Hibi Chouchou [Chapter 65]

Flashback: Defeated young Kawasumi looked in awe at Atohira. Later on, Atohira ate an ice pop while walking home with Kawasumi, Ryosuke and Hajime. Then, he walked together with Kawasumi and Ryosuke during junior high. And Atohira dueled with Kawasumi. Atohira has known him since elementary, his friend’s younger brother. While walking, Atohira called out in surprise that his friend asked what, it is someone he knows. Atohira said no, he ought to have mistaken someone. Atohira thinks that from the very start when he met the two of them, they haven’t started going steady yet. At some unknown time, they started going steady. He doesn’t know why he felt very angry about this. <- telling Kawasumi that they’ll break up very soon. During a karate break, Atohira glances at Kawasumi who was jogging. Atohira passed by the café and saw the two together. He frowns and wonders how long they have been going steady. And why at this time.. End flashback.

In class, Atohira is thinking that not long before, he is an indifferent person. Someone puts a can of red bean soup on his table. Atohira didn’t notice it that a couple of guys start whispering what’s up with Atohira who is too absent-minded. Daisuke just looks at Atohira. Atohira thinks that if he says that he is in love, he cannot accept it. At the couple’s school, everyone is busy preparing for the school festival. Koharu looks listless as she fits the newly sewed uniform. Koume tries to get her attention by pointing to her three bun layer hair. Kawasumi and Kawata got some huge carton boxes from an appliance store. Outside the school building, Kawata complains over who said that they are going to do a maze and it is cold outside. Someone calls out over the people who are going to stay behind after school from today on. Kawasumi glances at Suiren who is busy painting their signboard for the maze.

Kawasumi recalls Suiren who was with Atohira that day. And inside the café, Yuri told him that Atohira suddenly went out with Suiren. Daisuke apologized about Atohira and said that he is not that kind of person. While they walked home, Kawasumi asked Suiren what Atohira said. Suiren said, ‘greeting..how is it like’ This made Kawasumi pout. Recalling something, Suiren said that Atohira asked things like how she smiles and such.. Kawasumi looked surprised and recalled Atohira’s apology. End flashback. Kawata calls out to Kawasumi and asks if he plans to stay over or not. Kawasumi says he also has club activity. Kawata says him too, and they already couldn’t [stay]. Meguna asks Suiren if they will stay behind. Suiren nods. While Yuri is having a difficult time sewing an octopus stuffed toy, Aya asks if someone has a box cutter. Holding a cutter, Ryosuke tells her to please use this. Irked Aya asks how come it is him. Someone complains that it is so cold. Another one says that it is almost time to go home.

At the shoe lockers, while waiting for Suiren to get her shoes, Meguna overhears some girls saying that it is a handsome guy. She informs Suiren about this. Suiren looks out to see Atohira waiting by the school’s gate. Suiren quickly walks past him but Atohira calls out to her and tells her not to run, Suiren. Meguna is surprised by this while Suiren looks aghast and tense. Meguna asks if she knows him. Suiren shakes her head. Atohira tells her not to shake her head. Grabbing her wrist, Atohira says that guy is still in the club right, then, he’ll walk her home. Suiren tries to tell him that she and Aya would go home together. Atohira tells her that it is fine as long as she contact Aya about it. Meguna watches as Atohira pulls Suiren to go with him. The others are wondering what is that, boyfriend, he shouldn’t be, but then, they are a good pair – beautiful guy and beautiful girl [bishounen-bishoujo].

While walking, Atohira thinks that obviously he doesn’t quite understand her. “Like? What is that, it’s too strange, right.” As he walks with her, he angrily thinks that for him, being silent is totally not the problem. -> since he is okay with quiet Hajime. Then, he angrily realizes that they will soon be at her place. He thinks that’s right, he just have to find something that will make him hate her so that he’ll be disillusioned with her. He lets her wrist go. He turns to her and asks what she is interested in. Suiren looks at him and nervously asks, huh? Aghast Atohira thinks that she’s scared. Atohira repeats ‘interest’, like what she does during rest days. She timidly says that if she has time, she makes bread. Thinking that is very good, he says that melon bread-whatever is very delicious. With sparkles, Suiren nods. Atohira thinks that this is an expression he hasn’t seen until now. Also at that time..that relieved expression when Kawasumi arrived. He wonders if he is feeling competitive with Kawasumi is because of this issue?

