Kimi ni Todoke [Chapter 97]

Everyone is still busy preparing for the school festival. Carrying a box, Chizuru tells Ayane about putting the props and the makeup tools here. Everyone is talking about the float will be done in time for tomorrow. Someone asks if Shouta didn’t sleep. He says no, and it is going to be dawn soon. While they are talking, Sawako is looking at them. Chizuru calls out to her and asks where the costumes are. Sawako says that she is going to get it. So, the last school festival is going to start. Shouta tells Sawako that they are both in charge of the haunted house in the afternoon so they go around the booths together. She asks if it is okay and won’t he rest. She is worried about him because he hasn’t been sleeping much whether it is because of studying or preparing for the school festival. Shouta assures her that it is okay for he also wants to have fun strolling around the school festival with his girlfriend. This made Sawako blush and says, yes. Then, they are interrupted by her friends teasing and congratulating them for they have been together for a year. And, Shouta calls Sawako to come. As they walk around, people keep on greeting Shouta and asking what time he will be at the haunted house so that they’ll go there when he’s on duty.

Sawako thinks that Shouta is amazing because he is so popular and with him, their class will be unprecedented so she must do her best to make everyone have fun. Then, someone asks if Shouta will be with Sawako. Shouta happily says yes. This moved Sawako. Then, some kouhai ask Sawako about what they heard about her during her performance at the black magic café. She gloomily says that if they come, she’ll do her best to frighten them. This time, it is Shouta praising her that she is a legend for after a year, she still receives inquiries about it from others and she got a good review about it. He says that isn’t it very hot in there [<- during last year] and she didn’t even rest so how about this year, she goof off some time. Sawako refuses for she is going to give her whole out effort to frighten everyone. Then, she notices some girls staring at her. They pass by and complain about wanting to have a boyfriend while strolling around the festival. Sawako thinks that before girls are in disbelief that she is going steady with Shouta. Although they are together like this now, they didn’t hear any negative comment and a year has truly passed since they had gone steady. Looking out the window, Sawako says that she is depressed about thinking that the ‘like’ they mentioned before didn’t mean the same. But then, now, she doesn’t think that way.

Shouta says that is great. He admits to her that it was a gamble for him since he is thinking of ‘in case, it has the same meaning’. His mind is a mess and actually, he doesn’t plan on confessing at that place so it is really great that he can confess again. It is great to be able to say, ‘I like you’ and sorry for making her very embarrassed. She says no, she isn’t relaxed enough to think about being embarrassed, since during the confession, her whole body is trembling because it takes a lot of courage to convey that kind of feeling to the other. He says that there are many times when he wanted to say it but couldn’t say that sentence so at that time, what made him say it, he couldn’t remember. She says that it is okay for she remembers. Even in her dreams, she didn’t think that he’ll unexpectedly like her. Shouta says that it is the same with him. After a pause, Shouta says that in a while, he’ll whole-heartedly wait and also feel hopeless. “Even if you don’t like me, and even if you fall in love with someone else, but no matter what, I still like you, Kuronuma. Even if someone else likes you, it is also the same.” Narration: “That day, I thought of the same feeling, running, run to Kazehaya’s side--”

Shouta says that besides, probably a lot of people will fall for her. Flustered Sawako says no, no, she isn’t that kind of amazing person so how can that be. Shouta says that he always thinks that he only just so happen to be one step early in finding her, kind of like a chick seduced by the person it sees first though a chick would think it is its mother. It is because he is the first who had fallen in love with her. Blushing Sawako thinks that just now, he is always saying such amazing things to her. Shouta says but next, it is going to college. Comparatively nearer to her, and better than him, perhaps, that kind of someone, whom he doesn’t know, will fall in love with her. This surprises Sawako since he mentioned someone he doesn’t know. She asks obviously they are going to the same college, right? Snapping out of it, Shouta says that it is an analogy, for after graduation, there will be a lot more unknown people than now and possibly, she will go to work. She says is that so. She thinks that for a second, her heart beat wildly and they will be together when they go to college, right. Sawako timidly thanks him for flattering her that much and she is really not such an amazing person. Shouta exclaims that he isn’t flattering her, and doesn’t she understand, is this for real, she is so..cute.. This made the two blush and become speechless.

They immediately turn around to see some girls say they cannot take it, they want a boyfriend. Sawako says but she thinks that her will to like him, she only wants him and no one else.. He smiles and says yes, this whole year is quite fun and it is weird to say that because it seems like he is congratulating himself. Sawako says that she feels that as a girlfriend, she is lacking and she said bad things to him before, really sorry about that. Shouta laughs. She says that a lot of happy things happened, thank you very much. “I’m happy that I’m able to see you. I’m happy that I’m able to hear your voice. I feel blessed thinking of you. But, to be able to stay like this together, it makes me more and more happy. From today on, yoroshiku! [I’m under your care] This made Shouta greet her yoroshiku back. Blushing Shouta says that he also feels the same way and he doesn’t know what to say, but.. Waving away about hearing him talk while he is half-asleep, she exclaims that it is alright, she already heard it. She tells him that it is alright because she remembers. At a room, Ayane has finished putting makeup on someone who says that she’ll call the next one. While waiting, Ayane starts reading a book on English. Pin comes in and asks if his clothes are okay like this. Quickly closing the book, Ayane says that it is no problem.

