuki says that it felt somewhat hard to imagine that, since Kido would always be a strong and dependable senpai in front of the club members. Rina laughs and says after all, he is the ‘team captain’ but she also doesn’t quite understand basketball a lot, she probably said a lot of things [regarding basketball] in a simple way. Yuki asks after she went steady with Kido, are there times when she felt, ‘this is wrong’. Rina blankly says that is a common thing. This surprises Yuki so she asks what made them persist on.

Rina says that it is because she thinks that ‘going steady with this person’ is mutually accepting each other’s strengths and weaknesses. While mentally cheering Yuki on, Rina tells her that she thinks that after Yuki goes steady with THAT GUY, she will start to understand so many things♡  Yuki arrives at the sports store. She thinks that it turns out to be like that, possibly, she still doesn’t quite understand. No, so she’s saying ‘try going steady then you’ll understand’.. But in case- She imagines Shou saying that even if he was the one who confessed to her, saying this is a bit mean..but after going steady, he always think that it isn’t getting along quite well, and she also won’t go to bed with him. Slamming into the wall which startles the sales people, Yuki wonders what she’ll do if he says that, how infuriating, it is really possible for him to say that afterwards. She recalls what Rina said about understanding things after going steady. She thinks that perhaps it is like that. Then, her thoughts are interrupted by a girl calling out, Naruse. She looks behind her and sees Shou with the third year girl earlier by the rubber shoes’ display. Shou says that in the end, he is going to buy this pair. The girl says that red is better and his shoes are all black. Shou refuses and by the way, quickly leave, or else, he couldn’t slowly choose. Yuki hides behind a male mannequin and wonders what Shou is doing, no, he is probably buying something.

The girl tells Shou that she just so happen to be free that she had accompanied him. Shou tells her that he didn’t ask her to. Yuki recognizes the girl as the one whom Shou talked with today. The girl asks Shou who is ‘the person he likes’. Looking at a black rubber shoe, Shou says that he won’t tell her. The girl asks him instead about what type of girl is she since everyone is curious about that rumor which has been going around. There is even someone who said that he made a move on someone’s wife or saying that he reconciled with his ex-girlfriend. Shou starts saying, “..very dependable, omnipotent, mature. She looks very mature but actually, she is a big idiot.” This irks Yuki. The girl laughs and asks what is that, would Shou smoothly go steady with that kind of girl. “It is better to just give her up--” Just then, Yuki unconsciously pushes the mannequin down and she falls down along with it. Shou and the girl look surprised at her. [<- Yuki’s hair is covering her face] While the girl tries to help Yuki out, Yuki tells her that it is alright, sorry, she is totally alright. The girl notices that Yuki is wearing the same uniform from her school. As the sales person tells Yuki to leave it be, Yuki has already skillfully put up the mannequin and it’s sunglasses that the sales person is amazed over how fast she is in doing that. Shou watches as Yuki quickly runs out. The girl asks Shou what year is that girl and did he clearly see her face. Rushing out, Yuki thinks that this is terrible, and it always become like that.

By the store’s door, she bumps into someone and apologizes. Shizuka says that it is okay then he notices Yuki’s flustered expression. He calls out to her but Yuki has already run off. Recalling what Rina mentioned going steady is accepting each other’s strengths and weaknesses, Yuki remembers when she was sick and wanted to reach out to her mother but she hesitated and hid her hand in the blanket. “I always completely hate the weak and pitiful me.” Shou calls out to her and grabs her wrist. They are at some park. While catching her breath, Yuki thinks, “I would become that me when I’m together with Naruse, and I couldn’t forgive[/excuse] that.” She tells Shou that she will hate him. This puzzles Shou. Yuki says that she’ll say this clearly first, she will hate him. “Perhaps, I am 100 times stupid than you imagined. Actually, I even pushed down a mannequin to the floor. Actually, it is also because I have a fever, I conveniently get angry over that small issue and vent my anger at someone else. ..so—so in case we try to go steady, you’ll probably also regret it. (the reason why I cannot go any farther [/in a standstill])” Shou asks if she’s saying that she is scared that he’ll dump her. Pulling her hand away from his, Yuki shouts that she isn’t afraid, it simply puts one in a bad mood. Shou says that he won’t hate her. Turning around to leave, Yuki says who knows, she thinks that he will. Shou says that he won’t. She says that he will. He repeats that he won’t. She repeats that he wi..

And, Shou pulls her to him and kisses her. While Yuki is aghast, Shou says, “It is alright. If you want to doubt me then, doubt me as much as you want. Hate-whatever, regret-whatever, you can recklessly think about it as you wish, then, feel apprehensive. Afterwards, I also don’t know. ..even I, actually, I still have a 1 millimeter of fear about it, being hated-something by senpai. *Yuki looks surprised* ..it is around 1.5 millimeter [<- increased]” Flustered Yuki thinks it is as he mentioned, in the end, she is an idiot. “Determining it on my own, and becoming very uneasy by myself. I always didn’t notice your courage. So many times. So many times. You obviously held out your hand to me. But have I responded to it even once-?” Yuki says, “..I.. do not hate you at all.. ..I do not hate you at all.. I.. *Shou looks surprised at Yuki’s flustered and trembling expression* always towards you..” [<- this is basically about to confess.] Shou immediately hugs her tight and says, “..it is alright. I’m not looking at your face. Say it, senpai. What about ‘towards me’?” Thinking that she had prepared herself and took courage, blushing Yuki says, “Towards you.. *Shou says yes* I always.. towards you.. *Shou says yes..*” Someone, who is grabbing a twig behind the bushes, snaps it and falls down. This startles the couple. It is Shizuka who looks flustered and angry at them. Shou looks displeased and Yuki looks aghast. Narration: “And war[/conflict] has just begun.”

Comment: And, someone just has to interrupt them even if amusingly, it is the same way that Yuki interrupted Shou and that girl. ^^; Ah, so close yet no cigar for Shou. Yuki might back out again after this. ^^; So, why Shizuka did looks so angry. Jealousy? Shou won’t concentrate on basketball? Since war is mentioned, it could only be either of those two. Or, bullying Yuki? Well, Yuki’s hesitation is quite realistic given her personality. It does seem that she is a perfectionist that she wants everything to go well. In a way, she is very cautious before doing something very important that she would ask questions first about it rather than deal with it when they are going steady. But of course, those answers won’t be satisfactory for in cases like this, one really has to experience it to know what it would be like because theories and ‘what if’ are limited to one’s imagination. Also, since she is the oldest child, she tends not to want to bother anyone, be responsible and be independent. And, going steady with someone means one has to be ‘interdependent’ and ‘exposing both strength and weakness’, which Yuki isn’t used to. It seems to horrify her that her ‘weak side’ will be exposed and perhaps, she fears that Shou won’t like it. She seems to feel guilty about being pampered that she won’t even dare ask her mother to stay with her because her mother has work to do. In a way, that is kind of sad yet nice because in the same situation, her mother didn’t notice it but Shou did. Hehe, honestly, I thought the mangaka is indeed going to pull that – ‘I got a fever and I forgot what I said/did’. ^^; That other girl seems like trouble. She might cause trouble if she stays in the story. Those rumors about who Shou is going steady are really outrageous that I guess they are assuming those are the type of girls that Shou will go out with. Hehe, I wonder what their reactions will be when they realize that it is Yuki =P Scans by 红莲汉化组

Quote of the day:

Life is a journey, and there is no predicting the outcome. Only thing you can control are your choices and they'll define who you are.  Unknown quotes