Atohira thinks that maybe it is because of that. And regarding liking her outward appearance-whatever, it is also not because of that. Upon hearing some music, Suiren goes to a van that sells some melon pan. Suiren holds up her freshly made melon pan that she just bought. She does a little dance that Atohira looks weird out by that. He thinks that in the end, she is very weird and in the end, she isn’t the same with Hajime for if Hajime were to do that, holding up a melon pan, his brain is definitely broken. Suiren gives him one of her two melon pans and said that she wasn’t able to give him a greeting..or return gift. He takes the bread and blushes a bit. He wonders if he is an idiot when obviously during Valentine’s day, he had received this before, so what’s up with this blushing. Suiren sits beside him. They take a bite. Aghast Atohira thinks that it is really yucky. He looks at aghast-looking Suiren who quietly eats. He slightly smiles and thinks that this is the tempo of forcing herself to say that it is delicious.

Aghast Suiren tells him, gift..it would be better..to prepare something else.. He thinks that her wording is really euphemistic [/evasive]. He tells her that this is really yucky. Suiren nods. Atohira stands up and says that side of hers is still really convenient. He asks if she hates him. She shakes her head. Somewhat blushing, he asks, ..like? Suiren still shakes her head. This was a blow to Atohira. As Suiren stands up, Atohira thinks that this is not at all, wanting to destroy their relationship, and they also would absolutely not separate but in the end, it really makes him angry. “If this is like[/love]..” He calls out to Suiren and says that he likes her. Atohira hopes that she’ll quickly reject him. While Suiren looks surprised, Atohira thinks that if he has fallen for her the first time they met, would it be different? “It is good if at that time I had fallen for you.” And, that time was the first time he saw Kawasumi together with Suiren.

Comment: So, it seems that Atohira isn’t quite in terms with himself over what reason did he fall for Suiren. Well, amusingly, in trying to find something to turn him off her, he found other things that make him fall for her more. ^^; In the end, no matter if he found out the reason and realize that he loves her, she is has already fallen and still in love with someone else, and he isn’t going to do bad things to ruin it for him just to have her. So, he is going for the rejection since dwelling on it further would be futile. Also, it is pointed out that the reason why he unconsciously kept on disapproving of the two’s relationship and seemingly ‘hate’ Suiren for Kawasumi. It is also amusing that Aya is reacting the same way towards her ‘unrequited love’. =P It does make me wonder if Atohira is also unconsciously so jealous with Kawasumi so during that practice before, he got too intense and broke Kawasumi’s arm. But then, Kawasumi also slacked off at that time for he didn’t expect that Atohira was still practicing.

Hm..due to Suiren or he was practicing all along? I also wonder if Kawasumi and/or Daisuke figured out what’s bothering Atohira based on his ‘strange’ actions. A lot of people saw Atohira taking Suiren away. I’m sure someone will tell Kawasumi about it or at least, he’ll overhear it. Would that lead to a positive or negative development? Hehe, I wonder how Koharu would react if she learns whom Atohira has fallen in love with. Well, since their festival, there is a maze so maybe something nice will happen in there. =P PS. The Chinese scanlations aren’t that updated lately for whatever reason, so I would like to ask people to refrain from mentioning spoilers regarding the chapter that I haven’t summarized yet. For me, it ruins the surprise since I’m reading the Chinese scanlations. Thank you. Scans by all★wink汉化组

Quote of the day:

A sad thing in life is that sometimes you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out in the end that it was never bound to be and you just have to let go. ~ Unknown quotes