While putting makeup on Pin, Ayane asks why a vampire and not a Nurikabe-type. [<- a youkai/spirit that manifests as a wall to misdirect travelers at night. Source: wiki] Pin says that because it doesn’t need a costume and just a cloak is okay. She tells him that cloth is also expensive, and close his eyes. As she puts makeup near his eyes, Pin says that she is very anxious. After looking surprised, she says of course, since if she keeps on going like this, her college exam might be bad and she feels that she has to use every minute she has to study. She tells him to pull back his hair like a vampire. He did and asks how is this? She says that he looks old-fashioned so how about messing it up a bit. Pin asks what she is doing. She strokes his hair around. Then, with a messy hair, Ayane laughs and says that it’s not bad. She is surprised when he somewhat smiles. He says that right now, in a gap of 5 or 10 minutes, it makes no difference if she studies or not and this is a rare opportunity so properly enjoy it, okay because this is the last school festival. While fixing his tie, she says that he thinks that it’s really already over for her but then, indeed, it is no use but she will do her best.

She’ll do her best that even if she flunked, she will properly regret it to a certain degree. Pin smiles over this. She tells him that she doesn’t think of flunking while preparing for the exam. He tells her is young but she is very shrewd and this is her strong point so have self-confidence. He leans toward her and says is this the vampire teeth. Ayane looks surprised when Pin is so close to her to get the small pack of teeth. Pin suddenly shouts really loud which startles her. Putting the teeth into his mouth, Pin laughs and asks if she has relaxed and is it effective. Ayane says that her heart stopped. He asks how it is. [<- his speech is garbled because of the teeth] She sweatdrops for he isn’t wearing it properly. Pulling his cape over him, he bids her goodbye. Flustered Ayane thinks that he’s too loud. Then, someone else goes in as Ayane puts on makeup. Ayane’s heart kept on beating over Pin saying ‘that is her strong point’. Later on, Sawako as Sadako is quickly chasing after her victim. The others say that it is another one, Sadako is going to chase her until the ends of the earth from the haunted house and she has a lot of physical strength. Then, Sadako is coming back.

Breathing hard from running, Sawako thinks that apparently it is unexpectedly difficult to ensure that she won’t overtake someone from behind and she has to maintain the distance until the very, very end in order for the other party to escape but then, it’s great that everyone is very afraid. She sees Shouta holding a placard that she is surprised that she immediately came back and she has to go back in position. Shouta worriedly says that he saw her running for a long time so did she rest a bit? Joe says no, she is running nonstop. Shouta offers to replace her so that she can rest a bit. Joe says that won’t be a haunted house and everyone won’t be running away or rather, they will feel happy if he did. Also, if Shouta goes in, their sales will fall and he hasn’t slept. This made Sawako assures Shouta that she is fine, she will give her utmost best in frightening and scaring others. Shouta tries to tell her that there is no need for that but Sawako is already going back inside and tells him, see you later. After she went in, pouting Shouta looks at Joe and says that after this one ends, he is really going to make her rest and everyone are going to take turns. Joe insists that Sawako’s assessment is the best but Shouta insists, no. Outside, Shouta invites the people in wherein they can go alone, with friends or someone they like. Some go in because of him, the others go in because of Sawako/Sadako. They talk about hearing Sadako chasing a lover and won’t let go.

Then, Shouta thinks that their sales might fall without Sawako. He watches the door as people are coming out. They were saying that they weren’t chased after. He asks Joe where Sawako is. He says that he hasn’t seen her and isn’t she resting and speaking of that, it seems that she always haven’t come back. This surprises Shouta. He suddenly gives the placard to Joe and runs off. At some corridor, breathing hard Sawako thinks that it is because before she can run and she had carelessly chased the person too much to such a far place that there is no one around. Lately, she also hasn’t been jogging in the morning so perhaps her body has become slow. She has to quickly go back or the customers..she couldn’t move, how embarrassing. Then, Shouta calls out to her. Sawako apologizes for not coming back and she is going to quickly go back so for giving him trouble.. She is surprised when Shouta suddenly hugs her. She mutters his [sur]name and he hugs her tighter. Narration: “What is he matching up with me who suddenly disappeared without a trace? What kind of feeling does he have? The me at this time still ..do not understand Kazehaya’s feelings.”

Comment: From this, it seems that the one who is going to be separated during college is Shouta and Sawako. Or at least, because of what some Chinese readers mention, it feels like something bad is going to happen. In a way, it seems odd that they are suddenly saying the things that they are usually shy of saying. They also kept on mentioning that Shouta didn’t sleep at all or haven’t been sleeping much lately. Will that be the cause or something else? For now, Shouta is pretty much preparing himself for the inevitable based on what he is saying and acting. Sawako still do not know it. Perhaps, he already knew what Sawako really wants but she is indeed hesitating because of him. Nevertheless, what Shouta said is very beautiful that I think he is probably the type who would remain single for a long time if Sawako left him for someone else. Thankfully, things are mutual between them for now wherein they do not want anyone else but each other. ^^ I’m not sure again if that Pin and Ayane scene is going to lead to something else like romance/unrequited love, or it is just pinpointing that enjoy one’s in a lifetime school activity rather than always studying every minute. ^^;; Scans by 夜莺工作室

Quote of the day:

To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness. ~ Swami Chinmayananda